Andrea B. Budin celebrates...

[Chelee]

Hi Andrea, I couldn't help but noticed today is your 10th year anniversary since you started Herceptin. Or as you say, "Vitamin H". Your a real pioneer & a major inspiration on this board.

Your such a wonderful her2 sister to have on this board and I'm so glad that you stick around. You give so many of your her2 sisters real hope, and the support you give is so appreciated. Your really someone very special...but you must know that...right. :)

Celebrate today and do something special for yourself...you so deserve it.

Big hugs coming your way.

Chelee

[DanaRT]

Andrea, You are an inspiration and a wealth of information. I always look forward to your messages and posts.

[Jean]

Yes, Andi is our special sister...
but I believe that Andi has stopped taking her Vit. H
and will be reporting in to let us know how well she is doing....

Jean

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Oh my Chelee, How ever did you know this? And how very sweet you are to post congrats! Thanks to Dana and Jean as well. Jean is right.

As of 7/24/08 I stopped my Vitamin H. Almost 10 yrs. Nov '98 - Jan '01 I went ev single wk. Then, I joined the triple the dosage ev 3 wks club. I have practically lived in the chemo room all these yrs, and I am elated (and a bit trepidatious -- I think I just made that word up) all at once.

Here I am again in uncharted waters. Recent studies are concerned that those of us on H for 8, 10 or 12 yrs (I know Ginger was in the original clinical trial 2 yrs before H was fast-tracked for all us to benefit). We could -- after soooo many yrs -- be building up a tolerance to the drug. Making antibodies. So I have been urged by my onc to give it a rest. I can always return to it, if God forbid a gezillion times I were to need it. And, it would likely be even more effective, as I have been off H.

I have kept my port. I have no access otherwise. Not a single working vein in my good arm. So I get a quickie flush ev 6 wks. I am due for my comprehensive blood tests on Nov. 25 and will have my ev 6 mnth CT scans (chest/abdomen/pelvis) on Dec. 4.

So I am focused on enjoying my holiday. I feel fantastic! I am energized and so grateful to Dennis Slamon for his undying devotion to us HER2ers. Did y'all see LIVING PROOF? I knew the story, but hadn't realized how this hero of mine, this life-saver of tens of thousands, had to fight to get this drug further researched, manufactured, through 3 clinical trials...

He is STRONG, BRAVE AND DETERMINED, which has been my mantra since '95. If you want to accomplish a thing you have to give it 110% of your body, mind and Soul!

My love to all my Sisters. You are never far from me. I carry you with me wherever I go. I pray for you, as I continue to meditate, take my supplements, use guided imagery and stay connected to my Spirit.

As you move forward and upward, please remember to always add: an open heart, pure, unconditional Universal Love, compassion, kindness, generosity of Spirit and gratitude for your many blessings. I swear, it can always be worse. And the beauty, friends, family that surround us keep our heads above water. They keep us grounded and IN THE MOMENT, which is where happiness and serenity dwells...

MY LOVE, ALWAYS, http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/clip_art/gstres/anmls/animals-butterfly

[Bill]

Congratulations Andi! You are such an inspiration to so many! Thanks for keeping in touch and updating us.

[hutchibk]

cheers to Andi BB!

[karenann]

Congratulations Andi. I am sending prayers of many, many years of good health.

Hugs,
Karen

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Thanks ALL! It's just me and God out here, so your prayers are much appreciated. I believe in prayer.

And meditation. Guided imagery. Supplements. The power of our thoughts. Love. Compassion. Generosity of Spirit. Gratitude. Staying IN THE MOMENT. Aligning yourSelf with your Soul.

We are each a Soul. A spiritual Being. A sacred Being. With a mind and a body.

I listen to my Inner Voice. I work daily at consciously choosing NOT to identify mySelf with that voice in my head. What a nag...

I wish you all peace and wellness! Big time!

[caya]

Mazel Tov Andi on reaching this milestone!! You are certainly a beacon of light and hope for all the Her 2+ sisters and brothers on this board.

all the best
caya

[Catherine]

Andi,

Wow, what you have been through. I am so glad that you have celebrated 10 years. Your approach to life and treatment is an inspiration. You and all our Her2 sisters deserve a medal. We are all so happy to be here. Thank you for sharing your experience and your love and your wisdom.

