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Andrea Barnett Budin · 09-08-2012, 02:49 PM

Oh gosh, YES. Our Jackie is beyond wonderful to us and for us!! Blessings on your head. , Jackie. Truly. Genuinely. You rock all our worlds. You keep us focused. You help make and keep us strong. With your living proof list of those who have defied the stats and created new stats...

These days, Denise, I figure -- I'm going for 100. And of course the way to do that is to be a Betty White vigorous and spry. Sharp mind, full of spit and vinegar... Oh and humor. An essential to good health.

I used to give myself mini goals. At 50 when dx, I aimed big -- for Medicare age. Well, I am more than here! I envisioned myself at my first grandchild's Bat Mitzvah (which occurs at the ripe old age of 13). I lived to see her born, but I was picturing myself far, far into the future in vivid detail. And I lived that dream!!!!!!!!!!!! She will be 16 in November.

So, then I started seeing myself at grandchild #2's big day, which will happen next month, in October. And I'm going for GRADUATIONS, FROM HIGH SCHOOL -- AND COLLEGE. I'm seeing myself at WEDDINGS. Becoming a Great Grandmother (a Gigi -- GG, get it?!). Presently, I am a Mima. So, I'm planning.

Don't sell yourSelves short, Ladies. Think BIG...!!!!!!!

Andi

09-08-2012, 02:49 PM	#231
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	Calling all my stage IV Sisters Oh gosh, YES. Our Jackie is beyond wonderful to us and for us!! Blessings on your head. , Jackie. Truly. Genuinely. You rock all our worlds. You keep us focused. You help make and keep us strong. With your living proof list of those who have defied the stats and created new stats... These days, Denise, I figure -- I'm going for 100. And of course the way to do that is to be a Betty White vigorous and spry. Sharp mind, full of spit and vinegar... Oh and humor. An essential to good health. I used to give myself mini goals. At 50 when dx, I aimed big -- for Medicare age. Well, I am more than here! I envisioned myself at my first grandchild's Bat Mitzvah (which occurs at the ripe old age of 13). I lived to see her born, but I was picturing myself far, far into the future in vivid detail. And I lived that dream!!!!!!!!!!!! She will be 16 in November. So, then I started seeing myself at grandchild #2's big day, which will happen next month, in October. And I'm going for GRADUATIONS, FROM HIGH SCHOOL -- AND COLLEGE. I'm seeing myself at WEDDINGS. Becoming a Great Grandmother (a Gigi -- GG, get it?!). Presently, I am a Mima. So, I'm planning. Don't sell yourSelves short, Ladies. Think BIG...!!!!!!! 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...