Patti B

Hi Everyone - The link below will take you to an interactive Christmas Card put out by Ashland Universtiy here in Ohio. Really pretty cool - hope you all enjoy. Make sure your speakers are up!! http://ecard.ashland.edu/2004admission/index.html Merry Christmas to All!! Patti B.

Now thats really scary cause I pay 39.00 a month for my mom's Lifeline!!!! And no, she can't drive a truck!! Patti B.

I think I definitely consider this a battle .....but, a battle that I will win when I kick the #$%@ outa this cancer!! Patti B.

I bought a wig and absolutely hated it!! It hurt my head!! So I went into scarfs. I met a gal who makes them and they are very long and you can have them draped over your shoulder!! Very pretty!! When we went to Arizona over the summer, a lady came up to me and said - Oh, don't you look cute with that beautiful scarf on" We got to talking and then I realized that she didn't realized why I was wearing it!! Must have thought I was making some new fashion statement. I have hair again and actually had to get it trimmed up. I also had her put hi=lites in. Told her I didn't want to look like a "ho" but I wanted them to stand out!! I waited too long for hair again to not have it be noticed!! So just walk in with your head held high and be proud!!! You deserve to feel that way!! Patti B.

How did I miss this post??? Laughed my butt off. Men really do not listen and I am sure my hubbie would be in the same predicament!! Ha!! Patti B.

Hi!! I am Patti Live in Parma Hts, Ohio, right outside of Cleveland. Grew up in another suburb of Cleveland. Married to hubby Joe for 16 years - we have a 15 year old son Nick who swims on swim teams and plays freshmen football for high school. Prior to Nicks birth, I worked as a budget analyst at a VA Medical Center. Quit when Nick was born since Joe is a long distance truck driver. We have a cat, Cali, who is getting pretty old - 13 1/2!! Have been a survvior of Stage 4 LC for 14 months now and plan on being around for a long time!! Patti B.

Hi all - About a month ago, I became e-mail friends with Chris, known to you all as MsC1210. We have started a wonderful relationship. She has a website called cancergrief.com. In talking to her, I was explaining that it is so hard for me to find a support group in the community for my 15-year old son, Nick. We had found one, but it was all girls and they all had moms fighting breast cancer and he said he could not relate to them. Chris found me a bunch of on-line support groups and decided to put a "kids Place" on her website. Then she decided that it would be great if Nick would be willing to start a blog, explaining to other kids how he felt, the problems he has encountered as a kid, etc. while trying to cope with a mom with cancer. Nick agreed to do this and has posted one blog so far Tuesday night and he is working on more. Our hopes is that other kids will have a place to go like we do here on this forum. Nick really wants to help kids who are just beginning this journey and I do believe that in doing so, he will also be helping himself. So check it out!!! Chris's website is www.cancergrief.com and you can either click on KidsPlace or there is a direct link to Nicks World with Cancer on the home page. Would love to hear feedback on this!!! Hugs and prayers to all - Patti B.

Christopher- I am so terribly sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in my prayers. Patti B.

If I can go to the pub, too, I will buy!!! The thought of 30 people in my house at one time makes me shiver!! Patti B.

Hi Christine- Welcome to the place where noone ever wanted to be but the people are the best!! This is a scary time in the beginning but once you know more and get a positive game plan in place, it will be easier for you. We will all be there to help you along the way. Keep us posted!! Hugs - Patti B.

Hope this link works - laughed my butt off: http://tinyurl.com/2u3pbz Patti B.

Cy- Just wanted to let you know that you, your wife and your little baby will be in my thoughts and prayers. Remember to never give up - many people here have reached remarkable milestones despite what their docs told them. Please keep us posted!! Hugs - Patti B

Hi Sweetie So very sorry to hear about you dad and now your mom. It does seem, however, that your mom's was caught very early. You will read in others profiles how theirs was caught early and have been a survivor for many, many years. Please keep us updated on her progress and know that everyone on this forum is here for you. Patti B.

White lights on the tree - and I prefer white ones outside but I compromise with my husband and let him put up colored ones outside.

You rock Donna!! And many, many, many more!! I am starting on the white zinfandel as we speak!! Patti B.

Dear Jillian I am terribly sorry to hear about your mom. You and your family will be in my prayers. Hugs - Patti B.

Andy- Sorrty you have to be here but you have come to a great place with great people. I keep what I call a "cancer bible" with notes about everything I talk to the doctor about, I keep copies of all my scans and MRIS in there and I even have the chemo nurses write down what chemos I am given each visit. And, I keep a list of all my other meds like my BP meds written in there. I find this helpful because with my husband being away all week, should I get sick, my son or whoever can just give the book to the doctors and they will know everyhting. I even took it on vacation with me last summer because I knew if something had happened my husband might not be familiar with all the names of the chemos, etc. Sending you prayers and hugs. Patti B.

Hi Richard- I know how you feel, right now is a pretty scary time for you. You will find much hope and knowledge here on this forum. I receive my chemo at the Cleveland Clinic, also. Which doctor do you have?? My doctor is Dr. Mekhail and I like him a lot. I used to have another doc but he moved to Texas. At the time when I was first dx'd, I asked about having my chemo done at the Strongsville Cleveland Clinic satellite which is much closer to my home but I was told that at the satellite clinics they do not have access to any experimental drugs if the time came when that would be appropriate for me. So I stayed at the Taussig Center. Thats something to think about if you think about changing locations. My prayers are with you and please keep us updated on your progress. If you have any questions related to the Clinic, please feel free to ask me. When is your next chemo app't?? Hugs and blessings - Patti B.

Lingerie ----------- oooooooooh!!

A nurses outfit - the cape, white hat, nurses purses with a fake hypo in it that I spent way too much time poking my brother and sister with!!

I have a TRUE cuckoo clock story. When my husband and I got married, we really did not want some big church formal wedding as we were a "little" older and had lived together for such a long time. We just wanted a small, intimate wedding with family and close friends My brother in law offered that we could get married in his home (which is HUGE) in front of the fireplace!! All the guests are seated and we are saying our vows. In the meantime, my sister in law had covered ALL the bases (or so she thought). The dog was tied up in the backyard, the phones were disconnected - everything was perfect!! As the minister finished saying "is there anyone here who feels that these two people should not be married - you got it - the cuckoo clock started going CUCKOO, CUCKOO!! Well, one person started giggling and then the whole room burst out in laughter. It was great!! TRUE STORY!!! Hugs Patti B

Welcome Kelli So sorry to hear about your mom and what she is going through. I agree to keep trying to find an anti-depressant that works for her. I was on Lexapro and just couldn't take it - felt like my heart was going to beat right out of my chest at night. Has your mom checked into any support groups near her home?? That might also help her to get out and be with people who know what she is going through. You and your mom will be in my prayers - please keep us updated on how she is doing. Hugs - Patti B.

If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times - we HAVE to be our own best advocates. Got so upset once in the waiting room for chemo after a PA gave me misinformation while my doc was out of town - I got LOUD and warned everyone - get paper copies of your MRI and CAT scan results and READ them - you pay for them, they are yours!! Think the employees wanted to stuff a sock in my mouth but, oh well, too bad!! And why wouldn't you want to be "in charge" - its YOUR body, isn't it?? Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing. Hugs Patti B

I like number 15 - as a matter of fact, I think ALL my teeth hurt right now so I have an excuse for hitting the bottle!!

Stereo!