Remembering Dave

Nina - my husband Dave had bronchitis in January, after finishing his treatments last year. He has had clean scans since then, too - but perhaps some scar tissue or damage in his left lung where one of the tumors was. Anyway, that bronchitis really knocked him down bad. I had to take him to the emergency room because we were really scared, he was so sick, we were afraid the tumor was back - but it was the bronchitis - and I guess the scar tissue made it worse. But he tooks his meds and RESTED and eventually he got over it. So take good care of yourself, and REST, and you will too! It will just take more time because your lungs are bound to be somewhat weakened from the treatments. Good Luck, and God Bless! Karen C.

Berisa - this is Karen C. I don't post enough and I'm sorry. The last line of your post really got my attention - that you don't know what else you can do for your Dad. Gosh, Berisa, you have done so so much for your father throughout his illness. You have been so strong and supportive and his advocate and always looking and researching and trying to find the best thing for him. You have been a wonderful daughter and don't be upset because you don't know what else you can do for him. You have done so much. When the burden feels too heavy to carry alone, it's time to ask God to take the burden from your shoulders. He is always there for us and He will help you and your family get through this and lead you to do the best thing at every step. And He is smiling down you, because you have shown your love for your early father in so many ways. God Bless, Love and Prayers, Karen Chapman

Hi, this is Karen. Dave is not necessarily early stage - he was limited stage SCLC when diagnosed, but it was about to spread . . . anyway, about your question - this is a good one. Dave finished chemo and lung radiation last summer and PCI last September. He's been NED since then. But he still doesn't have his energy back which is a constant reminder. We try really hard not to live each day thinking about the possibility of it returning, yet want to be aware of what is going on with both of us to catch anything early. I got diagnosed with a Stage II melanoma last summer and even though it was removed "in time" I am really paranoid about that. My surgeon is checking me every six months but I decided to also get a full body skin check by a good dermatologist. I'm hoping that will give me peace of mind from that. Dave's next scan is May 3 and if that one is clean, I am determined to accept that and quit thinking about it. I know he thinks about it all the time but doesn't talk about it. I think we just have to be smart about getting checked and treated, and then go on and live our lives. Just use a fair amount of will power and not let it become part of your daily life. God Bless, Karen

Hi, everyone, this is Karen. I just thought I'd give everyone an update on the fundraiser Dave did for St. Baldricks where he shaved his head on stage in front of a couple of thousand people at the Irish Festival here in Richmond. It was a huge success and I think really raised awareness of children's cancer issues and cancer in general. One lady got shaved, a middle aged lady who was the vice principal at a school. After she got shaved she took the mike and gave a talk asking all the children present to be kind to their fellow students who are sick and lose their hair. Said she sees too often a young cancer victim bullied because they lose their hair and she was doing this to raise awareness. The whole crowd cheered for her. Well, they also cheered for Dave - he was the first person shaved and was introduced as someone who had just finished treatment for lung cancer and was currently cancer free - that got a wonderful positive response from the crowd and I think raised awareness just a little bit, at least. So a big thank you to everyone here who sponsored Dave and to everyone else who sponsored us with your prayers and words of support. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary and Dave being cancer free one year to the day after his diagnoses. God Bless everyone, Karen C.

Ry, it's a good thing I didn't send you one of our famous Virginia Hams!!!!! I think my wife is trying to kill me with all the meat we have been eating this week. That's OK I have already planted some Broccoli, Cauliflower and Collard Greens in the Garden. Do peanuts fit into a vegetarian diet? I think they do. We have some mean peanuts here in VA. if I do say so myself and I AM allergic to nuts (peanuts that is). Good to have you back. David C.

Stephanie, I just wanted to add that I think you are a very brave person, and it sounds like you got that from your Mom. I am really saddened by her passing, but I know you will find joy in her love forever. God Bless, Karen Chapman

Curtis, I am shocked and heartbroken. Our love and condolences are with you, Karen Chapman

Stephanie, Please accept my condolences. Your mother was a strong woman. It is good to hear she did not suffer much. You and your family will be in my prayers. David C

Curtis, I am so sorry and very shocked. We all loved Becky very much. My prayers will be with you and your family. David C

Berrisa please know that I have been following all your posts and you and your dad have been and will continue to be in my prayers. David C

OOps!!!! Logged in and reposted under new General.

