Remembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Seemed like a good idea to start a thread where we can post our memories and thoughts as a memorial to a most amazing and foresighted woman.

I have a few photos from breast cancer meetings. Here are a couple from San Antonio, December 2005.

First is our group. Sadly over half of this group has left us here on earth. Christine is in the center (Joe behind and slightly left) and is flanked by Linda from Canada (her hubby Al is right behind her) and on the left by Sandy Henry. Linda passed in April of 2006 and Sandy followed her in June of 2007.

Second is Christine with Ginger Empy (still living from early Herceptin trials) holding foam stress relievers in the shape of brains. This was the kick off of the effort to alert the oncology community to the increasing incidence of brain mets in Her2 positive patients. The "brains" were imprinted : "The HER2 Support Group advocates routine brain MRI's for all HER2 positive patients." She did not let people just walk up and take one, she stopped the visitors to our table and made them read it. She explained that she had been treated for brain mets and was doing well, and this was important for doctors and nurses to have their awareness raised.

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Thanks Steph,
All of my memories of Christine are fond and make me smile. They are mostly from SABCS but I also have some from a conference I attended in San Diego. From SABCS my clearest memories are eating at the Italian restaurant we always eat at on the day before the conference, taking Christine shopping for a new coat at Macy's, advice from Christine on what to eat and how to lose weight (she was a firm believer in the benefits of celery and sweet potatoes), being at the booth and strolling the convention center and streets, taking pictures and C's insightful, sharp and funny comments (almost non-stop). In CA I have a very fond memory of Christine and Joe meeting up with me and my sister-in-law and Christine commenting on how beautiful my niece looked (she was so little then and sleeping soundly on a bed in a hotel room). I will cherish my memories of Christine as I do those of Joe. They were the best people and it was my pleasure to get to know them and spend some time with them. They will remain in my heart and head always.
K

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Thank you Stephanie, these pictures leave me speechless...God give the girls strength during this time of loss..

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

StephN, You are an angel to post these pictures and say these words.
A righteous tribute to the best of the best.
The world is so much better because Christine was here.

As a side note, a smile is across my lips as I read your own heroic story in your signature details with your battle. Denise......are you reading this? Steph's signature details will be yours a decade from now when you are NED everywhere....

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

I've never met Christine and Joe personally. But I feel I know them very well from everything I've read on the Her2support site.

Through pictures and reports, they had taken all of us to all the ASCO meetings and met all the wonderful doctors/specialists of the breast cancer field - especially Her2 breast cancer.

I was surprised/delighted to have received a beautiful memento and a card from Christine after making a small donation. That was so unexpected! Re-reading the hand-written cards and admiring the small angel and a Precious Moment figurine box, I can't help but appreciate their thoughtfulness.

Debra and Danille's names were next to Christine's on the note I received after Joe's passing. And now the two young women are carrying the torch! What better way to honer their parents/two very beautiful souls!

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Christine was Amazing - and so kind, truly a caring lady.
It is a sad day for us.

I will never forget I had heard about Christine (I was not yet a member on the site.) I reached out and called her at home. I was newly dx. & Christine was the very first one to encourage me to fight for herceptin. Not to take no for an answer.

As many of you know Christine had lived in New Jersey prior to moving to Ca. She insisted I contact her dr. who may be able to help me.

Christine made a strong first impression for me. She had plenty of conviction to fight this disease. Always confident and positive. For a newly dx. person it was wonderful to receive her encouragement.

Joe & Christine made a miracle occur with this site.
They left a special legacy. God Bless them.

Jean

I

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Thank you StephN for starting this thread.

I was warmly embraced by Christine's enthusiasm when I attended an ASCO meeting in Atlanta with Christine, Joe...I remember that Becky was there too. We handed out the stress relieving brains and Christine had us reach out to all the doctors passing by to remind them of the need to scan for brain mets.

Christine and Joe were warm and welcoming to this relatively newly diagnosed Her2 gal with mets. I felt empowered after hearing Christine's amazing story. I felt even more empowered hearing the results of research that year.

I later had the joy of meeting Christine and Joe for dinner at a restaurant by the sea near Carlsbad. We had a few glasses of wine and lots of laughs. Who could even think of "mets" on a beautiful breezy warm night by the sea? We talked about life, and our love for our children. Oh how she loved her girls.

