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Welthy

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    Family history (my screen name was my 3rd Great-Grandmother's name), Cemetery preservation via photography, quilting, & antiques.

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  1. I don't stop by much, but stumbled in, saw this and am deeply saddened. Oh Rich -- I thought you were like a Timex watch! I had no idea his condition had gone downhill. My sincere sympathy to his family --- what a cancer warrior and inspiration to all. I hate cancer. God bless. Welthy
  2. Kerri, I rarely check in anymore, but happened in this morning, and was shocked to read of your lovely Mom's passing. My sincere sympathy to you and the whole family. Patti was such a high-spirited, arse kicking and taking names kind of gal, with a wonderful sense of humor. I'm stunned. She was one of those that I thought would beat this beast. I admired her so much and am so sorry. You embody so much of your Mom's character. Remember this spark that will live in you always. I truly hope the path you are one now can bring you some peace and hope for the future. Do look after your Dad -- I'm glad to hear you both are going to bereavement sessions. It's a new world after this magnitude of a loss and one that I hope goes as smoothly as possible, as you deserve good things. You were a blessing to your Mom. God be with you sweetie. Many hugs, Welthy
  3. To Jude and family, Thank you for posting this tribute --- it was beautiful. Don was supportive of so many over the years. May God hold you his arms now as he is surely holding Don. With sympathy, Welthy
  4. Welthy

    Stuck in Neutral

    Teri --- I'm sorry and understand. Welthy
  5. Welthy

    She's gone

    Oh Lisa! I'm so very sorry to read this news. My heart goes out to you and your family. Your Mom was such a fighter and I know how dearly you loved her. May God hold you close during this difficult time of grief. Many hugs, Welthy
  6. Eyeglasses -- that's funny, they were at the top of my hit list too after Tony was gone. It's always a nice thing to SEE. I think, as mothers, we all tend to put ourselves on the back burner to take care our family. It comes with the territory and caring for a loved one with cancer is a natural extension of that innate drive. I still worry far more about my kids than I do about myself. It hit my daughter particularly hard and she continues to have issues pop up that I know are stress related. I'm sorry to hear other's are dealing with very serious issues. Mine are such small potatoes. I hope things get better Sue and Christine. It is a cycle Sue and one that I'm finding is very hard to change. It's a mental thing for me, can't seem to care enough to do a darn thing. I'm quite sure many will understand that mental place. Blueeye -- your post saddens me terribly and should give everyone pause for thought. I'm so sorry this journey ended so badly for both of your parents and know the fall-out for you is particularly difficult.
  7. (((((Chris)))))) This sounds very familiar to me and I'm so sorry you have so much on your plate now Chris. I can't even imagine how you feel about your baby possibly being deployed and how that impacts your mental health. I didn't pay attention to my health needs for 2 1/2 years while Tony was sick and am dealing with the fall-out now too. It's little b.s. stuff, but it all works together to make me not feel very perky physically on top of the emotional carnage of him being gone. While trying to keep him beefed up, I was quite successful in beefing myself up, so I also have diabetes type II. Toss in fatty liver, thyroid problems, big time insomnia, severe skin issues (stress), joint problems, tendinitis, sinus, SOB (from lack of activity), heartburn/GERD, and of course high cholesterol and triglycerides. You know -- much of the classic stuff that goes with being overweight. I don't think I would have changed a thing about how I handled Tony's illness because I refused to go places without him, so our world became very slow and small. It is true that caregivers need to pay attention to their own needs as best as they can, but it's a tough thing to do when your issues seem so paltry compared to what your loved one is going through. The one time he went with me for a mammogram, it was an interesting twist to be having a test for me for a change! He chuckled to not be the "patient" one time. I hope this starts some dialogue about things that happen with caregivers and maybe some preventive strategies. Thanks for posting this Chris. I wish you good things. Welthy
  8. Teri -- I posted this morning under your other thread. Hugs, Debi
  9. Another take on this issue. We never discussed end of life issues -- at least not toward the end. All wills, trusts, healthcare power of attorneys, etc. had been done long before my husband's diagnosis. Upon diagnosis, he mentioned a few things he wanted our kids to have of his, but that was it. We were lucky to have a doctor who realistically told us that Tony was treatable, but not curable at stage IV. That was all we ever needed -- no delusions, just a big fight for his life. He fought til the end and I promised him that we wouldn't bring a third party (hospice) in unless it got completely beyond anything I could handle. It never did. He also was being actively treated and some hospice groups won't come into that situation. I did have a talk with the oncology staff a few days before he passed about getting morphine in case the breathing got too bad. Things spiraled down so fast that this never happened and I did have to bring him to the hospital to get the morphine and a lot more oxygen than could ever have been provided at home. He was never in pain and was ambulatory until hours before he passed. At the hospital, a palliative care team did come to help make arrangements for when he went home. He didn't make it home. He did not like hospice because when his brother was ill, one of the first things they did was to tell his family to go and plan the funeral. That didn't set well with him at all and I agreed. He was shocked that someone would encourage a patient's family to plan a funeral before they had died and found it quite offensive. He was big on "where there is life, there is hope." Plenty of time for the family to make arrangements after they are gone and their standard spiel really angered him. He couldn't believe that our SIL and nephew actually followed the recommendations like sheep, instead of spending THAT time with their "live" family member. He said it was like burying someone before they were even dead. I always have said that it was his life, his cancer, and ultimately, his death and he could do it any darn way he pleased. I figure that humankind has gone through thousands of years taking care of their dying loved ones without the help of hospice, so what was the big deal about getting them involved? I didn't expect some of the things that did happen at the end, despite endless hours of research, but neither did countless millions that have gone before. I understand that for some, end of life discussions bring a certain level of closure and comfort to all parties, but that was not how my husband wished to handle his death. I was good with that and don't regret for a moment that I followed my husband's lead to the last moment of his life. It was all about him and his wishes. We were lucky to be able to "do it his way."
  10. Teri, Wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts today. I'm sure this one is very, very difficult and quite unbelievable to reach this milestone. I'm glad you'll soon be visiting family again. Sending hugs, love, and hopes for a gentle day of remembrance of your dear Bill. He was quite the guy Teri. Hugs, Debi
  11. Yes -- what Kasey said. Darnitall Rich --- we'll all go on a road trip and throw our collective weight behind you to scare away the nasties. Get better soon, ya' hear? Prayers. Thanks again Rochelle. Welthy
  12. Welthy

