Tomorrow, June 14, 2009, I will be part of a Candle lighting Ceremony during "The Living in Full Bloom event: "A Celebration of Cancer Survivorship", at the Vanderbilt Student Life Center. The candle I light is to remember those who have passed on from cancer. Please, send me good vibes, love and Light from 2:00-4:30 tomorrow. (Christoper will be at Camp Horizon as a counselor- he and his brother were campers last year:-)

• Master of Pharmacy;
• Doctor of Science;
• Doctor of Medicine;
• Professor of Medical Chemistry and Pharmacy at Montpellier;
• Fellow and Professor of Physics and Toxicology — Strasbourg Higher School of Pharmacy;
• Professor of Chemistry at Strasbourg;
• Professor of Biological Chemistry and Dean of Faculty of Medicine of Lille;
• Chevalier of the Legion of Honour;
• Commander of the Rose of Brazil

Joshua, me and Christopher in 2005

 The following is a letter read to the TN  representatives in D.C. Feb 2009...

Christopher Corey, who recently turned18 years old, in September of 2004, at age 13 was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left humerus, which soon metastasized to his lungs.  Two months after the initial diagnosis he had a bilateral thoracodomy (the equivalent of half a lung was removed from each lung).  Four months later he had a resection of his humerus (a donor bone replaced his bone).  After over a year of surgeries and chemo treatments he was declared to be in remission.  He began his Tae Kwon Do studies again, and had gotten back to the rank of purple belt, and two and a half years after being declared cancer free and in remission, had a recurrence of the osteosarcoma in his left femur, close to the knee.  He started chemo again and a few months later had the lower half of his femur removed and a Mega Endoprosthesis implanted into femur and tibia of his left leg (God bless Dr. Herbert Schwartz).  He has been undergoing aggressive physical therapy is still has 6 more months of chemo planned.  He has always met these healing opportunities with a powerful inner strength, dignity and love for others, and is a strong, and wonderful individual.

Eight months after Christopher's initial diagnosis, his brother Joshua, a year younger than he, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left femur.  So at this point both boys were undergoing surgeries and chemotherapy treatments, which entailed hospitalizations for each treatment.  Joshua had a resection of his whole femur (replaced with a donor bone).  He underwent a lot of physical therapy and, thereafter, walked with a limp.  His desire, during that process, was just to be able to ride a bike again.  About a year later he had recurrence of the cancer, not in the bone, but the soft issue around the donor bone and had to start using crutches again, .  He had started chemo therapy again, but we could soon tell, the chemo and it's side effects would kill his physical body quicker than the cancer, and searched for other forms of care for over a year.  Five months before he passed on, he had a hemipelvectomy (his left pelvis and leg removed). Joshua was a budding artist, and a very loving person, who deeply cared for others and made people happy, just by being in their presence.  He had dreams of growing up, getting married and having children.

I am the mother of these two extraordinary individuals, Christopher still here, and Joshua who passed on four months ago, September  18, 2008, at age 16, after a courageous 3 year battle. I had breast cancer when I was pregnant with Joshua, and then, 13 years later when they both were in the midst of their healing opportunities I had a recurrence as well, and surgery to remove it.

We hope for more funding for research, and when those dollars are used to, expand the search for the cure; to include the rest of the world, see what is working everywhere else and incorporate those things into the great things which are discovered here. I write this to you, today, so that a brother, mother or other loved one doesn't have to cry because they miss the one who has gone on, so that mothers and fathers may be around to enjoy their grandchildren, and their children, and so everyone can enjoy their time here and contribute to a better world :-)

We put drugs of which we know little, into bodies of which we know less, to cure diseases of which we know nothing at all --Voltaire--

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I got a call from my local doctor, as I was sitting with Christopher, (Feb 4, 2009), when he was getting his chemotherapy), it seems as though I  have had a recurrence of the breast cancer (it was there before August 08 (the year and half before that  I was mostly on my own, taking care of Joshua's getting him to doctors and people who could work with him, getting him supplements and traveling across  states to pursue those things, and taking care of Christopher too (which still have my credit cards max out).   After August 08, Joshua required full time care & at that point & until he passed on September 18th 2008, we had hospice with us)

The cancer that was in my chest wall seemed to be localized and small, so that was good .  I had that removed at the CTCA in Zion IL, where, through scans, they found that it seems the cancer  went into my sternum .  So lots and love, healing energy, and prayers will be lovely and so appreciated! - just been so busy and with all that's gone on, a bit challenging to take care of myself too :-)

I'm working on it

- now working on the situation with my sternum, and with Christopher's needs:-) I am grateful for all I have learned thus far and hope to actually implement a lot of it.

