History

Saturday, April 17, 2010 7:08 AM CDT

is a beautiful Spring with everything blooming, enough cool nights to let the blossoms last, and along with it Liz is blossoming too. School has gone well, not having to travel so far every day has been a good thing, and the homeschool/2 day class blend has allowed her/us to not be in the car everyday --she is learning how to make her way thru text books using both her glasses and her machine, and by graduation in 2 years should be more prepared to decide what is "next". We all know that staying home with us is really not an option, as with the low vision and not driving she wants to be "somewhere", which obviously is not here.--needs some kind of decent public transportation, so maybe next summer we will look into visiting some cities for a longer period of time and getting a feel for how they work. Having Becca in NYC has been great for showing Liz more of whats out there. I now see that her being older when she graduates is a good thing, another part of Gods plan I suppose when she missed the medical time.
We are transitioning her care more local as well, knowing that St Jude and Dr M will not always be where she goes-who knows what his future plans are, but I am betting that with protons, and Memphis not building them, that he wont stay there forever((. will see-so we have moved part of her care to the Jones Institute in Norfolk, a fertility clinic where we found a wonderful lady that specializes in hormone replacement-Liz can keep her as an adult as well. lots of things going on that are good. We did not go to our spring Memphis appt, will not I guess go but once a year for scans until Tom M is somewhere else then we shall see. We do like seeing our Seth and Anita and the boys tho..and of course what we would have done in life without Tom Merchant, well I cant imagine had he not answered his email so late so long ago.
Julia and Justin are getting married June 5, with the reception in our yard, so we have been overhauling this old old yard. pulled out a LOT of 60 yr old plants that needed it, and put the basics back, now doing the fluff work. Then will mulch and with the tent and lanterns it will be beautiful. Vic is still traveling with Lisa, they are right now in Maryland on a job putting a refit back together on Solomans Island-jobs may be getting better in the yachting industry, shall see but he has had steady work to get him thru food and housing and is happy as he can be. Lisa has a visa til summer I think, and hopefully will be renewed so we dont have to face Vics deciding between the US and New Zealand... Becca and Mike are in NYC, both with CVStarr, Mike in marine and Becca being moved to a new marketing dept-just 2 of them, she is doing well and learning to navigate the ins and outs of planning, advertising, and the politics of it all. Mr G still pays close attention and Mrs G loves them, so they are well, and Duke and Molly are graduating from obedience school today I think..--we hope that one day they head south but for these years it is good. Lizzie, well, we are in our 10th year and in Jan '11 we will have a 10 year end party-life is good.
Keep Nancy and Bill Noyes in your prayers as this is 3 years right about now for Matt-can that be right? I have to refigure..time is so fast. Also my brother and his family as loosing Joel is hard and with all these parties the cousins stay close but that void is so there...
keep in touch, we miss hearing from you as time moves on and we update less..

Sunday, March 28, 2010 4:07 PM CDT

all well here. school going great..more confident, more work, less driving.
other kids doing well, Vic in Florida, he and his friend Lisa from New Zealand doing day work, still looking for full time yacht work but staying busy and happy. Becca/Mike in New York, jobs going super-busy busy and they like the city. Julia getting married June, reception in our yard so lots to do.
planning a trip to South Africa in fall to visit Mikes family-very excited about that. Liz probably will do a school this summer 3 week for blind/low vision in
Richmond, shall see how that works out.

She is well. Life is steady and calm. hope it is not the calm before the storm)).
keep in touch, tons of Love
ma

Monday, February 1, 2010 5:40 PM CST

Hello all,
What a beautiful wedding weekend!! Jordan and Britney, this past snowy weekend...was SO gorgeous!! the snow began Friday night but Becca/Mike happily had arrived already. Vic could not get here((. Jay and I helped Chris with the reception flowers(we did as we were told) since Chris's help did not arrive due to the snow, and the wedding at 4 was in the middle of TONS of snow-everyone loves Jordan and Britney so much that nearly all came anyway, and every thing was so perfect. The band cancelled at 3 but another was found and they were just great--was fun.
Everything for Liz is going well. This is happily the new decade, and we are gladly rid of the 2000's....what a rotten 10 years and good riddance)))).!! She is well, and we are supposed to get back to Memphis in March but, we are cancelling it and doing the followup for endo here locally at the Jones Institure and Marta Satin-Smith...that is enough. We will absolutely go back the one time a year to see Tom Merchant. Tomorrow is the 9 year anniversary of our appt with Dr Weingart at Hopkins, also my moms 88th birthday..the day we heard her tumor was operable-what Blessed news after the grim things we had been told here. SO, we are well into her 9th year out, and what a celebration that 10 anniversary will be next Jan!!! She is doing well in Homeschool and we are adjusting to it --doing it through Keys is a good way to blend classroom and home..it works. Julia is happily planning her wedding to her Justin, and Becca is doing so well, married to Mike and living in New York..they LOVE their jobs at CVStarr, and have the cutest dogs)). Vic is in Florida, doing the yachts, and his friend Lisa from New Zealand is here still as well...they are good and always looking for the perfect boat..Jay and I are good. Please, keep in touch. Has been a long haul here but this remains good contacts and therapeutic. Much love, ma

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 9:06 PM CST

TOOO long...
all good here, homeschool going well, Liz likes it, is learning, loves KEYS school. Christmas Break was super, all home--Becca/Mike and puppies, Julia, Justin home for his break visiting, and Vic and Lisa got in for a couple days as well which was unexpected and so much fun. Have been to New York to visit Becca/Mike, love it, and hope to go back over break. Julia planning her wedding for June, and mom, dad and Liz are tentatively planning a tent camping trip this summer somewhere-still looking at where and when.
just a fast update to say all is well-no news good news, and will add more soon.
Much love to all,
ma

Sunday, November 1, 2009 1:19 PM CST

Long time since updating! Had a good Halloween, went to a good friends party, Liz did the haunted house, was too pretty a witch but had a good time..LOTS of trick or treaters...was fun,...Julia home, working, and is engaged!!! Wedding June 5,2010!!
Liz attended a blind student leadership weekend last weekend at the National Federation for the Blind in Baltimore, and it was SO good...she met several other students, and they all enjoyed staying at the Federation building and bonding..was a good weekend-lots of bonding. Her homeschool seems to be going well, TONS more work, and, she is doing great...Liz has been Gifted with such a good attitude, and love of learning, and willingness--in spite of all the late effect junk, she is upbeat..and, is being rewarded with a good life, and finding her direction . Keyes Homeschool is seeming to, so far, let her blossom--She has had many Doc appts this fall for endo stuff, and just got the H1N1 flu shot, thankfully--all seems well. Our trip back to Memphis was a success, with good time spent with both Steven and Seth/Anita and the wonderful, adorable Herron boys!!!
Our family is still scattered, with Becca and Mike in New York city, and adjusting well to the great change from yachting-their work at CVStarr is going along great--...Vic, and his travel mate Lisa are in Florida at the boat show, job hunting...Hurry Up, economy so the boats begin hiring again! Julia and Justin are wedding planning, and the date is June 5,2010! She is working at the local Y, wanting a full time job-nutrition is her degree and it entails a LONG internship that she is probably going to do in the next couple years--but for now, Hurry up Economy!!! We are good, working like everyone to spend less, take more family and friend time, and live more simple lives.
Keep in touch, much love
ma

Friday, September 25, 2009 4:14 PM CDT

Home from Memphis...
all clean scans, now 7 years out of treatment...since 2002. nearly 9 years since diagnosis, Jan 2001. Seems longer and shorter. Visit went well, tons of tests, etc. Seems the after effects will be dealt with forever, but, the forever is the point, I suppose.
Steven there the same time, his scans were clear as well. Praise God for them all.
Keep in touch,
Love,
ma

Monday, September 14, 2009 10:41 AM CDT

hello...slow updates...not a bad sign! had a great week with Steven and his wife at the beach, did tons of touristy things...they are back for his scans the same time we go again this fall...so, please keep Steven in prayers for clean scans and to remain cancer free...he is doing so well.
We go to Memphis on Monday of next week...is a long visit this time, tons of tests to get done, as well as MRI's...we expect all to be fine but the week is long, boring, and not as easy as it once was to go thru...so! Liz is a trooper but it has been a long time doing this, and it does get old so think of her some if you get a minute...we hope to see Tom Merchant and catch up on the St Jude info, and will rent a car to see Anita,Seth, and the boys and their new house!!! We cant wait to see them!! that is a highlight of the trip)).
homeschool going well, I think...we shall see. KEYS is a great choice, Liz likes it. Julia going to New York this weekend to visit Becca/Mike, she and Justin will fly up and see the house, dogs, and city. Becca is well, Mike is now finally working and final Green Card interviews are this week...they need it to go smoothly and easily so he can be here for good)). Vic on Serendipity II for a few more weeks I think....guess Lisa is still doing charter work and camping!...they need a full time, good boat. Jay and I are fine...
no other real news..
love to all,
ma

Monday, August 3, 2009 8:43 PM CDT

Hello all,
has been some time! tons going on...
summer is rolling along, and has been good and also some very sad.
Lizzies cousin Joel died suddenly July 9. He was 28 and the cousins were all very very close..there are 10 of them, Joel was my brother Bill, and Carols, son. We have such wonderful times at the wedding, and pictures and such recent great times, that is good, but it has been very very difficult.
We have decided to Homeschool this year...have wanted to do it, and are going thru KEYS, a homeschool group that will do 2 days a week of classes, and then home. I want to find out how Liz learns, what tools for her vision she needs. and, how much to push her to assure she does as well as I know she can..keep us in prayer for it to be successful please.
got back from Augusta Heritage Center, where we had a fabulous time.. music, dance, singing, was wonderful and COOL!!!
keep in touch. love to all,
ma

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 8:02 AM CDT

Hello, all,
We are fine! Lizzie has been so busy, so I am updating very briefly to let you know the small news we have.
Liz is going ok...exams next week, so she is ready for school to be out..planning summer, and hoping to be busy.
The wedding, Beccas, was perfect..at the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and their boat friends came, was very small, mostly family and a few friends of ours, and some old college roommies of Beccas that were good to see, plus a couple of girlfriends she has stayed close to. Was good to keep it tiny, intimate, and Mikes family was here from South Africa for near 2 weeks, which we loved. They are now off, moved to New York City where they will both work for CV Starr Insurance Co.
Julia graduated, and is home, job hunting along with the world)). Vic and his friend lisa are still here,home for the wedding from traveling New Zealand, where Lisa is from, and Australia...now off to see the south, Vic will do some dock walking, and they are going camping in Tennessee mountains. .but they hope to get a boat and head out soon.
we are good..all is well. Keep in touch, and keep Steven in prayers...
ma

Friday, March 20, 2009 8:34 AM CDT

HEY EVERYONE, HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL.I AM DOING WELL TOO.THE PLAY WENT GREAT BY THE WAY.I HAD A GREAT TIME DOING IT. IN A WAY I AM HAPPY THAT IT IS OVER, BUT I DO MISS IT. I HAD A FEELING I WOULD ONCE IT WAS OVER. AT MY SCHOOL WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED SCHOOL TO WORK, SO INSTEAD OF GOING TO SCHOOL WE ALL HAVE A VOLUNTEER JOB. I AM WORKING AT OPERATION SMILE. I REALLY AM ENJOYING IT TOO. I WILL BE WORKING THERE FOR 3 WEEKS.WELL THAT IS JUST ABOUT ALL THE EXCITEMENT RIGHT. THANKS FOR READING MY PAGE. I WILL UPDATE SOON.

LIZZIE

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 7:59 AM CDT

HELLO EVERBODY, HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL. I AM DOING WELL TOO. SORRY I HAVE NOT WRITTEN IN A WHILE. I HAVE BEEN RATHER BUSY LATELY. I HAVE THE PLAY COMING UP T6HIS WEEKEND, AND I AM VERY EXCITED. I START SCHOOL TO WORK TOMORROW, THAT IS WHEN I HAVE A JOB INSTEAD OF GOING TO SCHOOL FOR 3 WEEKS. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THAT TOO. THATS PRETTY MUCH IT RIGHT NOW. WILL UPDATE SOON. THANKS FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 5:29 PM CST

HEY EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?I HOPE GREAT.I AM DOING WELL TOO.THERE IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF STUFF GOING ON RIGHT NOW.ONE OF THOSE WOULD BE THE PETER PAN PLAY THAT I AM IN, WHICH I AM REALLY ENJOYING.ANOTHER ONE WOULD BE EXAMS COMING UP (NEXT WEEK!).WAY TOO MUCH.THE LAST THING WOULD BE JUST BEING A TEENAGER.THE PARENTS THAT ARE READING THIS THAT HAVE, OR HAD TEENAGERS KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT THOUGH, THAT I PROMISE YOU ALL.WELL THAT'S REALLY IT FOR NOW.I HAVE TO GO STUDY FOR EXAMS,FUN FUN.THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE.I WILL UPDATE SOON.

LIZZIE

Sunday, January 25, 2009 6:59 PM CST

I know Liz mentioned she was trying out for Peter Pan, and she got a part! A Lost Child, and she is doing a lot of weekend practicing).. so, that is great news. She is well and has been "adopted" by Chowan COllege Softball team, thru Friends Of Jaclyn, a group that arranges friendship and support for kids/teens with brain tumors in or out of treatment. It gives the kids a team, support and friendship, and also educates the team itself about Brain tumors, and kids that have met physical struggles. Thanks, Girls, for having the interest and getting involved.
Vic is in New Zealand til late April, Julia finishing VT/Dietetics, and applying for her internships which have about a 40cceptance rate nationally...Who thinks up this stuff? Becca in the Bahamas for a few weeks, and is their last trip I guess on the boat, then the wedding, then Mikes Immigration stuff and the job and move to NYC! We are good.
STeven finishes his radiation next week, and then I guess will wait and rescan in some month or so to see what it all looks like..Please keep him close in prayers, he needs the tumor to be totally gone..lets pray for total healing.
Love to all,
ma
ps. Liz, I love your spelling!

HEY EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? I HOPE GREAT. I AM DOING REALLY WELL TOO. MY MOM AND DAD ARE ON THE WAY HOME RIGHT NOW FROM THE CAMINE ISLAND FOR A BUSINESS TRIP. THEY HAVE BEEN GONE SINCE THURSDAY. THEY HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. VIC, MY BROTHER STAYED WITH ME, AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME. HE LEAVES TUESDAY TO GO TO AUSTRAILA TO TRAVEL. I AM SO JELOUSE. EVERYTHING IS GOING GREAT WITH ME AND MY FAMILY. BECCA GETS MARRIED IN 4 MONTHS. WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED. SCHOOL IS GOING GREAT. NOT TOO MUCH EXCITING GOING ON THOUGH. WELL THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT FOR NOW. I WILL UPDATE LATER THIS WEEK. THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE.

PS. I AM NOT THE BEST SPELLER EVER, SORRY.

LIZZIE

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 4:07 PM CST

HEY EVERYONE, I HOPE YOU ARE ALL DOING WELL. I AM DOING GREAT TOO. I AM SO SORRY THAT I HAVE NOT WRITTEN IN A WHILE. I HAVE BEEN PRETTY BUSY. YESTERDAY I TRIED OUT FOR THE PLAY PETER PAN, WITH MY FAVORITE LITTLE GIRL MATTY. SHE LIVES A BLOCK AWAY FROM ME. WE HAD TO SING 1 SONG. I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT I DID OK, SO DID MATTY. WE FIND OUT IF WE ARE IN THE PLAY ON FRIDAY. SO I WILL UPDATE TO TELL YOU ALL IF I AM IN IT OR NOT. SCHOOL IS GOING WELL. NOT TOO MUCH EXCITING GOING ON THOUGH. MY BROTHER VIC COMES HOME NEXT MONDAY. WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.WELL THAT IS REALLY IT FOR NOW. I WILL UPDATE WHEN I FIND OUT ABOUT THE PLAY. THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 10:33 AM CST

HEY EVERYBODY, HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL. I AM DOING WELL TOO. NOT TO MUCH IS GOING ON HERE AT THE MOMENT. WE ARE HAVING AN OYSTER ROAST ON NEW YEARS EVE, AND INVITING JUST A FEW FRIENDS AND FAMILY.WE DID THE SAME THING LAST YEAR. MY SISTER BECCA AND HER FIANCE MIKE WENT BACK TO FLORIDA ON CHRISTMAS DAY, AND MY BROTHER VIC LEFT 2 DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS. WE ALL HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. THIS CHRISTMAS COULDN'T HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN IT WAS. I GOT A FEW REALLY CUTE CLOTHES, VIC GOT ME A PAIR OF ADORABLE SLIPPERS THAT ARE VERY COMFORTABLE.I GOT A FEW OTHER THINGS TOO. WELL THATS IT FOR NOW. I WILL WRITE AGAIN NEXT YEAR. I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT NEW YEARS EVE. THANK YOU FOR READING MY JOURNAL.

LIZZIE

Friday, December 26, 2008 12:15 AM CST

I will take a liberty, and update instead of Liz today. We had a wonderful Christmas so far, with Becca, Mike, and Julia coming home last Thursday and a great week before the "day". We baked, shopped, cleaned, and went to Church together. Vic arrived home the 23, and they were all here, which we know is such a tremendous gift to us all...For Christmas, we did not have any """Santa""" gifts this year, we all chose to donate to the many families in the community that had Nothing...we did family gifts, which were so well thought out, and all needed and loved. As we have always done, we had Christmas eve dinner, but did it early in the day, and had my parents here, rather than all of us going there. Was very nice, and we then went to Christmas Eve Service together...the Morning of Christmas, the kids slept til 7, a record, and we unwrapped, took our time, and went to the grandparents to visit...After Lunch, Becca and Mike had to go back to Florida, way too soon, But, next year, they will be married, hopefully settled in New YOrk, and, have their own tree--and, I know Mike hopes his family will all be nearer, and maybe even together for the Holiday. Vic is still here til tomorrow, and then back to Savannah, on to Florida, and he is leaving that boat in late Jan to do some day work in Florida, and travel a bit, then look for another spot...that industry ebbs and flows, and he is well..Julia is home for a bit more, this being her last under grad semester-we are so proud of her, it has been HARD work, and she has done so so well. Our kids are good.
I am adding a short story from my peddie brain tumor list..this Holiday has been bittersweet in some ways, as it is the first without our Matt, and with STeven in relapse, there is so much to take in. I just know that someday Liz will find a place, and her spot to use what life has taught her, but it is not easy for these kids as they get older and dont really have a "place" in the teenage world--She wants very badly to be moved away from all the past years, and she is doing so well, but, it is not an easy road and she is both brave and good. Below is a letter from the List founder, David, used with permission....