Yes we are doing pretty good, I guess. I returned to work full time week before last and overdid it a little and then deffintely overdid it last weekend tilling up part of the garden and planting some Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cauliflower and onions. This week I had to take one full day off and then I only worked a 1/2 day today. I just feel so tired and then my job is so intense that I get a litle light headed towards the end of the day, guess you could say my brain just starts to hurt. Karen has not been doing very well these past few weeks either. She discovered she has a thyroid problem which runs in her family and started medication for that then her allergies have been so bad that I finally convinced her to start getting some allergy shots. All of that combined with evrything from the whole of last year has just came crashing down and she has been not feeling well. One year ago this coming Sunday she took me to the emergency room were I was diagnosed with SCLC on our 10th wedding anniversary and she has been there for me every step of the way even when I have been a total A-hole on steroids. I am so lucky to have her, I do not know how she did it. I'm not sure how I feel in my heart one year later. I feel so very sad that some of the friends I made here are no longer here and yes I do feel guilty because I have no evidence of cancer now and others have not been so lucky. I got close to several people who we have lost and it is devastating. I thank God every night for giving me a little more time to spend with Karen and Faith. And I pray that everyone here can acheive complete remission. My next scans are scheduled for the first week in May. Faith is doing great,she is such a little miracle. She has grown so much since we got her in Oct. of 2002. She still is strugling with talking but other than that she is doing wonderfull. She is definitely Daddy's little girl. This is going to be a full weekend for me. Karen and I are going out tomorrow night for a nice dinner to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary and then Sunday is the St. Baldericks Day Celebration. I will be getting my head shaved to help raise money for research for Childhood Cancer. It is an event sponsered by The National Childhood Cancer Foundation, a national organization which has been given the top ratings by non profit watch groups. I have raised well over $2,000.00 between online donations and checks and cash people have donated. In fact I am in the lead for the shavee's here in Richmond VA.. I am supposed to be the first shavee and my story will be told and then linked right into the Childhood Cancer Research and the head shaving. The organizer of the Richmond event has been in touch with all the news organizations but does not know if anyone will be there to cover the event. By the way this is also the organization my sister BeckyCW has worked for for years. She has been going all over CA going to the different St. Baldricks events for the past several weeks. If you want to check out the site or feel you can help support this cause please see my web page: http://www.stbaldricks.org/ShaveePhoto. ... r=15314437 This site also has links to the St. Baldricks site. Becky has been in the Cancer fund raising business for many many years and she pointed out that a lot of the advances for all cancers have come from the research performed for Childhood Cancer. I could not imagine Faith being stricken with Cancer, I would give my life for her. It is bad enough that I got it at the age of 38. I do feel guilty about not organizing anything for Lung Cancer (don't worry I have not forgot about The Instigator), I just don't have the energy to do any organizing. Don't know if y'all realize it but Richmond is the home of Phillip Morris and employs a significant amount of people here. VA is very, very tobacco freindly. I have missed you all, I will pledge to do better about getting online, I do pop in everyother day or so and read the posts but like I have said I have been so tired I just don't feel like posting. I see your joys and feel your pains and pray for you all. I better stop rambling here and get to bed, this will be a long weekend and I go in to get my port flushed monday, boy they sure will be surprised to see me bald again, ha,ha. Take care everybody. David C

Glad that Earl is a Happy Camper! I got Dave a hat about a year ago at Cracker Barrell, it had a smiley face wearing a ranger hat and said HAPPY CAMPER. I don't think they sell them anymore. Or, I'd send you Dave's but the darn puppy chewed it to bits. Life with a lab puppy. Congrats, and hope the rest of the week is going good, too! God Bless, Karen C.

