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SherA

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Everything posted by SherA

  1. Will be thinking of you tomorrow, Ken, and anxiously awaiting your news. Good luck!
  2. Welthy, I'm so very sorry to hear about Tony. My thoughts are with you
  3. Hi Ken, Hang in there and know that we're here for you. You'll be in good hands at MD Anderson. Please keep us posted on how you're doing.
  4. I love hearing all the stories of signs from our loved ones! I have signs like those from Rick, too. And I dream about him all the time, and in my dreams he's not sick or dying. Here's the first of many signs I have experienced: One of the last times Rick and I were together before he got sick, we were having a thunderstorm with lots of rain and lightning. Where I live we don't get them very often so I'm fascinated by them. Rick and I went out on the back porch to watch the lightning and it started pouring like crazy. We ran out into the back yard to see how wet we could get, and it started hailing! We were soaking wet and having so much fun, I'll never forget that day. He died not long after that, and for two weeks straight it poured down rain and we had thunder and lightning everyday. I think it was Rick telling me he was still with me.
  5. SherA

    6 MONTHS TODAAY

    Randy, I always think about you on the 23rd and hope that you are doing ok. This isn't something we can ever get used to, but it does get a little easier to live with over time.
  6. SherA

    My Mom's Last Days

    Hi Laurel, I understand what you're saying. Two weeks before Rick died, I wrote a very rambling, emotional letter to a friend. In the letter, I described that period of time as "this terrible and strangely beautiful, ever-changing stage in our lives", and said that it had "forever bonded us in a new and different way that I could have never understood before now and still can't explain". Toward the end of the letter I said, "I don't want to miss a minute of it, so I'll just be there". I suppose it probably sounds odd to people who haven't experienced it, and maybe not everyone has the same experience. I'd give anything to have Rick back again, but I'm grateful that I was able to spend his last days with him. As difficult and painful as it was, I couldn't have been anywhere else.
  7. Dear Carleen, I'm so very sorry for your loss. Please know that we are here for you any time you need us. Love, Sher
  8. Carleen, I'm so sorry you and Keith are going through this. We are here for you any time you need. Love, Sher
  9. Carleen, You two have been through so much, it's just not fair! You have my prayers, and I will also ask my friend to put you and Keith on her church's prayer list. Hugs, Sherry
  10. SherA

    Cigarette Tax

    Hi Joyce, It almost souds to me like the cigarette tax money will be going into the TSF. Is that right? Or is the TSF gone?
  11. SherA

    Thomas Parkinson

    I am so sorry to hear you lost your husband. I pray you will find comfort during this most difficult time.
  12. I'm so happy to hear that wonderful news! I can imagine how relieved you both must be. Thank you for keeping us posted and letting us know the good news. And best of luck to your dad, so that he may win his battle with smoking. He's off to a great start!
  13. SherA

    Cigarette Tax

    You're so right, Donna, and I know just what you mean. Minnesota settled their lawsuit with the tobacco industry previously, and wasn't a part of the same settlement as California. California is supposed to get $25 billion over 25 years, with half the money going to the state and the other half being divided between the cities of San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose, and all 58 counties. The Master Settlement Agreement does't specify how the settlement funds are to be appropriated, whether at the state or local level. Decision makers in the 58 counties and four cities determine how these millions of MSA dollars are spent. So far, 64% of the counties don't spend any of the funds they received on tobacco programs. And up until 2001, the money received by the state was put into the General Fund. Then the state established a new special fund--the Tobacco Settlement Fund (TSF)--to support a variety of health care programs and some tobacco cessation programs and studies. You would think that now some of this money would go to lung cancer, wouldn't you? Nope! The TSF goes to breast, cervical and prostate cancer treatment, more healthcare access for the needy, Medi-Cal, women, infants and children health programs, etc. The only thing even comes close to lung cancer funding is the youth anti-tobacco program. Don't get me wrong, these are all good programs. But it just doesn't make any sense that absolutely none of the money goes to funding lung cancer research and treatment! Sorry about the rant, but I think that's just unbelievably absurd. And that's why I said "hopefully" some of the cigarette tax money would go to fund lung cancer. If the MSA is any indication of what will be, chances are slim.
  14. Janice, I'm so sorry for your loss. But I'm glad you were able to tell him of your feelings. You gave your dad a wonderful gift. May you find comfort and peace in that knowledge.
  15. SherA