"""As I sit quietly in Santo Domingo listening to the balmy( 77F) patter of light rainfall and ponder the true meaning of Christmas, to begin with I wanted to share a post that was brought to the attention as a group of parents discussing why their children died from a particularly nasty type of brain tumor (DIPG). Why does God answer some prayers to save children and not others' prayers?

http://www.aileenonline.com/b2/

One Quick Question
December 15th, 2008

"One quick question," I said to my pastor. He was heading back to his lunch table with a full cup of coffee; I'd finished my lunch and was on my way out.

"Oh, hi Aileen," he said, more gracious than most would have been, having been caught between coffee and dessert.
"What's up?"

"A lot. For one thing I just lied to my pastor," I confessed. "My question is neither quick nor singular."

Guy Sayles smiled, his relaxed, unhurried posture inviting me to continue.

"My friend's son-he's 10-has inoperable brain cancer. He got bad news yesterday, really bad news. His mother and I were talking last night and she asked me some tough questions. I'm only in the second semester of seminary here. I have no idea what to say."

Guy smiled a sad smile, "I'm not sure degrees give you what to say under those circumstances."

"My friend said, 'If God is omnipotent as we believe he is, then why hasn't he healed my son?' So, that's what I'm asking you."

Guy, putting his coffee on the counter, shook his head. "Well the first thing I would ask myself is, is this really an appropriate time for a theological discussion? It probably isn't. If not, I would say, 'I don't know. I'm so sorry. I love you.'"

I found this to be brilliant instruction. How many times do we spout off theological treatises when it just isn't the time? The person really needs to hear, "What you are going through is awful and I'm sorry that you are going through it because you matter to me." And we start quoting scripture, telling them about God's will or the nature of creation. Sometimes, we need to say less in order to say more.

"If it is a good time for a theological discussion," Guy went on, "Then sometimes I say, 'Well, God doesn't always get his way.'"

He must have seen my hesitation because he elaborated.

"When people disagree with me on this, I ask them, 'Does God always get his way with you?' Of course he doesn't. If it is true with one person, it must be true with others. And if God doesn't always get his way with people, God doesn't always get his way in the world. After all, if he did, then why would Jesus have commanded us to pray for God's will to be done? It would just be done whether we prayed or not."

I was intrigued, but not convinced.

"But," Guy said, "If God is omnipotent, and we are Christians, then we believe his greatest power was displayed on the cross. His strength comes through suffering; his power is in weakness. We are free when we become his slaves. We are greatest when we become the least of all. Christianity is confusingly full of contradictions. The equations aren't as simple as we would like them to be."

I knew he was right.

"There is one simple formula, though," Guy went on. "God loves us. God just loves us. He always, completely, beyond-our-imagination loves us."

"So, when our hearts are breaking. . ."

"Then God's heart is breaking too."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have looked at all the materialism that surrounds this celebration, and consider that we must remember that the true gift we received so very long ago, was an infant trusted to our care as a people.

Let us pause and reflect on gift giving, and remember it is not about material gifts, but rather about the spiritual gift of love that can be communicated with our families and with strangers.

I ask that each of us today consider about extending a hand to help a stranger, that would be a healthy interpretation of one act that Jesus might ask of us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May the peace of the Lord descend upon all of your family and bless them with
the capacity to experience wonder through the eyes of a child,
the capacity to love another more than you love yourself,
the capacity to forgive real or imagined wrongs,
the strength to bear the crosses that are made to measure for each of us,
and the patience to listen with all our hearts
to the words and thoughts of another we love.

Mer 25 December 2008
ry, merry Christmas,

David Edge
Santo Domingo"""

guess it says what I have had on my mind today.
Love to you all, and Merry Christmas..
ma

Saturday, December 13, 2008 6:32 AM CST

HEY EVERYONE, HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL. I AM TOO. YOU ALL WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT I GOT DONE 2 DAYS AGO. I GOT A BUNCH OF PINK STREAKS IN MY HAIR. I LOVE IT. I THINK IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD. EVERYONE ELSE AT SCHOOL LIKED IT TOO.AND MY MOM AND DAD LOVE IT. MY SISTERS BECCA AND JULIA AND BECCA FIANCE MIKE COME HOME THE 18, SO JUST 5 MORE DAYS. MY BROTHER VIC COMES HOME THE 23, SO 10 MORE DAYS. WE CAN NOT WAIT TO HAVE EVERYONE HOME.WELL THATIS ALL THE EXCITEMENT GOING ON RIGHT NOW. I WILL UPDATE SOMETIME THIS WEEK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Friday, December 5, 2008 11:08 AM CST

HEY EVERYONE, HOPE YOU ALL HAD A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING. i KNOW I SURE DID. MY MOM, DAD , SISTER JULIA, AND 2 DOGS WENT TO THE BEACH WITH MY GRANDPARENTS. WE HAD A GREAT TIME, AND ATE A TON. THE WEATHER WAS WONDERFUL, THANKFULLY. SENSE THEN I HAVE NOT BEEN UP TO MUCH. SO WHEN I HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT I WILL TELL YOU ALL.I WILL UPDATE LATER ON THIS WEEK. I SURE DO HOPE I HAVE MORE TO TALK ABOUT. THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE. HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

LIZZIE

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 6:27 PM CST

HEY EVERYONE,HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? I HOPE GREAT. IM DOING WELL TOO. I AM SO SORRY THAT I HAVE NOT WRITTEN IN SO LONG. I HAVE BEEN PRETTY BUSY, LAST WEEK I HAD TRIMESTER EXAMS. FUN FUN. I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE ITS ALREADY THAT TIME. THIS YEAR HAS GONE BY VERY FAST. I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING. MY MOM, DAD, MY SISTER JULIA AND I ARE GOING TO THE BEACH WITH MY GRANDPARENTS FOR THANKSGIVING, SO THAT SHOULD BE FUN. MY BROTHER VIC JUST LEFT TODAY TO GO BACK TO THE BOAT. INCASE I DIDNT TELL YOU ALL, HE SURPRISED ME ON MY BIRTHDAY.I WAS SO HAPPY. HE HAS BEEN HOME SENSE NOVEMBER 2ND. WE HAD A GREAT TIME.WELL THATS IT FOR NOW. THNK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE. I WILL UPDATE SOON. HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

LIZZIE

Monday, November 3, 2008 6:22 PM CST

HEY EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?I HOPE GREAT. MY SISTER BECCA AND HER FIANCE MIKE JUST LEFT TO GO BACK TO THE BOAT. THEY HAD DINNER OVER HERE. MY WEEKEND WAS GREAT.FIRST OF ALL, MY BROTHER VIC CAME HOME TO SURPRISE ME ON FRIDAY! HE HAS BEEN GONE SINCE LAST MAY!!! JULIA CAME HOME FROM TECH, AND BECCA AND MIKE ARE HERE TO. I HAD A WONDERFUL 16TH BIRTHDAY. WE HAD A COOKOUT HERE SATURDAY AT ABOUT 3:00 WITH SOME FRIENDS AND FAMILY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. YESTERDAY WAS MY REAL BIRTHDAY. WE HAD MY 2 AUNTS AND UNCLES OVER FOR LUNCH-DUTCH AND PENNY CAME DOWN FROM RICHMOND...THAT WAS FUN TOO. WELL THATS IT FOR NOW. I WILL UPDATE LATER THIS WEEK. THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Tuesday, October 28, 2008 7:06 PM CDT

HEY EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?I HOPE GREAT. IM DOING GREAT TOO. THERE HAS NOT BEEN MUCH GOING ON LATELY. I KNOW THAT I HAVE NOT WRITTEN IN SO LONG, AND IM SO SORRY. I HAVE NOT HAD A LOT OF TIME WITH SCHOOL AND ALL THAT. ARE YOU ALL EXCITED ABOUT HALLOWEEN?I AM. IM GOING TO BE TRIPLET WITCHES WITH MY SISTERS, FUN FUN. MY BIRTHDAY IS ON SUNDAY, AND I AM TURNING, (16) ! IM VERY EXCITED. IM NOT DOING MUCH. WE ARE HAVING A COOKOUT ON SATURDAY WITH SOME FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND THATS IT. WELL THATS ALL THE EXCITEMENT FOR NOW. I WILL UPDATE SOON. THANKS FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 1:41 PM CDT

HEY EVERYONE, HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL. IM DOING WELL TOO. I AM IN SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, AND HAD SOME FREE TIME TO GET ON THE COMPUTER. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD UPDATE MY PAGE. NOT TOO MUCH HAS BEEN GOING ON LATELY. MY MOM AND DAD WENT TO SEE MY DAD'S PARENTS FOR THEIR 65 WEDDING ANNIVERSRY. LONG TIME, I KNOW. OUR HOUSE KEEPER STAYED WITH ME. SHE HAS KNOWN ALL MY SIBLINGS FOR THEIR WHOLE LIFE, SO SHE STAYS WITH ME WHEN MY PARENTS NEED HER TOO. WELL THATS IT FOR NOW, I HAVE TO GO. I WILL UPDATE LATER ON. THANKS FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Saturday, September 27, 2008 8:08 AM CDT

HEY EVERYBODY, HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL.I AM DOING GREAT TOO. THERE IS NOT TOO MUCH GOING ON HERE RIGHT NOW OR TODAY. MY MOM AND DAD ARE ON THE WAY HOME FROM SOUTH CAROLINA FROM DROPPING OUR PUPPY OFF SO HE CAN GO SOME WHERE, I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THOUGH, TO DO A FIELD TRIAL, IF YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS. I KNOW I DO NOT. ALL I KNOW ABOUT IT IS THAT ITS FOR HUNTING DOGS, WHICH HE IS GOING TO BE. MY SISTER JULIA CAME HOME LAST NIGHT FOR THE WEEKEND. SHE IS STILL SLEEPING, BIG SHOCK.(HA HA). WELL THATS IT FOR NOW. THANK YOU SO SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE. OH BY THE WAY, MY FRIEND STEVEN (PICTURE ON FRONT PAGE) IS AT ST.JUDE RIGHT NOW GETTING TREATING AGAIN. HE WENT FOR HIS 6 YEAR CHECK UP AND IT SHOWED THERE WAS A TUMOR, SO PLEASE JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF YOUR DAY AND SAY A PRAYER FOR STEVEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WILL UPDATE LATER ON.

LIZZIE

Saturday, September 13, 2008 1:14 PM CDT

HEY EVERYONE, HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING GREAT.I AM TOO. MY MOM AND I GOT BACK FROM MEMPHIS LATE LAST NIGHT. I AM NOW (6 YEARS CURED)!I WAS NOT AT ALL WORRIED THAT THE SCAN WAS NOT GOING TO BE CLEAR, I WAS PRETTY POSITIVE IT WOULD BE.MY MOM DAD AND I ARE GOING OUT TO EAT FOR DINNER TO CELEBRATE 6 YEARS OF CLEAR SCANS.WE HAD A NICE TRIP, AND WE ALSO GOT TO SEE SOME FRIENDS OF OURS THAT USED TO LIVE DOWN THE STREET FROM US, AND THEIR 2 CUTE LITTLE BOYS, HAYES AND MACKEY WHO ARE 3 AND FIVE YEARS OLD.WELL I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU ALL THE GOOD NEWS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE. WILL UPDATE AGAIN LATER THIS WEEK.

LIZZIE

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 12:24 AM CDT

HEY EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?I HOPE GREAT.IM DOING WELL TOO THANKS.I AM AT THE ST.JUDE GRIZZLY HOUSE RIGHT NOW WAITING UNTIL MY NEXT APPOINTMENT THAT IS AT 1:00.SO THATS THE FUN STUFF THAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. MY MOM AND I GOT HERE LAST NIGHT LATE.I HAD A MRI THIS MORNING ON THE BRAIN THAT WENT WELL.I HAVENT GOTTEN THE REPORT BACK YET THOUGH. IM SURE ITS FINE THOUGH. WE LEAVE ON FRIDAY, SO I WILL UPDATE AGAIN THEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Saturday, August 30, 2008 5:39 PM CDT

HEY EVERYBODY, JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU ALL THAT WE GOT OUR PUPPY. HE IS SO CUTE AND WE LOVE HIM. THANKS FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Monday, August 25, 2008 5:41 PM CDT

HEY EVERYONE,HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING GREAT.I'M DOING WELL TOO.I STARTED SCHOOL TODAY, AND IT WENT GREAT.I REALLY LOVE THE TEACHERS AND THE CLASSES A TON.MY DAD AND I GOT BACK FROM CHILI ON SATURDAY,IF I DIDN'T ALREADY TELL YOU THAT.WE HAD A GREAT TIME.I THINK THAT I MIGHT GO BACK THERE NEXT SUMMER, OR SOME TIME SOON.WE (MIGHT) GET OUR PUPPY THIS COMING WEEKEND.WE ARE ALL SO EXCITED.HE IS SO SO CUTE.WE SAW PICTURES.WELL THATS IT FOR NOW.I WILL TELL YOU ALL FOR SURE IF WE ARE GETTING OUR PUPPY THIS WEEKEND.THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Monday, August 18, 2008 9:07 AM CDT

HEY EVERYBODY, HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING GREAT.IM DOING GREAT TOO. IM STILL IN CHILI AND HAVING A GREAT TIME.I HELPED PAINT A ROOM IN ONE OF THE CHURCHES HERE WITH 2 OF THE OTHER GIRLS THAT CAME ON THE TRIP WITH US.THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.ITS A REALLY PRETTY COLOR BLUE, ITS ACTUALLY THE COLOR OF MY BEDROOM AT HOME.WE HAVE BEEN TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE'S HOUSE FOR DINNER, AND THE FOOD WAS GREAT.THEY EAT A LOT OF VEGGIES HERE, WHICH IS GOOD.LAST NIGHT WE HAD SPAGHETTI AND MEAT SAUSE. THAT WAS DELICOUSE. THE PEOPLE HERE ARE REALLY NICE AND SWEAT. ITS HARD FOR ME TO TALK TO MOST OF THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY SPEAK SPANISH, AND I DO NOT. WE LEAVE HERE ON FRIDAY AND GET BACK SATERDAY.WE HAVE AN OVER NIGHT FLIGHT FRIDAY, THATS WHY WE GET BACK SATERDAY. I WILL UPDATE WHEN I GET HOME.THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Monday, August 11, 2008 5:31 PM CDT

HEY EVERYONE HOPE YOU AL, ARE DOING GREAT. I AM DOING GREAT TOO. MY DAD AND I LEAVE IN JUST 2 DAYS. I AM GETTING VERY EXCITED. I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU ALL GOODBYE FOR NOW. I WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THE TRIP WHEN I GET HOME. THANK YOU FOR READING MY SHORT PAGE TODAY.

LIZZIE

Monday, August 4, 2008 11:25 AM CDT

HEY EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? I HOPE GREAT. IM DOING REALLY WELL TOO. MY MOM AND I GOT BACK FROM CHEROKEE FRIDAY NIGHT. WE HAD A LOT OF FUN. I HELPED WITH THE ELDERS MOST OF THE TIME. I STARTED OUT WITH THE YOUNGER KIDS, BUT THEY ENDED UP HAVING ENOUGH HELPERS. WHAT WE DID WITH THE ELDERS WAS WORSHIP, AND DID ARTS AND CRAFTS. WE HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME. MY MOM AND I ENJOYED IT ALOT. I THINK I WOULD GO BACK NEXT SUMMER. NEXT WEDNESDAY
MY DAD AND I GO TO CHILI FOR ANOTHER MISSIONS TRIP. IM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I WILL BE WORKING WITH BLIND AND DISABLED PEOPLE. SO IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING. I WILL UPDATE BEFOR I GO NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 8:12 AM CDT

HEY EVERYONE, HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING GREAT. I AM TOO. I AM GETTING VERY EXCITED BECAUSE THIS SATURDAY. MY MOM AND I ARE GOING TO CHEROKEE NORTH CAROLINA, FOR A CHURCH MISSIONS TRIP. WE WILL BE THERE FOR ONE WEEK. SO WE LEAVE SATURDAY AND COME BACK THE NEXT SATURDAY. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I WILL BE DOING, BUT I KNOW THAT WE WILL ALL BE WORKING WITH BLIND AND DISABLED PEOPLE AND CHILDREN. SO THAT SHOULD BE INTERESTING. ONE WEEK AND 5 DAYS AFTER CHEROKEE, MY DAD AND I GO TO CHILE FOR ANOTHER CHURCH MISSIONS TRIP, AND WE WILL BE THERE FOR 10 DAYS. I DO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR THIS ONE. ALL I KNOW IS THAT SOME OF THE GROWN UPS WILL BE BUILDING AN ADDITION FOR A LADY. THIS IS WHAT I THINK, BUT IM NOT TOO SURE. WELL THATS IT FOR NOW. I WILL UPDATE LATER ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 4:31 PM CDT

HEY EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? I HOPE GREAT. IM DOING WELL TOO. SORRY I HAVE NOT UPDATED IN A WHILE, I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY. MY MOM AND I GOT HOME FROM MAINE SUNDAY EVENING. WE HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME. CAMP WAS A LOT OF FUN. I MET A TON OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND EVERYONE WAS REALY NICE. I THINK I PROBABLY WILL GO BACK NEXT YEAR. AFTER CAMP A FRIEND OF OURS, NANCY NOYES PICK US UP AND WE SPENT THE WEEKEND AT HER HOUSE. WE HAD A GREAT TIME THERE TOO. SOMETHING VERY EXCITING HAPPENED BEFORE CAMP, THAT I MIGHT HACVE ALREADY TOLD YOU ALL ABOUT. MY OLDEST SISTER BECCA GOT ENGAGED. IT WAS A HUGE SURPRISE TO ALL OF US. WE ARE VERY EXCITED.WELL THATS ALL THAT IS GOING ON HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE. I WILL UPDATE LATER ON.