Peg, we are late seeing this, my heart broke reading your post, and then when I saw your update I said yipee! Am so glad you're not giving up and looking for more options. Hang in there! God Bless, Karen C.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Mary ann and Ginny. The link to my page is: http://www.stbaldricks.org/ShaveePhoto. ... r=15314437 David C

Hi, this is Karen C. We haven't been on the board in a week or so, we've just been so busy haven't had much time for the computer, and I am stealing a few minutes at work to post this. Also, to the Instigator and everyone else waiting for the Dave drag photos - they're coming, we promise. We got the dress, pantyhouse, wig, pumps and bright red lipstick, but by the time we got everything together on Sunday we were both too tired to do it. I have been suffering from hypothyroid plus a terrible sinus infection so it's two sick people muddling through our day struggling to take care of a demanding two year old. Anyway, we appreciate everyone reading the following message, at least wanted everyone to know what else we're up to: Hi, as most everyone knows, on March 22, 2003 I took my husband Dave to the hospital emergency room where he was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. After many months of aggressive treatment through chemotherapy and radiation treatments and thanks to the many prayers and the support we have received from family, friends,co-workers and our employers (and all of you at LCSC!), I am happy to report that one year later he is cancer free. To help celebrate being cancer free on the first anniversary of Dave's diagnoses (and also to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary) he will be participating in the fifth annual St. Baldricks event which will be held on Sunday, March 21 at 4:00 pm at the Irish Festival at St. Patrick's Church on 25th Street on Church Hill. St. Baldricks is an event to raise money for children's cancer research through the National Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF) where volunteers take pledges to shave their heads, as an act of solidarity for childhood cancer victims who often lose their hair during chemo treatments. Many advances in all cancer treatments have come through the research for a Cure for Childhood Cancer. I will admit that Dave is cheating a bit - his hair just recently started to grow back after chemo and radiation treatments - but I hope you will support him in this wonderful cause. Donations made to sponsor Dave in this event can either be made on-line by going to www.stbaldricks.org, clicking on "Sponsor A Shavee" and finding his name (David Chapman) in the search engine, or by mailing in a donation using the donation form available either on the website or from me. Any amount is appreciated no matter how large or small. Thanks and God Bless, Karen C.

Don't forget to jiggle the handle.

Dean, I sure hope the weather turns for your morning rolls. I am looking forward to some nice weather here in the east as well. Nothing like getting outside in the sun to do the mind good. Hang in there buddy and keep us all informed. David C

Gina, Aint it grand!!!!!!!!!!! It will be one year from diagnosis for me at the end of March. I am still recovering from the side effects of my PCI so life has not really gotten back to precancer state for me just yet. I am starting to feel much better and really do want to get back into my old-ususal routine. Sounds to me like you are back doing the things you love and other than not keeping in touch with folks, which most of us are guilty of, and eating poorly , which most of us can probably say the same, It sounds as if you are doing great. I would not call it being complacant-------I would call it wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations, heres to many more years!! David C

Great news!!!!! Heres to much more of the same! David C

My condolences to you and your family. Cancer is a disasterous disease. Please know that we are here for you. David C

Joanie, I can not even begin to imagine what you have been through, I have no magic words for you. Have you taked to the Doctor about maybe getting some antidepresants, they do help. Please know that we are all here for you. You will be in my prayers. David C

Hi, this is Karen. We just got home from a weekend in Northern Va., our adoption agency had a "reunion" and several families we traveled to China with were there, so we went up and made a weekend of it even though we only live two hours from there. We had planned on just going up for the day today but when several other out of town families said they were coming we decided to go on Saturday. We have kept in close touch with several of these families and honestly they feel like part of our family now. Anyway, our guide from China was there, along with about 700 people (no lie) and it was just overwhelming for him and the other guide, a young girl named Amy. When they asked her to speak she just cried, she was so overwhelmed by it all. A good overwhelmed. There was so much love in the room. But it was just wonderful to be with these people again, and more importantly, it was just wonderful that Dave was able to be there and hang with the gang the whole weekend. We did have to spend a little more time in our room for him to rest than everyone else did, but that's no big deal. I told several people and I truly believe it, that Faith may have saved Dave's life. He loves her so much, and I think he had the fight to beat this cancer in him so strong because he desperately wanted to live and be healthy for her. So getting together with our beloved travel family was a real celebration of life for us. Maybe Dave can put a photo up on his Avatar of Faith and a bunch of her buddies. There is nothing cuter than a group of Chinese two year old girls sitting on a couch! God Bless, Karen C.

To Betty: This is Karen. I read your post and I have to say that you are amazingly "together" despite a pretty rough beginning in life. That's quite an accomplishment! With a positive attitude like that, I'm surprised the best single men in town aren't beating your door down. But I can also tell you are not alone, are have God with you all the time, don't you? Karen C.

my prayers are definitely being said David C