Our Message of Thanks and Hope

[Joe]

On this our 6th Anniversary, I wish to thank everyone for their active participation on this website on behalf of ourselves and our Board of Directors.

A very special thank you to Rinaina, Donna, Loren, Becky, Sheila, Brenda, Chrissy, and Jean, for helping us at ASCO and San Antonio. We also wish to thank Kate for keeping everyone posted on the latest happenings at the Breast Cancer Symposium.

We will be expanding our outreach and participation at bc related events in 2008 and will be reaching out for volunteers to assist us.

It was six short years ago when The HER2 Support Group went online. It was the vision of Christine and I just put it together for her as her Christmas present. Boy have things changed ! ! !

During our first 12 months we averaged just 100 visitors a day, today we have 1500.

Women who were HER2 positive were once the outcasts. Now with Herceptin, Tykerb and a host of other targeted therapies, we are the fortunate ones. Drs. Eric Winer, Mark Pegram, Dennis Slamon and others are confident that they will be able to control HER2 breast cancer within the next ten years.

As our organization grows, so will our program. We will be working on a Spanish version of our website this year. We also wish to announce the
Ann-Michele Higgins Scholarship Program in conjunction with the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation. The HER2 Support Group will fund two advocates to enroll in the Foundation's Advocacy Program at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium starting in 2008.

Wishing you all a Very Joyous Christmas and a belated happy Hanukkah.
May 2008 bring peace to the world and a cure for cancer.

Hugs and Well wishes.

Christine, Joe, Debra and Danielle

[TriciaK]

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and Christine also, Joe! I know you know how grateful we all are for the gift of the website to Christine and to all of us so long ago. It has meant the world to me, and to many, many others---a place to turn when there is no other place to turn, accurate, reliable information, and most of all loving caring people who have experienced the same physical, mental and emotional pain and can give comfort as no one else can. Thank you both so very very much! We all send our love and wish you the best for the new year ahead. Hugs, Tricia

[tricia keegan]

Merry Christmas Joe and Christine from Ireland and good health to all of us in '08...roll on a cure!!

[Sheila]

Christine and Joe
Merry Christmas to both of you, and thank you for all the hard work you do for all of us....you have given each person who comes to this board the gift of knowledge, perseverence, humility and love....may your gift to us return to you both tenfold!

[kk1]

Dearest Christine and Joe;

Words can not express how blessed we are on this board by your wonderful gift to each other, that shines so strongly and steadfastly lights the way for all of us. My god bless you with love, happiness, and of course health in the coming year.

thank you Merry Christmas
KK1

[Chelee]

Christine & Joe, I was left to fend for myself when DX. I seriously did not get any help from my so called medical team. They handed me a couple pamplets and told me I had alot of decisions to make? (I was sitting there thinking...WHAT DECISIONS?!) No one told me anything...they just sent me on my way. I was scared beyond belief. But I FINALLY had hope when God directed me to THIS board. I really don't know what I would of done had I not came across it. Every question I had the women here answered all of them for me. What a true blessing it was to find this board. God bless you both. Have a very Merry Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Chelee

[suzan w]

Thank you thank you thank you for all that you do! I have said it before and I will say it again...this site is my calm in the storm, my refuge. It is the first place I come when I have a question. We live with breast cancer every day and the insidious effects it has on every aspect of our lives. No one understands like the folks here. Peace and love this holiday season to all!!!

[Christine MH-UK]

Thank you for all you do for the her2 community.

Joe, your Christmas present to Christine has been a present to so many people all year round. It is truly a gift that keeps on giving. Wonderful!

Best wishes and all the best for 2007.

from

Christine MH-UK

[Emmay]

Merry Christmas and a blessed, healthy new year to you, Joe and Christine - you have both done such an outstanding job setting up this site, always looking for ways to improve it and increase functionality, and working tirelessly to keep everyone informed about the latest developments in her+ breast cancer. Providing this forum for people to share their experiences is an invaluable educational source as well as a source of reassurance for many. Thank you and God Bless You both!

[Mary Anne in TX]

Words are so inadequate to express how blessed I feel by Christine's Christmas present of 6 years ago! Thank you for being exactly who you both are for being such giving servants and leaders. Merry Christmas to you, mary anne

[Gerri]

Thank you Joe and Christine for your vision. This site, and everyone connected to it is a priceless gift.

[Bill]

Joe and Christine, and everyone else here, may God bless you all with a Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year! Joe and Christine, thank you so much for having the vision to create this wonderful sight and the stamina and devotion to keep it going. You all helped my darling Nicola in so many ways. Love, Bill

[sarah]

Joe and Christine,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
You are so very special - the best gift any of us could receive.
love
sarah

[sherri]

Merry xmas and happy new year to you, all the best for 2008.

