Thursday, October 31, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Don’t Give Up Hope
Don’t Give Up Hope
This world just keeps on getting crazier and crazier everyday
You’re so afraid
Sometimes it feels like it’s chasing your sanity away
And you start to break
Let me help you find your way
Don’t give up faith
Don’t give up hope
There’s always something better
Waiting around the corner
Don’t give up now
Please, don’t let go
What can feel like the ending
Could just be the beginning
Don’t give up hope
Your life is spinning like a rocket that’s gone out of control
And you’ve let go
You’re slowly losing your confidence, you’re a wounded soul
But I hope you know
I can help you find your way
Don’t give up faith
Don’t give up hope
There’s always something better
Waiting around the corner
Don’t give up now
Please, don’t let go
What can seem like the ending
Could just be the beginning
Don’t give up hope
Don’t give up hope now
Don’t turn around
Keep on moving
Find your faith
You’ll be doing all right now
Don’t look back
Keep on moving
Find your faith
And you’ll be doing all right now
Don’t look back
Keep on moving
Find your faith
And you’ll be doing all right now
Don’t give up faith
Don’t give up hope
There’s always something better
Waiting around the corner
Don’t give up now
Please, don’t let go
What can seem like the ending
Could just be the beginning
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Updated: Children's Hospital Katy Perry Inspirational Video
Children's Hospital Katy Perry Video is Heartwarming Moving Inspirational Children's Hospital At Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Performs Katy Perry's 'Roar' (VIDEO)
This week, Katy Perry released her new album, 'Prism,' but the pop star may be getting out-shined.
That's because patients, parents, doctors, nurses and even administrators at the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock released their own inspiring cover of Perry's hit single, "Roar" -- and they've got us all choked up.
The hospital in Lebanon, N.H., made the video for its annual CHaD HERO Half Marathon & Ripcord 5K, according to its Facebook page.
The heartwarming clip features grade-A lip synching, dancing from people of all ages and, of course, lots of roaring.
"Please share this video directly from the kids and staff," the hospital wrote on Facebook. "It means a lot to the families and CHaD community who work to keep these kids roaring."
This week, Katy Perry released her new album, 'Prism,' but the pop star may be getting out-shined.
That's because patients, parents, doctors, nurses and even administrators at the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock released their own inspiring cover of Perry's hit single, "Roar" -- and they've got us all choked up.
The hospital in Lebanon, N.H., made the video for its annual CHaD HERO Half Marathon & Ripcord 5K, according to its Facebook page.
The heartwarming clip features grade-A lip synching, dancing from people of all ages and, of course, lots of roaring.
"Please share this video directly from the kids and staff," the hospital wrote on Facebook. "It means a lot to the families and CHaD community who work to keep these kids roaring."
What A Difference A Year Makes...Thanks Be To God!!!
Mary Jo had her first chemo treatment today. Everything went well. She did have some of the side effects expected from the most potent of the five chemo medicines. She has been pretty much out of it since they gave her a dose of Benadryl intravenenously to counter act some of the side effects from the chemo medicines. The nurse said what she had is much more potent than what you buy over the counter. Thanks for your prayers and support, Gerry
Friday, October 25, 2013
Epic Halloween Prank In Louisville Park By Tom Mabe
Joggers and walkers in Louisville, Kentucky, were left running scared after a prankster spooked them with a remote-controlled skeleton.
With Halloween just around the corner, Louisville joker Tom Mabe used his squawking Flying Reaper to swoop down and stalk his victims.
‘We have had a lot of fun making this. It’s taken some work to make it happen, but it’s great fun,’ he explained.
‘It flies with the help of a remote control helicopter but you rig it up in a really brilliant way. It has to be quiet so people don’t hear it.’
He added: ‘Wherever there are people, we will go. We have since managed to make its eyes glow red and we are going to go out at night and scare people.
‘The best bit is when you sneak up on people. We fly it about 200ft in the air and then drop it down so it’s right behind them.’
A video of the puppet in action has racked up more than 150,000 hits on YouTube in less than 24 hours.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Clinical Advances in Mantle Cell Lymphoma
“Mantle cell lymphoma is a relatively uncommon form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and it has been treated traditionally with combination chemotherapy, which achieves a high response rate—but the responses have not tended to be durable, and the disease has remained incurable,” said Bruce D. Cheson, MD, professor of Medicine, deputy chief of Hematology/Oncology, and head of Hematology at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC. Many of the chemotherapy approaches today are very aggressive. One of the problems with an aggressive strategy is that, according to Cheson, “Patients with mantle cell lymphoma present with a median age in their 60s, and they can’t tolerate some of the aggressive regimens very well. Less-intensive regimens like R-CHOP are not terribly effective. So now we have the opportunity to have well-tolerated, oral, highly effective therapies for a disease for which previous treatments have been very intensive, very aggressive, and suboptimal.”
