mhutch1366

Fay, Love you, Hope you get home soon. Don't start a riot, please. XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Ginny, dear heart.... A toast to you, and to "The Duke". Love lives forever. XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Wow! A big girl now... Curtis, I hope Katie really enjoys school, and I'm smiling as I see you opening the door to the refrigerator art, and what I did in school today world of a little kid in elementary school. I know Becky is smiling too. Love to you all, MaryAnn XOXOXOXOX

Cindy, I'm sending out some 'hutchitude' to tide you over until your mojo gets the sand washed off and is ready to go home. Special delivery! Hold my hand and squeeze as hard as you like. I'll squeeze back. Love ya, hon. XOXOXOXOX MaryAnn

I am now officially five years post diagnosis, post radiation, will be 5 years post surgery end of August,and post last chemo on Halloween. This is as close to a miracle as I'm going to get. Pancoast tumors are rare; the recent stats shows the combination I received 1-2-3 to be effective. They just don't have data past 48 months. Thank you, Dr. Schrump, my nimble fingered surgeon. Thank you, Dr. Sotos, my oncologist, Thank you, Dr. Holden, my pulmonist, Thank you, Liz Augustine, my physical therapist for over a year. AND Thank You, dear Lord. I have seen my youngest learn to read, develope a sense and style all her own; I have seen my oldest start to date, arrive in high school, contemplate college. I know You have something for me to do as I am still here, and while I'm waiting I'll gladly suffer the shrinking stature, the scoliosis and assorted bone and hypertension problems that come with the pain of surviving the thoracotomy and removal of a massive tumor. I'll pray for those who have gone before me, and for those who will come after me. And I will live each day, enjoy the birdsong, and the color of the sky. I will always remember in my prayers those members of my spiritual family here at LCSC. Love and prayers to you all, MaryAnn XOXOXOX

Becky, Here's hoping the food is good enough to eat, but not so good you want to extend your visit! Hoping you sleep well, but not so well that you don't want to go home! Best for a speedy recovery... XOXOX MaryAnn

Thank you, Anais.

Prayers for this round to hit the tumor hard.... XOXOX MaryAnn

Peggy, I'm sorry it went south so quickly. Praying really hard...... I want to agree, please drive carefully. XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Nicely put, Kasey... Thanks. XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Lori, Your mom is on steroids. They can be h-e-double hockey stick. The sweetest woman I know, who is a lady in every sense told the apple of her eye, her only daughter, to get the F out of the house, threw things, wept profusely.... It is essential, essential, essential, she talk to her doctors when they call. Tell the doctor what's going on. You have GOT to get her to realize that the steroids are making her behavior extreme, and I do mean extreme. Even when you're aware and expecting it, the steroid changes to personality can come as quite a shock. Hang in there. Explain to everyone what's going on, it's the drugs talking. She'll either weep or rage. Doctor should definitely be informed and intervene if necessary. Both I and my friend have had such profoundly bad experiences with steroid altering personality, I hate them. They did their job though for me, to reduce lung inflammation, and for my friend, to reduce swelling in her brain. It was a trial for her family as it was for mine. Just hang in there, and work with the doctor. Your mom isn't rational when she's refusing to speak with the doctor. Good luck, and I hope things calm down soonest.If not sooner. Prayers and hugs, XOXOX MaryAnn

I am sincerely sorry... I am glad you were all together the last days. That will live in your heart. Prayers... XOXOX MaryAnn

Happy Birthday, Donna G !!!

Fay, How could I NOT love you with an attitude like that? XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Dear friends of BlueBayou, My dear sweetest loving wife, Francine, died at 6:30 pm on July 28th, just two days before her 57th birthday. She was informed on Wednesday July 13th that Tarceva, which she had been on for about two months was not working and that the tumours in her neck, chest and abdomen were very much larger. Her oncologist said he had no more tricks up his sleeve and so with heavy heart and in a bit of shock we headed back to our apartment. Over the next two days she deteriorated very rapidly and she was admitted to the palliative unit at Elizabeth bruyere Hospital in Ottawa on Saturday the 16th. It was the last two weeks of her life that really defined Francine as a person. She accepted that she was going to die and set about making it easier for all of her loved ones and friends. She ambraced God and Jesus and clearly indicated that she was anxious to get to heaven and see her father again. She asked only that she die in dignity and with no pain and I can say that got her wishes. In fact, the nurse looking after her loved and admired her so much that she gave her a bubble bath the morning of her death. Literally, she held court towards the end of the first week, calling everyone in and either speaking words of encouragement or saying wonderfully kind things to all. Her humour was unbelievably refreshing. For instance on Saturday after seeing thirteen people throughout the day and into the wee hours of the morning and having prepared herself for death, she exclaimed to me upon waking the next day (I slept beside her that night) "Oh shi_, I am still alive". At another point when my daughter was singing to her and I was feeding her an iced cappuccino, and her sister was massaging her legs she sighed and said " this is the best death ever". Francine had no regrets, she lived her life exactly as she wanted, travelling the world and experiencing the wonders of different countries and cultures. She and I raised a wonderful, loving and independent daughter who is strong of spirit and generous of heart. Francine and I loved each other with a strength that will endure forever. I will miss her so very very much. I hope that I have done this right and that you can share this with all her friends whom she came in contact with on this website. If anyone of you wish to express your thoughts about her please send them to her yahoo e-mail address globetrotter6_ca@yahoo.com which I will check regularly. Thanks Gilles, her hubby _________________ Dx NSCLC Stage IIA Feb 03. Lobectomy upper right lung. No chemo or radiation. Observation only. Mets to the bone (spine) Sept 03 Mets to adrenal gland Oct 03 5 days of radiation finished Oct 03 New CT scans and MRI show mets to gland, bone and to brain Whole Brain Radiation: 4-17 Dec 03 Chemo (Cisplatin/Taxotere) Jan 04 Stereotactic radiosurgery Jan 04 CT Scans Brain/Chest/Abd (Mets to brain & glands gone) Loss of hearing Apr 04 - restored June 04 after surgery MRI upper spine May 04 results inconclusive MRI/CT scans indicate mets to spine (C6/C7) Jul 04 Surgery to upper spine Jul 04 Chemo trmts Carboplatin/Taxotere begin Sep 04 CT Scans brain/neck/chest/abd Nov 04 results indicate no mets to brain/chest or abd/neck stable and tumour on adrenal gland slightly reduced