    Terry Bones

    ((((Flo)))) I can only echo the dear sentiments already expressed. My heart goes out to you and I'm so very sorry to learn of the loss of your beloved Terry. May God hold you close during this early time of such pain and grief. Many hugs, Welthy
  13. To say heavy involvement both lungs, mediastinum, L-supraclavicular nodes, barely gives the full picture at Dx. See PET scan photo below. Stage IV - NSCLC - Adenocarcinoma (most common NSCLC), poorly differentiated Dx'd: 3-28-05 8 - 21 day cycles Carboplatin/Taxol -- worked good cancer 1/2 gone, Carbo reaction. Next! 12 - 21 day cycles Gemzar/Taxotere (Gemzar days one & eight) - good - all mets gone, primary ULL tumor reduced in size, but one new tumor grew in left lung. Taxotere reaction. Next! 15 days radiation to one lung tumor - got rid of new tumor. Next! 3 mos Tarceva - didn't work - significant progression in both lungs/bones/mediastinum. Next! 19 weekly Navelbine infusions (Zometa added to protect from more bone mets) - Miraculous -- serious tumor reduction, bone mets gone - but cancer became resistant. Next! 5 - 21 day cycles Alimta - stable, but ruined his already messed up breathing til the end of his life, so stopped Alimta. Next! 2 - 21 day cycles Gemzar (days one and eight) -- we had no clue by this point - couldn't lay to have scans due to SOB, but nothing improved breathing-wise. One more try -- next! 2 - 21 day cycles Irinotecan -- no clue, but we were on a wing and a prayer by this point. Lungs were filling with A-fib issues from tumor wrapped around pulmonary artery, pleural effusion, infection, loculation, and cancer, so probably didn't do anything for the cancer itself. X-ray showed one walnut size open working area in R-lung on the day he passed. Total lung failure and cardio spiral cessation. ...and a partridge in a pear tree. Also had severe pleural effusion issues requiring 23 thoracentesis procedures. ***Not a candidate for Avastin due to ongoing bloody coughing. I know some of the old-timers have seen this PET, so bear with me for the newer folks. All dark black in chest area is the cancer. Still surprises me to this day that he survived 2 1/2 years. We were so lucky, good quality of life until we slammed into the Alimta wall.
  14. Here are two links to Dr. West's comments at CancerGRACE.org on CimaVax EGF: Dated April 16, 2008 - http://cancergrace.org/lung/2008/04/16/ ... ine-trial/ Dated June 29, 2008 with above link embedded in response: http://cancergrace.org/lung/2008/04/16/ ... ine-trial/
  15. Here are two links to Dr. West's comments at CancerGRACE.org on CimaVax EGF: Dated April 16, 2008 - http://cancergrace.org/lung/2008/04/16/ ... ine-trial/ Dated June 29, 2008 with above link embedded in response: http://cancergrace.org/lung/2008/04/16/ ... ine-trial/
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