Yes, we are all more empowered and see the possibilities in the impossible thanks to Christine. How privileged I feel to be able to keep passing it forward.
Love Kim (from CT)

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Joe sent me an article about Christine from Vision Magazine in 2004. I did not find it, but found a link to a very complete article with Christine's story on another breast cancer website.
http://www.youngsurvival.org/breast-...iagnosed-at-40

It is well worth the time to take a look. and tells of the family move from New Jersey to San Diego area. An internet search will bring up several other mentions of Christine.

A sad point in the above story concerns Christine's promise to her dying mother that she would live to 75 and beyond. Christine mentioned this more than once and I am sorry she had to break that promise, but I am sure her mother understands and greeted her with wide open arms.

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Thank you everyone for sharing your memories of my parents. I do encourage anyone who cares to participate to continue to share a special memory about my mom or a message to her as I will be compiling them for guests to read at her visitation on Sunday. Also, please please do post any pictures of my mom that you may have as I am also putting together a slideshow DVD to play as well. Thank you SO MUCH !!!!

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

She and Joe were such Pioneers in the fight. I never met them in person , but I did have some great phone conversations with Christine early on in our fight for T DM-1. She gave great advice and encouragement in Our Fight For Stage IV Rights. Their Legacy lives on in so many ways !

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

" You see things ; and you say, " Why " ? But I dream things that never were ; and I say " Why not ? " - G.B. Shaw
That to me epitomizes Joe and Christines' Vision, and Hope , so we Press On , to Save Lives, and to the Cure !

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Dear Debra -
Your request for photos is great. I know some of the members who attended the cancer meetings have passed on and their photos are unavailable. However, your dad took quite a few and some of us can produce some.

I have swiped this photo from Joe's album on this site. Hope you don't mind. He posted it May 19, 2009.

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/pic...1&pictureid=68

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Here is a photo from the AACR (American Association of Cancer Researchers) meeting that took place in San Diego in April of 2008. This is after the close of the conference and Joe wanted to have fish and chips at a place he liked. Note Joe in one of his famous tropical print shirts - his usual attire!

Maryann Dubois is on the left. She passed away a couple of years later from side effects of fending off chemo-induced leukemia. I had a great time rooming with and getting to know her better. This was her first trip to California - she lived all her life on Long Island.
Two women here with more True Grit than John Wayne could ever muster.

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Still culling through some of my memory sticks, and really like this group shot from San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December of 2010. We are having our traditional "Welcome Dinner" at Luciano's the night before the opening of the symposium.

This was the last time we had such a large group going to a conference.

Left to right, going around the table: Chrisy, BrendaH, Sassy, Laurel, StephN, Paty, JoanM, Christine Druther, Veronica (partial face), and Sheila.

Even those of the group in treatment looked healthy - more like a reunion of some college friends!

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Thanks so much for posting these many pictures Steph. Great to see so many of our dear sisters, present and departed. - never forgotten.

all the best
caya

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

I am so glad I had the chance to spend time with both of them They were both amazing people and I am so sorry to hear this.

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Thanks Steph, you brought up more than a few memories and some tears with those pic's but I'm so honoured to say I knew all these ladies and miss them so much and of course Christine and Joe too! May they RIP and I'm glad they're together again. xx

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Thank you StephN for sharing the pictures and the link to Christine's story-she's truly an amazing and inspiring woman. I am envious of those of you who had the pleasure to meet or talk with her.

I wish I had met Christine, her wonderful and supportive husband Joe, and her beautiful daughters. I admire her indomitable spirit, respect her wisdom and tenacity, and am grateful for her forming this website. This site has helped me to become an informed patient and find the support of people all over the world who know what I am going through and reach out their hand when I am in a downward spiral. If I have a question someone is always there to give me the answer, whether they know it or not.

In Christine's words "an informed patient is the best survivor".

I like the following quote-
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived-this is to have succeeded.

Thank you to Christine and your family.

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Thanks Stephanie for posting these lovely and touching photos. Joe and Christine created a safe, warm, caring place for all of us to come together. Thank you, you live in our hearts always.
love sarah

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

I found that I still had one of those "brainy" stress relievers. Now I have it right on my computer desk - to use and remember.

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

These pictures are wonderful. I hope we can post all that people might have.

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Per KarenZ's request, I am posting another photo. Christine and Dr. Dennis Slamon posing together in 2005. This was an important year in the Herceptin trials.

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

That is an amazing photograph. Two people who were determined to help others who suffered from Her2+++ breast cancer.