LIZZIE

Monday, June 30, 2008 7:07 AM CDT

HEY EVERYBODY, HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING GREAT. IM DOING WELL TOO. THERE HAS NOT BEEN TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT GOING ON, BUT SOME. MY OLDEST SISTER WHO WORKS ON THE YAHT JUST GOT ENGAGED 2 DAYS AGO. I DIDNT BELIEVE HER AT FIRST, NEITHER DID ANYONE ELSE. HER NEW FIACEE TOOK DOWN THE STREET FROM OUR HOUSE TO THE LAKE AND DID IT THERE. SHE WAS SO SURPRISED. AT FIRST SHE THOUGHT HE WAS KIDDING, BUT HE WAS NOT. HER RING IS THE PRETTIEST RING I HAVE EVER SEEN. THE YAHT SHE WORKS ON IS BEING PUT IN THE WATER TODAY, SO I HOPE WE WILL GET TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE SOME TIME THIS WEEK. I AM REALLY GOING TO MISS THEM BOTH. ANY WAYS, NEXT WEEK MY MOM AND I AARE GOING TO MAINE TO A CAMP CALLED CAMP SUNSHINE. I AM VERY EXCITED. WELL THATS IT FOR NOW. WILL UPDATE LATER ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Monday, June 23, 2008 7:30 AM CDT

HELLO EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? I HOPE GREAT. I AM DOING WELL MYSELF. MY SISTER JULIA CAME HOME ON FRIDAY TO SEE US AND MY OTHER SISTER BECCA.SHE JUST LEFT YESTERDAY. WE HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME. BOTH MY SISTERS AND MY OLDEST SISTER'S BOYFRIEND, AND A FRIEND OF OURS AND MYSELF WENT CAMPING IN VIRGINIA BEACH IN A REALLY NICE CAMPING PLACE BACK IN THE WOODS. IT WAS VERY NICE. THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME CAMPING, OTHER THAN IN MY BACK YARD. I HAD A GREAT TIME.THE CAMP PLACE WAS SO PRETTY.THERE WERE TREES ALL AROUND US.CHANGING THE SUBJECT NOW, I JUST FOUND OUT A WEEK AGO THAT MY MOM AND I ARE GOING TO A CAMP IN MAINE CALLED CAMP SUNSHINE. THE CAMP IS FOR KIDS THAT HAD OR HAVE CANCER. I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT GOING. I CANT WAIT. WELL,THATS ALL THE FUN STUFF GOING ON HERE. WILL UPDATE LATER ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Monday, June 16, 2008 7:46 AM CDT

HELLO EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? I HOPE GREAT.I AM DOING WELL TOO. I HAVE NOT UPDATED MY PAGE IN A WHILE, AND I AM SO SORRY. ITS BEEN A LITTLE BUSY LATELY. MY DAD'S PARENTS CAME TO SEE US FROM FLORIDA FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. WE HAD A REALLY GREAT TIME. I JUST GOT OUT OF SCHOOL LAST THURSDAY, SO THIS IS MY FIRST DAY OF SUMMER. I AM NOT DOING A WHOLE LOT THIS SUMMER, BUT I AM GOING ON 2 MISSION TRIPS WITH SOME PEOPLE AT MY CHURCH. 1 OF THE TRIPS I AM GOING ON IS WITH MY MOM TO CHEROKEE. I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND ALSO THE 1 TO CHILE WITH MY DAD. WE ARE BOTH EXCITED ABOUT THAT ONE TOO. WELL THATS IT FOR NOW. I WILL UPDATE LATER THIS WEEK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Sunday, June 1, 2008 2:40 PM CDT

HEY EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? I HOPE GREAT. IM DOING GREAT TOO. I HAVE NOT BEEN DOING MUCH TODAY. MY MOM AND AND I WENT TO CHURCH AND THEN THAT IS IT. IT IS REALLY TOO HOT TO DO MUCH OF ANYTHING OUTSIDE. IF YOU WANT THE HONEST TRUTH I JUST WOKE UP FROM A 2 HOUR NAP. I RARELY EVER TAKE NAPS, SO THATS BIG FOR ME. I HAVE ONE MORE FULL WEEK OF SCHOOL LEFT, AND THEN 4 HALF DAYS NEXT WEEK FOR EXAMS. IM A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT I THINK I WILL DO PRETTY WELL. I AM EXCITED ABOUT GETTING OUT FOR THE SUMMER. I DONT HAVE ANY PLANS YET THOUGH. WELL THATS IT GOING ON RIGHT NOW. I WILL UPDATE LATER ON. THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Sunday, May 25, 2008 8:03 AM CDT

HELLO EVERYONE, HOW HAVE YOU ALL BEEN? I HOPE GREAT. I HAVE BEEN DOING WELL TOO. MY MOM, DAD AND I TOOK MY BROTHER TO THE AIRPORT ON FRIDAY BECAUSE HE GOT A JOB ON A FISHING YAHT, AND SO HE WENT TO SUVANA GEORGIA. YEAH, HE IS LIVING THE LIFE. HE LOVES TO FISH AND SO THIS IS JUST RIGHT FOR HIM. MY FAMILY AND I WENT TO A FRIENDS WEDDING LAST NIGHT THAT WE HAVE KNOWN SENSE BEFOR I WAS BORN. IT WAS A WHOLE LOT OF FUN. WE GOT HOME AT ABOUT 11:00 LAST NIGHT AND THE NIGHT BEFOR FOR THE PARTY AFTER THE REHURSEL DINNER. THAT WAS ATON OF FUN. I THINK I DANCED THE WHOLE TIME. WELL THATS ALL THE EXCITEMENT LATELY AROUND HERE AT LEAST. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE. HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

LIZZIE

Sunday, May 18, 2008 8:17 AM CDT

HEY EVERYBODY I WAS JUST WRITING TO SEE IF YOU ALL LIKED MY NEW BACKGROUND ON MY HOME PAGE. I THOUGHT THAT IT NEEDED A NEW CHANGE. SO I DID IT. PLEASE WRITE ME BACK AND TELL ME IF YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. I REALLY WOULD LOVE YOUR OPINION. THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE. HAVE A GREAT DAY. I WILL UPDATE LATER THIS WEEK, AND READ YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BACKGROUND. I KNOW THAT ITS A SILLY THING TO ASK ABOUT, BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING. THANKS AGAIN.

LIZZIE

Monday, May 12, 2008 5:27 AM CDT

HELLO EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?I HAVE BEEN GREAT.MY WHOLE FAMILY EXCEPT MY BROTHER VIC WENT TO THE BEACH THIS WEEKEND.THE WEATHER WAS CLOUDY AND CHILLY, BUT IT WAS STILL REALY NICE.I WENT WITH MY SISTERS AND MY OLDEST SISTERS BOYFRIEND ON FRIDAY AND MY MOM AND DAD CAME SATURDAY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. WELL I HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL FUN STUFF I KNOW.THANK FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Sunday, May 4, 2008 6:12 AM CDT

HEY EVERYBODY, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?I HOPE GREAT.I AM DOING PRETTY WELL MYSELF.MY MOM AND I GOT BACK FROM SEEING MY FRIEND ON TUESDAY.WE HAD AN OK TRIP.IT WAS REALLY HARD THOUGH.WHEN WE GOT THERE AFTER 10 MINUTES HE PASSED AWAY.I WENT IN TO SEE HIM AFTER HE WAS GONE.IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I HAD EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.I AM GLAD I DID IT THOUGH.IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME FOR US TO GO TO BE WITH HIS FAMILY.I THINK HE HELD ON UNTIL MY MOM AND I GOT THERE.MY MOM WENT IN AND KISSED HIM ON THE HEAD AND TOLD HIM WE LOVE HIM SO MUCH.ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER HE PASSED ON.I CRIED SOME, BUT I KNOW HE IS IN A BETTER PLACE. WELL THIS IS HOW MY WEEK WAS AND ALSO OUR TRIP.BUT WE ARE GLAD WE WENT.THANK YOU SO SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 4:26 PM CDT

HELLO EVERYONE, I HOPE YOU HAVE ALL BEEN GREAT. I HAVE BEEN DOING WELL TOO. I HAVE NOT BEEN UP TO MUCH LATELY. MY MOM AND I HAD WEAVING YESTERDAY, AND I HAVE FINALLY STARTED. I AM SO HAPPY. IT HAS TAKENB ME (2) MONTES TO START WEAVING. IT IS A HUGE PROCESS. WEAVING IS SO MUCH EASIER THAN ALL OF THE OTHER STUFF WE HAD TO DO TO GET THE LOOM READY. I AM GOING TO SEE A FRIEND OF MINE WITH MY MOM IN MAINE THIS SUNDAY. HIS CANCER HAS COME FOR THE THIRD TIME I BELIEVE IT IS, AND IT WAS ROUGH THE FIRST TIME HE HAD IT. WE ARE GOING TO SEE HIM WHILE HE STILL HAS HIS MEMORY. HIS MEMORY HAS GOTTEN VERY BAD. WE WILL BE BACK ON TUESDAY, SO I WILL WRITE WHEN I GET BACK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 6:12 PM CDT

HELLO EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? I HOPE GREAT. I KNOW THAT ITS BEEN A WHILE SENSE I HAVE UPDATED MY PAGE. NOT TO MUCH HAS BEEN GOING ON HERE LATELY. MY MOM AND I ARE TAKING WEAVING CLASSES. WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS NOW, AND ITS BEEN A LOT OF FUN. WE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE SO EASY AND QUICK, WELL ITS NOT. WE ARE WEAVING ON THESE THINGS CALLED LOOMS. I HAVE JUST TODAY GOTTEN TO THE PART THAT I ACTUALLY WEAVE. YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LONG TOME AGO. THE TYPE OF THRED I AM USING IS (VERY) FINE, SO YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL, AND IT IS ALSO MICROSCOPIC. THIS IS PROBABLY THE SMALLEST THRED I HAVE EEVER USED, AND EVER WILL USE. BUT IT HAS BEEN FUN. WELL THATS THE FUN STUFF THAT IS GOING ON HERE. OH YEAH BY THE WAY, WE HAVE FINALLY FINISHED OUR BEACH COTTAGE. IF YOU DIDNT KNOW, IT FLOODED. THERE WAS 7 INCHES OF WATER ON THE BOTTOM FLOOR, AND 5 INCHES ON THE TOP. SO WE HAD TO GUTT THE WHOLE PLACE OUT. THIS WAS LAST SPRING I BELIEVE. WELL THE GOOD THING IS ITS FINISHED, SO WE ARE HAPPY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Tuesday, April 8, 2008 4:34 PM CDT

HELLO EVERYONE, HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING GREAT. I AM DOING WELL MY SELF. THERE HAS NOT BEEN MUCH GOING ON HERE LATELY. IT HAS BEEN COLD AND WET HERE THE PAST WEEK. EVEN THOUH IT FEELS A LOT LONGER. I HAVE REALLY MISSED BEING ABLE TO RIDE MY BIKE WITHOUT HAVING MY NOSE TURN BRIGHT RED. MY NICK NAME THEN IS RUDOLPH, HA HA. MY FAMILY IS DOING GREAT. ACTUALLY WE ARE ALL GOING OUT TO DINNER TONIGHT, EVERYONE BUT MY SISTER JULIA. SHE IS AT SCHOOL. SHE CAME HOME THIS WEEKED TO SEE US AND FOR US TO GIVE HER HER BIRTHDAY PRESENT. HER BIRTHDAY IS FRIDAY. THATS ALL THATS GOING ON HERE. I HAVE TO GO GET READY FOR DINNER. THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Monday, March 24, 2008 7:56 PM CDT

Hi all, MA here...just asking for some extra prayers out there..Matt, our StJude friend in Maine is beginning to show signs of severe memory loss and is becoming somewhat disoriented...clear signs of rapid tumor progression, and he is not on any treatment since he has had treatment failure for them all. His mom would be first to say he is dying, and Liz really needs your prayer for support for her..this is really tough, and it is going to just get worse. I talk to Nancy often, and they are leaving hopefully this week for a much needed week in SCarolina with all the family and grandparents, and Nancy feels this will certainly be their last trip, at least with his memory failing so fast, that Matt remembers. The progression will be memory loss, and then he will simply sleep...he is now not driving, and his work is very protective and allowing him to come just for a bit longer.
So, Please, keep Matt, his wife Sara, and most especially his parents Bill and Nancy, and Liz close in your thoughts..we have been through so much together, and it is very hard for her.
Much love
ma

HELLO EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?I HOPE GREAT.I HOPE YOU ALLS EASTER WENT WELL.MINE WENT VERY WELL TOO.MY SISTER BECCA CAME HOME THURSDAY.SHE DROVE FROM FLORIDA BY HERSELF TO SUFFOLK.WE WERE VERY PROUD OF HER BECAUSE SHE IS A LITTLE DIRECTIONALLY CHALLENGED.(DON'T TELL ANYONE I TOLD YOU THAT THOUGH).I DON'T THINK SHE WOULD BE TOO HAPPY.OH WELL IT'S OK.ANYWAYS SHE DROVE THE YACHT'S CAR.THE YACHT SHE WORKS ON IS IN PORTSMOUTH GETTING PAINTED FOR "3" MONTHS.SO THATS FUN FOR US.MY BROTHER VIC HELPED DRIVE THE BOAT,SO HE IS HOME TOO.WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF FUN.JULIA,MY 2nd SISTER DIDN'T GET TO COME HOME FOR EASTER,BUT SHE CAME HOME THE WEEKEND BEFORE.SHE HAD TO WORK.WELL THAT IS ALL THE EXCITEMENT GOING ON HERE.THANK YOU ALL FOR READING MY PAGE.PLEASE SIGN IT IF YOU GET THE CHANCE.I READ THEM EVERYDAY.I LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.THANKS AGAIN.

LIZZIE

Monday, March 17, 2008 5:20 PM CDT

HEY EVERYBODY, HOPE YOU ARE ALL DOING GREAT. IM DOING PRETTY WELL MYSELF. I HAD A 3 DAY WEEKEND BECAUSE OF A TEACHER WORKDAY ON FRIDAY,WHICH IS VERY NICE FOR US. WE ALL LOVE THOSE DAYS. THIS THURSDAY MY SISTER BECCA IS DRIVING HOME FROM FLORIDA TO PORTSMOUTH BY HERSELF. THEN MY BROTHER VIC IS HELPING MIKE THE DECKHAND ON THE BOAT BECCA WORKS ON DRIVE THE BOAT FROM FLORIDA TO PORTSMOUTH. WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED. MY DAD AND OTHER JULIA RAN IN A HALF MAROTHON CALLED THE SHAMROCK SUNDAY IN VIRGINIA BEACH, AND DID REALLY WELL. I AM VERY PROUD OF THEM. WELL I HAVE TO GO EAT DINNER NOW. WILL WRIGHT LATER. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 10:21 AM CDT

HELLO EVERYONE, I HOPE YOU ARE ALL DOING GREAT. I AM OK.I AM HOME WITH A COLD AND A LOW FEAVER. I AM JUST TAKING IT EASY TODAY AND SLEEPING SOME. IT IS A BEUTIFUL DAY HERE TODAY,OF COURSE WHEN I CANT GO OUTSIDE. THATS OK THOUGH. MY MOM AND I GOT HOME FROM MEMPHIS FRIDAY NIGHT. MY ENDOCRIN CHECK WENT GREAT. EVERYTHING IS FINE. I GAIN A FEW POUNDS,WHICH IS GREAT, AND I GREW A LITTLE OVER A CENTIMETER, WHICH IS ALSO GREAT. WE GOT TO SEE SOME FRIENDS OF OURS AND THEIR 2 BOYS WHO ARE SO CUTE. SO WE HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME. I AM GOING TO GO TAKE A NAP NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE. I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

LIZZIE

Friday, March 7, 2008 8:07 AM CST

hi all, is Mary A.The week before we went to Memphis, Matt Noyes, our StJude friend had his scans..the scans were very bad..he has again relapsed, and it is pretty extensive...he is now home, with his wife, and near Nancy and Bill, and tomorrow starts palliative chemo, keeping him comfortable as they can-he is becoming very syptomatic. Naturally Nancy and Bill are devastated, and so, please, keep them, and Matt, and his new wife Sara in your prayers..for comfort I suppose, since it appears that the prayers for his total healing are not happening. Matt is young, and I do not know what he believes..it has been very hard to talk about, because until this past trip, he really believed he would live. Now he is scared and so are we. Please, send all your love to his family, we love them all so much. I cannot imagine our time in Memphis without them, they are such a part of our lives. we all need strength to do this.
Much love,ma.

