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WILLIAM MARSHALL IS ALIVE AND WELL
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Feb 09, 2013 - 10:11 pm
For those of you wondering where William Marshall is and for the newbies wondering who is William Marshall, let me first say that William is doing well. On May 17, 2013 William will celebrate 11 years of being cancer free!!! William was diagnosed Stage III (T3N1M0) back in 2002. He went to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. James D. Luketich, world renown pioneer of the Minimally Invasive Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy performed the surgery. And (thanks to God) William is still here to tell his success story and to give hope to all those suffering with this dreaded disease. But now, sadly, there has been a role reversal, William is now having to be the caregiver to his dear wife Loretta who is now the patient. This past year around Thanksgiving (2012) Loretta was diagnosed with stage IV Peritoneal Carcinomatosis.
Peritoneal carcinomatosis is a term used to describe widespread metastases of cancerous tumors in the peritoneal cavity. The peritoneal cavity is the fluid-filled gap between the wall of the abdomen and the organs contained within the abdomen. The peritoneal cavity contains the pelvis, stomach, spleen, gall bladder, liver and the intestines. The fluid contained in the peritoneal cavity exists to lubricate, or reduce wear and tear, the tissues and organs in the abdomen during digestion. It contains anti-inflammatory properties such as antibodies, white blood cells and electrolytes. This is just some information I looked up online. Loretta is now undergoing chemo treatments which consist of Taxol/Carboplatin. Although the treatments are going quite well she has had some scary moments. Loretta is under the care of Dr. Paul Conkling their oncologist in Virginia beach. She has had a second opinion at UPMC and is under the treatment of Drs. Bartlett and Edwards there. After she completes her chemo treatments she will have another exploratory surgery. If the chemo has been as effective as we all hope it to be then some “debulking” surgery can be performed. It will not be considered a cure, but this would hopefully give Loretta some time of remission. I am deeply concerned for my dear friends, William and Loretta, as I'm sure many of you are now that you know what is going on. So please keep them in your prayers. I would never have posted this without their consent but they have given me their approval to post this here. They have helped so many through the years trying to inform and give the best possible advice and information through their much extensive research and of course their own personal experience with esophageal cancer. When I first came to this board I was so lost and knew nothing of this horrible cancer but thanks to many on this board and especially to William and Loretta for taking me under their wings and for helping me to understand what we were in for with my dear brother who was diagnosed stage IV esophageal cancer in 2010 but who is now with his Lord and Savior in his Heavenly Home. My brother moved into his Heavenly Home November the 8th 2012 after battling this disease for over 27 months. William and Loretta would like all to know that they are deeply pained that they can no longer be allowed here on this site because this has been their heart and soul for over 10 years. They met many wonderful people here that was like family to them. They still pray for you all. For some unknown reason they were banned but it seems some took offense in the mention of God. To me this is so sad because for those of us who believe in God we must give credit to Him for keeping us daily and giving us strength to face the things this life throws our way. For we know without Him we could never make it on our own. I do know how to get in touch with William and Loretta if anyone would like to speak to them and are in need of help in dealing with esophageal cancer, they also try to post on the EsophagealCancerFighters.com site but are limited because of Loretta's condition, but please above all else pray for these dear people. They gave so much to others and now they need us, to uphold them in prayer and in our thoughts and words of encouragement. Thank you for allowing me to post this.
May God bless you all!!! Rose
Please feel free to view a video I made in honor of my dear brother. He is singing on the video. Please click this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tlbg2nkrXfI
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Joined: Feb 2012
Thank you for the update. Im glad to hear he is ok, but sad to hear about his wife. I will be praying for them both.
It also saddens me to hear that he was banned due to expressing his faith in God and using that to comfort others. So many people need to hear about Jesus and when you are down and out (as many are here) that's when you need Him the most. I pray William doesn't let this stop him in the crusade for Christ. The Lord will certainly bless him for his efforts.
Please let him know he is missed and they are being prayed for without ceasing.
God bless.
Joined: Jun 2010
Thanks so much for the update on Loretta. It does sadden me, as many people as the Marshalls helped, that they aren't allowed to get the same kind of encouragement from this site, as so many of us had received from them.
Praying for them.
Sandra
Joined: Nov 2011
William and Loretta I'm just lost for words, this is just so sad - sending lots of warm wishes your way.
Rose please keep us posted.
kit
Admin - this site would not exist if it were not for William Marshall, both Loretta and William have given so much to so many and now when they could do will a little support it wont be available to them from here - shame on you.
Joined: Jan 2011
I see my post here is flagged? What does that exactly mean???
Did I do something wrong????
Can I get an answer to this.
Thank you.
Joined: Feb 2012
I saw that too. I'm sure it's because you mentioned God.
How sad!! People say God shouldn't be forced on them; however, their lack of belief is being forced on us. If we want to give God the glory for something, we should be able to.
