Midwest people...

Kent Cass said:

midwest
Quad Cities (Illinois side). Drs. have direct ties to the U of Iowa. Did right by me. Vaporizers/humidifiers are critically important. Mom's MS was treated in it's earlier stages at Mayo's, and I'm 50% of Swedish blood, and have been very impressed by your State the two times I have visited it. Minnesota's scenery, and people, are most exceptional, Deb.

kcass

midwest
I was diagnosed, had surgery on my face and had many tests dowe at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The ENT dept, cancer and neurology depts were great. I never had to wait very long for appointments and they were good listeners. They believed in my symptoms which was a very big issue as it took 4 months to find the cancer in my face. My daughter is in MN on the border with North Dakota. It seems funny when she says "the whole state is taking a snow day off". Nothing like adding more stress to someone trying to get cancer treatments. And YA DER snow keeps coming. There are great people in MN watching out for my daughter. Slickwilly

kkw62 said:

Iowa - Mercy Cancer Center -
Iowa - Mercy Cancer Center - Des Moines. VERY HAPPY with those we have dealt with during this time.

started in Berwyn
I went through chemo and radiation at MaCneal Hospital in Berwyn and finished up at the University of Chicago with a neck disection.

backachedp said:

Midwest
We are having a Snowy Day here in MN today. I am so GLAD Bob is done with his Treatment..some day's it took him and hour and a half to get 20miles..he has an appt Thursday with his P.A. I hope the next 3 month's go quickly as the PET Scan is so important. How did everyone handle the waiting game? Bob is still feeling horrible and so am I. We have not had any support from his family except his Mom who has Dimentia and everday she say's so Bob is getting better?? I don't know how to say what I want to say to her. She would not recognize him if she saw him. In the beggining I brought her over to see him, but he has really not wanted anyone to see him. I am thankful for the care he has received. I want to send a gift to the Radiation Dept from us, but don't know what I want it to be special..any ideas? Hope everyone is having a good day and low pain or NO PAIN and getting better. I am so very very Thankful to everyone here.

gift
backachedp- this is what I gave to the extraordinary women at chemo and rad this past Christmas season:



"To the wonderful women at Chemo and Radiation
With this Noel...
2009 began for me with Cancer, and death at my door. That Spectre slowly opened the door to find me standing there to confront him, with Drs. Chitneni and Rajput by my side, along with each and every one of you. I don't have to tell you how unpleasant the closing of that door was, but it was closed in Death's face, at least for the now. I did not close that door- you did. My only claim is that I endured, and allowed you, who each knows their role, to close that door for me.
And so it is that each and every one of you is in my heart, and always will be: just as it is for all who cross paths with you at the Cancer Center, and with whom you share in historic times of their lives. With the Holidays, and reflections of the past seen in the now, know that we all are so very grateful for your help. Words of gratitude which measure equally with the amount of your help, both physical and mental, do not exist in our vocabulary. All any of us can do is welcome you into our hearts. For me...
2009 began for me with Cancer, and death. 2009 ends with my casting yet another breath. From my heart, for the very fact that this breath happens, I thank you.

God bless every one of you"





Mid-January I had a visit with my Onco, and noticed her demeanor with me was a little different. And when I was checking-out, the gal entering things in their computer thanked me for the "note" I had given them. And then, one of the other gals, looking over her shoulder at me, said, "You had some of us in tears, Kent." You don't know, backachedp, how much that means to me; and, I hope, meant to them. I did not sign the note, and made no mention of it, but they remembered. It touched them, I think, and I hope helped them with all they must internally go thru in dealing five days a week with those of us who carry the C. Maybe you can give them a note similar to this, backachedp.

As for the waiting- just live, and be thankful for it. I'm 15-months, now. Every day is a blessing, though of recent the prospect of my mortality has become more focused along the lines of "how I would like to live the last year(s) of my life."

Believe.

kcass

Kent Cass said:

gift
backachedp- this is what I gave to the extraordinary women at chemo and rad this past Christmas season:



"To the wonderful women at Chemo and Radiation
With this Noel...
2009 began for me with Cancer, and death at my door. That Spectre slowly opened the door to find me standing there to confront him, with Drs. Chitneni and Rajput by my side, along with each and every one of you. I don't have to tell you how unpleasant the closing of that door was, but it was closed in Death's face, at least for the now. I did not close that door- you did. My only claim is that I endured, and allowed you, who each knows their role, to close that door for me.
And so it is that each and every one of you is in my heart, and always will be: just as it is for all who cross paths with you at the Cancer Center, and with whom you share in historic times of their lives. With the Holidays, and reflections of the past seen in the now, know that we all are so very grateful for your help. Words of gratitude which measure equally with the amount of your help, both physical and mental, do not exist in our vocabulary. All any of us can do is welcome you into our hearts. For me...
2009 began for me with Cancer, and death. 2009 ends with my casting yet another breath. From my heart, for the very fact that this breath happens, I thank you.

God bless every one of you"





Mid-January I had a visit with my Onco, and noticed her demeanor with me was a little different. And when I was checking-out, the gal entering things in their computer thanked me for the "note" I had given them. And then, one of the other gals, looking over her shoulder at me, said, "You had some of us in tears, Kent." You don't know, backachedp, how much that means to me; and, I hope, meant to them. I did not sign the note, and made no mention of it, but they remembered. It touched them, I think, and I hope helped them with all they must internally go thru in dealing five days a week with those of us who carry the C. Maybe you can give them a note similar to this, backachedp.

As for the waiting- just live, and be thankful for it. I'm 15-months, now. Every day is a blessing, though of recent the prospect of my mortality has become more focused along the lines of "how I would like to live the last year(s) of my life."

Believe.

kcass

Amazing
Kent, that is totally and completely amazing! You write beautifully and I thank you for sharing that with us. You are so right, the people who cared or is caring for us are definitely playing a huge part in our survival. Thank you for putting it in such beautiful words!
God bless,
Debbie

Kent Cass said:

thank you
I thank you, Debbie. It was heartfelt. And, for reasons we all know of, this Christmas was something very meaningful.

Believe.

kcass

from the heart
Kent, the words made it very clear that you were speaking from your heart. You definitely have a way with words. Thanks for posting!
God Bless,
Debbie