Read entire article from Targeted Oncology here
Ari M. Melnick, MD, on Emerging Therapies
The opportunity of which Cheson speaks is with newer targeted therapies. “The goal is to reduce the intensity of therapy,” he said. “The concept ‘more is better’ is not valid. ‘Different is better’ is the operative hypothesis. We’re going away from aggressive regimens like hyper-CVAD and stem cell transplants, and moving in the direction to taking some fairly innocuous pills. It is a major seismic shift that is occurring now in the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma, and it’s not that far away. Within a matter of just a couple of years, I expect that these drugs will become an important part of the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma, replacing very aggressive, intensive regimens.”
Melnick is the Gebroe Professor of Hematology/Oncology at the Weill Cornell Medical College.
3 Sisters Have Last-Minute Joint Wedding So Mom With Cancer Can Attend - She Dies 12 Hours Later
From Daily Mail Online
- Sarah, Kaylee and Jodie Swales - aged 19, 21 and 22 - all married their fiances in a joint ceremony in Snellville, Georgia on Sunday
- They had planned to marry at the end of the month but brought the wedding forward after their mother's condition worsened
- Becky Swales, who was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 years ago, died on Monday - just hours after she saw her daughters walk down the aisle
A cancer-stricken mother has passed away just 12 hours after her three daughters held a last-minute joint wedding so that she could attend.
Sarah, Kaylee and Jodie Swales - aged 19, 21 and 22 - from Snellville, Georgia learned last week that their mother's breast cancer had spread to her liver and there was nothing doctors could do.
The sisters had planned to marry on October 26 but as their mother's condition worsened, they decided to wed on Sunday afternoon to fulfill her final wish of seeing them walk down the aisle.
Bittersweet: Sisters Sarah, Kaylee and Jodie Swales married in a triple wedding on Sunday as they wanted their mother, who had terminal cancer, to see them walk down the aisle. She passed away hours later
Joy: The sisters brought their triple wedding forward after their mother's condition worsened
Surrounded by friends and family, and with their mother Becky and father Otis in the front row, the sisters took turns to marry their fiances as the others watched.
'It's kind of bittersweet,' Jodie Swales told FOX5 before the ceremony. 'We are happy that she's here, but this will probably be the last big thing that we do with her.
Sarah added: 'It's not like losing a mom, it's like losing a mom and a best friend and anyone would want their best friend at their wedding.
'Our wedding wouldn't be the same if she wasn't there to experience it with us.'
Together: They said their wedding just wouldn't be the same without their mother Becky, seated
Last wish: Becky, who had wanted to see her girls marry, passed away on Monday - hours after the wedding
Excitement: The women said they were overjoyed that their mother could experience their big days
Otis Swales, who walked all of his daughters down the aisle, said he was hoping his faith would get him through.
'My wife is the love of my life so it's hard,' said Otis, who has been married to Becky for 25 years. 'But I'm proud of my daughters. I just pray God gives me strength to get through every day.'
Just 12 hours after her daughters walked down the aisle, Becky Swales succumbed to the disease.
She had been diagnosed with breast cancer on February 15, 2010 and although chemotherapy proved effective at first, doctors recently discovered that the disease had spread to other organs.
Despite her bleak prognosis, Mrs Swales' daughters say she had continued to maintain a positive attitude until her death.
Best friends: Becky, who was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 years ago, is pictured with her daughters
Battle: Chemotherapy was successful at first but doctors later learned the cancer had spread to other organs
Sadness: Her husband of 25 years, Otis, said Becky was the love of his life and life without her would be hard
'She does always have a smile on her face and she's pushing so hard,' Kaylee said.
Before her death, Becky, 43, wrote on Facenook: 'I thank God for waking me up every day. I have such a great support system.
'My loving husband, my three beautiful daughters and my Mom have stood by me every step of the way. I can't say enough about what a blessing that has been.'
Throughout the wedding planning, support and donations had poured in for the family and a company even donated a venue for a reception on October 26, which they said will still go ahead.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Pray For The Children Of The World
A 2-year-old boy who was reportedly the son of Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson died Friday of injuries he suffered after allegedly being abused, police said.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, police said Joseph Robert Patterson, 27, has been charged with aggravated battery of an infant and aggravated assault. If convicted on the charges, both felonies, Patterson could face up to 40 years in prison and an $80,000 fine.
