i had a aunt that lived 18 years after being given 6 months.

-----Original Message-----
From: Yvonne Craig [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 12:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Laura; was RE: Molasses


Kyle

Time and again I hear of folks who far surpass their prognoses. My father =
was given less than 2 months when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer that =
had metastisized to all his abdominal organs. He lived almost 18 months =
and, far from being debilitated as predicted, worked full time and =
travelled up to two weeks before his death. My cousin was given a very =
guarded prognosis from her cervical cancer and told she would never be =
able to conceive or carry a child. That was more than 20 years ago and her =
son turned 12 at Christmas. :-) She is completely cancer-free. My =
husband's best friend lived with end-stage Hodgkins for almost 8 years - =
very active in work, sports, life in general during that entire time. All =
three did as well as they did (do) because of their spirit and their =
determination to LIVE their lives. Attitude is EVERYTHING!=20

I loved the article of Laura's (I am blocked from the video too). Her =
strength, her courage, her love of life and her positive attitude shine =
through. As do yours from your posts here. None of us know what the future =
holds so we can only live our lives in the present and make the most of =
it, counting our blessings as we go.

{{{hugs}}} to you, Laura and your children.

Yvonne

>>> [log in to unmask] 06/19/02 11:39AM >>>
Thanks, Kat.  I just got off the phone with Laura's friend who accompanied
her to Texas. She (Cheryl, the friend) said that Laura was pretty bummed
about the prognosis when she first got the news.  She didn't see her
"regular" physician, and the stand-in doc said that the other guy was
usually "overly optimistic" in talking to his patients.  Didn't outright
accuse the guy of lying, but he said that the fellow tended not to want to
discuss bad new with his patients.  I'm figuring the true prognosis is
probably somewhere 'twixt the two.  The new guy said, yes, she was a year
out in her remission, but they weren't considering patients "cancer-free"
until they were ten years out without a positive dx.  This was news to me =
as
I thought the standard was five years out.  I dunno, maybe Cheryl got =
things
confused too.  I'm kind of kicking myself right now for letting myself be
talked into staying home.

Still, she's alive.  The first prognosis said that she'd be dead by now, =
so
blessings need to be counted.

-Kyle

-----Original Message-----
From: Kathy Salkin [mailto:[log in to unmask]]=20
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 11:16 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Laura; was RE: Molasses


You'll be in my thoughts and prayers, Kyle.

Kat

On Wed, 19 Jun 2002 08:16:08 -0400 "Cleveland, Kyle E."
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Well, I read a lot when the cable's out.  Since we live in a new
construction area, the cable's out a lot.

Give y'all an update on the "rib" Laura:

She had another bone marrow biopsy last week at M.D. Anderson Cancer =
Clinic
in Houston.  I stayed home (under duress) and she had a close friend fly =
out
with her.

Not all of the genetic tests are back yet, but we got good news and bad.
The good news is that she is still considered in "molecular remission" of
the chronic lymphocytic leukemia.  The bad news is that prognosticative
genetics point to her getting the acute (aggressive) form of the cancer
should it return.  Of more urgent concern is that she still has only 40%
renal function and her immuno-gamma-globulin (a critical component of the
immune system) has been virtually destroyed.  This means that ANY =
infection,
even a common cold, could become deadly.  The doctors are considering IGG
infusions, and they've asked Laura's siblings to be matched for a bone
marrow transplant in case the infusions failed to work.  Keep your fingers
crossed and prayer headed our way.

Thanks!

-Kyle

-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth H. Thiers [mailto:[log in to unmask]]=20
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2002 8:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Molasses; was RE: Happy Father's Day


Wow, I bow down to you....


beth t.


Subject: Molasses; was RE: Happy Father's Day