Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Our Founder of this site, Christine Druther has had a major setback. Seems she suffered a stroke in the past week, and the doctors found a small tumor in her brain that's affecting her ability to walk. She has been taken to a skilled nursing facility for rehab. All of this is very hard on her 2 daughters, Danielle and Debra, and they would appreciate any one in the area that can visit to do so, and the rest of us to send cards to let Chris know how much she means to all of us. Danielle sent me this message before Chris was moved to the skilled care facility.

I haven't had a chance to really sit down with any of her doctors yet but I talked to one last night that said the mass of scar tissue that's been in her cerebellum for some time now has grown and is probably responsible for why she's unable to walk (what I took her in for) and it's surrounded by inflammation, which they want to treat with decadron. The only thing that makes me nervous about that is the effects that particular steroid has on blood sugar, considering my mom has taken it before and now has diabetes because of it. The stroke showed up in her MRI but as far as i can tell, she's at her base level behaviorally and there's no particular weakness on either side specifically that I've seen. I'm just not sure if she will walk again or if the anti inflammatory properties of the steroid will help restore better function to that area of the brain.

Lets send her all our love and prayers with an avalanch of cards! She has done so much for all of us!
To send a card to let her know we are thinking of her:

Christine Druther
Emeritus of Carmel Valley Room 185
13101 Hartfield Avenue
San Diego , CA 92130

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thank you Sheila!

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thank you, Sheila. I just put a card in the mail.

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Oh no!!! What horrible news! I've always looked up to Christine as an inspiration and as a reminder that we can all pull through this disease no matter how dire the circumstances. But now this...

I'll definitely send a card/care package to them of some form.

Thanks for updating us,

Marcia

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Consider it done. I will send her a greeting as soon as I can. Thanks for letting us know.

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

This is so very sad. I will get a card out in the mail to her.

Christine has always remained in my thoughts.

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thanks for letting us know - how devastating for them all hope she can regain normal function soon.

Jenny x

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

So sorry to hear this news about Christine.

I will put a card in the mail tomorrow.

Fervently praying for Christine.

all the best
caya

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Mom was taken off Decadron once her neurologist was able to meet up with her, and the area of scar tissue in her brain is apparently getting smaller not larger as originally thought which was a huge relief to my sister and me. It's amazing what a second (and sometimes even third!) opinion can find. She's working very very hard at her rehab center just trying to get her balance and coordination back, and so far she's been doing us very proud. I'll be honest in saying she's a little bored in there, so getting cards and visitors would mean so much to her! Hearing from her loved HER2 ladies would be some amazing motivation to her as she continues on with her physical and occupational therapy. Thank you so much for getting the word out, Sheila!!

Hugs,
Danielle Druther :)

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thanks for the update Danielle. I hope and pray your mum continues to make good progress.
Did they decide on any treatment for the new tumour? or was it really scar tissue.

Hugs
Ellie

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thanks, Shelia. I am sending a card today.

Amelia

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thank you Sheila for letting us know. Terrible news. My husband and I hope for her speedy recovery. She is so amazing and inspiring. I know we all love and care about her very much. What would we have all done without her and Joe.
I know you will express our concern and love to her.
hugs and love
Sarah
I will pop a card in the mail

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thank you Sheila. Sending card today.
Emelie

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thanks for the update, Danielle. Don't forget to take care of yourself as well!

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thanks Sheila. Will send a card to Christine tomorrow. She has been an inspiration for so many people!

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thank you Sheila...just sent a card and now I am praying for Christine and her family.

Hugs to all,

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Ellie, when her general hospital physician had initially looked at the MRI, he thought the scar tissue she had had in her cerebellum had gotten larger with a fair amount of new edema surrounding it, so his initial instinct was to get her on Decadron for the swelling. But once she was visited by her neurologist and radiation oncologist the next morning, they both seemed to feel that the scar tissue was actually SMALLER than it had been and that keeping her on steroids wasn't necessary at all. So she was only on Decadron for about two days and was taken off of it immediately afterward.

Right now their only care plan is getting her motor skills and general sense of balance improved in the nursing skills facility and seeing how far they can advance that before sending her back home. I do know she has follow-ups scheduled with both her neurologist and her onc in the near future, so I'm hoping that's when the more specific course of action kicks in.

Thank you for helping us root Mom on, ladies! Stroke recovery is something that's going to require a lot of endurance and focus from her, and I want her and everyone at the facility to know she's a very special lady.

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thank you Sheila for letting us know.
And thank you so much Danielle for the update.
Our prayers, thoughts, energy & love are focused on you guys!
Take good care of your mom and each other~

Keep us posted!

Jessica

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thanks for letting us know about Christine. I will be sure to get something special in the mail to her tomorrow.
Karen

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

My thoughts and prayers are with Christine, Debra and Danielle. Please take care of yourselves as well as Mom.