Prosecutors are considering filing additional charges against Patterson in light of the boy's death, according to police.
Soon after the news came out of the boy's death, Adrian Peterson took to Twitter to express his gratitude to his family, fans and the "fraternity of brothers" in the NFL for their support.
"God Bless everyone and thank u so much," he wrote.
My prayers are for the little children around the world that are victims of this worst kind of evil. As a father my heart is broken for little AP and the thousands of other innocent children that are senselessly taken from us. I cannot comprehend such tragedy, abuse must end. Lord please bless the little children and watch over each if them.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, police said Joseph Robert Patterson, 27, has been charged with aggravated battery of an infant and aggravated assault. If convicted on the charges, both felonies, Patterson could face up to 40 years in prison and an $80,000 fine.
Prosecutors are considering filing additional charges against Patterson in light of the boy's death, according to police.
Soon after the news came out of the boy's death, Adrian Peterson took to Twitter to express his gratitude to his family, fans and the "fraternity of brothers" in the NFL for their support.
"God Bless everyone and thank u so much," he wrote.
My prayers are for the little children around the world that are victims of this worst kind of evil. As a father my heart is broken for little AP and the thousands of other innocent children that are senselessly taken from us. I cannot comprehend such tragedy, abuse must end. Lord please bless the little children and watch over each if them.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Prayers requested: More news from Kat in UK
News from The C Word Blog.
After a fantastic weekend, it was back to reality. I woke up exhausted on Monday morning with sore legs, a nasty cold and a general feeling of malaise. I really didn’t want to get out of bed, least of all to go to my hospital appointment for the check up and nebuliser appointment. My check up went ok today and my consultant wasn’t too worried about my cold. She basically said that half the country seems to have a cold so it was probably inevitable that I’d get it and that it would take an age to shake off. However, she was a bit more concerned with my actual immune system. Since my transplant, I’ve been having twice weekly injections at home.
These injections contain GCSF which helps my bone marrow produce neutrophils which are essential to fighting off nasty bugs and infections, and for some reason my bone marrow is producing it, but they’re not surviving very long which isn’t normal. Two weeks ago, my consultant suggested that I could have Graft versus host disease in my bone marrow where my new donor cells recognise my neutrophils as ‘foreign’ and kills them off. My consultant then decided that they would try another treatment to see if it would help my immune system settle in a bit better and booked me in to have a IV of immunogobulins. Immunogobulins appear naturally in our body but after chemotherapy/transplant, it can take the body some time to recover them, some people don’t and have to have immunogobulin infusions for the rest of their lives (I hope I don’t).
So last week, I had my first infusion. I was quite unhappy about this as it meant having to have a cannula in my arm and fluid pumped into me, I’d really hoped I would never have to have something like this again after my transplant, the only consolation is is that it’s not chemo, just an anti-body being pumped into me. On Monday, I had a blood test to see if the immunogobulins worked and the test showed my neutrophil count was for the first time on a Monday, above 1!
My consultant said that it’s too early to tell if the immunogobulins are responsible. On the basis of this, I have now been given more immunosuppressant tablets to take which will take longer to be weened off. I was really hoping that I’d be off them by now, it feels like progress has been good and now I seem to have taken a little step back. My consultant said not to be disheartened, I’m still doing very well but my new immune system still needs a bit of support to get it up and running.
Read entire article here...
After a fantastic weekend, it was back to reality. I woke up exhausted on Monday morning with sore legs, a nasty cold and a general feeling of malaise. I really didn’t want to get out of bed, least of all to go to my hospital appointment for the check up and nebuliser appointment. My check up went ok today and my consultant wasn’t too worried about my cold. She basically said that half the country seems to have a cold so it was probably inevitable that I’d get it and that it would take an age to shake off. However, she was a bit more concerned with my actual immune system. Since my transplant, I’ve been having twice weekly injections at home.
These injections contain GCSF which helps my bone marrow produce neutrophils which are essential to fighting off nasty bugs and infections, and for some reason my bone marrow is producing it, but they’re not surviving very long which isn’t normal. Two weeks ago, my consultant suggested that I could have Graft versus host disease in my bone marrow where my new donor cells recognise my neutrophils as ‘foreign’ and kills them off. My consultant then decided that they would try another treatment to see if it would help my immune system settle in a bit better and booked me in to have a IV of immunogobulins. Immunogobulins appear naturally in our body but after chemotherapy/transplant, it can take the body some time to recover them, some people don’t and have to have immunogobulin infusions for the rest of their lives (I hope I don’t).
