Carolsdaughter

I got another email about our dear friend "Herbbie" and I was very saddened to hear of her passing. I came back to the this site and thought I would check up on my friends and read some. I am so amazed at the wonderful caring people who come here. What a good job you have all done in the awareness of Lung Cancer. On March 20, 2003 I lost my mom very suddenly to this disease and I have never been the same since losing her. I have now lost my father (April 28, 2008) to Prostate Cancer. I am sure the real intense pain will continue to build inside of me but for now I am just really busy in the business matters that comes with the death of a second parent. I will check back and continue to learn from all of you. All My Best, Shelly

I don't know where else to places this so forgive me if this is the wrong place. Today I rec'd a message in my email that someone had sent me a PM when I got here I couldn't see anything new in my inbox. I decided to go 'home' to the grieving forum. I see that many of my friends who I met here are still here and some are even moderators. My life is crazy as ever. I moved to another area with my daughter who is a senior in HS. Nick and my hubby are living in our other home 4 hours away. My daughter is doing very well in this new school and I will be back with my hubby and Nick after she graduates in June. Nick is still going through rehab after his tire accident and has ups and downs in his recovery. We found out last month that my dads prostrate cancer has come back with a vengence and my dad just doesn't want to fight it any more. The next step for my dad will be pain management when the pain gets bad. The vulture is still in his life and making life difficult. I think with the cancer coming back my dad is just ready to go and be with my mom and not fight it anymore. My mom has been gone for more then 3.5 years and I miss her everyday.

Don, I am so sorry Lucie is gone.

To those of you who save. I hope this doesn't offend anyone but something just occurred to me. With the medical bills and other medical records, why not make a scrapbook that you can use to represent how hard you fought the fight. I have done this for my son Nick who I almost lost a year ago to an accident he had with a tire and rim exploding in his face at work. Nick has many CT scans (that we had reduced in size) and bills that we have placed into a scrapbook. We have also included pictures of him through out that time. It could represent the fight that I know that we all of fought for those we love who have battled this terrible disease. I don't have access to these things from my mom because they are with my dad still. Her scrapbook would be very small as her battle was only for a month.

I didn't know. Yes I will pray for them both.

Cathy, Sorry I am late in my reply I just saw your post. We share a lot and I would have like to been able to replied sooner. Not that I feel that this will work for everyone but as time has passed for my mom being gone, I have chosen to celebrate her life by talking about her life with others who also miss her. I have chosen to feel that my mom is with me when ever I need her. I would also like to echo the thoughts of others here who feel that you are a very special daughter. Your dad would be proud if you for who you are. With Love, Shelly

Dear Ann, I can’t imagine the pain these past years have caused you with Dennis’s family placing you as the one to blame. I believe that Trish has it right that tragedy has a way of bringing out the worst in people and them wanting to blame someone, anyone. I am so sorry that they chose you. This is just a theory but it may bring something to light. Do they really know that it was Dennis’s choice to have the biopsy and to be cremated? Did he write this down anywhere or tell anyone else? I think sometimes families feel a loss of control when it comes to tragedy and illness. In most, it not all states the spouse has the say so over these issues. If the family shows any resistance they should be shown proof of the wishes of the patient. I have spoken with family members who feel much like Dennis’s family in a matter concerning their father. His wife had the power and took him off life support and they hate her for this according to her. I know that the situation are different here put it still has to do with the loss of control of the family. Ann you have been part of this message board ever since I can remember and you have always shown kindness and compassion to all you have supported here. I get the sense that you would like to at least try to mend this fence and if I am wrong just ignore this. Write the letter to his mom and offer your support. If they will ever allow you into their lives it will be now. If it were me I might even pray for their hearts to be softened and then show up with a casserole or something when the kids aren’t there to act all protective. If that is a bit scary, when you see the mom again what about an arm around her and tell her that you love her and her family and would like to help if they will let you. I think that Dennis would want you to be with his family. Everyone is grieving and hostility robs us of our resources. Please don’t be upset, this is just one possible scenario. God Bless

I always thought that my mom would be around for the tomorrows in my life. I always thought that my mom was a great cook, a wonderful grandma, and a great friend. I always thought my mom would enjoy traveling once my dad retired; he retired just a few years before she was dx with cancer and died. Now someone else is enjoying her golden years with my dad. I always thought my mom had a funny, enjoyable way about her. When mom when in the hospital for a biopsy I always thought that she would get better even up to the very end.