Hugs, Catherine

[Sheila]

ANDI BB

Congratulations dear Andi on your 10 year anniversary....I am so happy you are doing well so far without the Herceptin...how wonderful it must feel to be treatment free!!! You must be soaring.
Thank you Andi for all your inspirational and motivational thoughts and wishes...you have made this journey much easier and more peaceful for many of us!

[rinaina]

Wow, ten years! Here's to many more decades of being NED.

[ElaineM]

Congratulations !! Have you thought of writing to Dr. Slamon? I bet you would like to know what a success story you are.

[Joan M]

Andi,

Congratulations on your 10-year anniversary, and may you be NED forever!

Joan

[Mary Jo]

Hi Andi,

Wow, 10 years. What a gift you've been given. It's refreshing to see that you appreciate and enjoy each day the Lord has given you. So many people don't. Sometimes complaining and being unappreciative is the "order of the day" for many and that makes for a very sad existence.

Congratulations on this special milestone. Continue to embrace each day you are given as you live and love all those around you.

"This is the day the Lord has been; let us rejoice and be glad in it...." Psalm 118:24

Mary Jo

[harrie]

Hi dear sweet Andi!
10 yrs huh?!....awesome!! I am so happy for you and as you well know.....You are my Role Model....yep....you sure are!!
Love and peace to you always,
HarrieCanarie

[schoolteacher]

Congratulations Andi.

Amelia

[suzan w]

Let me add my congrats to the pile!!! You go girl!!! I love your posts and your positive outlook!!!!

[Ceesun]

Andi, Congrats on your milestone anniversary....many, many more. I truly love and admire your spirit and grace. Ceesun

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

I thank God every day for "sustaining me and enabling me to reach this day". That's a line from a Hebrew Benediction that I was honored to be given to read in front of the congregation one Sabbath in June many many moons ago. I was being confirmed (at age 15).

After my dx in '95, one of my favorite prayers has fresh and even sweeter meaning. I lived to see my baby dghtr marry. I lived to greet not 1 but 5 !!!!! grandchildren into this world. Those blessed words of the benediction filled my head with each occasion, bringing more goose bumps than *normal* people feel at such times.

And, now I believe that my favorite day of the week is -- EVERY DAY! I know well that each is a gift. I take none for granted. I celebrate every sunrise...

I am also ever grateful to have learned that God has given me a sacred Soul. With wisdom and foresight, God has empowered me. We each are blessed with the power of choice and the power of determining our destinies -- with fervent belief, an open heart and passionate determination. My Intention is clear, as is my Expectation.

My prayers, and my mantras, call my deepest desires to me. The Universe responds to such impassioned supplications. We are each meant to evolve to claim this wondrous birthright. It is a precious Enlightenment.

I believe God's will is for us to continue to grow and progress, to become personally empowered and seek out our dreams. We are a definitive part of our dance with supposed predetermination. This Awareness is what I wish for all my Sisters and Bros...

Though we must learn to become One with What Is, at the same time, we have been given the power to alter unwanted realities. We need not be victimized by our thoughts and fears. We can go deep within, in silent meditation and communion, and connect with our divine Essence. And, in so doing, we can make manifest miraculous results. We can re-author the internal dialogue we dwell upon all day -- KNOWING that what we focus our concentration and energy on will be drawn to us. That is a remarkable Universal Law it has been my honor to stumble upon.

Of course, we must always add our: Unconditional Love, compassion, tolerance, acts of kindness and inclusion, generosity of Spirit and humble appreciation for our many blessings.

We are here to serve one another, to respect each other's beliefs and support one another. That's when we choose to be our Truest Selves, in reaching for our Higher Selves. http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/clip_art/gstres/anmls/animals-butterfly

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! HOPE YOUR HOLIDAYS IS FULL OF LAUGHTER AND LOVE...
Picture of a turkey declaring: You only love me for my breast.
(Can't download...)

Tomorrow I go for my full blood workup. (Been off Herceptin since 7/24, so some added anxiety there.)

Having my every 6 mnth set of CT Scans (chest/abdomen/pelvis) in another week -- 12/4.
(AGain, looking for *STABLE* and a big sigh of relief
not to mention gratitude.)

I LOVE THANKSGIVING! IT'S THE ONE DAY TAT BIG THIGHS ARE A GOOD THING! Tehe

KEEP SMILING... http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/2b00001c91/06

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

aoladp://MA22115810-0056/RESENDIN.jpg

[Soccermom]

Every day is a "Gift" that why its called the "Present!" ,right Andi!?!

May you live to be 100! Mazel Tov!~
Marcia