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Andrea Barnett Budin · 09-29-2012, 02:59 PM

I just read the news, as I've been checking in with the Caring Bridge site her family formed to keep us up to date and let us share our thoughts (thanks Chrisy for passing that on).

I'd somehow relinquished my never-give-up attitude when I was forced to see Brenda was headed home. In my heart, I had to let her go.

I ran to you Ladies straight away! Right into your arms... We must move forward as Brenda would insist, with grace and courage, grit and wit (as Steph so spot on expressed it).

May she be at peace and reunited with all she loved and had to let go in this lifetime. They're all there for her now.

What a beautiful Spirit Brenda is! And, I believe, still is, as I just know as our body dies, we are released as the radiant Souls we truly are. This is not the end of Brenda's story! Brenda still is, and that gives me a muted joy for now...

09-29-2012, 02:59 PM	#9
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	Brenda I just read the news, as I've been checking in with the Caring Bridge site her family formed to keep us up to date and let us share our thoughts (thanks Chrisy for passing that on). I'd somehow relinquished my never-give-up attitude when I was forced to see Brenda was headed home. In my heart, I had to let her go. I ran to you Ladies straight away! Right into your arms... We must move forward as Brenda would insist, with grace and courage, grit and wit (as Steph so spot on expressed it). May she be at peace and reunited with all she loved and had to let go in this lifetime. They're all there for her now. What a beautiful Spirit Brenda is! And, I believe, still is, as I just know as our body dies, we are released as the radiant Souls we truly are. This is not the end of Brenda's story! Brenda still is, and that gives me a muted joy for now... __________________ 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...