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Andrea Barnett Budin · 02-23-2008, 01:26 PM

Oh, Sheila! I have admired you so. Your wisdom and grace are surely magnificent! Your fortitude and your Spirit shine from every one of your posts. I completely agree with every word you just said. All those lessons just could not be obtained but for going through enormous challenges such as you have. Bc is a unique opportunity full of diamonds to enrich our lives. Had I read your words and never been diagnosed myself, I would doubt the veracity of that reality. But I have learned that we have the choice to become BITTER or BETTER. One little letter can mke ALL the difference! And, you my sweet Sister, have obviously chosen the latter. You are one of my heroes! Thank you for gracing this board. I cherish your words and your determination. You are one truly special lady!

Only one point struck me that I feel I must mention, Sheila. Please don't expect less as a result of this illness. You deserve the moon and the stars, dear Sheila. I just love that you 'give more, that you judge less, that you have been strengthened' and quite apparently become elevated to become a very wise Soul. Just please, if I may say so -- let your Intention and your Expectation reflect all that your heart has every right to yearn for. 6 YEARS IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF!!!!!! May the coming year bring you all you wish for -- AND MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want to see you dance, my friend. Dance w/NED! You've earned that...

With much love,
Andi

02-23-2008, 01:26 PM	#7
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Thank You For Gracing This Board, Sheila! Oh, Sheila! I have admired you so. Your wisdom and grace are surely magnificent! Your fortitude and your Spirit shine from every one of your posts. I completely agree with every word you just said. All those lessons just could not be obtained but for going through enormous challenges such as you have. Bc is a unique opportunity full of diamonds to enrich our lives. Had I read your words and never been diagnosed myself, I would doubt the veracity of that reality. But I have learned that we have the choice to become BITTER or BETTER. One little letter can mke ALL the difference! And, you my sweet Sister, have obviously chosen the latter. You are one of my heroes! Thank you for gracing this board. I cherish your words and your determination. You are one truly special lady! Only one point struck me that I feel I must mention, Sheila. Please don't expect less as a result of this illness. You deserve the moon and the stars, dear Sheila. I just love that you 'give more, that you judge less, that you have been strengthened' and quite apparently become elevated to become a very wise Soul. Just please, if I may say so -- let your Intention and your Expectation reflect all that your heart has every right to yearn for. 6 YEARS IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF!!!!!! May the coming year bring you all you wish for -- AND MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to see you dance, my friend. Dance w/NED! You've earned that... With much love, Andi __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...