HEY EVERYBODY, I HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING GREAT. I AM DOING WELL MYSELF. MY MOM AND I ARE GOING HOME TODAY. WE ARE FLYING TO ST.LOUIS AND THEN HOME. I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY THEY ARE FLYING US TO ST.LOUIS, BUT THEY ARE. MY CHECK UPS WENT GREAT YESTERDAY. WE GOT TO SEE SOME FRIENDS OF OURS LAST NIGHT, AND THEIR 2 ADORABLE BOYS. WE HAD PIZZA AT THE GRIZZLY HOUSE WHILE THE BOYS RAN AROUND AND PLAYED. IT WORKED OUT GREAT, AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN. I WILL PROBABLE UPDATE NEXT WEEK SOME TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Thursday, March 6, 2008 6:54 AM CST

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING GREAT. I AM DOING WELL TOO. I AM IN THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLY HOUSE WRITE. WE JUST GOT HERE YESTURDAY AFTERNOON. MY MOM AND I HAD COME FROM CHICAGO, WHICH WAS GREAT, BUT VERY COLD. WE LEAVE TO GO HOME TOMORROW. I HAVE AN INDOCRIN APPOINTMENT THIS AFTERNOON. SO WE HAVE THE WHOLE MORNING TO HANG OUT. WE ARE MEETING UP WITH SOME OLD FRIENDS TONIGHT AND THEIR 2 BOYS. I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT SEEING THEM. I WILL UPDATE WHEN I GET HOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Monday, March 3, 2008 10:55 AM CST

HEY EVERYBODY, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?GREAT,I HOPE.I AM DOING GREAT TOO.I AM IN CHICAGO RIGHT NOW IN MY UNCLES APPARTMENT. MY MOM IS HERE ALSO. WE ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME. IT IS A LITTLE BIT ON THE CHILLY SIDE THOUGH. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GET SNOW AND SLEAT TODAY, AT SOME POINT. WE ARE GOING TO 2 MUSEUMS TODAY, AND THEN TO MEET ONE OF MY UNCLES FRIENDS. SO THAT SHOULD BE FUN. WELL I WILL UPDATE LATER.THANKS FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Tuesday, February 26, 2008 5:25 AM CST

HELLO EVERYONE,HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? I HOPE GREAT.I AM DOING OK, NOT GREAT THOUGH. IT HAS BEEN A HARD COUPLE OF DAYS FOR MY FAMILY AND I, BECAUSE OUR 15 YEAR OLD DOG,MOCHA HAD TO BE PUT TO SLEEP YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. SHE WAS AT THE VET ALL DAY YESTERDAY GETTING TESTS, LIKE BLOOD WORK DONE,WHICH WAS NOT GOOD AT ALL. SHE HAD A GREAT WEEKEND.SHE WAS OUTSIDE WITH US ALMOST THE WHOLE ENTIRE TIME. IT WAS REALLY NICE. MY SISTER JULIA WENT BACK TO SCHOOL ON SUNDAY, SHE CAME HOME TO SEE MY BROTHER VIC. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. MY GRANDPARENTS CAME OVER SATURDAY NIGHT FOR DINNER,WHICH WENT VERY WELL. WE HAD A GREAT DINNER. SPRING BREAK IS NEXT WEEK FOR ME. MY MOM AND I ARE GETTING EXTREEMLY EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO CHICAGO, AND THEN TO MEMPHIS. MY UNCLE CALLED LAST NIGHT AND SAID THAT THEY ARE EXPECTING 5 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW, SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET THERE. WELL I HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE. HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEK. THANKS AGAIN.

LIZZIE

Saturday, February 23, 2008 8:00 AM CST

GOD MORNING EVERYONE.HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?I HOPE GREAT.I KNOW THAT IT IS SATURDAY AND ITS ONLY 8:00, BUT I JUST CAN NOT SLEEP LATE.EVERY WEEK DAY I HAVE TO GET UP AT 6,SO MY BODY IS USED TO IT I GUESS. MY BROTHER VIC AND MY SISTER JULIA BOTH CAME HOME YESTERDAY, SO THAT IS A LOT OF FUN FOR MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PLANS FOR THE WEEKEND REALLY,BUT TO JUST SPEND TIME TOGETHER. SO THAT SHOULD BE NICE. MY SPRING BREAK IS NEXT WEEK. NOT THIS COMING UP WEEK,BUT THE NEXT ONE. IT IS EXTREEMLY EARLY. I THINK I HAVE MENTIONED THIS ALREADY BUT,MY MOM AND I ARE GOING TO CHICAGO AND THEM WE ARE FLYING TO MEMPHIS FOR AN ENDOCRINE CHECK UP AT ST.JUDE. THOSE ARE THE BIG PLANS FOR MY SPRING BREAK. I HOPE IT ALL GOES WELL. I WILL UPDATE LATER ON THIS WEEK HOPEFULLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Sunday, February 17, 2008 7:45 AM CST

HELLO EVERYONE,HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?I HOPE GREAT.I AM DOING VERY WELL TOO.THERE HAS NOT BEEN TOO MUCH GOING ON HERE LATELY.I HAVE A THREE DAY WEEKEND BECAUSE OF PRESIDENTS DAY MONDAY,SO IM VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.I DONT HAVE ANY PLANS FOR TODAY OR TOMORROW.MY MOM AND I MIGHT GO SHOPPING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.SPRING BREAK IS NEXT WEEK FOR ME.ITS EXTREEMLY EARLY.MY MOM AND I ARE GOING TO CHICOGO TO SEE MY UNCLE,AND TO SEE THE CITY,SO THAT IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN.AFTER WE GO THERE WE ARE FLYING TO MEMPHIS FOR A ST.JUDE CHECK UP.ITS JUST ENDOCRINE THOUGH,SO THATS GOOD.WELL THATS ALL THAT IS GOIG ON HERE. I WILL UPDATE AFTER I GET BACK, OR SOONER.THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE.AND PLEASE SIGN IT OR LEAVE A NOTE.I READ THEM ALL THE TIME.THANKS AGAIN.

LIZZIE

Monday, February 11, 2008 5:58 PM CST

HELLO EVERYONE,HOW HAVE YOU ALL BEEN?I HOPE GREAT.I HAVE BEEN GREAT TOO.NOT TOO MUCH HAS BEEN GOING ON LATELY.MY OLDEST SISTER BECCA IS IN THE BAHAMAS WORKING ON THE YAHT SHE WORKS ON.THAT IS WHERE IT IS DOCKED RIGHT NOW,VERY NICE I KNOW.I AM VERY JEALOUS.MY OTHER SISTER JULIA IS AT VIRGINIA TECH AT SCHOOL.SHE IS LOVING IT SO MUCH.AND LAST MY BROTHER VIC IS IN FLORIDA WORKING ON THE YAHT HE WORKS ON, AND IS LOVING IT ALSO.SCHOOL IS GOING GREAT.WEEK AFTER NEXT IS SPRING BREAK.I AM VERY EXCITED BECAUSE MY MOM AND I ARE GOING TO CHICAGO FOR THREE DAYS TO SEE MY UNCLE,AND TO SEE THE CITY.WELL THATS ALL THAT IS GOING ON HERE.I WILL UP DATE LATER ON THIS WEEK.THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE.PLEASE SIGN IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY.THANKS AGAIN.

LIZZIE

Friday, February 1, 2008 7:43 AM CST

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE,HOW HAVE YOU ALL BEEN?I HOPE GREAT.I AM SO SORRY IHAVE NOT UPDATED MY PAGE IN A WHILE,I HAVE BEEN REALLY BUSY LATELY WITH SCHOOL MIDTERM EXAMS.FUN STUFF LIKE THAT,NOT REALLY.I HAVE BEEN HAVING FUN HANGING OUT WITH MY BROTHER VIC,WHILE HE HAS BEEN HOME.ITS BEEN REALLY NICE.THE BOAT HE WORKS ON WAS SUPPOSED TO LEAVE LAST MONDAY BUT THE WEATHER HAS BEEN TOO BAD FOR THEM TO LEAVE,WHICH IS NICE FOR US,BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE MORE TIME TO SPEND WITH HIM.THEY ARE PLANNING ON LEAVING ON SUNDAY,IF THE WEATHER IS NICE THAT IS.IT IS GOING TO FLORIDA.VIC IS VERY EXCITED BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN IN COLD WEATHER SINCE HE HAS WORKED ON THE BOAT,PRETTY MUCH.SO THEY ARE EXCITED TO BE IN WARM WEATHER.TODAY IS A TEACHER WORK DAY AT SCHOOL,SO I HAVE A THREE DAY WEEKEND.I DONT HAVE ANYTHING PLANNED FOR TODAY,BUT TOMORROW I AM GOING TO A LITTLE BOYS 4TH BIRTHDAY PARTY,WHICH IS GOING TO BE VERY FUN.WELL THATS ALL IM DOING THIS WEEKEND.I WILL UPDATE LATER THIS WEEK.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Saturday, January 19, 2008 6:09 AM CST

HELLO EVERYONE,HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?I HOPE GREAT.I HOPE ALL OF YOU HAD A NICE WEEK.I HAD A NICE WEEK TOO.WELL ALL THAT WENT ON WAS THAT MY BROTHER VIC CAME HOME THURSDAY NIGHT.I MIGHT HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU ALL THIS,BUT THAT IS OK.MY MOM AND I WERE SUPRISED, BUT MY DAD AND SISTER JULIA KNEW.MY SISTER JULIA CAME HOME FROM COLLAGE LAST NIGHT FOR THE WEEKEND,TO SEE VIC.SHE HAD NOT SEEN HIM SENSE SEPTEMBER,SO ITS BEEN A WHILE.WE ARE NOT DOING MUCH OF ANYTHING THIS WEEKEND EXCEPT FOR JUST TAKING IT EASY.ITS A THREE DAY WEEKEND FOR MY SISTER AND MYSELF,SO THATS NICE.I WILL UPDATE LATER THIS WEEK.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE,AND IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGHED IT PLEASE DO.THANKS AGAIN.

LIZZIE

Thursday, January 17, 2008 5:15 PM CST

HELLO EVERYONE,HO ARE YOU ALL DOING?I HOPE YOUR WEEK HAS GONE AS WELL AS MINE HAS.ONE REALLY EXCITING THING HAPPENED TWO NIGHTS AGO WHICH IS MY BROTHER VIC CAME HOME AND SUPRISED MY MOM AND I.MY DAD AND SISTER,AND ALL VICS FRIENDS KNEW HE WAS COMING THE MORNING AND DAY BEFORE.THE BOAT HE WORKS ON IS DOCKED IN PORTSMOUTH WHICH IS ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES AWAY FROM OUR HOUSE,SO THATS EXCITING.I HAVE MID TERM EXAMS NEXT,SO IM A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT.I THINK I WILL DO PRETTY WELL THOUGH.WELL THATS ALL THATS IS GOING ON HERE.I WILL UPDATE LATER.THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE.

Sunday, January 13, 2008 5:11 PM CST

HELLO EVERYONE,SORRY THAT I HAVE NOT UPDATED MY PAGE IN A WHILE.I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY LATELY.THIS WEEKEND MY MOM,DAD,AND I WENT TO ANNAPOLIS TO SEE MY BROTHER VIC.IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE HIM.WE HAD A GREAT TIME.WE JUST GOT BACK TODAY.THATS ALL THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON HERE.NOT TOO MUCH EXCITING.WELL THATS ALL THAT IS GOING ON HERE.WILL UPDATE MORE LATER THIS WEEK.THANK YOU SO SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.AND IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED MY PAGE,I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TOO.THANKS AGAIN.

LIZZIE

Thursday, January 3, 2008 6:28 PM CST

HELLO EVERYONE,HAPPY NEW YEAR.I SURE DO HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT NEW YEARS EVE.WE HAD A FEW PEOPLE OVER FOR OISTERS,SHRIMP, CHEESE AND CRACKERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.WE ARE GOING TO WATCH THE ORANGE BOWL TONIGHT BECAUSE VIRGINIA TECH IS PLAYING.MY SISTER BECCA AND HER BOY FRIEND ARE THERE,SO THAT IS PRETTY EXCITING FOR THEM AND US.I START BACK TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY,SO I AM KIND OF EXCITED TO SEE ALL MY FRIENDS AND TEACHERS AND SEE HOW THEIR HOLIDAYS WENT.WELL I JUST WANTED TO UPDATE MY PAGE AND TELL YOU ALL HAPPY NEW YEAR.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Tuesday, January 1, 2008 7:01 AM CST

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU.I HOPE YOUR NEW YEARS EVE WAS AS FUN AS OURS WAS,AS IN MY MOM,DAD AND I.WE HAD ABOUT TWENTY PEOPLE OVER AT THE MOST AND HAD OISTERS AND SHRIMP.IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.SO HAPPY 2008.EVERYTHING IS GOING GREAT HERE AT HOME.NOT MUCH GOING ON THOUGH.SCHOOL STARTS NEXT WEEK FOR ME,SO I AM KIND OF EXCITED TO SEE ALL OF MY FRIENDS.WELL I WILL UPDATE LATER ON AND NEXT WEEK WHEN SCHOOL STARTS UP AGAIN.THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Thursday, December 27, 2007 6:54 AM CST

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.I SURE DO HOPE YOU ALL HOLIDAYS WERE AS GREAT AS MINE WAS.MY TWO SISTERS BECCA AND JULIA GOT TO COME HOME.BECCA WENT BACK CHRISTMAS DAY TO FLORIDA.IT WAS KIND OF DIFFICULT THAT SHE HAD TO LEAVE CHRISTMAS DAY,BUT SHE IS COMING TO PORTSMOUTH IN APRIL WITH THE BOAT.JULIA IS GOING TO SEE HER BOYFRIEND ON NEW YEARS EVE,BUT VA TECH STARTS BECK ON JANUARY 14 OR SO.VIC IS NOW IN NEW YORK CITY ON THE BOAT HE WORKS ON.I THINK HE LIKES IT AND IS HAVING FUN IN NEW YORK.WELL THATS ALL THATS IS GOING ON IN MY LIFE OTHER THAN SCHOOL STARTING BACK NEXT WEEK,NOT TOO EXCITED ABOUT THAT.WELL I HAVE GOT TO GO.I WILL UPDATE LATER ON.THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE,AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE PLEASE SIGN MY PAGE ALSO.THANK YOU AGAIN.

LIZZIE

Tuesday, December 4, 2007 4:38 PM CST

HELLO EVERYONE, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? I AM GREAT. I KNOW I HAVE NOT UPDATED MY PAGE IN A WHILE, SORRY. I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY LATELY WITH SCHOOL MOST OF ALL. EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY IS GREAT. VIC MY BROTHER IS LOVING HIS JOB ON THE YOT HE WORKS ON, HE IS REALLY ENJOYING IT. BECCA MY OLDEST SISTER IS ALSO LOVING HER JOB ON THE YOT SHE WORKS ON. AND LAST JULIA MY SECOND TO THE OLDEST SISTER IS AT VIRGINIA TECH LOVING IT AND WORKS AT A COFFEE SHOP ALMOST EVERYDAY. SHE HAS MET SO MANY NICE PEOPLE THERE. MY MOM AND DAD ARE DOING GREAT TOO. MY MOM HAS BEEN PAINTING THE DINNING ROOM ALL WEEKEND LONG TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT COLOR SHE LIKES, I THINK SHE HAS FINALLY FOUND THE RIGHT COLOR. MY DAD HAS BEEN WORKING A LOT LATELY, BUT HE STILL HAS A TON OF TIME FOR HIS FAMILY. WELL I HAVE TO GO TO EAT DINNER NOW. UPDATE LATER. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Monday, November 26, 2007 6:31 PM CST

Hello, all, MA here...
We had a good Thanksgiving...Julia came home on Tues, and we were really glad to see her...Becca is in Florida, and cant get off, she and Mike had Thanksgiving dinner with the Greenbergs and all the crew..was nice, she says... Vic is in New York City, on the yacht, and the crew had dinner out somewhere..had chicken wings I think, which makes me sad, but he likes it and is exploring New York and likes his crew..Not sure when his owner is coming, meanwhile, he is working and seeing the city. Julia is great! and went back on Sat while we watched the VT UVa game...Go HOKIES!!!

Liz is really good. She is, without a doubt the most positive person I know...she looks great, and school is good. I see her getting tired early at night, but, she is growing well, doing fine in school and our days are long. We leave for school daily about 645 so that is early and the day is long. Liz did begin back with her much loved Dr Nadia today, the peddie psychologist in Norfolk....we just thought it was a good idea to have someone work with her alone, nothing wrong, she just wants her own person to talk to, and after all these years we are doing it. Brain cancer does not leave these children as other cancers do, they are not "untouched" when they move on in life...Everything has changed in some way..their bodies--lots of daily, very doable but not forgettable things that need meds....their minds--thought processes are slower/more unclear/perceptions change, and their interests are forever more adult....less in common with their ages. So, Nadia is the one! and I am confident Liz will benefit and continue to be the person that I really really like so much...just making it all easier for her, we hope.

Christmas Holidays are coming..we are excited.
How are you all doing? Please, keep in touch. Jay and I are good, working lots, busy and liking that.
Much love,
ma

Thursday, October 25, 2007 9:27 AM CDT

HELLO EVERYONE, ITS LIZZIE. JUST THOUGHT I WOULD WRITE TO SAY HELLO AND TELL YOU ALL WHAT HAS BEEN GOING LATELY. WELL MY BROTHER LEFT ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO TO GO TO FLORDIA TO FIND A JOB ON A BOAT. WELL HE FOUND A DAY JOB THAT HE HAS BEEN FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. HE LIKES ALOT. HE ALSO GOT TO SEE MY SISTER BECCA WHO JUST GOT BACK FROM SOUTH AFRICA THEY HUNG OUT FOR A WHILE, I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THOUGH. JULIA MY OTHER SISTER IS AT VIRGINIA TECH TAKING CLASSES AND WORKING SHE REALY LIKES IT I THINK. MY MOM AND DAD ARE DOING GREAT. SCHOOL IS GOING GREAT FOR ME I REALY LIKE IT THIS YEAR, I HAVE MADE ALOT OF NEW FRIENDS, SO THATS PRETY COOL. WELL THAT IS PRETTY MUCH IT FOR NOW. I WILL UPDATE LATER ON. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR READING MY PAGE. I LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL.

