Sandy H - Remain dear in our hearts
I shall not pass this way again. Any good I can do or any kindness that I can show let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.
Dear Group -
With a breaking heart I have to pass on to you all that Sandy's hourglass of life ran out early yesterday morning (Friday, June 1). Main thing her husband wanted to pass on is that she was not in pain and when her time came she passed quickly and without suffering. Time was 5 am - so those that prayed last evening, the prayers were answered already.
Her husband was at her side holding her hand. Francis was with her through the night and asked the nurses to keep him awake as they knew her time was near. He says their little pug dog Yoda is being a wonderful buddy to him in these difficult days. Her hubby even took the dog to the hospital to lick Sandy's foot. That got a response from her!
There will be a service at her church in Maine on Tuesday. Her wishes are to be cremated. Her husband and son will place her ashes appropriately.
She also asked for no flowers and for all donations in her memory to be made to the HER2SUPPORT group or to her church.
She wrote her own obit and I tried to find it in their paper on line, but it only came out today so maybe is not up yet.
The quote at the top of this message is how Sandy ended her posts. I think this is a worthwhile way to remember her - she would do anything for a person in need.
P.S. Some of you do not know that Sandy and I shared a hotel room at two San Antonio symposiums. That was a great way to get to know her and we had a good time together. Two "ghosts" haunting the convention very much alive and well! (Meaning we had by far outlived our prognoses!)
__________________
"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.
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