I'm sure I'll be flagged now; but, I appreciate your care, concern and willingness to say what you think.
Joined: May 2010
Please let the Marshalls know we miss them and are praying for them. BMGky
Joined: Oct 2012
Dear Rose,
Thank you for the good update on William Marshall. I always tried to read everything he wrote. His postings were filled with valuable research information as well as compassion. Both William and Sherri were certainly helpful in the time I was learning all I could about Stage IV Esophageal Cancer. Words can’t describe the pain a family suffers when this diagnosis becomes a part of their family. You’re no stranger to that kind of suffering and I am so sorry that Ray wasn’t able to have successful surgery. You were wise to come here to find out all you could about this cancer. Sometimes members of the family just hide their head in the sand and pretend things will be okay. And in time many do turn out okay, but knowledge is the best way I know to be able to handle this cancer. I appreciate all who write here and are absolutely truthful with the information they provide. We don’t need to put “salve” on this cancer. I have learned that there are basically 3 different kinds of surgeries as Paul has outlined recently. Certainly anyone who is eligible for one should muster the courage to seek out top medical thoracic surgeons and go for it. That’s always the first thing we hope for. But there is a distinction between stages, and unfortunately Ray fell into the category of Stage IV meaning involvement in more than one organ. In that case only palliative measures like chemotherapy and radiation are offered. Once more I am so sorry about your brother Ray, and I pray for you and your family who are missing him so at this time.
While I am elated to read that William is doing so well, I am equally saddened to hear about his wife, Loretta’s diagnosis, of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis. I understood the description that you posted about that cancer. Now I will have to start learning more about that one. Although this is a Stage IV diagnosis, I do hope that the chemo she is taking will enable her to have some surgical relief along the way. I know by their writings that they are open-minded and God-fearing. Their trust in HIM will carry them through the hard places, devastating though they are.
Also I wanted to say that I played your video. God certainly gifted your brother with a wonderful voice, and truly many of us know that God is the "wind beneath our wings." I loved it. There’s a heavenly chorus I do believe and I think Ray is there singing even now, and better than ever before.
Praying for everyone,
“Flo”
P.S. By the way, from my perspective, I find nothing offensive about your post, and cannot fathom why someone would flag it. Surely talking about successful Esophagectomies is not offensive. And surely sharing your feelings about the suffering and death of your brother Ray, Jr. and/or posting the beautiful tribute couldn’t be bad? So what’s left to be upset about? Could someone really have a grudge against God? This whole discussion link is about sharing your feelings and disseminating information of our personal experiences that helps others find their way through this maze. Personally I find the “flagging” of your post offensive. That upset me, but there’s no place to “flag a flag!”
Joined: Jan 2010
Praying for William and Loretta!
Joined: Dec 2012
Rose
I am new to this board and I wondered if I inadvertently flagged you not knowing what it meant. On e-mail when I flag something it's because the content is something I want to save and reference later. If it was me I apologize. Is there any way to rectify this?
Deb
Joined: Jan 2011
Deb, I do not believe it was you so don't worry about that, I believe when a post is flagged it means that it was found offensive in some way and I believe it is the monitor of the board that does that.
I am still awaiting a response to my post above as to why my post was flagged in the first place. Hopefully I will get an answer soon.
I also want to add a big thank you to those of you who have replied in behalf of Loretta and William.
Please keep them in prayer daily!!!!
Joined: Sep 2011
Hello Rose,
I wanted to say a huge thank you for updating us all on our dearest friend William and his lovely wife Loretta.
I missed them here so much that I don't come in here often anymore. It seems so unfair when they were the hub of this site and so many distraught peaople relied on them for good advice and help. So many here have benefitted from there kindness and time. Well now it's our turn to help them and please let them know that they will be in my prayers.
Please will you pass on my heartfelt good wishes that Loretta will come through this and William will be able to be strong for her.
Hugs and prayers,
Marci x
Joined: Jan 2011
Thank you so much. this is what they need to hear at this time. Loretta just went for treatment yesterday. Praying the side effects won't be bad for her. And I too am praying that William will continue to have the strength to be strong for her and himself.
I sure wil pass this on to them!
rose
Joined: Dec 2012
I wish I could have had contact or have been able to read their postings before they were pulled. They sound like an amazing couple who had much to offer people traveling down the EC highway. My best to both of them.
Joined: Jul 2012
When I was diagnosed and stumbled upon this site William is the one that had done the research, gave me a long list of sites to check out for chemo, radiation, and everything else associated with EC. But he didn't stop there. He called me one day and I talked to him and Loretta on the phone for at least 30 minutes. They were so uplifting and encouraging and really gave me the courage to face my cancer. I loved them both dearly and have no idea why they would not be allowed to continue the crusade they started on here.
I wil pray for them as I have since that first meeting and if you talk to them please let them know that I am a survivor because of them.