bluebayou

Thank you, thank you!! I am forever in your debt I promise not to do that again. Love, Francine

Dear Ry, This seems to be a good day (what with all of the accolades going your way) to fess up. I left my home to go on a 10-day fishing trip without a pass. So sorry.... That being said, don't I have immunity from your fines seeing as I'm from out of country Love, Francine P.S. I am fully in agreement with what has been said. You are great!!

Dear Debi Happy Birthday my friend and many many more to come. God Bless Us All love, Francine

Dear Ginny.. Am so thankful he is pain free. This is such a blessing. Enjoy every second with him and know that we are there for you and are sending all our prayers for a miracle. God Bless Us All, Francine

Very Very Cool!!! God Bless us All Francine

Happy Birthday Donna!! MAY ALL YOUR WISHES COME TRUE.. God Bless Us All Francine

It seems that all eyes are upon you Cheryl!! Best of luck and know that all our prayers and thoughts are with you. Love, Francine God Bless us All

What a beautiful post Norme. Not surprising...you are so very compassionate love, Francine God Bless us All

To Rye and John: I was not there but I sense it was a warm *happening* and I want to thank you both for your generosity and kindness in organizing this event. Thx to all who helped coordinate it as well. Perhaps one day we can bring it up North a bit and I could particiate. That would be unbelievable!! Love, Francine God Bless us All

Many thks Rick for the pictures. Its nice to see all those faces. Appreciate you and Katie's efforts to make it happen. Love, Francine God Bless us All

You go Cheryl! My prayers going up as we speak. You will be just fine Love, Francine God Bless us All

Good luck to you Bruce for a successful surgery. My prayers are with you. Love, Francine God Bless us All..

Hello Don, Happy with the good news that all went well in the end. Lots of prayers for two very special people going on up!!! God Bless us all, Francine

Hey Guys.. Well I made it thru surgery just fine. No complications. Just before I was reeled into the operating room, the doctor asked me if I wanted the bone that they would use to fuse into my back (where they did the digging out of my tumour thereby leaving a hole) to be taken from my hip bone or from a bone bank. Threw this at me at last minute. He said both were good options with the hip bone one being slightly better in terms of fusion but on the other hand, quite painful after removal. Seeing as I've been in pain for so long now, I chose the bone bank version. Hopefully in will fuse well and there will be no problems. I was in surgery for 3 hrs. He said that he had dug out between 50-70% of the tumour. Good results he says considering the sensitive area being *excavated*. He said he was able to relieve compression on the nerve and hopefully that will result in lessening of pain. That was the main goal going in. That was Monday late afternoon. The next day they strapped this enormous neck brace around my neck and as everything was going well said I could go home whenever I wanted. The brace stays on till Sept when I c the doc next. So there I am carrying this morphine pump around my shoulder and wearing this enormous brace. What a sight! I told Gilles that if they should want me back in the hospital for tests and such that I want to consider my options as everytime I go there, I come back with some apparatus wrapped around some body part God heard your prayers and I sailed thru just fine. As a matter of fact, so fine that I was released very next day..something veteran nurses on the floor told me they had never seen before. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind wishes and prayers. Time will tell if this surgery does in fact relieve the pain or not. Will keep you posted. Love, Francine God Bless us All!!!

Excellent news...Go Cheryl!! God Bless us All.. Francine

Its late and I should be in bed but I can't calm myself down enough to hit the sack. I'm so very scared. I hope I have done the right thing. I call tomorrow to find out if they have a bed for me Monday. I will be operated on some time this week. They have decided that there is indeed cancer in my spine and that the neurosurgeon would operate within two weeks. When we got that news from my other oncologist, we called to set up an appt only to find out my neurosurgeon was on leave and would not be back until end of month. Gilles and I were really upset at the delays and voiced those concerns to my radiation oncologist who set about getting me an appt with another neurosurgeon. I met with him and he is willing to go thru the back door, i.e. be admitted via ER and he would do it The reason for the haste is THIS ONGOING HORRIBLE PAIN I've had since forever and the numbness I am feeling more and more down my right side. I have difficulty holding on to things and its scary. Also, I'm afraid of the spread of this cancer which they took their sweet time over in coming together and deciding YES, its there alright! I will let you know how it all turns out, but for now I've never been more frightened in my life. I'm so afraid of making wrong decisions. The reperecussions could be great, Please, please, please... May I have all of your prayers in the days to come. I believe in their power..I believe in you all!!! God Bless us all, Francine

I am sooooooooooooooo jealous. Have the time of your lives and make special memories that you can carry over and bring home to those of us who would love to be there but can't make it. Love, Francine

Hi All: My monikor pays tribute to the one song that stands out in my mind among the many songs written and sung by Roy Orbison...one of my favorite singers. Its a bit sad and I guess that's the way I was feeling at the momemt of choosing. The only other nickname I ever had before was *blubber lips*. Didn't that was appropriate . Fun posting! God Bless us All, Francine

Hello Jen, I had serious ear problems (almost total loss of hearing in one ear and a little less in other). My doctor attributed it to Cisplatin. I has 3 sessions of combination Cisplatin//Taxitere. Very agressive and it did the trick i.e. got rid of most of my cancer (or as they say, what you can see) but it did have that side effect. It actually became a problem with communication with my husband, in my daily life etc. Finally managed to see a doctor who simply put tubes in and i'm fine now. Just a thought! Francine God Bless us All

Ginny, The tears just flow and I cant do anything. I'm so very sorry. Love, Francine God Bless us All

Good luck David and God bless... Will keep you in my prayers, Francine

God Bless u Connie Love, Francine

I'm so sorry about the bad news Margaret . As for me, it was pretty much decided for me as I was in shock after revelation of cancer being back. I underwent WBR followed up by radistatctic surgery. It all turned out alright, but I must say, if I had been informed of such a short lapse of time before recurrance I might had changed my mind. Again, I was in shock. Anyway, I want very much to say that my prayers are with you day and night. God Bless us All, Francine

Hi Friends.. You would have known (re hospital) if my sweet husband *Gilles) had managed to get my e-mail thru to you all. Have checked everywhere but can't find it. Quick update. Went into hospital for two reasons. First was to try and get rid of pain (long-enduring) and to talk yet again about conflicting test results i.e. my doctor sees cancer at same spot as last time and the neurosurgeon's who sees no cancer. Prior to going in, new Scans and MRIs were taken and NOW my neurosurgeon sees it as cancer. The visit was successful in that regard and so surgury is back on. Pain still there.. We are really struggling in that dept but am trying new cocktail and was sent home with morphine pump (bit of a pain ) So surgery will take place in about two week's time followed by perhaps radiation and definitely chemo. There has been very very little growth in other spots but enough that he wants to do chemo. Much milder this time, so that is good news. So there is is. Will update after surgery. Very nice to be back....even tho nobody knew I was gone. Bummer Was hoping to get home and get good wishes for the trip to the hospital. Ta Ta for Now. Love, Francine God Bless us All

Keeping everything crossed and tons of prayers going their way. God Bless us All, Francine