So last week, I had my first infusion. I was quite unhappy about this as it meant having to have a cannula in my arm and fluid pumped into me, I’d really hoped I would never have to have something like this again after my transplant, the only consolation is is that it’s not chemo, just an anti-body being pumped into me. On Monday, I had a blood test to see if the immunogobulins worked and the test showed my neutrophil count was for the first time on a Monday, above 1!
My consultant said that it’s too early to tell if the immunogobulins are responsible. On the basis of this, I have now been given more immunosuppressant tablets to take which will take longer to be weened off. I was really hoping that I’d be off them by now, it feels like progress has been good and now I seem to have taken a little step back. My consultant said not to be disheartened, I’m still doing very well but my new immune system still needs a bit of support to get it up and running.
Read entire article here...
What mantra has helped you on your cancer journey?
From Cancerwise by Kellie Bramlet
Whether you're coping with cancer or another challenge, a mantra can help you get through it.
Many of the cancer patients, caregivers and survivors who have contributed to Cancerwise have shared wonderful words of wisdom that others have looked to for encouragement and inspiration throughout their cancer journeys.
Here some of our most popular quotes from our Cancerwise bloggers.
"In the medical community, this is called remission. To one who's overcome a great deal of obstacles, it's called freedom."
-- Justin Ozuna, chronic myeloid leukemia survivor
"Even if I never hear the word 'remission' or even if cancer takes my life, I will always be a survivor."
-- Cristina Rodriguez, non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor
"I don't have a choice as to my 'new' normal, so I do what I can to continue to find enjoyment and fulfillment in life."
-- Ed Steger, head and neck cancer survivor
"Cancer may have knocked me down, but I am back on my feet and I am stronger."
-- Linda Ryan, cervical cancer survivor
"Going through cancer gives you an opportunity to see what you're made of. I learned I'm made of more confidence, capability and charisma than I ever knew."
-- Megan Silianoff, ovarian cancer survivor
"I can't protect my wife from something that comes from the inside, but I can be there to hold her hand ready to reassure her that everything will be fine."
-- Gasper Mir, caregiver
"Do what you can. You can do something to impact your outcome. You can live a wonderful life."
-- Tom Barber, lung cancer survivor
"Somehow, some way, you'll get through this. And no matter the outcome, you'll be grateful for the gift of time."
-- Judy Overton, caregiver
"Being a cancer survivor means leveraging the challenges, the misery and fear into energy that allows you to move forward, be there for your loved ones and perhaps make a difference."
-- Oliver Bogler, male breast cancer survivor
"Live life to the fullest and accept the beauty of being given a second chance."
-- Holly Easley, myelodysplastic syndrome survivor
What mantra has helped you on your cancer journey? Tell us on our Facebook page.
Whether you're coping with cancer or another challenge, a mantra can help you get through it.
Many of the cancer patients, caregivers and survivors who have contributed to Cancerwise have shared wonderful words of wisdom that others have looked to for encouragement and inspiration throughout their cancer journeys.
Here some of our most popular quotes from our Cancerwise bloggers.
"In the medical community, this is called remission. To one who's overcome a great deal of obstacles, it's called freedom."
-- Justin Ozuna, chronic myeloid leukemia survivor
"Even if I never hear the word 'remission' or even if cancer takes my life, I will always be a survivor."
-- Cristina Rodriguez, non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor
"I don't have a choice as to my 'new' normal, so I do what I can to continue to find enjoyment and fulfillment in life."
-- Ed Steger, head and neck cancer survivor
"Cancer may have knocked me down, but I am back on my feet and I am stronger."
-- Linda Ryan, cervical cancer survivor
"Going through cancer gives you an opportunity to see what you're made of. I learned I'm made of more confidence, capability and charisma than I ever knew."
-- Megan Silianoff, ovarian cancer survivor
"I can't protect my wife from something that comes from the inside, but I can be there to hold her hand ready to reassure her that everything will be fine."
-- Gasper Mir, caregiver
"Do what you can. You can do something to impact your outcome. You can live a wonderful life."
-- Tom Barber, lung cancer survivor
"Somehow, some way, you'll get through this. And no matter the outcome, you'll be grateful for the gift of time."
-- Judy Overton, caregiver
"Being a cancer survivor means leveraging the challenges, the misery and fear into energy that allows you to move forward, be there for your loved ones and perhaps make a difference."
-- Oliver Bogler, male breast cancer survivor
"Live life to the fullest and accept the beauty of being given a second chance."
