Monika (Mopar) deserves an award

Monika is Stage Ic, so her
Monika is Stage Ic, so her long-term survival is not unexpected, but I think we should give her an award just for sticking around so long.

It makes me crazy when members just seem to drop off the face of the Earth. We never know if they died, or just ran off with NED to some exotic desert island.

Thanks for hanging with us, Monika. XXXOOOXXX

Carlene

LaundryQueen said:

Mother Hen Award
And the Mother Hen Award goes to: Carlene!

I mean that in a good way--every discussion board needs a mother hen. Thanks for taking on that role--it's not an easy one and I appreciate your presence very much. I can't keep track of everyone the way you do and it helps me get to know the other members better, too.

LQ

(I'm going for the "Best at Being in Denial Award"! Hahahahaha!)

As I have said before (see
As I have said before (see my thread, "Getting us all on the same page"), I just HATE it when we all of a sudden stop seeing one of our "regulars." I do indeed worry about each of you.

Keeping up with everyone is easier in some cases because I have posted my email in my profile, and a lot of my cyber sisters have taken advantage of that to send me messages, even when they are no longer participating on the board (such as Marty W, aka Mawty and Michaela Marie, God rest her soul). There is a downside to that, but I'm willing to take the bad with the good.

I made a promise to God when I was first diagnosed that as long as He lets me live, I will try my best to help other women who are afflicted with this ghastly disease. It is an honor and my great privilege to be here for all of you.

Carlene

lmede64 said:

you are someone I can count on for information and inspiration
thank you, thank you, thank you!

Yes, I agree. Thank you so
Yes, I agree. Thank you so very much. May you be our mother hen for many, many years.

Carolen

MK_4Dani said:

NED and still here
I feel the same as Carlene....I am NED now coming on 1.5 yr and I still visit the boards almost every night. I also like to give hints, give support and let newly dx ladies know that life does get back to 'normal' after chemo. Normal meaning: our new normal, fear of reocurrance, joy of being alive, thankful for our medical teams. etc. I love this board.
Mary

You and I joined the same
You and I joined the same month, Mary. Was that (Sept 2009) the month of your diagnosis?

Carlene

LaundryQueen said:

Typo
I found a posting by Monika dated 09/09/2004 where she comments on herself as being stage IV at the time of diagnosis but it must have been a typo...I am still encouraged & inspired by her longevity on the discussion board.

Monika: please step up and accept your reward, you brave woman. God bless you!

I agree....Monika has been
I agree....Monika has been on of our most loyal sisters. I hope all of us are here to accept similar rewards in the years to come.

Typos are not uncommon, here in chemo brain land. LOL

I'm sure there are some true 8 year survivors of stage IV somewhere, though. I wish they would pop in here every once in awhile.

Carlene

unknown said:

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

no one will judge ur knowledge
I have been coming here everday since may 1 2011 I ha e yet to see any post implying that. Feel free
to speak ur mind and ask questions. Say whats in ur heart good and bad.

Jonnie

kayandok said:

I agree
I do hope that this is a place where everyeone can always share openly about their experience. That is more valuable than any kind of statistic we can read off the internet.
kathleen

I come here for mom and for
I come here for mom and for my own peace of mind. I see real women here fighting. I also realize we see the good, the bad and the ugly side of it as well. I appreciate the frank honesty and the support so lovingly given to everyone who "drops" by.

mopar said:

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY!
LQ and all of you wonderful ladies, thank you so much for these glorious posts that surprised me this morning! They were so unexpected, and so much appreciated.

Sounds like you did a lot of research on me, LQ (LOL!). I've used that tool often to refresh my memory on some things, and for lots more. That Stage IV certainly was a typo - must have been during a 'chemo brain' moment! Anyway, I was Stage 1C in 2000, and as you know, a recurrance in 2006. I, too am so blessed to still be here. And even though it was caught early and at a low stage, the thought of the tumor rupturing and spilling out into my abdminal cavity was tough to take. But, here I am 11 years later, and thankful for every breath I take.

To all of you, thank YOU for your support, shoulder to cry on, words of wisdom, and everlasting friendship. Your posts are another testimony to the strength and character that you all possess. Yes, we have seen many come and go, but we've also welcomed many new members this past year. Sad to say I'm sure we'll continue to have newcomers until this horrible disease is irradicated. But how wonderful that we have a place to come to where we all understand eachother and can love and support oneanother.

God Bless all of you, and I humbly accept this award on behalf of ALL of you! Have a beautiful day, and a SAFE, wonderful weekend!

(((HUGS))) and more (((HUGS)))
Monika

Out of curiousity were you
Out of curiousity were you clear cell? I am 1C clear cell and I know clear cell often gets DX at earlier stages because it generally has more symptoms early on (I had a 16cm tumor and I'm a relatively small person). I was 1C because of tumor rupture also. As for typos, IC to IV would be easy as "C" and "V" are right next to each other on the keyboard.

poopergirl14052 said:

carlene you are the heart and soul
of this board. You are very kind and patient and you always respond to our posts. I value all of my teal sisters advice and opinions. I think we are lucky to have found one another. Everyone here is very special to me...val

PG, you are very kind. I
PG, you are very kind. I think it's worth mentioning that not everyone who joins this group is crazy about me, or more precisely, what I have to say, and that's okay. In fact, it's great. We desperately NEED choices - different perspectives, different treatment options - from the day of our diagnosis to, God forbid, decisions about Hospice and palliative care. There is no reason we cannot ALL get along like civilized adults, even if we don't always agree. Nancy Mellen and I are great friends, yet we have different approaches to everything from after-care to lighting decor (a little joke from a Facebook discussion).

I do try to answer most of the posts, but no one says the right thing, all the time. And no one is going to agree with you, all the time. People are going to post things that you feel are inaccurate, all the time (well, not really all the time, but I was on a roll there). Never be afraid to give us your opinions. And never be afraid to disagree with someone else's. The key is not to preach. Give us your best facts, cite your sources, and share your innermost beliefs, but don't beat people over the head with it.

I got an email from someone I had disagreed with and she said I was "mean." I'm not mean; I'm simply not inclined to take everything I read on the Internet at face value. And neither should you. Any of you. Sometimes Google is your friend - sometimes, not so much. I love it when posters include citations within their posts, especially if it's a controversial issue.

But I love you all. You are all my sisters and as my kids used to say, "You mess with one of us, you've messed with all of us." Long live the teal sisterhood.

Carlene