Esophageal Cancer Stage III (T3N1M0) survivor now entering 14th year of remission!-THANKSGIVING is A

           Our weather here in Virginia Beach, Virginia on this Thanksgiving Day has been divine.  The sun has just set.  It has been in the low 70s and a gentle breeze has been rustling the autumn leaves all day.    I’ve been cooking a little bit each day and putting it in the freezer, since my family won’t be able to gather together till Saturday for our Thanksgiving celebration.  Normally, I’m so busy cooking that I rarely get to sit down on Thanksgiving Day—rather I just collapse at the end of the day!  But it’s all worth it to have family time together.

            Today, my husband William and I sat out back on the patio and just soaked in the scenes and sounds of God’s green earth.  Birds were chirping, doves were fluttering and crows were “crowing”.  We even had a visit from our friend—the redheaded woodpecker.  What a beauty to behold!  A gentle breeze made our wind chimes sound like notes on an organ.  The sun was just warm enough to put you to sleep.

            We can do nothing but thank God for giving my husband and me more time together.  He was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer Stage III in November of 2002.  He had a Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy (MIE) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center on May 17, 2003.  It was performed by Dr. James D. Luketich, the pioneer of the MIE.  William has had no recurrence and is now entering his 14^th year of cancer-free survival.  That is an absolute miracle for Esophageal Cancer.  Of course, recurrence always looms as a possibility, but so far—so good!

           Then in November of 2012, I went to the Emergency room with groin pain that I had analyzed as probably a “hernia.”  Well not exactly—the CT scan came back in a couple of hours, and my “diagnosis” turned out to be “Peritoneal Carcinomatosis”.  A 2^nd Opinion @ UPMC, also found my ovaries to have cancer in them as well.  So after pre-op chemo, I had Cytoreductive Surgery on July 1, 2013.  In my case, it was already Stage IV, so the surgery would not be potentially “curative”, but it would give me the best chance to sit in a rocking chair on a warm November day in 2015.   We both wake up every day thanking God for our survival thus far.  All through the day I marvel that we are still alive, and never cease to thank God for His watch care over both of us.  First I was my husband’s caregiver, and now he is mine.  So especially on this occasion—THANKSGIVING DAY--we thank God for the ability to still “smell the roses!”

            It’s true—the best things in life are still free.  Peace of mind and a joyful heart cannot be bought with money.  It’s a gift from God for which we are truly thankful.  To be able to still be here for each other is an answer to prayer.    To be able to still say “HAPPY THANKSGIVING” is a blessing. 

 I pray that there will be many more EC patients with success stories like my husband’s.  Yet, we know there are many who are distraught at the moment, and are not feeling like saying, “Happy Thanksgiving.”  We understand that too.  If there is anyone who has questions about their Esophageal Cancer diagnosis, perhaps we can help you find guidance.  Just write me.           

 Loretta-age 76-“Peritoneal Carcinomatosis/Ovarian Cancer Stage IV

 Wife of William Marshall, Age 78, “EC Stage III (T3N1M0)”

 MIE @ UPMC on May 17, 2003.