BeckyCW
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Posts posted by BeckyCW
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Yes, let's let them know how much we appreciate them!
Today I'm especially appreciative of my Uncle Clovis who served in WWII. Also the husband of one friend, and the son of another, now in Iraq and/or Afghanistan - and wishing they could be home with their young families, but appreciating their service.
Hats off to all our vets here at LCSC, every day, but especially on this special one!
BeckyCW
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Paul & Bibala, thank you for the updates.
Addie, I'm sure you know how we depend on your wit and wisdom, let alone Additude, so I'm glad you're getting a laptop so you can get your butt back here!
I'm praying that you'll surprise the entire hospital staff with how quick those mets start to behave themselves. And in the meantime, let us know what we can do to help.
We're pulling for you! And we're crazy about you -- You know that, right?!
BeckyCW
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You're all right, of course -- If only one person is helped because they heard about LCSC and they come here for support, that's a very good thing! I guess I just couldn't help thinking that if the event had been for breast cancer, for instance, there might have been more people there.
In any case, my hat is off to City of Hope for giving people the opportunity to come and learn, and for working hard to make the event happen. And my hat is even further off (way-across-the-room off) to Fay for working so hard on the event even after she knew she couldn't be there!
I'm so looking forward to meeting Nancy & Andrea and her mom on Saturday! (and getting my cookbooks, too!) Fay, it's a long drive for a morning event, but we'd sure love to see you -- if you still have roads left after that flash flooding!
BeckyCW
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This really does burn me up. Here's the reply I sent, using the email link you provided. Thank you, Joyce! And yes, that IS a great letter to the Governor from your chairperson on the website -- and from you!
BeckyCW
PROTEST OF LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH CALIFORNIA PROCLAMATION
Goveronor, you could use some good publicity right about now, and here's one way to get it: Stand up and tell Californians that your earlier proclamation for Lung Cancer Awareness Month left out some important things.
Yes, it's important to keep the pressure on people to stop using tobacco products, for the sake of their health. (You could set an example there, too, by publically stopping the cigar smoking.) But why is that all there is to your proclamation, when there are other big awareness issues to address?
Isn't it important that we find better methods of early detection for lung cancer? It is partly because it is almost never detected early enough that so many of those diagnosed will die of the disease.
The proclamation should at least mention that the funding spent on curing lung cancer is a fraction of that spent for any other type -- even though more people die of lung cancer than breast, prostate, and colon cancer COMBINED.
And why are we afraid to acknowledge the fact that many people get lung cancer who DON'T smoke (some who never did)? That's not to say it's okay to smoke. It's to say that smoking doesn't "explain it all away." If everyone stopped smoking today, we'd still need research to find cures.
Last, but far from least, why can't we stand up and say that people with lung cancer -- whether or not they smoked -- are deserving of our compassion and of their own dignity? Less passing judgement and more concern, less blaming the patient and more focus on curing him or her... is that too much to ask?
Who am I? The sister of an incredible man who was diagnosed at age 38, died last summer at age 40, and left behind a 3-year-old daughter. Did he smoke? Why do you ask? If he did, would that mean he "got what he deserved?" If you have a more compassionate view, please, issue a new proclamation. And make a big deal about it.
Thank you,
Rebecca Chapman Weaver
South Pasadena, CA
in memory of David Wayne Chapman
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Well, folks -- I'm reporting in on the City of Hope event this evening. Fay was frustrated not to be able to be there, as you know. And I was frustrated not to be able to meet her there. But she sent me lots of info by email, and I was able to print up most of it and take it with me. The people who came tonight appreciated your thoughts.
MY frustration was that the event was so lightly attended. It was a weeknight and on a rainy kind of evening, so maybe that was it. Still...
Many of the people who came were there to get help to stop smoking. I did meet one wonderful 83-year-old gentleman from England who is a 5-year survivor with one lung, who bragged to me about his lawn bowling and other sporting activities. He was an inspiration.
Another inspiration: I ran into an old acquaintance who was a volunteer fundraiser for the childhood cancer research group I used to work for. Spencer is a many-year survivor (I forget, but at least 15 years) of mesothelioma -- an almost unheard of feat. He's 5 years past his last surgery now, and looks great. He's also a 2-time survivor of testicular cancer, before that. This is a man who's been through a lot, almost died several times, and there he was, chipper as usual!
Then there were the 2 teenage girls whose father had dragged them there because one of them had started to smoke recently. (They're SO lucky I didn't know that when they came to the LCSC table - ha!) I talked with the dad later.
Honestly, folks, I only met ONE lung cancer patient, and several people who had lost loved ones to the disease. But they all have LCSC cards now, as do all the healthcare professionals I met, so maybe we'll get a few more visitors.
Now I'm looking forward to meeting Nancy this weekend at the event in Pasadena. Anybody else in So. California planning to come?
Fay, thank you SO much for all your hard work, including sending me things to print for tonight. But I'm really glad you didn't try to make the drive!
BeckyCW
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Well, I hope Fay can relax with that nice cup of tea later today, but right now she's still busy trying to make sure this event works out.
We just talked, and she's going to send me what she can by email, and I'll print it out and do my best to present it nicely at the LCSC information table today at the City of Hope event. My biggest disappointment is that I won't be able to meet Fay today in person at long last. (My next biggest disappointment is that I won't get to see the posters and notebooks she's put together... not today, I mean.)
Thank goodness Katie always prepares for everything -- I have a stash of LCSC materials I can take. And one of Andrea's bracelets to wear, and a new pink LCSC t-shirt... Now if only I'd ordered my LCSC cookbook from the other Andrea in time to have THAT there...