Sat, Oct. 5, 2007 3:16 PM CDT

Just to add to the update...all fine, Vic now in FLorida, has been there one week and oh, I miss him so. But, he has had 3 days of day work, and today reported heading to the beach and spending time under a palm tree reading..so, he is good. We expect it may take some time to find a boat, he has to do the "dockwalk", handing out resumes, and day work, to get his name out, and meet with the agencies to find out what is available...Becca and Mike get back Oct 18 or so from South Africa, so they will help him as well. Vic, without his "wild hair", is charming and can be well mannered, so we expect this to be something he excels in and hope he travels the world well...Becca certainly has LOVED it, after meeting Michael.
And so...Prayers...Julia has written that her Professor, Michael Houston, who was hard, but LOVED what he taught, and has had to stop teaching her Metabolic Chemistry due to another relapse of Leukemia...please keep him in prayers for a cure this time as he undergoes another round of treatment..Gracie Ogle is past her first year and has a party next Saturday...always Matt, who is amazing us all by doing so well and we love so much, and Pam, our longtime friend here, and Sammi, who we thought long ago lucky to have a cyst rather than cancer and is still struggling in a major way with headache and residual "stuff" on the MRI...Tom M is looking at her scans to see what can be done.
Love to you all,
ma

HELLO EVERYONE,HOW ARE YOU ALL DOINNG? I HOPE GREAT.THIS IS LIZZIE .I THOUGHT I WOULD TAKE A MINUTE TO SAY HELLO AND UPDATE ON MY PAGE. I HAVE NOT BEEN DOING TO MUCH BUT SCHOOL WORK AND RIDING MY BIKE WHUCH I LOVE TO DO. I GO AROUND THE NIEBORHOOD ATLEAST ONCE A DAY. I TAKE DOG TREATS WITH ME FOR ALL OF THE DOGS IN THE NIEBORHOOD, THEY ALL LOVE IT. WELL I HAVE SOME HOMEWORK LEFT TO DO, SO I WILL UPDATE LATER. THANKYOU FOR READING MY PAGE.

Friday, September 7, 2007 9:56 PM CDT

will write quickly, headed to read, long but really really good day.
first of all MATT HAD CLEAN SCANS. What more can we say...Praise God for that, his new chemo is working and you cannot imagine how Nancy and Matt felt...phone was ringing all night. Keep him in your prayers...I did not realize and had never asked, but he is the only one from his protocol 5 years ago still alive..prayers matter.
dinner out last night with Matt, Nancy, and Judy and Jay Jenkins...had the best time then the girls went out..was tons of fun.
Neuropsych today, Liz tired, ready to go home, Jay hunted with Seth and shot his dove limit, and we had dinner with TOm M's family and met his completely adorable girls and his beautiful and smart wife..was fun and a good 5 year celebration.

tomorrow we head home..has been a good visit.
will relay a great internet story..
a list friend, Jalena sent me a note she had gotten from a dad in Ho Chi Mihn City, Vietnam...son had a tumor removed, no offer of radiation which would have been standard here, he found Jalena, she wrote me, I asked Tom MErchant would he talk to the dad, and this afternoon they have already spoken and the scans are in the mail to him to review...the world is small. So, keep praying for these kids, and all these connections that are nurtured and valued along the way..

Julia good, Becca in Spit, Croatia, Vic leaves at the end of this month...we are flying home late tomorrow evening, home to see the VT game..
Love to all, and thanks for the prayers.
ma

Wednesday, September 5, 2007 5:55 PM CDT

all clear...
in Memphis, had brain scan, tomorrow is spine/endo/hearing/and dinner with someone...tonight we are waiting for Matt and Nancy to arrive, Jay here now...all is good. Fri is hours of neuropsych, and dinner we hope with TomM, Jay hunts at some point with Seth and we are going to see ANITA and the boys, with our camera!! Becca called, they are great, and now have some time off to take the baot and travel until the 22, when the boat is shipped back to the US and they go to SAfrica for the wedding..Julia great, so busy with class and work, and we love to visit,...Vic has his tickets now, to leave Suffolk the 25, visit his friend Samantha in Texas for a couple days, then to Florida on Sept 28....and, has to then find a job, etc. on his own. He is doing something many of us would have loved to do, so, please keep him close in prayer.

And so, 5 years out of treatment, and clean.
Praise to God, for all the strength and wisdom to get us here..
donate to St JUde...
Love
ma

Monday, September 3, 2007 5:07 AM CDT

HELLO EVERYONE,THIS IS LIZZIE WRITING AGAIN.NOT TO MUCH HAS HAPPENED THIS WEEK EXCEPT THAT MY BROTHER VIC HAS CAUGHT 4 HUGE ROCK FISH,THEY WERE I THINK 27 INCHES LONG.TOMORROW MY MOM,DAD AND I ARE GOING TO ST.JUDES FOR MY CHECK UP.EVERYTHING SHOULD GO GREAT.WE ALSO GET TO SEE SOME OLD FRIENDS SETH AND ANITA AND THEIR 2 BOYS HAYES, AND MACKEY.SO THAT SHOULD BE FUN.WELL I WILL UPDATE LATER THIS AFTERNOON.THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE,I LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL.THANKS AGAIN

Monday, August 27, 2007 6:06 PM CDT

HEY THIS IS LIZZIE WRITING FOR MY FIRST TIME ON THIS WEBSITE.WHAT I HAVE BEEN GOING ON LATELY IS THAT SCHOOL HAS STARTED.FUN FUN,IT IS GOOD TO GET BACK IN I GUESS.I GET TO SEE ALL MY FRIENDS SO THATS FUN.MY SUMMER WAS GREAT.IT WENT BY SO FAST,BUT IT WAS STILL FUN.MY MOM AND I WENT TO MAINE FOR ONE OF MY FRIENDS WEDDINGS.THAT WAS ALOT OF FUN TO SEE HIM AND HIS FAMILY.MY MOM,DAD AND I ALSO WENT TO IRELAND,WHICH WAS A WHOLE LOT OF FUN.THAT IS PRETTY MUCH ALL I DID THIS SUMMER.NOT THAT THATS NOT A LOT OR ANYTHING.WELL THATS ALL I HAVE TO SAY FOR NOW.I WILL UPDATE LATER.THANK YOU FOR READING MY PAGE.

LIZZIE

Thursday, August 23, 2007 2:13 PM CDT

school began today!!
all went just fine...I took her, she liked it, was just 1/2 day so we shall see...

keep in touch...
ma

Thursday, August 16, 2007 7:59 PM CDT

Hello All,
wow, this has been a really fast summer...today Liz and I shopped...she had been earlier this week, with Julia, who was home for 3 days, and her friend Sam from the neighborhood. Julia came in late Sat night, after sending me a pic of her in the car, to surprise us a day early...she is doing great, and really loves both VT and Blacksburg...she is in working full time in the coffee shop, and will keep working this year ...she meets people there, and likes it...we visited her a week or so ago, Liz and I, and had the best time. Her apt is so very nice, downstairs from last year but 2 times as big...really cute and in the best location just near school, downtown, and walking to nearly everywhere. She is doing great. Sam is Lizzies friend from the neighborhood, and for long term readers here, our answer this summer to prayers for a friend. We also went to the beach for a couple days with Rachael a really nice girl from Church and Youth group...Liz is maturing, and finding girls that are both nice and fun...she just does not know or care about that ""game"" so, these work well...we are so blessed to see her growing both physically and emotionally, and we are working to keep her growing as a Christian as well...
Vic really likes both the tile work, and the men he works with..they are a quality group. He is headed out latish Sept to Florida, and then, we shall see. Becca and Mike in Croatia, doing really well, love the area, and head to SAfrica in Oct for Hayleys wedding...
Liz is going to StJude Sept 6 or so, for 5 (long) days. Hopefully the flights will be less overbooked then, and we are flying out Sat on purpose to avoid the Friday business travelers. Jay is joining us on Wed, to hunt with Seth on Thurs and maybe Friday..not sure TM is going or not, he is busy, and we are becoming more distant..which is natural and normal. The schedulers and Kristy, Toms' nurse, were good enough to allow us to reschedule the same week Matt Noyes is there..he is re-scanning, and this is both one year from his relapse, and a rescan from a visit just before his wedding that did not have the best results..his pet scan was not "cool", which generally means relapse again happening, but, not for sure. So, it just seemed to me that we should be there..this is a journey that cannot be made alone, and that is our calling, to sit with Nancy,Bill,Matt, and his wife--for some reason my heart told me to get there this time too. Matt does not have tons of options left..there can be no more radiation, and chemo is notoriously ineffective against GBM..and, there are long term survivors of it still no matter what the "odds" are. Short request, keep him in your prayers, please please, he needs clean scans. We are not in the least worried about Liz's scans, the 5 yr check for her statistically is a formality (haha)..
And so, school for just Liz next week. She continues to say how much she likes her school, and that never waivers. We are blessed to be able to send her, and will see how her year goes.
Would love to hear from all of you...Sue???
Peggy, when does Steven go back??
Love to you all....
ma

Saturday, August 4, 2007 12:47 AM CDT

Hello, Everyone!
We are heading out for Memphis Sept 4,5,6,7, the same week Matt is there, so that works fine for us...would have preferred during summer, but they could not reschedule us..Airlines are the PITS this summer, and StJUde is having trouble with lots of flights especially the non direct ones. . . But, going when they are there works fine, and thanks to Christy and Helen for getting us the same week...you guys are the best letting us pick our own time!

Good visit to Julia...she is doing well, and thankfully dropped her math class so she is "only" working full tiime and not taking classes at the same time...Blacksburg is great in the summer, slow, easy less crowded, and we took some of her friends to dinner both nights and had a great time.

Vic doing Tile, and really likes it...could be a great career for him one day, and the trades are very much in demand...he will do the boat thing in Sept, and then, he wants college at some point, so will just see what life tosses...
Becca in Croatia still, LOTS of guests on board, so very busy but also a beautiful place they are in...
Liz, hanging out, not reading any or enough, but, making neighborhood friends, and happy. School is starting way too soon for us.
Jay and I fine, no other real news. His brother Dutch is retiring in October, which he is very excited about. Joe and Nancy bought a neat new house on the river, and our parents are fine.

How are all of you?????
ma

Monday, July 23, 2007 9:15 AM CDT

will update later today, but, had a wonderful wedding trip to Maine to see Matt get married, met some SUPER brain tumor friends Laurie and Tom, and Ellen,Sammi and Alec. Just got back from a perfect trip with Jay and Liz to Ireland...was beautiful and amazing. Tried to get to Memphis for our 5 yr check and Delta cancelled our flight, offering to get us to Atlanta....as if that would do us much good. So, will reschedule that.

all is well. Julia at VT for summer, loving it, and doing so well, is beautiful. Vic here, working and going to Fla in fall to do the boat thing...Becca and Mike in Croatia-Cavtat and is their favorite place yet...Jay and I good.

will write more, hope to change our trip to Mempis to the same time Matt is going back in early Sept...
Love to all
ma

Wednesday, May 30, 2007 7:39 AM CDT

Morning...
Is cool here today, nice after Monday getting so very hot....summer has started weather wise, and the cool nights are much appreciated.
Julia doing well, at VT in summer taking Microbiology...YUCK, but she likes it., and she is working at a local coffee shop, has friends there, and loves the mountains...we go up in a couple weeks to help her move to a larger apt downstairs....more space so she can actually fit a chair into her living room as well as a small sofa! and have come company...
Becca off the coast of Sicily, some small island near an active volcano...the Greenbergs left last Sat, coming back soon, and the crew has slower days..work, talk off, and, they get to take the yacht where they like...pretty decent, right!!!
Had a good weekend at the beach, was great weather, not crowded, and the beach has not eroded...we have been lucky so far, though we know it could just wash away in any hurricane...hopefully not this summer, but, who knows..
Vic and Liz finishing the school year, and Vic graduates next Thursday...is staying here this summer, working, a real full time job we have told him, to save money, and head to Fla next Sept..he really missed the hiring season by not being able to get there in May, and we just arent going to pay for him to go without being in season....We are glad he is getting out of high school, and I will admit to being a bit fearful of his not doing college, though I know that this is really not the time for him..Liz is good, preparing for exams, and for
Jays parents to come next week!!!

Keep in touch...
ma

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 7:42 AM CDT

Hello, all.

My good friend and computer wizard, Kath Bell, edited the guest book to get rid of some terrible virus that had gotten in..she is a super spy and can do anything...but it was a bad one, so, hope you did not have trouble here. She got rid of it,but was not easy even for her..so, thanks, Kathleen..
all fine here, very busy, some good, some not fun but doing it anyway.

busy summer coming up, lots to get done...
keep in touch...
Love to all,
ma

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 7:24 AM CDT

Hello to all....

Hope you are everyone doing well..we are.

Tomorrow, Lizzie is THE speaker, briefly, at her school, Chesapeake Bay Academy, for their annual volunteer appreciation luncheon....she was asked to talk about her experience with volunteers in her journey...she is talking about the ones she met along the way in the many hospitals she has been in, either consulting or as a patient. Please, think of her and keep her in your prayers tomorrow, May 17 around noon...she is a bit nervous, and I just hope she does well...her spirit shines..that is why they asked her.. She is doing ok...we are pushing her to work harder at school, and she is out every afternoon on her bike, riding in a group of kids having the best time. She is taking piano, and involved in her Church group... In June, she and I are going to Maine, to the wedding of our dear friend Matt Noyes...He is getting married to Sara, his long time girlfriend....his mom, Nancy and I talk nearly every week, and we expect this to be a very special time. He is on chemo, and, will get followup scans sometime this summer...he is a brain tumor survivor, remember him from last summer, when he relapsed...well, he has been well enough and lived well enough to be having a wedding!!! Praise God for that.

Julia is in Blacksburg, and we thank all of you for your notes and prayers for the school and all those students...it has been very hard..but, they are such a tight group, and they are so strong in that very real Hokie spirit, that they never let anyone there be alone. Her latest note lets me know that while she misses us, as we miss her, she is happy there and has found her place she belongs. For that, we give Praise.

Vic, he graduates in about 4 weeks and hopefully, once he gets all the loose ends tied up here, will travel to Florida to work in the yachting industry...the real hiring season is May, so, we hope he has not missed it, but he does have to finish High School!!! If he goes and it takes too many weeks, he can come back here until fall,when the hiriing season begins again in earnest...hopefully, he will also find his spot.

Becca, well, what the life. She and Mike are today in transit on the boat from Palma, Mallorca to Sicily,....the boat crossing takes about 20-30 hours on open Med. Sea...so, we are praying for good calm weather there..then, they will all get ""Serendipity 2" ready for the boss to come stay for some time...she has seen some amazing places, and this boat is well run, and they love it. The yacht is 120 ft I think, and has a crew of 6...

Jay and I are fine, getting ready to celebrate our 30 anniversary...wow.
Keep us in your thoughts, and PLEASE, let us know how you are all doing.
Much love
ma

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 8:14 AM CDT

Hello to all,
many many thanks for all the prayer for Va Tech, and all the students and teachers there..Julia is back on campus finishing her classes...they could take the grade, or finish and raise it..so she is doing one class to raise the grade and taking the rest(all A;s I am sure)...she is looking for a summer job, and will be there this summer in the beautiful mountains, cooler weather, and take some summer classes as well. We do hope to visit her often...will see as summer always goes so much faster than we think. Jay and I are taking Liz this summer on a business/pleasure trip to Ireland..we will take 5 extra days to tour around, and see some of the country...very excited, we dont travel like that often. Vic is graduating in June, and is headed to Florida, and Becca is already over in the Med, in Palma, Spain, waiting for the boat to arrive..they ship it over in a large, drydock ship and they meet it, unload it, and then will head to Sicily, then Croatia...we follow her on Google EArth...if you arent familiar with it, you should check it out, very cool. I mapped her trip last summer as well...

Everyone is ok here. School ending quickly and lots of work to get done...Jay well, all sorts of things going on here that are good, and busy...
Keep us posted...
Love
ma

Saturday, April 21, 2007 8:46 AM CDT

It has taken all week for me to be able to sit and write here. All of you know of the terrible tragedy that took place in Virginia this week, at our university, Virginia Tech. Our middle daughter, Julia, is a student there...while she is physically ok, I will admit to be shaken by the intensity of her fragility, and all the local students that we have seen. The evil of what happened is so great it has greatly affected us all very very deeply. The news, papers, and coverage has been so intense, and non stop, that on Monday, when the students go back, we all hope the media trucks have left campus so the students can begin to go back to some semblence of normal. I am amazed by the strength and grace these kids are showing, their pulling together, and their maturity, ...but in reality they all are really just on the edge of keeping it together...when Julia arrived home, all we could do was cry. Last night at a local concert, the singer mentioned VT and that was it, for Julia--I just dont know how long and how these kids will heal from all this. The location of VT is as rural as a university with 25,000 people can be...it is surrounded by beautiful mountains, and the Hokie spirit is something that has alwaysbeen unusual...once a Hokie, truly, you are forever one..they are intense, loud, in your face and now, they are pulling together in the same way, but the sorrow and shattering of security is equally great. And so, please, continue to keep all the students and our state in your prayers. Julia will go back Monday morning...she will attend classes where we know it will be discussed and I can only send prayers for the professors having to deal with all the grief that they feel and the students will bring..I can only trust that the school will take care of my child at this time..it is very hard for her to go back, but it is the right thing. The shooter was not just mentally ill, he was psychopathic, evil and in my mind unstoppable with the current laws we have....had there been a ""lockdown"" he would have taken out his dorm.. He was allowed by Va law to easily buy an automatic hand gun...how strange I am finding that people are not focusing on that...they see the right to bear arms as overruling the insanity of being able to buy something that only is produced to kill. I have even heard local neighbors say that more students should have had guns that day.-we are becoming a crazy country.. Our mental health laws prevent any parent from finding out how our children are doing..once they are 18, we can learn nothing and mental health care is dreadfully inadequate.--this insane person was allowed to return to a dorm to live, and his roommates then and the next year had no warning or follow up about how evil he was. the University is not ALLOWED access to his records.. It is absurd, and terrifically sad and the laws are as responsible as he was..the school did everything they could..it seem ""everyones hand were tied"".
so, just keep everyone here in prayer. it is incredibly hard right now, much more than we ever imagined.