(((((Peggy and Mike))))), I pray that you will feel the love of our Heavenly Father as he holds you in his arms through this difficult time. You have given us all so much and we are here for you. I am so sorry... Shelly

Peter Jennings dies of lung cancer Longtime ABC News anchor was 67 Sunday, August 7, 2005; Posted: 11:51 p.m. EDT (03:51 GMT) Peter Jennings NEW YORK (CNN) -- Nearly four months to the day since he announced in a hoarse voice on his evening newscast that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer, longtime ABC "World News Tonight" anchor Peter Jennings died Sunday, according to the ABC news network. He was 67. At a time when all three major broadcast networks saw their evening news anchor spots change hands in less than a year, Jennings' departure was a surprise. Both NBC's Tom Brokaw and CBS' Dan Rather announced their plans well in advance, but Jennings' illness forced a quick decision. Jennings, a native Canadian who became a U.S. citizen in 2003, said he would continue to host "World News Tonight" when possible. Since the announcement, ABC News' Charles Gibson and Elizabeth Vargas have filled in for him as temporary anchors. But he said he was determined to fight the disease, citing National Cancer Institute statistics that nearly 10 million Americans are living with cancer. "I have a lot to learn from them, and 'living' is the key word," he said. Since April 5, when Jennings announced his diagnosis on the news program, he kept his public comments positive. Even during the initial announcement, he said he would be undergoing chemotherapy and joked about losing his hair. "I wonder if other men and women ask their doctors right away, 'OK, doc, when does the hair go?'" said the immaculately dressed and coifed Jennings. He admitted being a smoker until about 20 years ago, and said he "was weak and I smoked over 9/11." In an April 29 letter posted on the ABC News' site, Jennings said he had been "spoiled rotten" by well-wishers and added, "I assume there are a few others out there who, like me, are going with the flow until the day gets better." Since he began anchoring the program in 1983, Jennings won numerous awards, including a National Headline Award and a George Foster Peabody award. He also won some 14 Emmys, according to the ABC News Web site. Asked how it felt after anchoring ABC's evening news program for 20 years, Jennings told CNN's Larry King on Sept. 8, 2003, "Seems like yesterday; seems like forever -- all at the same time." "It's sort of, how do you measure it? Do you measure the fact that I'm 20 years older? No. I think I measure it by the events. You know, I came just as the Cold War was coming to an end." "When you think about the events that we've been through, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to, I guess you'd say, 9/11 being the culmination at the end of that, of that scope, what extraordinary changes there have been." Jennings was born July 29, 1938 in Toronto with journalism in his blood. His father, Charles, was the first voice of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation when it was established in the mid-1930s. At age 9, Jennings hosted "Peter's People," a short-lived Saturday morning children's show on the CBC. A high school dropout, Jennings worked as a bank teller for several years before moving into radio and then into television in 1961. He was hired by ABC in 1964. The following year, when he was 26, Jennings was picked to anchor "The ABC Evening News." But two years later, he told his bosses he needed more seasoning and returned to field reporting, CNN Correspondent Jeff Greenfield, a former ABC News employee, has said. He became a foreign correspondent for the network, covering such stories as the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, when members of the Arab terrorist group Black September seized the Israeli compound and took athletes hostage. After he took the anchor chair of World New Tonight, Jennings led ABC's coverage of the 1986 explosion of the space shuttle Challenger and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. "On 9/11, those of us who do the jobs that I do, flew without a net for hour and hour and hour after end. And then you hope and pray that you've had the experience to be up to it. Because then you're editor, analyst, reporter, correspondent, ringmaster, the whole thing. An ABC spokesman said in April that Jennings had been feeling ill for a couple of months and underwent a number of tests before the diagnosis was made. He did not travel to cover the tsunami in South Asia in December 2004 or the death of Pope John Paul II earlier this year. When the announcement of Jennings' diagnosis was made, ABC did not divulge the stage of his cancer. Cancer stages range from 1 to 4, with 4 being the most advanced. The network's "World News Tonight" Web site has maintained an online forum where viewers could post expressions of support and good wishes for Jennings. It has also posted statements from Jennings thanking viewers for their support and his thoughts on topics such as the recent terrorist bombings in London. The last posting came on July 29, Jennings' birthday. "Many thanks to all of you for your birthday wishes," the statement from Jennings said. "Your words -- as always -- are a great source of strength. I am celebrating today with my family -- we are all grateful." http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/08/07/jennings.obit/

Was thinking of you guys and I thought that I would give you an update. With all of the stress I have been though I have been feeling ill... I have had a multitude of tests done mostly of my GI tract and it turns out nothing too serious. The other day I said to my doc, "Gee I have had almost everything except a chest xray and with my family history we should check it out. Within thirty minutes the xray was done and the results were clear lungs. I am only 44 but this is something that has been knawing away at me for almost two years. I am really happy I had it done.

You kind words and prayers are working thanks. If I were to search messages boards world wide I would never come upon a kinder and sincere hearted people then the people right here! I really do LOVE YOU Guys! Hugs, Shelly

Just a little more then two years ago I lost my mom to LC. Today I spoke at the funeral of her only sibling her sister. My aunt died of pulmonary fibrosis which was also complicated with diabetes. Their father, my grandfather also died at an early age from LC. Pulmonary Fibrosis is also a disease of the lungs. I worry about this dreadful disease and the way it runs through and destroys families. Feeling very sad today. Thanks for reading my post. Shelly

I hate this disease. Karen you and your family will be in my prayers. David was a top notch man and he will be missed. Shelly

I couldn't agree more! (((((FAY)))))