Anyway, LCSC will be represented today -- I'm just sorry there can't be more of us there, and especially sorry about Fay's predicament. I saw the flood warnings on the web, and it's a serious situation up there. Here, we'll only have plain old rain.
I'll report back in tonight.
BeckyCW
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I have not been on the message boards much lately at all, but you've all been on my mind, in my heart and in my prayers, as always.
Karen wrote about the anniversary of their "Gotcha Day" for Faith and how hard it was not to have David there. It breaks my heart that he wasn't.
David's birthday in August was harder than I could have imagined for the whole family. And Faith's 4th birthday party was my first visit since he passed away; it was so hard not to see him there enjoying Faith's special day in their beautiful new house.
The day after David's funeral was my dad's first Father's Day without David. And today is my dad's birthday - his first without David. I saw my parents last weekend for a short visit, and now they're at my sister's house. Tomorrow they'll go to visit Faith and Karen.
I don't have a point really... just that all the "firsts" are so much harder than I even expected them to be. We all miss David so much. I'd give anything to know he was sitting in his living room with Karen and Faith right now, finding something to laugh about.
BeckyCW
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I sent you way more than a few lines for each, but couldn't stop myself.
If you don't use it, I won't be offended. Maybe if others wrote too much for a board, we could put them in a book. Let me know if you'd like me to help with that. I'm looking forward to seeing you - and any other So. Calif. LCSC'ers - there!BeckyCW
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I'm sorry I can't even read past the first couple of these posts yet, although I know I will later. I try very hard not to think of what was going through David's mind those last few days, or what he was feeling, because I (we) couldn't take any of the pain (physical or emotional) away from him, and I (we all) wanted to so badly. We couldn't even hug or touch him much because of the pain. I lie awake at night thinking about it, I wake up thinking about it... those are my worst nightmare thoughts. How I wish he could have just gone to sleep. I try to remember the peaceful look on his face when he went to heaven and just focus on that, but he just had to go through too much -- for a long time, of course, but especially those last few days. I've never wanted so much for a "do over" - to just erase that time and have it all go differently, with more peace and less pain. But I do know that David went through it all better than anyone I've ever known could have. It still kills me.
BeckyCW
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I'm so very sorry.
BeckyCW
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Really awesome, Heather! Enjoy!
BeckyCW
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Gay, it was wonderful to hear from you. Thank you for writing; I know it must have been hard to do. I will indeed raise a very special toast to Dean, and I will remember him always. My thoughts are with you now, and I hope you will navigate through this new world of yours a little easier every day.
I remember getting a private message from you once long ago and that I knew after reading it that you were such a great partner for Dean, and vice versa. You both have had such an impact on so many of us here. I hope your eyes will get much better, and that you'll get a lot of rest before having to move on to your next step.
I love your "private memorials" for Dean, and I hope you'll be able to share a lot of special moments with people who love you both.
BeckyCW
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Me, too!
BeckyCW
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Carleen, what a traumatic dream! I'm praying for both you and Keith, that his test results will be reason for much better dreams soon. I know you want to enjoy all your time together and not live in fear or such awful stress.
I pray that today you will find ways to enjoy life and each other - and if you can find some things to laugh about, that could only help. Laughter has great power against the darker forces, you know. Hang in there, Carleen. We all care about you two so much.
BeckyCW
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Happy Birthday, Heather! May this be only one in a very long string of birthdays, each one of them very special (in a fantastic sort of way)!
BeckyCW
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Fay, how great to hear from you directly! You've been in my prayers bigtime and will stay there. I hope to see you soon!
BeckyCW
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This is just too hard. I hate, really, really hate this disease.
Beth was far too young - truly "just a kid" - and she leaves a big hole in her family, I know. Kurt, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your children.
Beth was the first LCSC person I'd met in person, and that was when she - at a time when she was not doing great, herself - must gotten in her car the second she heard and came straight to the emergency room to see David when Karen and I were there with him in late February. She visited with David awhile, then came and visited with me in the waiting room and we managed to laugh and cry at the same time. I was so touched that she would come at the drop of a hat to see David. Then of course I saw her again at David's visitation and funeral, and Kurt was pushing her in a wheelchair so she could get around easier. I was so hoping this disease would spare her.
As others have said, the only silver lining in this dark cloud is that she's no longer suffering the pain and frustration she'd had for so long. I like to think that she will be visiting David again soon and neither of them has to hurt or worry anymore.
(((((Kurt & kids))))
BeckyCW
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Woo HOO! Andrea, this is great. I can't wait to see them, and yes, Christmas shopping will be so much easier this year!
BeckyCW
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Many and fervent prayers for a safe and successful surgery, with results we can all celebrate soon.
(((((Fay)))))
BeckyCW
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I'm so very sorry for us all, and especially for Gay, that we have to say goodbye to Dean. He was one-of-a-kind and we have all been so blessed to know him. I have no words to express the sense of loss I feel, and I never even met him in person. Gay, if there's anything at all I (or we) can do for you, please let us know. Our hearts and prayers are with you and all those who loved Dean.
BeckyCW
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Great article, Ray - THanks for showing us!
BeckyCW
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I am very sad to hear this. Dean, I pray you will have no pain and only peace as you make this transition. You have given us all so much, and the only gift we can give in return is our love, respect and many prayers. Gay, you are in my thoughts and prayers for strength, wisdom, and support from every corner. You are wonderful people. Yes, the birds will keep singing, cats will keep purring, and I suspect Dean and Gay will keep teaching us for a very long time to come.
BeckyCW
Happy thoughts and Pixie Dust for our Addie
in HOPE
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Sending prayers for the release of pain and the return of Additude! (Throwing in some pixie dust along with the prayers...)
BeckyCW