On good news, our Becca comes home today...I am having trouble waiting, it has been since before Christmas..she will be here a week only,and the head to Croatia..she is having a wonderful time seeing the world, and we are proud of her...but, we miss her. She will be here a week, and we are thrilled.
Vic did his week of training in Ft Lauderdale and is flying back with her...so, we shall see what he thinks of that as a future job after he graduates in June...Lizzie of course is doing well...
thank you all for your prayers..

keep in touch...
ma

Tuesday, April 17, 2007 9:12 PM CDT

Julia is ok. the days have been very hard, she is coming home tomorrow. It is hard to talk to her without crying, the entire VT community is totally pulling together, and they are all in shock, the news people are everywhere, and she is driving home in the am. Please, keep them all all in your prayers, for the grief, and their safety as they travel home.

my brother bart called me Monday am from Chicago, telling me to get Julia and see if she is ok...I had not heard any news, called her, and she was frantically walking back to her apt from campus, having walked to class, to find out the school was on lockdown, not be allowed into a building, and told to immediately leave campus...she is a 10 minute walk away, and when I called she was running, in a crowd, back away from school, crying and said""mom, something terrible has happened, please turn on the news and tell me what it is, there are police flying to campus and rescue squads all over the place, the loudspeakers are going off, but noone knows what has happened."" Total chaos, as I kept her on the phone until she reached a safe place, and then got the calls all day as the death count just got worse and worse. The school had no way to get word out to students in reality, it is as large as a city, and many, like Julia, are walking..cell phones were blocked, and computers slow..
You have all seen the events unfold, just please keep them in prayer. The students are all together, the grief is terrible, they are tired, tearful, it is as bad as it looks on tv. We just want her home. I cannnot imagine the parents that could not get their child on the phones...many of these students carry no ID, so, there were waits for roommates to check in, etc before anyone could be sure who was where.
We have, all of us, gotten countless calls in VA, thank you.
much love,
ma

thurs March 22 2007 8:07 AM CDT

who is everyone??
Mike- Beccas South African friend that she is traveling the world with//Becca-24yr old sister, mom/Julia-22 yr old sister, student at Va Tech/Jay/Vic- 19 yr old brother,graduating high school June, headed to Fla to work on a boat!(has cut his hair now...)

all going well...weather beautiful....
no real news. Pam Askew, our old good friend had surgery today at Duke, no news yet, will update when I hear, but keep her close...possible relapse, possible scar tissue, will have to see.
Liz good, Vic good, all of us fine. Julia and Jay did well in the 1/2 marathon, am so proud of them both. Becca in sunny warm weather,....

busy, but fine. will update later in week...
love to all, please, keep me posted on how you all are...
ma

Thursday, February 1, 2007 7:43 PM CST ~

Friday nite...
Liz got to school, and her teacher Steph Chivers surprised her with a poster all the kids signed, and, a pizza party in honor of the clean scans...Liz is glowing....the school move is proving to be the right thing..Praise God for hard decisions. Thank you, Mrs Chivers...and Ches. Bay Academy.

clean scans. six years from diagnosis...all good.

visit went so well...we did see Gracie Ogle, and her parents and brother..she is doing so well, and looks great. Then, we met an old list friend, from Ireland...mom Marie, her son, now about 3, and sadlly relapsed with ependy....I had communicated on line with her friend, Cormac, a year ago...was so odd to meet them, and really really good. It is that way there, lots of connections. Tues when we arrived we saw Seth, Anita and the boys...oh my goodness, they are darling...the whole family, and, they are what make Memphis easy and another home for us. Will post a pic soon, not together yet, but, Mackie and Hayes are the cutest...Mackie is, leterally, Seths twin. Liz had a good checkup, Tom M was very very busy, the place is packed...fulll of kids, and they are working many nights running RT until 7-8 pm...wow.
anyway, good visit, clean scans, which, frankly we forgot to ask about until late Wed afternoon~ we just count on them being good!!!

so, all well. will run, have to write Becca in Paradise Island, Julia at school, and the grandparents...
Much love to all.
ma

Monday, January 29, 2007 8:12 AM CST

Good Morning...
It is so good to see January nearly over!!!
Lizzie is now, offically, 6 yrs out of diagnosis...nearly 5 out of treatment...this summer, August, marks that. So, with the leaving of January, she moves into year 7!!!

I am keeping the page up, for several reasons. It is a good way to communicate. Also, it googles germinoma, and has lead some to our peddie BT group...and, to getting good treatment...plus, I like updating, and the wonderful notes left in the book.

We see Seth, Anita, and the boys we Hope, Tues night...
all our others are doing well...Becca in Florida, Vic, here as Sr, finishing up, and Julia at VT in nutrition.

Keep in touch...
ma

Thursday, January 4, 2007 7:28 AM CST

Thurs...Matt had a repeat scan in Memphis today, all is fine...again, normal, Nancy called. Praise God. They will be home tonight. We go next Tues...

couple things to add.
Matt Noyes had his scan on Friday, Nancy called. His last surgical site, the relapse site and radiation site, are still clean. There is an area beside the tumor bed site that is suspicious, possible new area, radiation damage, or necrosis...he will come home, have a PET scan which will show activity, or not. Then, he will probably have a surgery in Maine//Boston to remove, or biopsy the area to see what is what. His spirits are good, mom and dad are torn between what might be the ""best"' case. Either way, keep them in prayers...Matt needs clean scans..that is all that is good, really good, with his tumor. I hope to run up in the next month or so to visit...
also, Pam Askew is seeing her oncologist again, an area on her aorta...keep her in prayer.
will update later. to Memphis Jan. 30 for our 6 month checks.

new pic...twin day at Chesapeake Bay Academy...
arent they cute!!!!
Vic and Liz, 2007

Six long years ago, our Lizzie had an Eye Appt with our friend, Dr Andy Odwyer...we went, and while she was examined, since she was 8, I stayed in the room. Lizzie was darling, cheerful, and willlingly sat and was tested in the exam room. She tried her best, smiling, and could not see one letter on the big E eye chart..she could not see 3 fingers held up at 6 feet, 3 feet. She had no peripheral vision field. The nurse calmly got Dr O'Dwyer, who came and examined her....and then took me into the hall while Liz got her sticker...I remember noticing all the office staff sort of standing around, but, not meeting my eyes..that of course, is a real give away to bad news. Andy, an old friend, told me that Liz had some vision issues, her optic nerve showed damage, and he was pretty positive that she had a brain tumor, mid brain pressing the optic nerves where they cross in the brain..resulting in damage to both eyes and a loss of peripheral vision. He has scheduled a MRI for the next am, 7am....get this prescription for valium filled for Liz, etc. etc...dont remember what else he said.
wow. seems like yesterday, and yet, another life ago that my child was normal, could read a blackboard, see faces in a crowd, got invited to parties/sleepovers/movies...a life before chemo/radiation/surgery, and the personality change that comes with a child recieving radiation to the brain...it does affect them, their personality, and in ways who they are.
So, who are we now? We are a family that loves fiercely. We look after each other, and know that life is such a great gift. Nothing is the same..not our friendships, what we care about. who we are. Lizzie is happy, but her friends are few. As her family, we are who she cares about...she has learned the value of that, as have we. We are close to God, and have learned strong faith, and are learning that our old ways of looking at our perfect lives is gone..to be replaced by better..knowing that the heart and soul things are important.

And so, 6 years out, our family is continuing to learn, and to be committed to helping others..Lizzie recently went with me to visit a child in Norfolk that was waiting to hear from StJude...they had sent papers, but the call to Tom M sped things along..while we were there, and Liz was getting the child to smile at her, the call came that not only were they going to be admitted, but the scans had been misread and her spine was clean..meaning the difference between her living and treatment being very difficult. Lizzie and all of us have learned those times are what is important. Does it bother her? Of course, who would not love to be popular, get lots of calls, be tall, mature normally, learn easily, etc. etc. But, she knows she can count on us, that life will be good, and that overcoming means just that...not easy, but getting there in the end.

It has been long. Our other children have suffered losses, and continued issues that could all spin from such a difficult illness. But we are strong, and we know we support each other. We have learned that success in not measured in degrees, money, looks, where you go to school, but in your heart and your soul. As a box someone got for Christmas says, Never, Never Never give up.

Let us hear from you.
Steven is getting married this Saturday. Matt returns to Memphis for scans next week. Julia home, going back to Blacksburg next week...she is well and we never stop being so proud of her for enduring some hard times. Vic is a Sr, finishing this spring, has applied to a couple schools but intends to go to FtLauderdale and work on yachts like Becca for a couple years...Becca in Florida, on a new boat she likes, still traveling with Mike-her South African friend that we really like...she is good as well. and, Lizzie, continues in 7th grade at her new school, and while life is not perfect, it is good.. Jay and I are well.
Love to you all,
ma

Tuesday, December 26, 2006 7:59 PM CST

Merry Christmas all...
Was a good day, missed Becca, and all our family not here...Jayne and Jim in Florida, and please, keep Dutch, and Penny Dorschel in mind as Penny's mom died last week...funeral is Thurs of this week, in Richmond. Has been hard for Penny, she is an only child, and they had a beautiful Mother in Law suite added for Mrs Rich to live in...we will see them again Thurs.
All fine here. Becca on boat, owner comes tomorrow, was a hard day for her not being here, but, she is strong and will be ok...we miss her. Julia leaves Thurs as well for the bowl game in Atlanta...

Keep an old friend from the list in thought and prayer please, Stevie,...we have known her and her family for 5 years, she has a new tumor...got them in touch with TM this weekend for an opinion...Stevie having a rough time out in California..very special family. Will also call Matt Noyes tomorrow to see how they are... Changed our Memphis trip, fell on the DAY of Lizzies exams...will reschedule to Feb, which means the guys cant hunt, but Jan is too packed and we have no time...TM is very very busy now, is good, but sad how fast his case load built right back up after his clearing it this summer to leave...know he misses the whole NIH thing, but, we know God does as is best....I dont think StJude would have recovered easily from loosing him, ..we were blessed he stayed, though I do wonder what research he could have led in DC with all those resources...but, how many of our kids might he have missed??? Who can know. Love to all, and thanks for checking in...
ma

Monday, December 11, 2006 7:02 AM CST

Hello all, and Merry Christmas...
Has been hectic here...good news, Becca and Mike home for a couple weeks before they begin a full time job on the Yacht Sernedipity, out of Fort Lauderdale, headed to the Keys and Bahamas for the winter, and maybe to Croatia in the spring...They are good and it has been wonderful having them here. They are off for a couple days to the mountains, and to visit Julia, home on Wed and all will be together for a while....then Becca is off on the 18 and will not be here for Christmas. Has been hard, will admit to know that, but, Mike had to work, and Becca needed to, and would not//could not leave him alone on �hristmas day...so, things change. Has been very nice having Mike here, he has been away from his home for the Holidays for some years. Julia home Wed as well, from VaTech, and will be here for the Holidays, then head to Atlanta for the VT bowl game with some friends. Lizzie and Vic are good, school going along fine, no reals news there.
Kitchen has been torn up and driving me crazy....floor out, walking on dirty subflooring, and painters getting done...today, hopefully, the floor men will install the new floor, finally chose prefinished wood to speed things up a bit...have Jays office party next Monday, so they have to finish..it has been hard having Becca home for Christmas and not being able to be clean, cook, make cookies, or anything that is our tradition.
Please, keep our friend Polly Nurney in prayer, she has been diagnosed with a brain stem glioblastoma....not fully resected, and she is doing radiation in Norfolk....pretty bad news, ....our new friend Gracie (caringbridge/visit/gracie1) from Norfolk arrived safely at StJude, was successfully taken to a second surgery, the tumor was completely removed, and she was discharged this weekend from the Hosp to have radiation outpt (as all StJUde kids do) with Dr Merchant....here, in Norfolk, they misread the scans and told her the tumor was in the spine, did a resection that was not complete, had her in the ICU for 4 weeks, were going to do chemo which is unsuccessful on ependys, and gave her terrible odds...there, the second surgery shows total tumor removal, the spine reads clean, and Radiation for ependy with Tom M can be a cure...Please, get a second opinion....Please!!! And, dont hesitate to call the Doc you want direct, do not wait, do not hope your doc does it, do it yourself....We are blessed to have Dr Merchant be so responsive to both parents and old patients...if you need to get to Memphis, give me, or someone a heads up, so the Doc can pull your scans....it does not have to take long...and. in defense of Norfolk, who has some of the most wonderful people working there we know, they just dont see enough of these kiddie tumors...We had wonderfully nice nurses, Docs and staff..always.
How are you all?????? Have a blessed Holiday..keep in touch.
ma

Thursday, November 16, 2006 8:37 AM CST

Hello all,
we are rolling along...Everyone was here last weekend, and we had such fun...Julia, home for the first time since summer, Becca and Mike, since May, was lots of good times. They are all doing very well.
Someone mentioned I should put Vics pic up here, in his dreds...might do that... This pic is of Steven, from Nebraska, who was in Memphis last month the same one, only one, day we were there...what a real treat to see him...and the background is Radiation/Oncology Dpt at St Jude...the waiting area.
no real news...all is going well. guys hunting and Tom Merchant got a new duck boat last night, Matt Krazen a 4 wheeler....Jay and Vic now cant wait til we go in Jan. for checkups...poor Liz, she will never get to miss that winter trip and it gets longer and longer!!! so they can hunt.... This is our 6th year ending...we are now well over the original 5 that Dr Bevan told us we would be lucky to see...Praise God for the gifts He gave to our fabulous Docs..we are still lucky, but we all know it is not really luck. The late effects.....I am on a National advisory committee for germ cell tumors, and late effects are what germinoma is blessed with having to deal with....we are as parents trying to improve the terms our kids are left to deal with...hopefully, we can make a difference with standards of care across the country, and internationally as well...the group meets in Germany in 2008! so that will be reallly neat.

Hope you are all well. My dad's brother died, Calhoun, and it has been a hard fall with both him, and Marge...
Much love to all,
ma

Thursday, November 9, 2006 6:59 AM CST

Hello all!
Has been a while, and I am remiss to not update...so sorry.
All going along here fine...kids are good, and Liz doing well. She is in her new school, and she likes it..she rides with Vic and they go off in the am happy...she is doing well, her grades are holding, and we are working on her responsibility....she is maturing, growing, and is content. We dont go to St Jude again until Jan, and that will be a trip that includes hunting again I am sure, as DrMerchant is brushing blinds and expecting the guys to come...will be fun..and, this will be the end, in Jan, of Lizzies 6th year since diagnosis.. another milestone.

ALL THE GIRLS are coming home this weekend...Becca, with Mike, and Julia from VT.....hooray, it feels like Christmas to me.

My fathers brother died this week, he was 89, but, it is hard. Keep my dad in prayer please, has been a rough fall for my parents, but, they are hanging in ....

Let us hear from you...much love to all,
ma

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 5:55 AM CDT

Good morning all...
Busy time here. Mom and I had a very fast, and very timely trip to Texas...we did see all my cousins, the Kisers', and Mom did get to visit with her sister Marge...she got quite ill, quite fast, however, she did know mom was there, saying in her way "" I cant believe it..." Mom and the cousins had some good stories, and we had a tour of Orange Texas....good visit, and, sadly, but yet a relief, Marge did die last Sunday, peacefully. She was mom's oldest sister, and they probably were closest...mom calling me Marge often, and Marge calling Sheri Faye often throughout our lives. I am just so glad mom and I went, it pays sometimes to listen to your little voice that says just go..it was something mom just said she wanted to do, and she never does that...she made plans, we went, and we were blessed to get to do it.
Our Memphis trip was fast,....best of all, Peggy called the night before, and Steven was coming in the same day...so, we got to spend the entire day with him...his scans were good, so that was great news. Liz had her neuro appt, all of course fine...flying was a total, complete nightmare...they made it, or DELTA made it as unpleasant as possible, cancelling, delaying, and being generally hateful the entire time. Even the flight attendant, after we were delayed 5 hours, was miserable. .trying to not allow me to keep our pocketbook with us, since we had a bulkhead seat..I refuse to allow the bag with Liz's stress kit and meds out of my hands when we travel, so you know she had a fight she lost, but still, she was a total you-know-what. The security in Memphis even tried to take Lizzies spray meds, with the original box it came in from the pharmacy..Boo, Delta.
All is well here,...we had a surprise on Thurs night...Becca wandered in from Florida...what a treat. She looks great, and her pictures are amazing..she amd Mike are in Ft Lauderdale, applying to larger boats...they will find a good job, and it will be fun for us to hear about their travels. Then, the 4 of us ran up to see Julia for the weekend...she looks terrific, healthier than I have seen her in 2 entire years...happy, and doing well..we had such a good time,.
Keep our list kids in prayer, it is forever rough there.
Vic is deciding about next year, and making college//work//yacht industry choices....keep him in mind for clear thinking...he wants to ""see what's out there"", which means get out some and see the world...and, I suppose, for a kid that has always hated school, I can understand. So, we will see what he/us/all of us, come up with.
Let us hear from you...Much love,
ma

Sunday, October 15, 2006 7:22 PM CDT

the pic is Becca, Mikes dad, and ?? in S Africa...

