mhutch1366

Shar, I am so very glad your dog got home. Maybe if you had a collar tag reading he was 'chipped, people would be not tempted to keep him? Like tattoos? I know how glad I'd feel......!!!!! XOXOXOXOX MaryAnn

Carleen, This is truly wonderful news!! I am very very happy for you both... XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Good to see you here, Gay, and we're honored to have you stay with this family. XOXOXOX MaryAnn

One year is terrific!! Congratulations!! XOXOX MaryAnn

Hi, Don't be concerned overly with statistics. They're derived from old data, by definition. Too much has happened in the last handful of years for old data to necessarily apply now. I'm glad you mother's doctors have decided to be proactive about this. That is a good thing. Try to find someone to write down questions and answers, or to tape what the doctor says for you to hear later. I'm sorry this comes while you're in college, I know that's a busy time, but I'm glad your mom has a concerned daughter. Keep coming back, and keep us posted. XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Happy Birthday, Heather! XOXOXOX MaryAnn

OOOh, phospho-soda is rough.... your poor father..... Let that be a lesson to all of us in treatment. DO NOT LET YOURSELF GET BOUND UP. I wound up perforating my bowel, and had surgery and ostomy etc etc etc. This stuff is no joke if it gets out of hand, to use a phrase. Good advice, Ry. You are a well of practical wisdom. Here's to hydration and bran flakes!! XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Hope things continue to go well... XOXOX MaryAnn

Fay, Glad to hear from you, kiddo. Hang in there, you'll get cut loose hopefully when you're ready, and not AFTER YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH GREEN JELLO TO TAKE OUT THE MONGOL HORDES.... ppfftt. Hospital food. XOXOXOXOX MaryAnn

Congratulations!! XOXOX MaryAnn

Good for you! Recommend this cardiologist go into pathology the next time you see him. Hang in there... XOXOX MaryAnn

Thank you, Dave, for sharing that part of Dean Carl's world with us. XOXOX MaryAnn

Hi Starr, I think you're doing the right thing, for yourself and for your mom. The advice above is sound. Come here often for refueling... we'll help you keep going... XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Of course! Prayers for good things... XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Thank you, lking. I am very glad for your good news. XOXOX MaryAnn

I pray for strength for her family, and for her, "healing perfectly" with God as Donna G put it. To paraphrase John Donne, the death of any of us diminishes all of us. XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Love to you too, hon. XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Thank you, Karen. I know Beth was trying so hard to put on a brave face for her kids; she confessed to me once that it was all she could do to keep from screaming "I don't think I"m gonna make it this time, kids....".... at that point my heart went out to her. She also wrote me that she didn't know how she'd make out without David to boost her. I'm sure he's showing her the ropes, and I'm sure Faith and Beth's kids will have the best angels peering over their shoulders.... God bless and keep you and Faith and Beth's husband and kids. In between, I lost my neighbor and friend to BC, similarly leaving behind 5,7,15, and hubby. I mourn them all. XOXOXOX MaryAnn

My oncologist prescribed this for me when I had difficulty eating post chemo and radiation: The pharmacist made it up for me. Directions: swish and spit about 1 spoonful (fifteen mls) every 30 minutes as needed, esp before eating. (You can swallow a teeny bit) Mouth rinse: 25 cc of liquid Benadryl, 25 mg/cc stock solution 25 cc of Maalox 25 cc of lidocaine, viscous, 2% solution 25 cc of nystatin liquid. ----------------------------------------- There is also a premix similar to the above available in the Wash DC area by prescription called Gel-claire, but the nurse had no firsthand knowledge of it. Hope this helps! XOXOX MaryAnn

Yes, thank you for the link. MaryAnn

Fay, Get Well Soon!! XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Living well is the best revenge....

Glad to hear he's doing well, Darci. I'll keep him in my prayers. XOXOX MaryAnn

If your husband is infection prone now, before chemo, make sure the oncologist knows you are concerned about this, and that you discuss it with him prior to surgery. We all have had to be careful about picking up something from crowds at one time or another. Maybe there's some proactive step you could take that would make all of you breathe a little easier. XOXOX MaryAnn

Profound sadness. Go with God, Beth. Prayers for your family to be strong. XOXOXOX MaryAnn