Much love to you all.

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Sent a card. And it sounds like our prayers are already having a good effect! Keep the faith.

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thanks Danielle for the happy update on your mom. We are all very concerned and thinking about her and wishing her a speedy recovery. Hope she can be safely home again soon.
love sarah

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Danielle,

Your Mom is one tough gal and my bet is she will be back ruling the roost in no time! I'll send a card tomorrow! Have to go find a funny one (and maybe a bit naughty as well) for her!

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Sheila, thank ou for letting us know. Danielle, Debra and Christine, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I send my love and my best wishes for Christine best recovery. Thinking of you.

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Danielle,
Thanks for the posts/updates. My first card goes out tomorrow with more to follow.
Karen

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Hi friends,

I wanted to bump this up. Christine and Joe founded our site and we are all grateful for their vision and the design of the site that still works. Joe was our webmaster and could fix anything. He passed away a couple of years ago and as you know the site is still going. I started on the Komen site and then Tricia Keegan saw my post and saw my HER2 status and directed me here. I am forever grateful that I had this site to support me even when it was the middle of the night. I am from the generation that still sends cards via snail mail. At the top of the post you will see Christine's address. Even if you are new to the site, please take a moment to send a card to the lady that made this all possible. We are able to share, learn and support each other because of Christine. There is nothing better than getting a nice card in the mail. Her daughters need us too!

Hugs to all,

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Well said, Catherine!

We do have many newcomers here who are probably not aware of the genesis of this web site.

Waiting for another update from DDanielle - hopfully soon.

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Bumping this up for news.

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

I will pray for her and put a card.
At one time, she called me on a question and we spoke for a long time. Because of her call, I slept that night.
I feel so anxious for her and that she will recover. Her daughters are very young and don't deserve this, after her dad passing away quickly too. My prayers go to them as well for strength and guidance
Thank you Sheila. I know it's a week later but a card is on the way.
xoxo (maria)
ps. a word and warning. my dad who had lund and mestatis to the brain was placed on decadron. but the doctor did not give him any acid med and the decadron burned a hole in his stomach and its content went into the blood system and died within 7 days
Her daughters must be made aware of these side effects

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Prayers for Christine going up right now. Give her our best and hugs.

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Hello, I am new to the site, I registered last June. I got online today to look for information, and read the post from Sheila. I will send a card to Christine, and keep her and family in prayer.

Sheila D.

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

"I'll drop her a card in the mail tomorrow...so awful for the poor Dear. I hope her family and friends are able to comfort her as well.
All my best Jackie

Lorraine"

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

I have'nt logged in here for a few days and was so shocked and saddened to see this post but thank you Sheila for letting us know and my personal thanks to Catherine for the mention too.
This site means the world to me and I still direct people here from Komen who are her2+ because I was helped so much by the ladies here and Joe too when I first joined up. I'm so sorry for Christine and will keep her and her family in my prayers and thoughts xxxx

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Thank you, Sheila and Danielle. Yes, Christine is way more than "special." Her inspiration and guidance have helped hundreds or thousands of us, and they continue as this great group continues.
Best of healing.
Carol

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Prayers for Christine! Se has a strong spirit and will receive a lot of love from here! Hope we get a update soon.

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Hello Christine,
We are all thinking about you and praying for your quick recovery. you are as always an amazing inspiration to us all and without you and your dear departed husband, Joe, we would all be completely lost. What you and Joe have done to help us is a miracle and there is no way we can ever repay you except to offer our sincerest prayers for your swift recovery. you are in my heart always.
hugs and love
sarah

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Christine, we are all pulling for you to come home soon and to have a full recovery. You have 2 wonderful daughters, and many, many friends on this website. Missed you at SABCS. Hugs and prayers, Joan

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

How's Christine doing?
Sarah

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

thank you for letting us know! i am 3 weeks behind the news, but writing a note for her today to drop in the mail ASAP. - valerie

Re: Christine our Founder needs Cards & Prayers
 

Just a quick note to let you all know Mom's progress so far. First off, thank you SO MUCH for all of the cards! They're just the motivation that she needs and a reminder to her of all that she's accomplished, all of the lives that she has touched, and that there are many people out there rooting for her! She's still at the skilled nursing facility, and there's no set discharge date at this time. But she's been improving beautifully, and the nurses and PTs/OTs that see her everyday have no doubt that she'll be able to make a full recovery from her stroke. She's already improved so much in the past three weeks, and I know all of your involvement has played a big role in it. I read her her cards every single day, and they're all neatly hung up right by her bed so she can look over and be reminded that she's got some great HER2 sisters (and as of late, cheerleaders!) on her side. I'll let you all know when she's finally discharged!

Hugs,
Danielle