Melinda

Karen, You will be in my thoughts, too, on Tuesday morning. Beat wishes for a successful operation and a speedy recovery. Come back to us soon and let us know how you are doing!!! (Can your husband log in and keep us posted before then, by any chance? I know he'll be busy fussin' and frettin' over ya--but we will want to hear how well you are doing... I'm being selfish over here in New York). Melinda

Curtis, Thank you for re-posting her picture. I had found myself searching for her old posts just to see her beautiful smile once again. I am a fifth grade teacher and every time I teach a math class now, I think of Becky. (I particularly thought of her last week when a former student of mine--now a seventh grader--came to me for homework help because their teacher had left for the day. It brought to mind some of what she said in her article in the paper.) I wish I'd been lucky enough to have her as an instructor! Our thoughts are with you and Katie now--please come back to us if we can be of any assistance. Much love from a distant stranger, Melinda

Yahoo!! Melinda

Berisa-- I am so sorry to hear this news about your dad. My mom (who is currently being treated for her second breast cancer) developed a TERRIBLE, resistant staph infection after her biopsy (a grapefruit sized pustule which was only the EXTERNAL evidence of the staph made her look like someone from "Ripley's Believe it or Not" that I had to help her drain)--which meant that all other treatment had to be put on hold until it cleared up. Her doctor told her that it was one of the two worst staph infections he had seen in his 20 years of practice. Despite the "nuclear" antibiotics the doctors put her on, it was not going away. On the advice from a friend that had gone to an alternative health center (Hippocrates in Florida), she started taking two shots of fresh wheatgrass juice a day (one in the morning, one at night), drinking "green drinks" made up of vegetables from the local health food store--kale, parsley, apples, etc.-- AND two shot glasses of live algae she ordered from Hiippocrates (which she said tasted terrible). At first her doctors told her to go ahead and do it--there was no scientific evidence that it either helped her of hurt her--so why not humor her? But as they saw that not only was the staph no longer spreading, but her body was healing they ORDERED her to continue whatever she had been doing! The staph infection DID clear up--and she was able to proceed with treatment (she had a bi-lateral mastectomy on 3.22.04). I am no doctor--and neither is my mother--but we are both rather analytical, critcal thinkers and not prone to "new-age" stuff. However, my mother swears by this--and I have done a lot of reasearch on it--and it looks like there really may be something to it. Geoff and I have put his mother (stage IV lc) on the same protacol. Geoff says to mix the algea with pinapple juice and you can hardly taste it. I hope this helps. If I may be of any further assistence, please feel free to PM me. Ry is right, though. DON'T let the staph get out of hand--it is "nasty stuff", indeed. Melinda

Denise-- Please count me in. I have not yet heard back from them, and have been unable to proactively pursue reaching them b/c of the zillion things going on in my life with two moms fighting their respective cancers. So, thank you for keeping us updated. Fell free to post or PM me any time. If I don't respond that day--I will shortly. It just means that I'm in a place w/o internet access for the time being. Thanks. Melinda

Rochelle-- Thank you for posting this. Melinda

It is so nice to find myself crying after reading a post on this site--due to tears of JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May you continue down THIS path, Rich--reach NED--and never have to look back. Melinda

Pier and Karenb-- From another caregiver in a similar boat--you and your loved ones are in my thoughts. Keep us all posted as to how y'all are doing. Melinda

Thanks to everybody for your information on this topic--this is an area in which I, too, have been trying to educate myself. You all are simply amazing. Denise--I hope your mom is doing well. You are both in our thoughts. Melinda

Erin-- I am so grateful for your good news. Hooray!!! That shower must have made her feel like a new person! I don't have any wiseom to impart re: the radiation pellets--but I am sure others on the board do. Yes--enjoy life and each others' company--and think about someting else for a while (while making sure the Drs. still monitor her carefully!!!). You are both in our thoughts. Melinda

Yes--Thank you for posting this. Melinda

Hip, hip, HORRAYYY!!! I seconf Mary Anne's comment, however. Ask that doctor about the chemo ASAP--JUST IN CASE!!! There are too many people who regretted not doing so. We are truly thrilled for you and yours. Melinda

Rick, I watched the Tribute last night for the first time after reading of Becky G's death. I thought I didn't have any more tears in me; boy, was I wrong. It is a beautiful, tasteful, and moving piece. I can only hope that too many other new faces are not eligable to be added soon. Thank you for all the work that you do; it means so much to both us and our families. Sincerely, Melinda

Mo, I've never been to "Arvidsaw"--but it sure sounds nice! I'm a sucker for a petting zoo... I'm glad you had a grand ol' time and that you are back safe and sound. Melinda

I can't wait for confirmation of this party! Melinda

Oh, Curtis--what a horrible shock. I had just finished reading and responding to your initial post that she had gone to the hospital when this one popped up. I am stunned, just stunned. I am so truly, truly sorry. Oh, my gosh--my heart is just breaking at the thought of what you, your daughter, and your families are going through tonight. I have been on this board only a short while--but that was all it took for Becky to inspire me. Her intelligence, tenacity, and wisdom simply jumped off the computer screen in her posts. I have no doubt that she bettered the life of every person with whom she came into contact. Please let us know how you and your daughter are faring in the days/weeks/months to come. You and your family are in all of our thoughts now and will continue to be in the future. Melinda

Curtis, Oh--how upsetting! You, Becky, and your daughter are in our thoughts. Please let her know we are all pulling for her--and keep us updated on her progress. Sincerely, Melinda

Has anyone heard from Joyce H in Denver, CO? I PM'ed her about a week ago to see how she was doing... She had been dx'ed with stage IV and posted that she had 66% shrinkage in tumor--and then posted a query about plural effusion a little while back--but I have not seen her name on the board recently. Thanks. Melinda

Deanna, I am so sorry to learn that your mom is gone. I am just glad that you were all with her at the end. Please know that our thoughts are with you and your family in these difficult times ahead. Sincerely, Melinda

Dear KC-- I am so sorry to read of your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family. Sincerely, Melinda

Dean-- I am relatively new to the board--but not so new that I am unable to thank you for being you. I hope y'all had a great dinner the other night--sorry I was on the wrong coast to join you. I sincerely look forward to reading your post on your next milestone. Melinda

Sorry for the belated post--I hope you had a WONDERFUL trip to Hot Springs. Can't wait to hear how it went. Melinda

Thank you for all for your hard work. We benefit so much from all that you do. Melinda

Thank you for a) the collective info and the wonderful tenor of this string of posts. I, too, will e-mail. After a grueling week where I have not had the wherewithal to reply to many a post (including some very kind ones to me)--reading this string made me feel "human" again--and I actually put thoughts of "cancer", "illness", and everything that is related to them out of my head as I read. I would not have expected exactly THAT from logging on to this particular site--the wonders of this board never cease. I just smiled as I read everyone's "confessions" and enthusiastic discussions re: favorite TV shows. Thanks a million. Melinda PS--I am unfamiliar with "The O.C.", but will now educate myself. I have to confess that I am a "Third Watch" and "The Wire" addict much to Geoff's utter distain. I also loved the old seasons of NYPD Blue--and the original Law & Order (with Chris Noth). And "Seinfeld" re-runs still make me smile when I am having a tough night.

You are truly one wise woman. Have a ball on your well-deserved "vacation". Just take good care of yourself (that goes for you, too, Cookieman) and y'all come back to us when you are good and ready. Melinda