Andrea Posted November 8, 2004 Posted November 8, 2004 Today is my mom's 1 year anniversary. Just wanted to share the mass e-mail I sent out today in honor of it Dear Family and Friends, Time sure flies! Today marks the ONE YEAR anniversay from the date of my mom's diagnosis!!! I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts and prayers this past year!! It has meant so much to all of us, words just cannot describe it. I am truly blessed to have learned just how much we are cared about. The outpouring of love throughout the past year, oh my goodness. I get the chills when I think about it. I thank g-d, knock on wood, that 1 year later, my mother looks stunningly beautiful and stylish as usual and we spent the day today doing what we love the best--our usual normal 5 week routine--Jose Eber and Nordstroms (IMPORANT NOTE: HALF YEARLY NORDSTROMS SALE IN PROGRESS. HURRY!!! And for those of who you are in search of a comfortable brand of shoes that are also stylish, my mom and I highly recommend Munro shoes at Nordstroms. We also recommend the Nordstroms cafe for lunch. They have delicious food and if you want a treat, skip lunch for the BEST chocolate cake in the world). The memories of last year are haunting, I remember clearly the painful phone calls to NY, the phone calls to my mom's friends from her office here, and the inability to speak to anyone who called me for close to a month. I remember filling up my car with gas and driving away with the hose still attached (apparently it is very common, they make a safety shut off switch just for such stupid acts!). I also vidly remember taking my mom one last time for her hair before chemo started and how strange people thought it was that she needed a cut and color before chemo just ripped it out But, that is what we like to do I remember her holding my hand as we walked into the mall and crying that this is what she will miss the most. Sure there were some reminders today of the past year--the handicap parking tag; the walking slower; the lingering fatigue and inability to carry heavy shopping bags; less hair on her head, etc. But today there were no tears and she only held my hand b/c I am warmer than she is We now live a new normal where my mom needs to rest a lot and we visit the oncologist often, but I can call her and play with her whenever I want. We are by no means out of the woods. I could go on with the statistics of recurrance and share all of my fears and neurosis, but if I did share all of my inner secrets and thoughts with everyone, Brian and Dr. Bobby may start to feel replaced and I would hate to do that to them Plus, this is not like the good old days where comitting me to Bellvue would get you $50, so what is the point Heehee. I will be requesting a GUESS alert and prayers shortly that nothing lights up on her upocming scans (after all, Jews dont have Christmas lights) as I believe scans will be taking place again in December Love, Hugs, Kisses, and Cancer Cure Wishes, Buddy's sister Andrea (we love Buddy--my parents new rescue doggie) Quote
kimblanchard Posted November 8, 2004 Posted November 8, 2004 May this be the first of many such anniversaries. God bless. Curtis Quote
kimblanchard Posted November 8, 2004 Posted November 8, 2004 Big grin. Oh, Andrea, how wonderful, a year out and doing fairly well. I am so happy for all of you. Just a thought, anxieties aside, think of how much we have all grown and learned in this year. Give Mom an extra hug from a sort of stranger. Margaret Quote
ginnyde Posted November 8, 2004 Posted November 8, 2004 Andrea, May this be only the first on many anniversaries and many, many Nordstrom semi-annual sales. How our priorities change. It is a shame that this bad news can sometimes improve our eyesight and allow us to see what is important - the love and caring of friends and family. Quote
shelliemacs Posted November 8, 2004 Posted November 8, 2004 Andrea, thrilled that your mom is beating this b*stard. I hope she gets to celebrate 25 more of these anniversary's. Quote
Fay A. Posted November 8, 2004 Posted November 8, 2004 Tell your Mom "Happy Anniversary" from one Warrior Woman to another! Quote
Ry Posted November 8, 2004 Posted November 8, 2004 Congratulations! Do something special together. Quote
SDianneB Posted November 8, 2004 Posted November 8, 2004 That's wonderful! See what happens while we're all posting and stewing and having that thing called "life?" YEARS pass!! YAY!!! Di Quote
Andrea Posted November 8, 2004 Author Posted November 8, 2004 Thanks! This is a litlte eerie, I just got an e-mail from my mom's boss who is a sweetheart. The mom of another employee just got diagnosed Stage III last week and she wanted the name of this website. It is almost eerie b/c it is like a yearly thing for that office now, a tradition which MUST be broken Quote
kdaru Posted November 8, 2004 Posted November 8, 2004 Wonderful tradition, marking the years since diagnosis. I hope the years turn into decades for your mom. Katie Quote
Elaine Posted November 8, 2004 Posted November 8, 2004 Andrea Your email brought me smiles and a couple of tears! I am so happy for you and your mom!@ May this year bring more wonderful memories! love and fortitude elaine Quote
kim Posted November 9, 2004 Posted November 9, 2004 Yeah! Cause for HUGE celebration!!!! She's a 1 years survivor!!!! With many, many, many more to come, I pray!!!! Quote
NellW Posted November 9, 2004 Posted November 9, 2004 What a wonderful time to celebrate! Your post made my day. I just saw it!! It occurs to me that Bob will be having one of these to mark very soon, in January. It sure is a new normal, but life is good. May you have many more of these anniveraries to celebrate. Hope we can be of some support if the new person posts ! Love Nell Quote
ejpritz Posted November 9, 2004 Posted November 9, 2004 Congratulations. I know how great it feels. My 53 year old mom is reaching that milestone in about 3 weeks!!! And to think, it was about a year ago that the oncologist sat us down and siad there was little to be done and she doubted 9 months was possible!! I hope one day you are celebrating her 20th anniversary. Quote
gail p-m Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 So happy for you and your family. Enjoy and may you have many more annual celebrations to come! Gail P-M Quote
Connie B Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 Happy One Year Anniversary MOM!!!! Andrea, your wonderful little story about mom was very touching. I have NO DOUBT she is one very proud mother! Your a GEM of a daughter! Please give mom a HUG HAPPY ONE YEAR SURVIVORSHIP FROM ME! Also, I'm very sorry to hear about the other employee that was dx.d with LC. Hope they will take a minute to find us so we can help them along this journey. Love to you and Mom, Con Quote
BeckyCW Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 Andrea, YEA on your mom's annual tradition of celebrating good health with you at Nordstrom (this shall be the first of many years!), and NAY on the tradition of someone at her office being diagnosed. I do hope they will find us and get some support here. Give your mom a big hug and way-to-go from me! BeckyCW Quote
stand4hope Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 Andrea, Congratulations to your mom, to you, to your dad and to your whole family! Hitting that one-year mark sure feels good, doesn't it? Love, Peggy Quote
DonnaB Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 Andrea, Hearty CONGRATULATIONS to you and your mom on this anniversary. I am sure she is happy and proud to share this time with you. Keep up the good work! DonnaB Quote
J.C. Posted November 11, 2004 Posted November 11, 2004 Andrea, Happy Anniversary to your mother and also to you. Many more are on the way. Celebrate and enjoy. J.C. Quote
kimblanchard Posted November 12, 2004 Posted November 12, 2004 Andrea and family, What great news! Take those new shoes and do the happy feet dance. My best wishes for many more anniversaries. Quote
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