Thanks guys.  Laura usually has the more "upbeat" attitude--I'm the
melancholy one in the family.  This latest "cloud" has really taken the wind
out of her sails, though.  Her friend, Cheryl, said that Laura seemed more
bummed than the doctors' prognoses would dictate.  I dunno.  All I can do is
support her.  I do know that the chemo really threw her menstrual cycle for
a loop, so maybe she's pre-menopausal from the drug damage.

Anyway, I do really appreciate all the support and strong shoulders you all
have always offered me and mine.  It's funny--I've only spoken directly to a
few of you all, and have never met anyone from the list face-to-face, but I
feel safe sharing things with you folks that I would never share with my
closest friends here in Ohio.

Thanks again.

-Kyle

-----Original Message-----
From: Barber, Kenneth L. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 12:15 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Laura; was RE: Molasses


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