Roseymac

Debbie, I am so sorry. This news just breaks my Heart, I had no idea, she had been so sick, she never said a word, just that she was having some back pain. Rosemary

This was really neat Ann, but I am back to bed with Ginny called me a Old Hound Dog too. Rosemary

Rawls died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was hospitalized last month for treatment of lung and brain cancer, said his publicist, Paul Shefrin. His wife, Nina, was at his bedside when he died. "He was one of the few singers that you knew without hearing more than a few notes, that it was him," Burt Bacharach told The Associated Press. · Born in Chicago, 1935 · Rawls was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2004 and brain cancer in May 2005. Rawls told Shefrin he quit smoking 35 to 40 years ago. Asked about reports Rawls tried to treat his cancer holistically, Shefrin said: "He did try alternative methods. He used traditional and alternative methods." Along with his wife, Rawls is survived by four children: Louanna Rawls, Lou Rawls Jr., Kendra Smith and Aiden Rawls. Funeral arrangements were incomplete, Shefrin said.

Jen, When my Husband was diagnosed he had liver mets, they never really had any effect on him, they would shrink and get larger, this went on for over 15 months. Have you seen the post by schmaydee? He is taking a new drug that looks very promising for Small Cell CLOREZATINE, please ask your Doctor about that, Read the post also, I wish we had had the chanch, the topitican is really harsh on the counts and it seems as we could never do the protical. Thinking of You Rosemary

MINNEAPOLIS (Oct. 21) - Gordon Lee, the chubby child actor who played Spanky McFarland's little brother Porky in the "Little Rascals" comedies, has died. He was 71. Lee died Sunday in a Minneapolis nursing home after battling lung and brain cancer, said Janice McClain, his partner of 13 years. Lee played one of the younger members in the "Our Gang" shorts in the 1930s, appearing in more than 40 of them from 1935 to 1939. The comedies, produced by Hal Roach, became known as "The Little Rascals" when shown on TV in the 1950s. Among the films Lee appeared in were "Bored of Education," which won the Oscar for best one-reel short subject in 1937; "Our Gang Follies of 1936"; "The Awful Tooth"; and "Roamin' Holiday." In a 1998 interview with the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, the Texas-born Lee said he was 2 years old when his mother sent his picture to studio executives who were seeking an actor to play McFarland's brother. "We were on the next train to L.A. and I had a contract within a few days," Lee said. "Fat kid got lucky." "My memories are not about making movies. We played with our toys and the adults played with theirs (the cameras)," he said. He and Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas teamed up against older boys Spanky and Alfalfa in many of the comedies. The Porky character is credited with originating the catchphrase "otay." In the interview, Lee recalled a warm friendship with his black costar when they were kids and praised their interracial relationship on screen, saying, "Buckwheat played an absolute equal part in the Gang." Lee told friends his career ended when a growth spurt made him thinner. "They wanted Porky to be a chunky fellow, so they looked for someone else," McClain said. He was born Eugene Lee in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1933. His adoptive parents began calling him Gordon after Gordon Douglas, who directed many of the films Lee appeared in. He kept the first name as an adult. Lee was a schoolteacher, living in Colorado for a time. He moved to Minnesota after he retired to be closer to his only son, Douglas, said a friend, Tracy Tolzmann. In recent years, Lee sold autographed photos of himself as Porky, Tolzmann and McClain said. "Before that he felt like he was forgotten," McClain said. "It really made him feel

Thank you everyone for sharing your personal experiances and thoughts, makes me know there is a message. Just wish I wasn't so hardheaded to understand sometimes. Ann, I remember you telling me how everything would go so smoothly, and yes I was surprised at just how everything fell into place, when I thought their would be complete termoil in the early months. Rosemary

I just came back from a cruise to the Caribbean, that was suspossed to be for Fred and I. Instead I went with my friend Carol next door. Well I brought Freds ashes because this is a trip he so deserved. (also felt a little guilty going alone) Well I sometimes struggle with the afterlife, and is it all true, or just something they tell us to make us feel BETTER. When I opened the first pack of pics and the very first pic I looked at it was Fred sitting in a chair,in a room at the casino in Atlantic City we had went to last Labor day.(Took me a minute to even think where it was from) I started to cry, but kind of happy tears, I thought is this his way of letting me know, that yes he was there with us? Or just one of those everyday coincidences? Rosemary

I am going to go with the old Good Girls Love Bad Boy's!!!! I went through this for a while with my daughter when she was young. I think the excitement of it all, and especially when they get to nuture the guys it makes them feel really needed. Happy to say she has outgrown all this, and is with a super guy now that treats her and I wonderful. Rosemary