FYI: 

This photo was taken 5 months after the hemi-pelvectomy surgery,  just a few days before Joshua seemed to be to week to leave the chair, then the bed.
Mr Turner, a black belt from Franklin Tae Kwon Do, and our neighbor, noticed that Joshua did not have his yellow belt in the collection that he had earned - got lost in the move.  So Mr Turner, gave Joshua his yellow belt to add to his wall of belts.
Thank you Mr Turner :-) 

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This photo was taken in May of 2004 - Joshua kicking and Christopher sitting :-)...

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Hola!

Okay, so I'm learning Spanish with Christopher right now, so I know a little bit more Spanish than that, and am grateful to have wonderful friends who are patient and let me practice on them :-)

I've written something about my experience with breast cancer,  You can read it, & hopefully benefit from some of the other websites links here at http://www.makingpeacewithdestiny.com/myexperiencewithbca.htm

I am so grateful for every moment we (my family - and our precious friends ) spend together.

I hope to assist others with all the things I've learned over the past 16 years

You may share this with anyone you feel would benefit, now or in the future :-)

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 Joshua, before surgery

April, 2008

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Joshua at his 16th birthday party ( June 5,2008 - finally, a party - after 2 years) after eating ice cream without a spoon (his had dropped to the floor :-)

(His birthday is April 25th)

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May 20, 2008

 Mr. Gregory and Joshua   Joshua's "leg through the table" trick

 

http://www.makingpeacewithdestiny.com/franklintaekwondo.htm 

 

 

   Cara's graduation party :-)

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Christopher at tournament :-) 

photo by 

 Nelson Vieira

 

   

                             Joshua took the above photo 

 

Photo by Amanda :-) 

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People ask how they can help;

There is an interactive, online calendar, that if you'd like to assist us in the following or other ways, you can go to: http://www.livestrong.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/604772/calendar/view/event/id/806817/?z=/y/2008/m/5/d/29/

 

(this is a great thing to do for someone in a situation, similar to ours)

We can use assistance every day of the week, except Friday :-)

We can always use help juicing  We usually juice carrots and apples!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (if possible 3 times a week)
Publix has 20 lb. of Organic carrots for $16 or $17, and 3-5 lb bags of apples (pinkish gold ones)

Assist in cooking, chopping, food preparation.

Also if anyone is at the store (Whole Foods, Kroger, Pubix etc.) or knows they will be going that day and can call me,  It is a great help if they can pick things up for us & I can reimburse them when they get here.

If anyone would like to assist by cleaning any part of the house, or folding towels and laundry, vacuuming, sweeping etc.

Teens coming over to watch movies, or play the wii, play board games, sit on the deck or play basketball outside, with Joshua :-)

Can use assistance unpacking boxes, putting books on shelves ( and organizing the ones already up :-)

       If anyone compost their veggies etc, and can pick up mine, anytime, that would take that off of my concerns and out of my freezer :-)

 

 If you are able to bring a meal over, that is always a welcome sight. We have a Vegan Vegetarians (no dairy or eggs) diet and the boys do not like onions, garlic nor asparagus- Christopher doesn't like bell peppers and Joshua squash.

 

MacroMobileMeals can also be ordered form the Ki of Life Center in Franklin,TN  ((615) 646- 2841 ex 2)for Tuesdays & Thursdays. (they also deliver it :-)

 

You may click on the donate button, if you'd like to assist with all I've had to get for Joshua in his alternative / integrative healing, over the last year, and other things I am still doing and getting for him:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Thank you :-)

*

Thank you :-):-)

 

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                                            A Year of Great Transition

This seemed to be a year of great transition for our family

To see photos of the kids during this time go to:  http://www.makingpeacewithdestiny.com/beforejoshuasdiagnosis.htm