I'm still here!!

[Esther]

Thanks for thinking about me guys! It's been a busy time for me and I'm emerging from some new challenges.

I started an oral chemo como in early Dec. because my onc thought that I might be having some liver progression. After just one cycle, I started having pain in a bone mets spot on my left hip, and started radiation on it the week before Christmas, yuck! I had radiation the week of Christmas as well, but stopped treatments after 6 sessions, because it made me feel too sick and nauseated.

The pain is gone now, so we'll see from here.

A follow-up MRI on Jan 9 showed everything stable with the lesion in my cerebellum, so we will continue to just monitor it's progress.

We're going to Mammoth this week-end to try out my new skis, I got some shorter, easier to manuever skis, that will also slow me down a bit, for those days when I feel a need to be more cautious.

We leave for Steamboat, CO on the 27th of Jan, for a 10 day ski trip. Looking forward to it, as the snow reports have been fabulous! I will celebrate my 3 rd anniversary of living with mets, again at the top of a mountain. For me it's a triumph, since in Jan 2004, I was told that I probably wouldn't make it ti Christmas that year due to the severity of my liver mets.

So far I've celebrated: 1st anniversary, Aspen CO, 2nd Telluride, CO, 3rd Steamboat CO, 2008 will be Whistler in Canada, so you can see I'm planning to be doing well for a long time to come!

So I continue to deal with my mets issues one by one, and try to enjoy life as much as I can.

I'm hoping that 2007 is the beginning of a great year for all of us.

[HavahJ]

Hi Esther!! I haven't been here in months - too busy taking care of the damn thing! I hope your vacations are great. I got back from Chile last month. I went to see my son. It was the first time I had been on a plane for twenty years. Boy, the food has sure gotten bad. They use to give you machadamia nuts! I'll communicate again sooner than last time I hope. I'm trying to get tykerb - see the oncologist today. Take care Jan

[tousled1]

Esther,

Enjoy Stamboat, CO. I admire your positive can-do attitude. You are centainly an inspiration to many women here. Enjoy your trip and keep in touch.

[Joy]

Esther, thank you for taking time to check in. So sorry you had recent struggles, but you sure sound great. You are inspiring.

And man do we have snow here in Colorado so skiing should be great-stay warm and have fun!

p.s. what oral drugs are you on?

[rinaina]

I love your can do attitude and your positive outlook which as you know can make all the difference in the world. Have a great time in Colorado on your 3rd anniversay since mets and keep planning those anniversary ski trips...I have a strong feeling you will be around for a very very very long time so keep those skis waxed up.

[Sandy H]

Esther its good to hear from you and that life goes on the best we can push ourselves! It is a push most of the time but so worth it in the end. I am here in Florida for two months celebrating almost 6 years of battling this disease, both hubby and myself turning 60 end of the month. We are loving it,oh I mean here in Florida and not turning 60, and prefer warm weather. We are getting ready to walk on the beach to look for some shells. Keep up the good work. hugs, Sandy

[TriciaK]

So good to hear from you, Esther! You are one gal that knows about slippery slopes, in more ways than one! But you certainly make the most of them! Hope you have a wonderful time. And, Sandy, turning 60 is something to love too! You certainly don't look it! Hugs, Tricia

[Andi]

Esther, you are such an inspiration! Enjoy your ski trip and congratulations on another anniversary.

[chrisy]

Esther,thanks for checking in. We worry about you and miss you when you're "gone". Or maybe we're hanging on to every word so we can live vicariously through your adventures.

Sorry you have been hitting some "moguls" but sounds like you are tackling them with your usual energy.

Enjoy your mountain top celebration!

Much love and good wishes for a good 2007, for us all.
Chris

[Colleen007]

I'm glad to hear that things are now stable for you, and hope that they continue to be so that you can enjoy this year's ski trip as well as your 2008 trip - I went to Whistler for my honeymoon 10 years ago. A wonderful place. We have not seen much in the way of snow here in the Boston area yet this winter, so I am a bit envious of you!

[sarah]

Esther,
good to hear from you. Love your positive attitude. Have a fabulous trip. You're very inspiring.
stay strong and get healthy
sarah

[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

ESTHER - You keep those anniversaries coming and enjoying every minute.

Your attitude is great and your love for life will keep you seeing many more anniversaries.

Have fun my friend

[Esther]

We just returned from a trip to Mammoth for skiing. I have new snow skiis and boots I was trying out.

Since I still have the stable 12mm lesion in my cerebellum, skiing is supposed to be difficult due to the balance being controlled by the cerebellum. Balance hasn't been a problem with normal walking, so I was hoping it still would not be an issue on the slopes.

Well, I noticed a slight balance change, and adjusted to it, so for the most part, it was not an issue.

Skiing with a lesion in your cerebellum is not supposed to be possible, ha!! Ladies let's keep showing the world what we can do in spite of our stage 4 diagnosis!!!

[sherri]

You are superwoman. There is no doubt about it. Keep on skiing and enjoy it.

Big hug to you,

[skeetur]

Happy Anniversary! May you celebrate all your anniversaries on mountain tops... your 5th, your 10th, your 25th, etc.

Skeetur

[R.B.]

You have an awsome attitude.

Those bumps might be easier, but the newer skis are so much more stable I doubt you will go much slower. It's something to do with those steep bits and gravity.

Have a wonderful time.

RB

[Bev]

Wow. Have fun! Bev

[Vanessa]

Hi Esther, I am glad to hear that you are doing well and enjoying life! I hope everything continues to go well for you. Have fun on your next adventure!!!