Cancer Survivors Network

As some of you know I ride a motorcycle....well there is a club that raises money for fellow bikers that have problems and need financial help. My friend Carolyn and her husband Tim made a request in my behalf and wrote a heart felt letter for me. This could give me between 500-1000 dollars towards medical bills. Truly good friends!! I didnt even ask them..they just did it to be good people.

My sister and niece each brought over soup for two dinners this week. That was a big help. Vegetable beef and cream of broccoli. Loved it. Thanks, you two.

My daughters co-workers had a raffle to raise money for me, to use toward medical bills. I have never met any of these people. Goes to prove there is alot of wonderful people in this world!! Hugs, Diane

When I shaved my head because I was losing my hair.. My sister shaved her's too ( and she had hair to her mid back)...

All my girl friends took turns going a sitting with me at chemo.. to give me a break from my hubby..

All the support I got from friends who helped with my small children for dr. appts, chemo, and the weeks after my mastectomy

My sister and 2 best girl friends did a little fund raiser to help raise a little money for expenses..

The meals that were cooked for my family after my double mastectomy

and All my co-workers collected money to help with expenses..

You learn who your true friends are....

My mom came down all the way from Oregon to stay with me for the first week after my surgery so that my hubby wouldn't have to do everything himself. She also cooked an entire turkey dinner for him for his birthday, which was 2 days after my surgery. And most importantly she not only prayed for me herself, but put me on so many prayer lists that I had people in Norway, England, Canada, and all over the U. S. praying for me and sending me messages.

I also received from my coworkers, not 1, not 2, not 3, not even 4 or 5, but no less than 6 arrangements of flowers/fruits/plants (4 from individuals, and 2 from groups of employees), and I was only off of work for 2 weeks!

I also had a cousin insist on picking my mom up from the airport the night before my surgery so that hubby and I could get to bed early.

And at this point I've only had to undergo the lumpectomy. I've been very touched by the kindess of all my friends and family.

Thanks everyone for sharing their positive experiences as well.

A friend brought me some tapioca pudding during an ice storm. I had a wonderful employer who said, 'come in when you feel like and when you don't, don't worry about it.' My neighbor brought me a chocolate cake that my dog got to before I did. (dog was fine but I was upset). LOL!

This is a great post!!!

I received probably 50 to 75 cards from friends I never even knew I had. When I had my double mastectomy, one coworker brought me a basket with a soft pink blanket, a chick flick, a relaxation tape, chocolate, a book, and I cant remember what else. I received these tiny 2x2 cards with cute religious inspirational sayings on them from my 24 year old niece in florida. Those are just a few...

But the most memorable thing was this: I was going thru my last adriamycin/cytoxan treatment and I felt awful one sunday night. My 19 year old sons friend Mike, still in high school I might add came over. I was bald and I said, Mike Im bald, took my hat off and he said Wow...but you still look good...I looked awful but I will never forget that as long as I live....what a great liar but what a great kid!!

Thanks for the post. Its a great reminder of just how loved we all are

Hugs
Linda t

Thank you so much for starting this post. The dad of one of my students had brain surgery this morning. He has brain cancer, probably glial blastoma (like Ted Kennedy). I am now inspired to start a fund raiser in our district to help them (but I don't want to embarass them). Any suggestions?

One of my dear friends who is also a bc survivor gave me a very special gift. It is a Swarovski crystal breast cancer pin that she herself wore to every one of her treatments. She is a 5-year survivor. She told me she was gifting me with the pin to get me through my treatments as it had gotten her through hers. Then I, too, should pass it on to someone in need that is fighting this disease. I cried when I opened it and have worn it to all my chemo treatments and plan to wear it to my radiation treatments as well. I know I can't actually have it on while getting the radiation but it will most definately be in the building with me. It's my "good luck" piece.

I love all these stories. Let's see: one of my friends sent me a really soft cashmere blanket to cuddle on the couch with during the winter months last year when I was going through chemo. Another came with me to a chemo session (while 6 months pregnant) and brought a basket of goodies --cookies, nuts, chocolate, lotions, teas. Two of my best friends sent me a $250 American Express pre-paid credit card so that I could have a spa day. These friends also continued calling and emailing even when I didn't respond. They just didn't give up.

Mimi

My co workers raised money for me to buy a wig or head coverings.
My husband shaved his head.
I received many cards, some from people I did not know.
I received a hand made quilt from my friend's quilting group and a hand made blanket.
My friend's co worker made my friend and me matching beaded watches. I have never met this woman!
My sister in law sent me home made oatmeal raisin cookies
A co worker left Bath and Body Works gifts and candles on my desk with a sweet note.
A friend at work gave me an inspirational picture frame and told me to place in it a photo of
myself with the people who matter most to me as a reminder of what I am fighting for
My friend gave me pretty picture frames-one with a photo of us in front of the Eiffel Tower and
one of my baby grandson kissing me
This list goes on...Thank you, Jen for the reminder. There are so many caring people out there. I have gained unexpected friendships.