hello all...
Back from a fast trip to Orange, TExas....Mom and I went down on Wed of last week, home on Friday.... mom has been planning for the 2 of us to go since this summer to see her sister, Marge Kiser, just to vist...on Sat, she was walking in her neighborhood with her daughter, and she got sick Sat night, was admitted to the hosp, and by Tues she was fast getting worse, and mom and I took off Wed....we did see all the cousins, and mom got to see Marge, and Marge did know her, and know she was there..very hard, but was such a wonderful trip. She is not expected to live, and the family is there now.
Liz and I to Memphis tomrrow for a short neuro appt, and back Tues night. Peggy called from Nebraska!!!! and STeven is going down Tues and we are going to get to see him...Now, we are excited! and cant wait...luckily we leave Mon at 2, so we are running to get a wedding gift for him, since he is now 21, and getting married in Jan!!!..this is his first trip without Peggy and Lyle, so it fits that luck has it we are there .....to see Matt, and now Steven, is just too good. God is watching out for us all,..as you can see.
Liz is very good...had a school friend to spend Fri night, and had a great time. Vic is good, and the girls too. We go to see Julia this Friday, cannot wait to get there...is cold, so taking her coats and boots. Becca, well, she is on her way from SAfrica/paris/atlanta/FtLauderdale....should arrive tonight to Florida....she has had the best time, and Mikes mom wrote to say they had fun, and got off safely. will keep you updated on jobs, etc. for her...
We are good. Please, keep Marge, and the cousins Bob, Scott, and Sheri in prayer...lots of wonderful family memories to keep us, but still very hard..
Much love to all...let me hear from you!
ma

Tuesday, October 10, 2006 6:28 AM CDT

Hello all...
all is well here..busy time. great pics of Julia at school, she is doing lots of hiking, camping out, taking pics of sunrises, and planning to run a marathon in the spring...sheesh!, and good for her. Seems VT is a good good fit for her.
Becca in from her safari, to Durban, and off to the beach cottage in some other African country..diseases, please stay away from my happy go lucky child, who does not think of that at all!! Mikes parents have been more than wonderful, taking so much time off to treat her like a princess..cannot imagine how hard it is to let him leave in a week to go back over here to work...I am certain they miss him so much. I am not sure we have much to compare to the welcome they have given her!..they sound so very nice.
Vic/Liz are good...school seems fine, and all is well...makes me nervous!! Marge, down in TExas, is not doing too well, and I think mom and I are going to jump a plane and run on down....next week I go to Memphis for a short appt with Liz, and then we head to VT to see Julia, so we are trying to get a plane and run down..dad not going, I do better helping with mom, getting wheelchair, etc....her neuropathy makes it hard for her to walk, and that is just easier...
So, we are all fine. keep in touch...keep our Matt in Maine in your prayers, he is going to begin chemo soon and he did oral the first time, this will be IV and much more difficult....but, it has to work..he has a wedding planned for spring, and we hope to be there..
Much love,
ma

Sunday, October 1, 2006 9:36 PM CDT

Hello to all....we are fine here...no real news, as usual....
Julia great at VT...we miss her!....tell her that if you see her, she has not been home one time!!! Becca, we finally got to talk last night...she is in South Africa, and having the best time, seeing so many wonderful new things...due back this side mid//late October. Vic, debating next year....college?? gap year with a plan??? NOLS for a semester???? Work on a yacht like Becca??? Lots to think about...Liz, likes her new school, loves her Youth Group at Church, and is happy...is nearly 14...doing well, and thank God, please daily for that. We are focusing in independance this year, and her beginning to believe she CAN DO most anything...I hope that with the school stress less, she can work on finding her way...
Matt, and his family had a St Jude fundraiser in Maine and raised thousands...Nancy does a great job. Matt is home, beginning chemo, and we will keep him in our prayers...radiation is over, and all are waiting to see how his tumor responds to the treatments..relapse can be very difficult but now he is doing fine..Keep them in prayer, we do love them.
Jay and I are good...addition coming along, and new windows going in...wow, they even work and have screens and are not 90 years old!!!
Love to you all,
ma

Friday, September 22, 2006 6:32 PM CDT

Hello all,
kids out of school Thurs/Friday for Holidays...Vic off to VT to see his best friend Daniel and some others up there...Julia woke him this am calling, she loves that. Julia is doing well, just has found her stride, thank God, and is busy with class, and the Wesley Foundation house...she looks great, and is loving the outdoors and mountains. Becca, she is now off the boat for a few weeks while they move it back to the Carribbean, and she and Mike are in South Africa seeing Mike's parents...He has not been home in about a year, so they must be so happy to have him there. Becca called and sounded so good...lost luggage, but still fine. Her lease is up in a week, finallly, and the apt is in such bad shape I cannot imagine their getting any deposit back..the girls living there now are total pigs, I cannot even go into detail. Her old roommate Kate is helping me get it clean, but I am not doing it all...YUCK. Liz, she is good...happy, likes her new school and is keeping in some touch with some few kids from NSA...her most fun in her Youth Group, which is large, active, and kind...we are so blessed to be at our church, all of us...it was the perfect time for Julia, as her faith has helped so at VT....and Liz, as she has made some really good new friends that are more like her, and Jay and I just love it..from our covenant group to classes, ....
Jay and I are well..the construction near completion, at least the new room...it is beautiful, and the redo all around moving along as well...It is a lot, but the new siding/windows/and paint will be worth it. Just a Lot going on, we are glad to have it getting done. We also cannot say enough about our contractor Kevin, there has been nothing done wrong, or not well.
Our family is moving along with life. We are changing, and our focus, Lizzie, who we began this page for, is growing and doing well...she is in her 5th year out of radiation, and will go to yearly scans next summer..she shows few long term signs, at least on paper...Our lives are blessed beyond belief, and there are days still I am amazed at all that has taken place that last 6 years of our life..looking back it does not seem so amazingly hard as it was...it seems possible now that there may be a time that we dont think and be afraid all the time of relapse...how strange to be at this point. I feel that my life is completely and totally not nearly the same as it was at one time, yet, looking at us, I assume that most think we just roll along..maybe we are the only ones that feel so strange in normal company...it is very hard to explain, but it is there. Everything is more beautiful, and the small things are inconsequential...my worry is not about what it used to be....now, my main fear is loss...if everyone is doing ok, then we are ok..hard to explain and will not try.
Matt is back home, and beginning chemo soon. His tumor is not gone with radiation, but hopefully slowed...he has a mixed type, wont matter here the name, but it is also not usual for the mix, having a missing usual gene that makes this treatment even more uncertain...neither good or bad uncertain, just a "who knows"....there is not another tumor on record with the mix and missing gene, he is the only one so far...that is, of course, understanding that the gene types are new, so the research small. Please, keep Matt in your prayers..his survival is not certain, but neither, in spite of statistics, is his not surviving...I cannot imagine loosing him. He is also engaged, and they did ask Liz to be in the wedding..it is next June. Of course, we will be there..Just please keep him in mind as you go to God..
Our parents are well, but not young, (surprise), so think of them..we hope Jayne and Jim will come up to visit soon.
How are you all?????
Much love,
ma

Tuesday, August 29, 2006 6:43 AM CDT

first day of school......Vic and Lizzie....

so far so good. after 3 days!! Vic, of course, is fine there.. Liz likes it so far, and we will see. Julia doing so well at VT....she looks great, and has met a really nice group of people at the Wesley House, is doing hiking, outdoor stuff, and learning her way around...will add her pic next. .....Becca off of a vacation in Italy//France (no, her whole life is NOT a vacation right now, she works hard..), meeting some of Mikes friends, and his cousins, and seeing several Med cities..Jay running the 1/2 marathon this Sat, and I am working on the addition...not a detail person so it takes me a bit longer.

would love to hear from all of you....busy here, going along...
keep in touch....
ma

Wednesday, August 23, 2006 7:34 AM CDT

school meetings today. not ready. school begins tomorrow, really not ready at all...summer has been too short, and I do not like the schedule of day to day getting up and going..oh well.
Julia doing GREAT at VT, loves it and is so so happy...so far, so good. Classes so far good, has met really good group of friends, and likes her nutrition class/.... Becca called from San Remo Italy, has some time off, and is great...one more charter, then South Africa to meet Michaels parents and go on safari! which is their vacation...Vic, now a Sr in high school, has that dreaded hair, will put a pic up soon. He had a good summer working at the beach....

Matt Noyes finishing RT soon, beginning chemo, talking to Nancy and keeping posted...

Liz, new school today, a bit nervous, but also excited...keep her in prayer for a really good year and for this school to work for us..is a long drive, Vic will take her, but is a big committment for us all...both need to have a good academic/social year.
Mom on a new heart med, all is fine, getting regulated and she is much much better....all fine.
Fill us in on how you all are...
Jayne and Jim, we really hope you are planning a trip up our way this fall/winter...not sure when we will all get back down to see you....
off to wake Vic,.....
Much love,
ma

Monday, August 14, 2006 6:28 AM CDT

hello to all...
We are back from a busy summer...just had our week at the beach, and it was very nice....good weather, warm water, sad to say no waves, but we did have fun. This week has come fast...meeting today for Vics Sr year...Julia leaves for VaTech on Wed of this week...has been a very very fast year for her home, and she is ready to go back, as we are for her to be there, though it is proving very hard..still, it is the right thing and we know it. I have grown used to her being here, and like it, but, know it is not best. Her apartment, it is so cute and just there waiting for her... Becca, still in the med, on the Amalfi coast, really incharge this charter...doing very well, and not our "small town" girl anymore...Vic, coming home today or tomorrow, has over a week before school, all his friends are going off this year so he will have to adjust...his last year!...he has many decisions to make this year as well, about his future and what he might be interested in.. Liz, doing well, and going to a new school this year, very excited about that I think, and we are hoping it works well for her...is quite a drive, but worth it if it suits her. Have the new Bioptic glasses, and she is training with them now, hope they are successful as well, allow her to see distance, somewhat limited due to the narrow field, but with practice will be quite an improvement. Our goal with her is independence visually with the glasses.
Jay is fine, the addition is really coming along, we got very lucky with our contractor, Kevin is just the best...he is a detail man, I am not, Jay is somewhat, so the balance is good..>I pick color, they pick wood/finishes/etc...works smoothly.
How are you all? Mom has been in Hospital a few days, getting a coumadin adjustment which with her history of the brain surgery is rather complicated....this family and our brains.. She is home now and slow, but better...rapid heartrate they are slowing down. Over all, everyone is well. Will has left the business for Raleigh, Carol has moved to High Point, and Bill is in the house, ....still rather sad about a divorce, but, time to move on and make what they can of a positive life....no looking back and moaning allowed long in my house,...Carol will always be family, and we do wish Will the best though we, especially Jay, miss him so much at the office.
JOBY and MINDY had a little boy last evening....Joseph Graham Webb....will not be called "little Joe" other than in our minds, after hearing Joe talk about it so long!!!!!! Cannot wait to see him...6 pounds...all healthy.
Much love to all, keep us posted....
ma

Saturday, July 22, 2006 12:57 AM CDT

OK OK>...will update.. Actually did from Memphis but had to leave the computer room for a minute and some rude lady came, took my seat, deleted my page, and that was that...
Our visit was great for Lizzie and her scans...she is clear, stable, and the angiogram MRI was ok as well....endo pleased, eyes same, speech up, ears normal, weight up, GH levels need boosing a bit, and neuropsych. "great, considering what she has been throug".. So, clean scans. Dr Merchant is ok, he is not back to normal, but it is soo good to see him. He is taking time off, and Christy says they will be glad when he is happy again. Us too.

Matt... the surgery went fine and the surgeon got all he could see. Matt is having a bit slow recovery but it was so so good to see them..Nancy, Matt and his girlfriend are there now, and we had a wonderful time with them...was probably the hardest week emotionally we have had in some time, but Liz and Matt are soo good for each other. The path has changed oddly to oligodendroglioma...from astrocytoma....it is hard to tell the difference between the two and they are yet uncertain of the meaning of the change...the pathol. has been sent to Hopkins, probably to Peter Berger, the path guru, as these oliog's have gene deletions that make a difference in treatment. Very complicated, odd, but not unheard of....just quite rare. Nancy feels the Docs there think it makes little difference in the overall outlook, which is grim/terrible/unspeakable and short. We are blessed to have had checkups at the time they were so we could be there with them.

Seth, Anita and Mackie came in town to dinner, and wow, they look wonderful...Anita is amazing, and Seth the best dad ever...Hayes was with Seths parents so we did not get to see him, but the baby is beautiful..was so nice to have a short short visit, we miss them as life goes on....thank you to them both for coming all the way in town to see us....

Julia getting ready to go to Blacksburg, and very excited to be going. Vic has dreadlocks now in his hair, will see it tomorrow. Becca, in the Med, has some famous singer on board, and a good week...plans to come back in late fall and work the Carribbean...loves it. Liz, is good...ready for her new school, and having an ok summer. Jay running for a 1/2 marathon, and I need to work out, have gotten fat....
So, how are all of you?????
Much love to all, and thank you for the kind notes..keep the prayers going..
ma

Thursday, July 13, 2006 3:47 PM CDT

Saturday Morning....
One last update before we leave in the AM....Matt's path. came back very bad, new area is Glioma, very agressive, and bad. Nancy has talked to the Docs about prognosis, and while some few do survive this, many dont...so, on Tues Matt and his longitme girlfriend will meet with Dr Gajjar to get the news and plan...Matt being 23, he will be the one to decide what the plan will be, and the Docs will talk to him rather than his mom and dad doing it...much easier for parents. Keep them in prayer, and we will see them asap on Sunday...it is much worse not being there, am just so glad we are going now ...are not getting a rental car because for some reason in Memphis they are all about $80 a day!!!! and we only have the evening free ....just too $ to rent to use for a few hours and pay for 3 days...will call Seth and maybe they can run by and let us peep at the baby though the car door...whole trip short and rushed this time, but that is the schedule in summer, they are so busy there. Keep us in prayer. Liz is prepared and knows what to expect with Matt, but honestly the two of them usually spend the time laughing, so this is a good good thing...she is tough and will be fine,..our hearts are so sad.

Matt came through his surgery quite well, mom Nancy called me late last night...he is in the ICU at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, being too old for LeBonheur...the Docs got what they could see, and the pathology will come back when it does...meantime, he hopes to be at the Grizzly house this weekend, and Liz and I arrive late Sunday night, after visiting Seth, Anita, Hayes and Mackie...cannot wait to see them!!!!

So keep Liz in prayer this week coming up as we travel to Memphis to scan, and also see our Dr Merchant and see how he is doing....we will spend all the time we can with Matt and Nancy and Bill, hoping to hear something definitive on the pathology .....if it is the higher grade 4 GBM like everyone thinks, they will find a phase 1 clinical trial and go for it....the Docs are not telling Nancy much good news about long term. Lizzie knows what is going on, is just really stinky to tell a 13 yr old that they dont expect her friend to live...we really thought these 3 Ronald Mcdon. friends would all make it..no fun here at all.

Julia likes//loves Tech....me too. Becca is great, tooling around Italy on a motorscooter.....Vic in Corolla happily working...
love to all of you..
ma

Thursday, July 6, 2006 6:42 PM CDT

OK, Prayer warriors...have an update to below...Nancy says StJude feels the new area is a GBM4, the most agressive and dangerous of the astrocytoma/glioblastoma tumors...they are leaving for Memphis and surgery for next week, and will also re-radiate Matt to hopefully show the growth, and extend his life. Hopefully some of the newer treatments will be tried and will work..we are going to try to get down either early or stay an extra day so we can see them, will talk to Nancy tonight and work out what might be best. Very difficult news and will tell Liz either tomorrow or Wed when I get back from B-Burg. Keep them in prayer...
(astrocytoma tumors are ranked according to agressiveness...1 being JPA, not agressive, ...etc. Matts original tumor was a 2-3, not quite an anaplastic astrocytoma, or AA3...they can change over time, and at relapse they often have become more difficult to manage....thus, the new diagnosis of GBM4.

Our wonderful friends from St Jude, Matt Noyes, who is in the pic with Liz, on Beale St with the police horse...Nancy wrote this am, they are on vacation, and Matt has relapsed...the tumor is back after nearly 4 years...they are our friends from Maine, you remember Nancy and Bill Noyes,....Matt, Liz and Steven were buddies, and Matt is just terribly special...he is about 6ft4, football player and he and Liz just fell in love...she helped quide him through!! haha.

Nancy writes that he had a seizure on vacation, the ER did the scan and found a significantly different scan from the Feb. scans...she will call when they get the films to Memphis and they know more but I am so hoping that they are there when we go the 16 so we can see them. This is of course terrible news, Matt has had radiation previously, they are hopeful the tumor can be safely removed and then they will discuss options. A relapse after radiation is never good, as it cannot be very safely repeated...BUT if any place can do it, St Jude can. It is grim news, and he truly needs much much intervention with God to heal him..

Please please keep them in prayer. we are heartbroken along with them.

Our trip was wonderful, and we are home safely...Jay's parents are good, and Julia is on her way home now, having stayed a day later than we did. Disney was great, hot, crowded but we got in early, left early, did lots and liked it...Liz had a blast and won a big hula hoop competition, led a parade around the little arena and it was fun. Naples was wonderful, and we had such a good time with Jayne and Jim..

We take Julia Sunday to VT, and then to Memphis the following Sunday. Tomorrow am Liz gets her bioptic glasses!!!!!! Vic is at the beach, and Becca...well, she is having the best time ever....

Much love tonight, and sadness.
Liz does not know yet, I cannot bear to tell her..will once we know more details of the plan. Matt did have a quite different tumor and it was responsive to chemo, so we will see...please, add him to the prayer list...
ma

Wednesday, June 28, 2006 7:12 PM CDT

off to Disney World tomorrow...surprise to Liz, getting to see Circe de Soliel....gift from Jay, I bribed the secret out...very excited to be leaving town, having a fast trip and also seeing Jayne and Jim later on....

our cell
757 478 4872 if you need us. Vic is at the beach, working...he really did not want to go..:( Becca is off to Italy picking up another charter, after a fast turn around clean and provision, and then off to Anitbes. She does love it...and with the Pics we have seen, why not. The Yacht is Perfect Vision, you can find it if you google it...OR you can charter it for a small 40,000 minimum per week.....

Julia already in Fla at Jaynes, and waiting for us....she was ready to get out of town!!!