-- Holly Easley, myelodysplastic syndrome survivor
What mantra has helped you on your cancer journey? Tell us on our Facebook page.
Ibrutinib Clinical Trial Study - University of Nebraska
Randy Whisnant from North Carolina comes to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for a clinical trial study of the drug Ibrutinib.
Published on Sep 12, 2013
Thursday, October 10, 2013
We Are The Forgotten Ones
We are the forgotten ones, the overlooked and under-appreciated. Though they try to break us and separate us by class, gender, and cash, we stand strong together. To the voiceless, we gave a voice. We did not wait until they told us it was ok to speak, until we had permission to be unique. Each sign is a direct quote from those who are considered the unpopular and the unwanted. We are not defined by the hate in other's hearts. Immigrants, outcasts, the broken, but not bad, we are Cooper High.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Mary Jo Update #51 - The Great Kidney Stone Mystery Is Solved
Mary Jo went back to the OR again today to get to the bottom of the mysterious images on her xrays that appeared to be kidney stones in her urethra.
Dr. Meiers, her uroligist scoped her urethra and determined that what was showing up on the pictures were two instances of blood vessel calsification near the urethra. He did laser one kidney stone that was in the kidney, but not near the opening to the urethra.
The doctor had to remove the stent that was previously placed in her urethra to perform today's procedure. So, he put another one in afterwards to help her pass any remnants of the lasered kidney stone.
Hopefully, my girl won't have to go back to a doctor's office, except for routine stuff for a long time. Thanks again for all of your thoughts an prayers for us as we near the one year anniversary of when Mary Jo's MCL reared it's ugly head, and she started chemo treatments at Baptist East in Louisville.
So, many things have happened to us since last October. We have been blessed to meet so many wonderful people, patients, caregivers, doctors, nurses and staff at Baptist East Hospital in Louisville, at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, and at the ACS Hope Lodge in Nashville where we stayed for part of our time there. We were inspired by the courage of the patients and caregivers that we met, and strengthened and reassured by all of the dedicated medical personnel who cared for Mary Jo.
We also have become friends with several people online through this blog, and online NHL support groups walking a journey similar to ours. We have been up lifted by their prayers and support, and hopefully our prayers have helped them, as well.
One of the couples that we have been communicating with for several months are our friends, Steve Dillon and his wife and caregiver, Peggy in North Carolina. Steve and Peggy are currently at Duke University Cancer Center in Durham. Steve has MCL, too. He had an auto SCT on September 25th.
Steve's blood counts have indicated that engraftment has started, but he will be experiencing all of the bad things that happen while transplant patients are neutropenic. Please pray for Steve's complete recovery, and NED (no evidence of disease) on his post-transplant PET probably around his Day+100, Also please pray for everyone that has been adversely affected by the government shutdown.
One more time...
Dr. Meiers, her uroligist scoped her urethra and determined that what was showing up on the pictures were two instances of blood vessel calsification near the urethra. He did laser one kidney stone that was in the kidney, but not near the opening to the urethra.
The doctor had to remove the stent that was previously placed in her urethra to perform today's procedure. So, he put another one in afterwards to help her pass any remnants of the lasered kidney stone.
Hopefully, my girl won't have to go back to a doctor's office, except for routine stuff for a long time. Thanks again for all of your thoughts an prayers for us as we near the one year anniversary of when Mary Jo's MCL reared it's ugly head, and she started chemo treatments at Baptist East in Louisville.
So, many things have happened to us since last October. We have been blessed to meet so many wonderful people, patients, caregivers, doctors, nurses and staff at Baptist East Hospital in Louisville, at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, and at the ACS Hope Lodge in Nashville where we stayed for part of our time there. We were inspired by the courage of the patients and caregivers that we met, and strengthened and reassured by all of the dedicated medical personnel who cared for Mary Jo.
We also have become friends with several people online through this blog, and online NHL support groups walking a journey similar to ours. We have been up lifted by their prayers and support, and hopefully our prayers have helped them, as well.
One of the couples that we have been communicating with for several months are our friends, Steve Dillon and his wife and caregiver, Peggy in North Carolina. Steve and Peggy are currently at Duke University Cancer Center in Durham. Steve has MCL, too. He had an auto SCT on September 25th.
Steve's blood counts have indicated that engraftment has started, but he will be experiencing all of the bad things that happen while transplant patients are neutropenic. Please pray for Steve's complete recovery, and NED (no evidence of disease) on his post-transplant PET probably around his Day+100, Also please pray for everyone that has been adversely affected by the government shutdown.
One more time...
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