Yes, and because of others I was able to receive Herceptin just a few short years later and am still NED!

So glad you posted it.

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

StephN,

All the pics you posted earlier were in the slide show for the viewing. Thaknk you so much for posting as all those friends and family not associated with the site were able to see much of her life's work with your help.

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Steph, I still have one of the same "brainy" stress relievers. My cats have stolen it. I have to say that trip to Denver was a life saver for me. For so long I had been at home, dealing with all of the issues associated with breast cancer. I felt helpless. The trip to the AACR meeting in Denver got me out of my shell. It gave me my confidence back. I shared much of what I learned there with my students over the past few years. I am wearing my tee shirt (Cell Death Tour) that I got there to therapy lately and I think of that trip and the people who made it possible, Joe and Christine. I am glad that I met you and Celeste as well. Joe invited me to San Antonio later that same year but I wasn't able to get off of work. I wish I had been able to go and get to know them better.

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

StephN - you are always such an inspiration to me and offer such simple and profound advice and suggestions. I am grateful that I found this website and all the wonderful sisters here that can help each other as we wander through the maze of cancer treatments and possibilities and still claim our power and hold onto our sense of humor; committed to living in the moment as much as possible. Thank you so much for being an inspiration to so many people on this site. Blessings to you :-)

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Hey Steph,
I still think about the time we spent with you, Sandy, Ginger, Joe and of course Christine in St Antonio. Christine and Joe's and the HER2 group added years to Linda's survival who regrettably passed in 2006.

Our first contact was with Lisa in 2003, who has since passed, and then onto the Druthers and Dr Devon Webster; who shaped our destinies for years to come.
Since Linda's passing in 2006; it's been a constant struggle to fill the void left in my life.
For those who may lose someone; never give-up hope because if we had, I would have lost Linda 2-3 years earlier. Every day counts.

My thoughts, although I rarely give them, to others struggling in these difficult times:

1. Take more from Cancer than it can take from you. Embrace the challenge and what's truly important; that is, the real meaning of relationships. We learned to love more in the face of crisis than in the times of celebration!

2. Stay connected to groups like this; failing that, you have to put your trust into people you either don't know, or those who get paid to talk to you.

3. Never say never, Linda should have died 2 1/2 years earlier than she did, miracles do happen thanks to people like Joe and Christine and this group.

4, Never, ever, ever be afraid to ask a question, especially when it comes to your own mortality! That nagging thought in the back of your head may make the difference between tomorrow and yesterday.

4. Don't trust "med - speak", get your results, read them, get informed, understand what's going on! Never leave the doctor's office without your results.

5. Get a second opinion. Think of Oncologists as auto-mechanics. They may be a little more educated but still make the same numer of mistakes. The only difference is that one is called "doctor"....

6. As a patient or caregiver, ask the right questions, and if you see "red lights" go off, don't ignore them, follow your gut and look for more answers.

So if this sounds a little bitter and twisted, it's not! The message is a very positive one: you have a lot more control than you can imagine. All you need is to learn from others and read Steph's bio!

I haven't posted here in years, and it is still so painful and Linda speaks to me every night.
Steph, thank you for posting our picture in your post, for giving us a place to stay in Seattle, and for not giving up. You are a true friend, inspiration and a mentor.
Joe and Christine, a belated thank you. Instead of burying your heads' and feeling sorry, you chose this! You could have gone to Montecarlo and had a blast but you didn't. You chose to help others, and the rest is history.
Joe and Christine's kids; sorry for your losses and I thank you for continuing the support group! Your impact can't be measured in words alone.

Al from Canada

Re: Rembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Al - what a great message - thanks. lost my first wife 23 yrs ago feb. 25th . i still get physically sick that week every time. but i learned a lot in that fight that i put into play in 2006 when my 2nd wife was dx her2 met. she wouldn't be here with out that knowledge . fight aggressive cancer aggressively. it payed of when she got kadcyla in 2010 - ned. i agree 100 % with your Wisdom above . God Bless, Heal - continue to spread the Love.

Re: Remembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

For all of us on the site: please read Al's post. It is a wonderful description of how to fight for survival. Perhaps it should be reposted under its own subject line. Some members may not see it under the subject line of remember Christine and Joe.

Catherine

Re: Remembering our amazing Christine ~ web site founder
 

Big thanks to all these wonderful ladies.