I know that without a doubt the most special thing anyone did for me came from my friend of 25 years.....She is 51 and is fighing the worst form of brain cancer there is........Glioblastoma Multiforme stage IV........for the past year.......The two days that I was scheduled for my CT and bone scans, my husband was unable to go with me.......She knew this and both times when I showed up for the tests, there she sat in the waiting room...both times with a basket full of goodies for us to share when the tests were completed... When I registered surprise the first time, she said..........'You've been there every step of the way for me.....no way was I going to let you go through these tests alone...." That is a true friend......!!!!!!

I would ask, that if you feel it in your heart, please say a prayer for my most special friend...I can't imagine this world without her...
Thank you,
Nancy

My Mom who was turning 87 last year came to me to celebrate her birthday at the end of September. When I was diagnosed, she wound up staying until the 4th of July this year. My best friend in NY who is also a survivor, sent me a pretty pink and white afghan she made to wear during the long cold winter months during chemo, and sent me cards every couple of weeks in between calls and emails. I got a bouquet of fall flowers from my office and a separate one from one of my co-workers after my surgery. One of my brothers made a surprise trip down from the city, and brought me the gift of music (an external hard drive full of over 20,000 songs on it). My boss told me also to take the time I needed and not to worry. People, friends, family - everyone was just so wonderful. Now that it's over (the treatments I mean) and I've returned to the new normal, I would like to thank everyone, but with such a small home and no parking its impossible to have them all over for a party, so I bake and leave little food packages for everyone when I see them. They're loving it at work - LOL.
Pat

My friends created a "dinner train" and arranged for meals (complete with side dishes) to be delivered to my house M-W-F for the next 3 1/2 months while I'm on chemo and radiation.

My friends have run errands to help me with my little girls.

My friends have given me "care packages" to take to chemo (magazines, puzzles, snacks, etc.) and sat with me during treatments.

My friends drive me to my appointments.

My husband fixes my coffee in the morning to help me wake up before the kids needs me.

My friends walked the 3-Day in my honor and carried a picture of me as "Flat Liz" (takeoff from the Flat Stanley books to kids)!

My kids wear scarves as a show of support and create beautiful cards to inspire me to feel better.

I couldn't get through any of this without my friends and family.

my friend from Arizona sewed and mailed me a patterned pink pillowcase, one of the designs being the pink breast cancer ribbon, so that I could take my own pillow with me to chemo. It is very special to me and I use it all the time now.
My boss told me to take all the time off work that I needed.
My husband was there with me every step of the way.
My mom sent a prayer request to everyone she knew, who forwarded and forwarded. Then she sent me every reply she got from everyone.
My sales rep shaved his head when I shaved mine.
I got out of jury duty....

Nice post Jen

Cat

My workplace gave me a card with $660 of donations from all the employees last week. They do this for everyone going through hard times, sick or financial. Also, they let me off when I need to be. And my sister and niece always surprising me with gifts and food!

I have been stunned at the outpouring of support and help I've had. As somebody else mentioned the prayer lists expanded around the world.

My sons have been wonderful. They're both adults but not usually the nurturers.

Friends have driven me and gone with me to appointments to make notes so I could just listen. They've brought food and offered help in so many ways.

My boss told me also to take the time I need, that getting me well is the priority. My coworkers send emails and call so I stay in touch.

One of the most touching aspects is some people who I thought of as acquaintances have reached out in amazing ways offering to do my laundry, clean my house, shop etc. Friends, neighbors, coworkers, acquaintances have all blurred into one great group.

Here are a few supportive things friends and family have done for me. Note they are not in any specific order, just in the order they came to my mind! :-)

*Mom and Dad would always bring me a chocolate shake from my favorite drive-in (before I was lactose intolerant) the day of chemo.

*My church family signed up to bring dinners complete with desert for the first three days after each chemo session.

*Several good friends would come sit with me even though I would fall asleep during most of our visit.

*Husband would always bring me bouquets of flowers home to cheer me up.

*Oldest sister (now gone due to nasty cancer) would always send me encouraging letters with little surprises inside.

*Brother would call to see how I was doing (this was hard for him he is a retired Marine and a retired Swat cop so showing emotions is tough for him).

*Each year we always have gone to a super bowl party at a friends home...one of my cancer years I was not well enough to go so.....they took a group photo holding a sign that said "GET WELL RENA WE LOVE YOU!" and they all signed a giant card with words of encouragement.

*My neighbor who owned a Mexican Cafe made coupons on her computer that were good for 4 complete meals, drinks and deserts included. She gave us 30 of them and explained to her staff that we were to be given anything at no costs when we presented the coupons.

I have found there are many caring people who are willing to help in times of need.

Hugs to all,

RE

Okay thats enough for now, I could go on and on many people have been very kind.

I have a best friend that either calls or emails me every day.She comes to see me if I feel like it.She has baked several things and brought to me.My daughter checks on me every day.She went to every Chemo treatment and I start radiation this week.I have enough friends and family for a different one each day of the week to take me.My daughter helps me clean sometimes.My husband did all the yard work this year.I always did it all.And I think my favorite is Thanksgiving and christmas my daughter and daughter-law are doing the dinner,So I won,t have to worry with it while going through my treatments.I am very blessed and Thankful and I know in my heart that if they ever needed me i would be their for them two.Love and Prayers.(Pat)