    Cigarette Tax

    I'll be voting YES! Hopefully some of the tax money will go to fund lung cancer research.
  16. Yay!! Rep Cardoza is from California, too. In fact, he's my Rep! I recently wrote to him, and Senators Boxer and Feinstein (his and Senator Boxer's reply posted in this forum) asking for their support of S.Res 408 and H.Res 739. If you let them know of your concerns, they really do listen!
  17. I recently read an article at MSNBC Health about a government-sponsored study of chest X-rays and lung cancer that was done on seemingly healthy 55- to 74-year-olds. Here's how the article started out: "Use of routine chest X-rays to hunt lung cancer leads to frequent false alarms, but when tumors are found they tend to be early-stage, say preliminary results of the biggest study ever to address lung-cancer screening." It then went on to address the study and it's results: "Of the more than 77,000 people screened, doctors spotted something suspicious on the X-rays of 5,991, almost 9 percent, researchers reported Tuesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Patients were sent back to their regular doctors for repeat X-rays, CT scans or other evaluations, and 206 wound up undergoing a biopsy. Ultimately, 126 people were diagnosed with lung cancer — 2 percent of the initially suspicious X-rays. Importantly, 44 percent of the cancers were in the disease’s earliest stage...." Now, in my opinion, that's a lot of false positives. Chances are your dad's could be nothing, too, even though he was a smoker for many years. Every situation is different. The important thing is that your dad was examined while he was in good health and had no symptoms. So, even if it does turn out that your dad has lung cancer, chances are good that they caught it at an early stage. Keep in touch, and all the best to you and your dad.
  18. I'm glad you said everything you needed to say to your dad. I think it's important for both of you. You won't have regrets or wish you would have said this or that. And your dad can go in peace knowing how you feel and that you'll be OK. They really need to know that everyone will be OK. Rick and I had the chance to tell each other a lot of things that we had always wanted to say, but never did until he got sick. I'm so glad we had the chance to talk, but I wish we could have talked more. He was only sick for 3 weeks before he passed, and I didn't think he would be gone so soon. I don't know if I was in denial, or if I really just didn't know, but I didn't think he was going to die. At least not for a few months or more. At the very least. But we did have a chance to talk, and that's more than a lot of people get. But it made me wonder why I waited so long. Why don't I tell the people I love how I feel when they are still around? I think about that, and remember, and I try to do things differently now. All the best to you and your family
  19. I'm so sorry you and your dad are having to go through this. I think that it's difficult for a lot of men to feel they need help from anyone. They are so used to being the strong ones, and when they can't do everyday things for themselves, they have a harder time accepting help from anyone. I think it would be especially hard for a father to accept help from his child, as he would feel it was his job to take care of you! Accept as much support as you can from hospice. They are used to dealing with this and can help you with both advice and with his physical care. And we are here to support you as well. It's a rough situation, and you can only do what you are able to do, but you will find that you are stronger than you ever thought. As for showing your emotions, your heart will tell you what to do. All the best to you and your family.
  20. SherA

    2 months yesterday

    I know, Randy, I was thinking about you, too. I hope your doing OK.
  21. SherA

    2 months yesterday

    It was 2 months ago yesterday when Rick passed away, and I still miss him so much, but it is starting to get a little easier to remember to breathe in and out every day. I don't feel like I'm having a non-stop anxiety attack anymore, just once in a while. And I think that's good, but it also makes me afraid that I'll start to forget some things about him, and I want to remember everything. I dream about him all the time, and in these dreams he's not sick or dying. It's like he's really here, and everything is normal and lung cancer was never a part of our vocabulary. And then I wake up and realize it was just a dream. But I'm glad that I have these dreams, because I feel like I'm really with him, if only for a moment. And they are happy, good dreams - not sad or scary. It's only when I wake up that I'm sad. The marker is on his grave now, and it looks very nice. Since he was buried in a National military cemetery, all the markers look the same. I just hope that the grass starts growing soon. I think it probably will, because his section is pretty much filled up now, and so the ground won't be disturbed there anymore. It's a very beautiful, peaceful place, with rolling green hills, lovely trees and small creeks, and it seems miles away from everything. I've taken some really nice pictures there, two of which I entered into photo contests. One took first place and the other took third. Rick must have had something to do with that, as he was a good photographer, too. I just wish that I would have taken more pictures of him. Take care, everyone, and thanks for being here for me. It really helps.
  22. SherA

    Charlie

    I'm so sorry, Tina. Thinking of you and your family
  23. Hi Chris, I'm so sorry you lost your dear friend, Brad. I also recently lost my best friend, Rick, to lung cancer, so I understand your pain and your commitment to do everything you can to stop this terrible disease. All of us here understand. Lung cancer seems to affect the people touched by it in a way that others can't really relate to. Take care, and remember you're not alone.
  24. Thank you for posting an update, Tom. We've all been thinking about you. I'm glad you are home, and hope that you feel better soon, and that you get good news from the path report. Keep us posted when you can, and all the best to you.
  25. Another reply already - this one from Rep Dennis Cardoza: Dear Miss Anderson: Thank you for contacting my office to express your views about proposed cuts to federal programs - including health programs, such as lung cancer research. Please be assured that I support a budget that represents the right priorities for children, students, veterans and working families. I will certainly keep your views in mind as the House debates budget priorities in the 109th Congress. As this session of Congress moves forward, I will work hard to promote legislation and policies that create jobs, improve educational opportunities for our children, and preserve the national security, health and well-being of all American citizens. Please continue to contact me to express your views on the many issues facing our nation and the U.S. Congress. Again, thank you for taking the time to inform me of your views. If I may be of any further assistance on this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Dennis Cardoza Member of Congress DAC/be Confirmation # 1364168 I cannot guarantee the integrity of the text of this letter if it was not sent to you directly from my Congressional Email Account. If you have any questions about the validity of this message, please call my Washington, DC office at: 202/225.6131.
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