Don, That is the kind of news I love to read here on the boards! This gives so many people with Small Cell the encouragement they need. The Dr.s always seems to go by the statistics and it can scare the bejeebers out of you. I love to hear when you prove them WRONG it can be done!! God Bless You Keep Posting Rosemary

Jen, You will be in my thoughts and prayers all week. Keeping my finger's crossed for great scans. Rosemary

I guess the questioning of yourself with the what if's is a normal part of grieving. I have been also very guilty of this since Fred passed away. I replay everything over in my head, and always come to the conclusion I should have been more insistant for a better answer about my questions with things that seemed wrong that day. Also I think did he have too much, too much chemo too much radiation. Is there a point where there is just too much. Would nothing more have been better? I know it was all in Gods hands from the start but I always have those demons in my head I know it will get easier as time goes by, or so they say. Rosemary

Praying for you Rachel, hopefully it is just a touch of bursitis, or something simple. (((Hugs))) Rosemary

Prayers for you Sandy for a speedy recovery from your surgery, I like Davids point of view think about it like a little mini vacation!!! ((Hugs)) Rosemary

Karen, My prayers are with you and Faith. God will see you through, and I will pray for your strength. ((Hugs)) Rosemary

I will miss Betty, she gave me so much encouragement when Fred wasn't doing so well, it's hard to beleive in just a few short months things turned so bad for her. Rosemary

Jen, My husbands experiance wasn't good with topo, as for side effects,it knocked his counts down really low and he couldn't continue with it the way he should have. But he felt fine with it as he did with all the chemos's. They did start him on camptostar which I think is in the same drug family. I know several people on here have not had a problem with it and it worked really well on the mets. Rosemary

Dave and Karen, I want you to know you are in my prayers and thoughts always. Seems like the Doc has a plan B, which I hope will releive the pain and get rid of those Brain Mets. Rosemary

I want to thank everyone for all the phone calls e-mails pm's and cards I have received. Also all the prayers everyone has said for Fred and I this past year and a half, I truly don't know how we would have gotten through everything without you. Just to know there are other people out there strugling with this awful disease, but still they keep you in their hearts and prayers what a wonderful group of people we have. (((Hugs))) Rosemary Here is Freds Obit MCPHERSON, FREDERICK L. On March 8, 2005, after battling lung cancer for eighteen months still fighting with great courage and dignity, 'Fred' of Lindenwold, age 53 years. Beloved husband of Rosemary A. (nee Piper) McPherson. Survived by son Robert J. (Michelle) McPherson of Wilmington, DE., daughter Heather M. McPherson of Lindenwold, brother William (Cookie) McPherson of Burlington, many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Predeceased by his granddaughter Makayla, and brothers Albert, Joseph, Elmer, David, John, and James. Fred was an employee of All-Shore Heating & Air Conditioning in Marlton. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his visitation on Saturday afternoon 1-3pm followed by funeral services 3pm at the ORA L. WOOSTER FUNERAL HOME, 51 Park Blvd., Clementon, NJ 08021. Cremation private. The family wishes to extend a personal 'Thank You' to Cooper Cancer Institute, and to Rosemary, Loriann, & Sue, who made his journey through cancer easier. Publication date: 3/11/05

Don and Lucie, That is WONDERFUL NEWS Now time to start getting ready for that cruise!!!! (Hugs) Rosemary

Karen, I sent you a PM Rosemary

David, So sorry to hear this. This small cell is so sneaky, Doesn't seem to want to give you a break, but just think of it as another bump in the road, and get ready for the fight again. You are young and strong, and small cell is weak and runs for the hills, from chemo and radiation. You and your family are in my prayers. Rosemary

Andrea, I have thought about this, I keep too much inside, don't like to share too much with friends either how I really feel, and I go around and act like everything is just honky dorry. I know I really do need someone, I am also afraid if I see anyone I could lose my job. I don't know if anyone else has this fear, but I know it can happen. Rosemary

Well count Fred in, I came home from work tonight and he had on Cake Decorateing on the Food Net, go figure took him out for breakfast Belgum Waffles and he hardly ate a thing. His favorites are NYPD and LA Law, but when there not on it usually the food net. Maybe it satisfies the mind, I had always thought it would stimulate his appitite. Rosemary

The Dr. is probablly checking to see if it is tender to the touch or any swelling, like Andrea said. I think in that area if there was something there you would feel it, your armpit is a pretty tender spot, so if the lymp was enlarged you would feel something. Rosemary

Don, Good news that the lymph nodes in the chest are stable, sorry to hear about the new liver met, it sounds like the Dr. already has a plan to blast that. The cruise sounds wonderful, reminds me how much we really need a little (life without cancer) vacation ourselves. I think I am going to look into something myself for this spring. You and Lucie are always in my thoughts and prayers. Rosemary