[Barbara H.]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Christine and Joe!
Thank you so much for this website. I tell all my caretakers at the Dana Farber about it, and even memtion it to other patients I meet who are on Herceptin. It is a very important resource to me. I wish I had known about it six years ago. When I was diagnosed in 1998 I didn't know that I was HER2 postitive until a few years latter. After about four to five years I became complacent with the thoughts that I wouldn't recur. What a surprise in May of 2004 when I was diagnosed with a 3cm brain tumor and mets thought out my body.

In 2004 this website gave me hope. At the time I was in shock, relatively calm, with little fear except for what would happen to one of my daughter who has autism. After I discovered this website, it became my lifeline.

Fast forward to almost 2008 and I am still here and doing well with the the new trial of Herceptin DM1. Currently, the cancer is only visible in the bones and they are healing. My tumor markers are currently normal. I am able to have a life and am still working.

In 2004 I could easily deal with the responses from the members who were having difficulty, and appreciated all of their responses. Some of them are also still here. In addition, it was so helpful to read the testimonies of the survivors, and to gain an understanding of HER2 breast cancer from such a reliable source.

I can never thank the two of you enough and all the members who take the time to write.

Best wishes to you and our members.

Barbara H.

[tousled1]

Joe & Christine,

Happy Holidays to you both and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the hard work that you put into this website. This is undeniably the best site on the web for anyone who has HER2 breast cancer. Thank you for your efforts.

[charlotte]

I also echo the thoughts and well wishes of the great folks on this board. I hope that a cure for this dreaded disease is found and found soon.. thanks agoin for all the work that you do for us... It is much appreciated.... Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all...

[caya]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our dear Joe and Christine - I must echo the praises and best wishes of all here on the board. Thank you for your devotion to this site, I truly appreciate all your efforts.

May you and your family have the happiest and healthiest 2008 - and of course the biggest wish is that the cure for cancer is discovered in 2008.

all the best
caya

P.S. thanks for the belated Hanukkah wishes...

[Patb]

Thank you for this wonderful web site and all the work you do to
keep us informed, up to date, this knowledge gives us power to
be advocates for ourselves and get the best treatment available
today. I would be lost without you and all the wonderful members.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
patb

[lilyecuadorian]

Merry Christmas for you both and everybody on this board ...is ironic in the beginning of this dreaded disease the "c" word canser was reason to make cry and now when I see the other "c" word CURE make cry also ...so who understand, thank you for bring hope in each post that you write it Joe and Christine!!! and just in case you need any help with Spanish translation for 2008 I will do my best to help and you can count on me ...Of course with our GOD Help ...also

[hutchibk]

Joe and Christine - I wish you the Merriest Christmas ever and the most joyous, healthful and prosperous New Year ever, as well. I am humbled by all I have learned from the two of you and what you have added to my life. You are both heros to me. Thank you for taking me under your wing and allowing me to be a part of your awesome outreach for HER2 survivors.

And to all of our family on this amazing website - love and joy to you during the Christmas season and all year long.

Love, Brenda

[nitewind]

Joe and Christine, thank you just doesn't sound like enough. How do you thank someone for giving you back your sanity and allowing you to connect with so many new friends and family? I don't know what I would do without this wonderful meeting place. I appreciate both of your hard work and I pray that you have a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year.
Hugs

[Marlys]

Joe & Christine,
We love you! We love you! We love you! And thank you so much for your loving and dedicated service to this forum.
Love & hugs,
Marlys

[Kim in CA]

Dear Joe and Christine,

Thank you doesn't even begin to convey my gratitude for all that this website means to me (and my family). I have so much to be thankful for, due in large part, to all that I have learned right here. I feel so much more empowered now, than before I found this site. Thank you for such a wonderful gift.

Merry Christmas to you both!

Love Kim

[BonnieR]

What a Christmas gift you gave ALL of us!!
With gratitute, Bonnie

[lexigirl]

Yes, thank you Joe and Christine for all you do throughout the year. You are AWESOME!

Lexi

[StillHere]

You are my best Christmas present, but Shhhhhhhish. Please don't tell my kids or husband. Peace Karen

[Lolly]

I remember when I first found this site, what a true blessing it was...finally to be able to talk to others with the same cancer. Have all my questions answered or be pointed to resources that would educate me. I was able to breathe again. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

<3 Lolly

[rinaina]

I hope everyone's holidays were wonderful and I wish everybody a very Happy and Healthy New Year.
Joe and Christine, it is you who should be thanked for everything you do for all of us. It was my pleasure to be a part of this years ASCO in Chicago and to meet both of you in person. I also had the pleasure of meeting your lovely daughter Debbie too. I am willing to help out in anyway I can for this support forum.

[Janelle]

Joe and Christine,
Thank you for this wonderful site and your dedication in helping all of us. I am an active lurker and truly appreciate your dedication and all the support and information I have gained from your work.

Happy holidays!
Janelle

[Patrice]

Joe & Christine, I can't find the words to express how you have literally altered my quality of life - it wasn't until I began reading this board that I recognized that I had a full life ahead of me! You are true angels here on earth & I am eternally grateful for you.

All my best, Patrice