A note from a VERY 'old-timer'....still alive and kickin' and NED!
Sadly, the day after Thanksgiving that year 2004, I heard those 3 life-changing words for the first time "You have cancer". And then, to my amazement, my very self controlled GI gal hugged me with tears in her eyes (traditionally, Asian women do not show emotion in public) and told me she loved me (I figured it MUST be VERY bad for her to act this way). Then said the second crusher: "We don't see many cases like yours living very long".
Things blurred in time...my first chemo/rad session came the day after my beau left for his dad's funeral. Christmas eve my 5FU was dc'ed by a nurse who opened the office just for me so I didn't need to wear that pump for Christmas day. New Year came and went, and then all treatment ended with surgery in May to remove my rectum, sig colon, and make a 'new' rectum out of descending colon.
July started the second battle with cancer, unrelated primary site breast cancer found on a PET scan for the rectal. Lumpectomy with an overnight hospital stay (strong reaction to the anesthesia). Home to recover before starting chemo/rads...2 weeks later back in the hospital with a total bowel obstruction. Another resection to remove strangled small intestine.
After recovery, chemo/rads for the breast cancer started and ended the following year on July 4. My MAJOR independence day!
I am thankful each and every year at Thanksgiving that I had so many, many loving people helping me along my journey. I am thankful that I am one of the few cases that beat the odds that my GI gal gave me so long ago. Most of all, I am thankful for all of you, my friends! Without all the support I had from so many, I would not be here today, writing this story....
BIG hugs, Kathi
Comments
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Aw, Pepe...you are so kind!pepebcn said:Hello Kathi , it's a great honour to see you back! LOL.
I really miss you so much in the forum.........well ,where are you now?.
Congratulations on your 8 re-anniversary and hop we can have many more together !
Big hugs to you both!
Pepon.
It's a weak excuse...but a true one...
This past year, since my mom died, has been all-consuming. My sister was dx'ed with BC, and so I was solely responsible for executing the estate. I decided to take 100% of mom's house, and so the time renovating it has left precious little. I am now finished with that, so I can resume my 'social network' posting...*smile* I figured that you all here at CSN were doing quite well without me (don't take that wrong...I will post now), but my daughter is on FB and so I needed to stay busy there (she misses us alot when we are gone!).
We have also done much traveling. Currently, I am managing 2 cruises, one in December, one in February. I laugh...I sometimes get confused when talking with the travel agents...
We are still in the 'every 3 months switch countries' mode...in The States for the holidays, and then back to The Netherlands. It goes easier now that I can speak Dutch fairly well. I am helping with 4 ponies in Holland, and got to watch a calf being born this summer with our cows that graze in the backyard from the dairyman. We took a cruise of the Baltic region, also, this summer...Estonia, Russia, Scandinavia. SOOOOOO many, many pics to post! I have started making photobooks for chronicle things...
So, again, thank you, dear Pepe, for the kind words....I promise I am still around, and will start posting again soon!
Hugs, Kathi0 -
Dearest Kathi
Your personal story with cancer X 2, gives hope. It also proves that "an expiration date" and statistcis are made to be beaten!
So very glad to have you back posting here and sharing your zest for life and living it well.
Just do one thing for us please...enjoy your cruises but never forget that we will be here anxiously awaiting your return!
Hugs and love,
Marie who loves kitties0 -
your story is inspiring
hi kathi,
its just nice to hear from you and that you are doing well.
hugs,
Pete
ps i am in germany trying some european treatments, if you see me one day lets have a real hug!0 -
You are an inspiration Kathiron50 said:G'day Kathi
Major hugs from another old-timer..Ron.
Just wanted to tell you: "you are an inspiration to all of us". Thank you for sharing and I hope health continues to stay with you. Best wishes and blessings from Minnesota.
"Minnesotagirl"0 -
Wow!! Your story is soooooKathiM said:Aw, Pepe...you are so kind!
It's a weak excuse...but a true one...
This past year, since my mom died, has been all-consuming. My sister was dx'ed with BC, and so I was solely responsible for executing the estate. I decided to take 100% of mom's house, and so the time renovating it has left precious little. I am now finished with that, so I can resume my 'social network' posting...*smile* I figured that you all here at CSN were doing quite well without me (don't take that wrong...I will post now), but my daughter is on FB and so I needed to stay busy there (she misses us alot when we are gone!).
We have also done much traveling. Currently, I am managing 2 cruises, one in December, one in February. I laugh...I sometimes get confused when talking with the travel agents...
We are still in the 'every 3 months switch countries' mode...in The States for the holidays, and then back to The Netherlands. It goes easier now that I can speak Dutch fairly well. I am helping with 4 ponies in Holland, and got to watch a calf being born this summer with our cows that graze in the backyard from the dairyman. We took a cruise of the Baltic region, also, this summer...Estonia, Russia, Scandinavia. SOOOOOO many, many pics to post! I have started making photobooks for chronicle things...
So, again, thank you, dear Pepe, for the kind words....I promise I am still around, and will start posting again soon!
Hugs, Kathi
Wow!! Your story is sooooo inspiring! Happy Thanksgiving to you and all the survivors and family on CSN. Kim0 -
Happy Thanksgiving to you, as well!rogina2336 said:Wow!! Your story is sooooo
Wow!! Your story is sooooo inspiring! Happy Thanksgiving to you and all the survivors and family on CSN. Kim
Hugs, Kathi0 -
I won't forget...dear Marie!!!Lovekitties said:Dearest Kathi
Your personal story with cancer X 2, gives hope. It also proves that "an expiration date" and statistcis are made to be beaten!
So very glad to have you back posting here and sharing your zest for life and living it well.
Just do one thing for us please...enjoy your cruises but never forget that we will be here anxiously awaiting your return!
Hugs and love,
Marie who loves kitties
Hugs, Kathi0 -
We are 'neighbors' of sorts, dear Pete....pete43lost_at_sea said:your story is inspiring
hi kathi,
its just nice to hear from you and that you are doing well.
hugs,
Pete
ps i am in germany trying some european treatments, if you see me one day lets have a real hug!
Germany is a short train ride away, dear friend, I could visit!!!
Hugs, Kathi0 -
I'm smiling, dearheart! To be remembered is precious!YoVita said:Thanks for checking in
I was wondering how you were doing. You don't remember me as I was mostly a lurker during your active time on the site. Glad to see you're back. I'm envious of your travels. Congratulations on your 8 year anniversary!
Hugs, Kathi0 -
Thank you, dearheart! And I wish the same for you!...*smile*Minnesotagirl said:You are an inspiration Kathi
Just wanted to tell you: "you are an inspiration to all of us". Thank you for sharing and I hope health continues to stay with you. Best wishes and blessings from Minnesota.
"Minnesotagirl"
Hugs, Kathi0
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