Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

December 14, 2011

Hi Everyone

Merry Christmas and Happy, Healthy New Year! I hope you and your families have a wonderful celebration of our Saviors Birth.

Family news first; Don is busy taking care of me and consulting. However, the consulting has been slow, a little bit busier than last year.
Meghann and Dave are busy with Donny (5) and Maureen (3). Donny started kindergarten and Maureen pre-school. If you are on Facebook, Meghann shares the family stories, they are hilarious. They also went on their first vacation with the kids, and drove to Florida for 10 days. They all had a wonderful time.
Maureen and John are busy with Marina (10) and Lilly (7). Marina is in 5th grade and Lilly started 1st grade. Marina is in Orchestra and plays the Violin, I might be bias but I think Marina is fantastic at playing the Violin. Lilly played soccer this year. The name of her team was the Angry Birds. They played well for all 1st time players. Maureen was able to attend a conference this year for vegans. We are so proud of her traveling and taking her health and her family’s health seriously.
Michelle and Mike are busy with Maeve (6), Fiona (4) and Kellen (3). Maeve is in 1st grade and doing very well. Maeve was chosen to be part of the Christmas Mass this year. Maeve also took Irish dance last year and Ballet this year. Fiona is in pre-school and is also in ballet. Fiona loves to sing to the radio. Kellen is our fast moving typical boy. In Sept. Kellen fell and had 6 inside stitches and 4 outside stitches on his forehead. Last year he also fell and received stitches on his forehead. Kellen takes after his Uncle Sean with falling and getting stitches before he was 5.
Sean married the love of his life, Lisa. We are blessed with another great daughter-in-law. They bought a house one mile from our house. Sean is a City of Chicago plumber and is a foreman. Lisa recently changed jobs and works in the neighborhood as an Office Manager and Graphic Designer.
Jonathan and Jessica are busy with Adrianna (3). Jon came back from Afghanistan in April and was able to attend Sean and Lisa wedding. We were blessed to see Jessie and Adrianna too. Don and I are hoping to go to visit them at Ft Campbell, Tennessee in Jan.
Jon is a full time mechanic with the Army and Jessie is in nursing school. Adriana is in pre-school/day care and doing very well.
Don and I are very proud of our entire family!

The year flew by pretty fast. I have been going through a battery of tests and biopsy and hospital stays.

A quick review, July, you may remember the CT scan blood, work and MRI showed a mass on my stomach and esophagus, and had not penetrated the stomach wall, the cancer is covering the outside of the stomach and esophagus area. That was unexpected to hear at the time, however, I was not feeling the greatest and I found out why; the cancer was spreading.
I was hospitalized for a week in September and I had enough tests and probing, including a biopsy of my liver. The esophagus came back abnormal and the spleen enlarged and the liver enzymes were high. After plenty of IV’s and medication, things were under control.

Two weeks ago, Don and I had a meeting with the doctors and the decision was made to do further testing, CT scan, MRI, etc. gather all the results and make the decision on what is next.
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I had a biopsy on my liver and bone marrow and the tests results came back normal; thank goodness. However, my lab results for my CA 125 on the rise and other numbers are not at the normal range, either too high or too low. All of this means, my body is beginning to reject the Taxol as a effective chemo drug. Taxol is now working against my good cells and helping the cancer cells. In January, I have another team meeting with the Doctor’s to decide on the next route of treatment.

To throw a monkey wrench in this week, I had an allergic reaction to the Taxol. I am extremely red all over’ like a sunburn. I have a very bad headache, I can only guess what people with migraines go through, and this one is terrible. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. However, the doctor said today on the phone, the allergic reaction will have to take its normal course of healing. Healing can take a few days to a week to recover.

All in all, I am counting my Blessings and fighting strong against cancer, with the exception of a few hiccups along the way; nothing I can’t handle with the love and support of all of you. I love receiving e-mails and updates from friends and family. I am lucky to have wonderful friends that visit me at home. Many of you send me updates on your life and your family and I truly love reading each of the e-mails. It may take me awhile before I respond to e-mails, because I might be visiting and spending time with my family or friends or I may not be feeling well. Cancer has provided me with special time with family, my grandbabies and friends. If I did not have cancer, I would be working and not having the time I desire to spend with family and friends.

I have the most wonderful and exceptional husband and children with their spouses and the greatest grandchildren any wife, Mom and Nana could ask for. Each family member has a unique personality with a loving, humorous and supportive and extremely helpful spirit. I love each of you so very much.

Also, my brother, Larry; my sister-in-law, Donna; my sister, Carolyn; my sister JoAnne; and my Dad and his wife, Joan; each call me often, support and love me for who I am and pray for my healing every day. The Walsh Sisters, keep me laughing and love me unconditionally. I love you too!

In addition, I have a group of girlfriends from across the Country that come and visit me 3 to 4 times a year. We are forever friends and we have a blast when we are together. And, Ethel, my dearest friend for over 35 years, my life would not be the same without all of you. I love all of you more than I can express in words. Your love and support means the world to me.

I hope to have completed our Christmas cards by this weekend. For all those overseas, it is too late to mail a Christmas card, know we think of each of you often and remember our visits together.

It is my wish and prayers, each of you have a Blessed Christmas and safe, happy, healthy New Year.

I will try and be better with my updates and sending them more often, sorry this one took 6 months, I will make this my New Year’s resolution.

Love,
Margie