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StephN · 08-13-2010, 10:48 AM

Danielle - Thank you for your bravery in posting your father's passing. I know how hard that is having my father pass away over 2 years ago - it still hurts.

Joe had informed me as well of his illness. He did not seem too well last December at the San Antonio conference and I was keeping tabs on him a little. He called me about 8-9 days ago when he came home from a short hospital stay.

He had plans and was going to call me back with further info. Which now I wish I had followed up instead of waiting - but on the other hand - maybe he took a quick turn for the worse and it would not have been a good idea to call. We never know.

His upbeat attitude seemed to mask what was happening. He talked about getting in to a vaccine trial for lung cancer.

My first thought was for Christine. Joe has been such a faithful and loving husband for so many years. Chris is a realist and knows that cancers can have their own way, but this is such a terrible, cruel , ironic blow.

Chris - you and your girls have a whole extended family out here in the wide world who send their love and condolances.

As Joe told me recently: "The site is pretty well running itself, and, as I have had to step back, I am proud of the way the members are behaving and helping one another." The attitude and pride filtered through this forum from the top!

08-13-2010, 10:48 AM	#26
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: Joe passed on this evening Danielle - Thank you for your bravery in posting your father's passing. I know how hard that is having my father pass away over 2 years ago - it still hurts. Joe had informed me as well of his illness. He did not seem too well last December at the San Antonio conference and I was keeping tabs on him a little. He called me about 8-9 days ago when he came home from a short hospital stay. He had plans and was going to call me back with further info. Which now I wish I had followed up instead of waiting - but on the other hand - maybe he took a quick turn for the worse and it would not have been a good idea to call. We never know. His upbeat attitude seemed to mask what was happening. He talked about getting in to a vaccine trial for lung cancer. My first thought was for Christine. Joe has been such a faithful and loving husband for so many years. Chris is a realist and knows that cancers can have their own way, but this is such a terrible, cruel , ironic blow. Chris - you and your girls have a whole extended family out here in the wide world who send their love and condolances. As Joe told me recently: "The site is pretty well running itself, and, as I have had to step back, I am proud of the way the members are behaving and helping one another." The attitude and pride filtered through this forum from the top! __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.