I received a message from Francine's husband Giles. Francine passed July 28, 2005, in the early evening. This is his letter: Dear friends of BlueBayou, My dear sweetest loving wife, Francine, died at 6:30 pm on July 28th, just two days before her 57th birthday. She was informed on Wednesday July 13th that Tarceva, which she had been on for about two months was not working and that the tumours in her neck, chest and abdomen were very much larger. Her oncologist said he had no more tricks up his sleeve and so with heavy heart and in a bit of shock we headed back to our apartment. Over the next two days she deteriorated very rapidly and she was admitted to the palliative unit at Elizabeth bruyere Hospital in Ottawa on Saturday the 16th. It was the last two weeks of her life that really defined Francine as a person. She accepted that she was going to die and set about making it easier for all of her loved ones and friends. She ambraced God and Jesus and clearly indicated that she was anxious to get to heaven and see her father again. She asked only that she die in dignity and with no pain and I can say that got her wishes. In fact, the nurse looking after her loved and admired her so much that she gave her a bubble bath the morning of her death. Literally, she held court towards the end of the first week, calling everyone in and either speaking words of encouragement or saying wonderfully kind things to all. Her humour was unbelievably refreshing. For instance on Saturday after seeing thirteen people throughout the day and into the wee hours of the morning and having prepared herself for death, she exclaimed to me upon waking the next day (I slept beside her that night) "Oh shi_, I am still alive". At another point when my daughter was singing to her and I was feeding her an iced cappuccino, and her sister was massaging her legs she sighed and said " this is the best death ever". Francine had no regrets, she lived her life exactly as she wanted, travelling the world and experiencing the wonders of different countries and cultures. She and I raised a wonderful, loving and independent daughter who is strong of spirit and generous of heart. Francine and I loved each other with a strength that will endure forever. I will miss her so very very much. I hope that I have done this right and that you can share this with all her friends whom she came in contact with on this website. If anyone of you wish to express your thoughts about her please send them to her yahoo e-mail address globetrotter6_ca@yahoo.com which I will check regularly. Thanks Gilles, her hubby _________________ Dx NSCLC Stage IIA Feb 03. Lobectomy upper right lung. No chemo or radiation. Observation only. Mets to the bone (spine) Sept 03 Mets to adrenal gland Oct 03 5 days of radiation finished Oct 03 New CT scans and MRI show mets to gland, bone and to brain Whole Brain Radiation: 4-17 Dec 03 Chemo (Cisplatin/Taxotere) Jan 04 Stereotactic radiosurgery Jan 04 CT Scans Brain/Chest/Abd (Mets to brain & glands gone) Loss of hearing Apr 04 - restored June 04 after surgery MRI upper spine May 04 results inconclusive MRI/CT scans indicate mets to spine (C6/C7) Jul 04 Surgery to upper spine Jul 04 Chemo trmts Carboplatin/Taxotere begin Sep 04 CT Scans brain/neck/chest/abd Nov 04 results indicate no mets to brain/chest or abd/neck stable and tumour on adrenal gland slightly reduced

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WOW!! Congratulations, Connie!. Many many more... XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Jana, Sorry to hear... Prayers.... XOXOXOX MaryAnn

No, Francine last posted the end of the year, and she had her last scans end of November. They looked good at the time. She hasn't responded to any mail. I have no clue what's up. Ry, did she leave a number or no? XOXOX MaryAnn

Lisa, Good for you! Thank you for speaking up for us... XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Gay, Thank you for the update. I hope things go well for Dean Carl in the hospital this week, and that it is a productive visit. Bless and keep you both. XOXOXOX Prayers, MaryAnn

Lil.. I'm glad you're back . Stay back, please? You've been missed. XOXOX MaryAnn

Hang in there, kiddo. XOXOX MaryAnn

Happy Happy belated birthday, Rachel! The doctors are not always right. Sometimes good things do happen. I was supposed to be out of the game for good some 1500 days ago. Prayer is powerful stuff. Love you, sweetie. XOXOXOXOX Prayers too MaryAnn