Big news, and reason I wrote...Anita Herron had the baby...was over 9 pounds, little Mackie Seth.....we have been floating all day..
Congrats to you, and see you so soon.

Love to all, ma

Monday, June 26, 2006 9:11 PM CDT

Hello all,
tomorrow Anita is scheduled to deliver Macky Seth Herron...keep them in prayer...we will see them in July, hopefully. Our trip to Memphis is totally short, and the whole day is packed with scans from 630 to the last one at 5 pm, an added MRA to double check the arteries in the tumor area of Lizzies brain, to just be sure they are normal....we know the scans will be clear, but her treatment carries the risk of abmormal artery growth, so we are checking.

news from here....
Jullia leaves for Florida tomorrow, to visit Jayne and Jim...she is really excited, and will be there through Julyl 6....also, the 3 of us, Liz, Jay and I are headed down on Thurs to Disney!! and then driving to see them all as well...spur of the minute, fast decision, headed out.

Vic at beach, looks great, doing well, came to see us last weekend at the beach house, bought a new really nice long board. Becca, google "perfect vision yacht" and you will see the boat...it is for charter in the Med...she loves it, is visiting lots of really pretty small towns, it is a great time. She is having a star as a guest later in the summer, chartered for 10 days...cant say who, haha, but has been on Disney, details later...

Liz is good. we hit Florida, then I take Julia to orientation at Va Tech, and then Memphis....
some rather sad news...Will, our nephew has been working at the office with Jay and the group since last summer...they LOVE him, he has done well, but his wife Melissa just does not like the area, and they are going back to Raleigh where her mom is.. ..very hard news for Jay, so keep Will and Melissa in prayer that this is the right move for them ....we love and wish them well.

no other news...Keep Julia close as she gets class schedules at Tech, and moves in early August...Vic, as he works at the Outer Banks, and Becca as she is so very far. Her kitty Annie is here and has adjusted rather well.
Love to you all..ma

Thursday, June 15, 2006 9:17 PM CDT

Hello, all...

Happy summer!! It is great, isnt it..Vic at beach, working at some place called "Old Stoneys", can you imagine...sheesh. loves his new little car, great hybrid gas!! Julia finally out for summer, planning her apt at Tech, and working in the coffee shop..looks good, as well, thank you. Becca, well!...she finished her first charter, and is in Nice France right now with some days off...the owner comes the 17 of this month, so she is cleaning madly on the boat, and getting it ready for the family...Michael, as first mate, does the outside, so they are working hard,...the captain does his thing, and the chef as well, but, Becca does love it...she has seen LOTS of Med. ports, and very very pretty little places..and the owner and his family plan to travel more area, hope to get to Greece as well, ending up in Oct. in Monaco at the Yacht show....then, Becca and Michael plan to fly to his home in South Africa, meet his family and go on a Safari!!....she is happy, and has gotten to call several times, so we are too.

Lizzie...went today to fit her Bioptic glasses...or her Inspector Gadget glasses as we call them...very cool..small miniature telescopes that will allow her to have some distance vision..will probably not allow driving, but that is a bridge for later in life..this will allow her to become more independent, read bus signs, street signs, and just generally see more...just for Info..the state does not pay these things, so if the kid with low vision and his family cannot fork out the 3,000...the child does not get them..we are blessed we can but how about the child whose parents cannot..the technology to see is there and they cannot have it. The Blind Div. "would" cover it, but no money in the budget..Oh well, our state at work...they will also pay for a computer for a blind child..when they are SECOND SEMESTER high school JUNIORS......rather late, dont you think???? These little telescopes are made and developed locally, probably some old NASA guy, but we thank him.

Oh well, off the soap box...you would as usual never know Liz did not see well if she did not choose to tell you, so, we go on. Our Memphis trip is sometime in July....still a bit sad that Tom Merchant is not doing the NIH job...was so perfect and I frankly was really up for it all...oh well..he is recovering really slowly, but with the girls at his house, dont think the sympathy will run too long!, ....too much going on.

Please, keep my Covenant girl friend Marilyn in your prayers..her dad is "ill-ish", she applied for a job that is turning out to be more political than it should be, and her nephew is just home from surgery for a JPA....brain tumor that is "benign", though as we know in the brain benign still means lots of treatment....$$$$ real estate, so to speak and if it does not belong there, then, it has to be treated..I know the strength of this group, so keep the family in Boston in prayer, they are just beginning this journey to "Holland"...
Much much love to you all...
How are you, by the way?????

MA

Saturday, June 3, 2006 10:05 AM CDT

Have pasted below a note from Becca, Lizzies big sister who is somewhere in Mallorca, Spain, an island in the Med, waiting for clear weather so they can get to Nice, to pick up a honeymoon charter....as you know, she quit her job here, packed all her stuff up on a pull bag and took off to be a head Stew on a yacht in the mediterranean Sea....this is her first trip actually on the boat, after they waited a week for the Spanish dock crew to offload it ...
We are fine, school out, Liz had her last day at NSA, not as sad I we feared, on to something new..Vic out next week after exams, and summer had started..
Keep in touch...and love from us...
Becca's note below...

"we are still near palma, i actually don�t know where we are. we were supposed to have the boat offloaded at the beginning of the week but it was delayed, we were supposed to be in barcelona and then Nice France by now, but the weather is bad so we can�t go yet. we are anchored in some little harbor waiting for the weather to get better. the boat finally offloaded on friday, it was supposed to at the beginning of the week. thursday we waited all day and then they didn�t even do it, so we went back to the hotel and did some shopping, (anne randolph, mike wants clifton to know that i actually bought shoes, says he�ll be very surprised) i got some cute shoes,just casual flats with closed toe. comfie and cute. apparently my feet aren�t as pretty as i thought they were because mike was very insistent that we find shoes. then we had dinner, to be honest, the food in palma is not the best we have had. some of mine has been ok, but mike has not been so lucky.

so we are now at some place called de ponza, maybe, we really don�t know to be quite honest. it is cute. just had breakfast at a outside cafe over the water. very nice place to be stuck in waiting for good weather. beautiful houses all along the hillsides, tons of sail boats, cafes, cute streets etc...i like it alot actually.

okay, so know how i said that i do not get seasick??? i totally lied. i got sick about 28 times yesterday. however, the weather-wind-swells-waves etc. were absolutely awful. the worst that mike and the captain had ever seen. the weather reports were completely wrong, the winds were like 30-40 knots....aka strong....and the swells...aka huge waves that almost flipped the boat over were 10-15 feet (3-5 meters, which is what we originally thought was feet until we got out there)...so mike and the captain say that anyone would have gotten sick in those conditions. haha, i somewhat laugh at myself now...picture me sitting on the back of the boat with a trashcan between my knees dry heaving. mike came out and talked with me, tried to comfort me saying it was the worst he had ever been in and it was not normally like that. i looked like death with sea water all over me and my hair wind blown like you have never seen, but thats beside the point. so we turned around and anchored and cleaned the boat (the boat is very pretty. simple and elegant. looks beautiful cleaned up. great top deck with seats and grill and bar and hot tub. very nice, and i like that it it not too huge because with just me doing the inside it is very manageable. the stew before me ordered tons of pretty place settings and i get to order the flower arrangements etc.) and had some dinner and watched a movie and slept. tried to go out again this morning but it was way too rough again, i didn�t get sick, but that would have come had we stayed out there any longer. we have the charter on wednesday in Nice,a couple on their honey moon, trying to get to barcelona at least to go from there, we will see though. don�t worry, the captain is safe. we will not die or flip over or sink like i thought yesterday. remember this is my first time out there and the conditions were terrible. the captain finally turned the boat around and said ^we are doing this just for becca^ jokingly, and just as he said it a huge wave, called a rogue, but i just considered it a title wave, hit us and i was sure we were dead. he described it like the movie the perfect storm. first one he or mike had experienced, lucky me i had it my first time out!!!!"

Monday, May 15, 2006 8:48 PM CDT

Hello all...
Good visit for neuropsych to C-ville...Janie Irons is so great, she and Liz get along well, and Liz tested for HOURS and will find out what and how much she knows. Long trip but good one...Liz gets up way before me, and she wandered on down to breakfast, ate, signed the ticket and came up with my coffee...thats a good kid for you!...did some shopping, was fun.

Off Sun to VaTech with Julia to find apt...later in summer to schedule classes...I think she will like Tech, and then do her grad school in warmer weather....

Vic doing fine, hopes to live this summer at the beach with a friend and their parents...working of course...

Becca, and Michael, have signed onto the same yacht and are off in 2 short weeks to Spain, Monaco, and the sunny Mediterranean to work for the summer months until fall//winter. Becca will be head Stewardess, Michael first mate....money is good, tips are great, and lodging/meals provided by the boat...the boat flies them to Spain, and they join up...Greece, France, etc...wow. We are pleased she is taking the opportunity to do some major traveling..The time is rather unlimited, who knows how long....some people do this for years...Michael has been in it for 3 years after college in South Africa...we will miss her, but cannot think of that...the experience is too good to pass up.

Maybe we are more relaxed about it all because we know she is mature, and can manage on her own...she can always come home if she had to...and, life just does not follow any traditional path, and that path is so often not the one that is for everyone...seems we have veered off of it in a major way..and, probably better for it. So, while we will miss her, it is her life, she is 23, and grown..this is fun. The world is there to explore, and days are such a gift you have to grab them rather than wait...the missing part I just dont think about(except in the middle of the night! when I wake up...but, lots keeps me up then, both good and bad..you cancer moms know that sleeplessness...)

Keep us posted on your lives...Love to all,
ma

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 6:44 AM CDT

No news!! which, is good. All going along here the same. School is out in about one month from now, which is great with us...Lizzie is near meltdown, it is just socially hard, she does not fit, and is totally exhausted after a day at school...the eyes/memory/social thing is very wearing..and, then the pressure here to do homework, study, no tv, read, etc etc... We just contine to try to make home a safe place for her, let her know she is totally loved, talk talk talk, and also, as we tell her, since she is going to live, we push for her to learn.!!

Vic, doing well at his new school...will say it is too easy ....they need to challenge him more next year. ....will see..

Going to VaTech in a couple weeks for Julia to look for an apt...and see the school...should be a fun trip, and out of town! To Charlottesville this week for Neuropsych...hope it is not raining!...
Love to all, ma

Wednesday, May 3, 2006 9:40 AM CDT

OHHHH. Just deleted an entire new entry.

wanted to post a short note that Tom Merchant is staying at StJude...the politics of DC, conflict of interest, and family move issues were just too much combined, and he is happily staying where he is..so good news for us ST Jude families..though, I love the DC area and would have been glad to follow him there..Memphis is far more fun, and of course, the hunters are thrilled. Arkansas, here they come.

Wanted to let you know I put a pic of Becca leaving for Florida on the Pic page....she and her friend Michael left Sunday and she began her 3 week job Sun night on the boat...she is looking for a perm job on a yacht, and she and Michael hope to work together on the same boat...we are pleased she is doing this...she has great people skills, and is so fun and creative...it may be really perfect for her for now. Several have asked me how we "let her go with someone we dont know well"....hmmm. First of all, she is rather grown..and, responsible for herself, her own bills, and her own job. We have encouraged her to get out, travel, see some of the world, and not come back here to live unless she really really wanted to..so, this is a perfect opportunity to do that.. She and Michael really get along well, she is happy in his company, and would be sorry if he just sailed off to not be seen again...so this is a good decision, good opportunity and she needed someone to travel with a bit..as Vic said, hard to feel sorry for someone going to live in the warm weather..we are good with it...she is young, and an adventure seems like the thing...especially after a few years that she really was fearful to leave and go too far from the happenings here at home. Cousin Joel is rather jealous as well!!!

All is good, we take Julia to Tech next week to look for an apt...lots to arrange there. Vic doing fine. and Liz, of course, doing well too.

Keep in touch...Love to all..
ma

Sunday, April 23, 2006 2:53 PM CDT

Hello all...
Spring is finally here..we are so happy for it...the yards are beautiful, cold is gone, and for about 4 weeks at best we are having great weather before the heat sets in...

All is pretty good. Becca has left her job, and her friend Michael is here...they are leaving soon for Florida to work on a yacht...we are fine with it and encouraging her to go...He seems, truly like a good person. She has never been "serious" before..will be good for her to see the world...she has our blessing. Will keep you posted. Remember her leaving for college...Liz in the PICU, on a vent, doing so bad and we made her go, a truly cheerless trip that I could not even go on to see her go off, goodbyes from the hospital lobby and the nurses and social worker and me all crying...I do not intend to do that again...this is a good leaving. (besides, we get her off of our car insurance!! and you do know her driving record!!!)

Julia good, accepted at VaTech, and we go in May to look for apt. to live in...get classes lined up, etc. She is pretty happy about it we think, and I really feel like this is the right thing...seems all is falling into place. Trying to get all lined up before we go so we can see several places/.

Vic, doing well at school, happy, and looking into what next...glassblowing classes/art classes/taking a summer class maybe//his new school, thankfully, gets them thinking about goals, and working on meeting them...all seems pretty good with him.

Lizzie...doing another neuropsych with Janie Irons in May in Charlottesville, then sort of big news....are ordering Trioptics.....a type of glasses, with miniature telescopes mounted, for distance vision...very $$, but she will need to be moving to independence, and reading signs/distance is part of that. We have a good low vision eye Dr, and will stay with her here as we transition from St Jude in the summer...will find a good ped. neuro-opthomologist as well..rather exciting. She will also begin working with Voc Rehab at 14, due to her being legally blind, or, over 20/100. Again, most dont know or notice it, shes is so good at compensating. And, next year, she will go to the same school Vic is,OUT of the fast pace rat race...we are moving on to more fun., less stress.!!!

Beach time is coming soon...
Keep signing in, we miss hearing from you all...How are things?
Hi to Sue and JOhn, so good to hear from you.

Much love to all,
ma

Sunday, April 9, 2006 7:34 PM CDT

Hello! No news...probably a good thing.

We did get to DC to see Univ of Maryland...a beautiful school. We walked and walked, gorgeous weather, people out all over the place...what a big, and attractive college. Will Julia go there?? I suspect she will choose to finish at VaTech, but will visit there and see. We spoke to Tom Merchant, was in DC as well, meeting, but he was late, we were late, so we did not get dinner..oh well, next time. He sounds tired, very busy, and is a lot to find place to live, etc. We did see Dr Packer on Monday..good visit overall, navigated DC fairly easily..thanks to the system my little hybrid has!...We are trying a memory drug with Liz, it will either work or not. Dr Packer was quite nice..not abrupt, gave lots of information...maybe too much, but surely nothing we had not heard before. Asked for one extra test to be done in either Memphis or DC...we will have Liz see him again, but details are not worked out at this time beyond August..Liz will be covered and seen by Dr Merchant, but the details are still being rather worked out..am sure it will all be fine.

Vic, Julia Becca good. did the StJude dream home today, they sold out of tickets, over $1,000,000. made..wow. Becca is, we think, planning to go to Ft. Lauderdale, with her friend Michael, from South Africa, and work on a boat...large yacht, as a stewardess..they will be on the same boat, giving the relationship a chance..wow. We are floored..everyone who knows her, knows that guys seldom get past the second month..these plans are very out of character for her..however, the adventure and fun is not...I know her job here selling Life Insur has been quite frustrating..no training, etc..was a total train wreck, and we have been telling her the signs of it are just not there..this, has come at a time that works for her to leave. I suppose we get Annie the cat...I dont mind..she is cute. Her apt she will keep, as a fallback..every girl needs one. I guess my main question to her, as I hate to ask are you in love seriously in a short time, is...if you do not do this, and let Michael leave and never see him again, will you regret it...her answer being definately yes. And so, since they are both 23, it is a good time in life to go see the world..we support her. Will I miss her?...I cannot think about it now..like Scarlett, will think of it later. I cant even say here or in my mind as it is too hard, but also, seems right at the time for her to do this..if she ever is, this is the time. We do love her so much..there have been such hard last few years, and now, all seems to be smooth, so go,...Just dont forget to come home..

The list is rather busy. Keep so many new BT kids in prayer..there are always new ones. Keep Tom Merchant in prayer as he needs a place to live in Bethesda, until his family comes as well, probably next spring...send him clarity, and smooth his way into this wonderful, important new job. Having him in a high NCI position is terribly important to the Brain tumor community...he is totally dedicated to our kids..it is his work..his being their advocate is going to be good..he just needs support getting "set up". I wish we were closer.
Let me hear from you...hate to write for nobody!!!
Much love,
ma

Sunday, March 5, 2006 8:24 PM CST

Good morning all...
Things are rolling along..Dr Merchant has resigned from Cheif of Rad/Onc at St Jude, and will be heading Rad/Onc for the NCI/NIH in DC, beginning August 15. No more details yet on his move, but Jay and Vic will probably go help move in if he needs them. His wife has interviewed to run a freestanding Rad/onc facility there, but no word on that yet.. Lizzie has a appt with Dr Roger Packer, "the" neurolo/oncologist on the East coast, for consultation for possible studies on add type drugs to help with the radiation scatter..Tom M arranged it, also so we can meet that group and see how DC Childrens goes...Tom M is also consulting out of there 2 days a week..apparantly low dose add drugs have shown some success on treating the RT fog many of us see...
Lizzie also has visited Chesapeake Bay Academy, where she hopes to attend next year...yes, it is the school Vic is in now, and Vic really does like it, and is doing well. So, why are we moving her? Well, as you know, NSA has been, and was her support for ages..going to school when she was sick was her biggest gift..she has loved it..we had the best support and love there any school could give. But, and it is a post treatment but, there are deficits..as much as I can barely admit it. Why we ever held to the belief that she could get to this point unscathed, I cannot imagine, but it took me Years to finally admit it. There are treatment effects. The physical ones are the growth, hormonal, etc that we dont need to go into here. The other ones are the later effects of the agressive chemo/radiation/ and I believe, the meds used to combat her fungus infection. So, we are looking for a smaller school, a bit different teaching approach, and a slower pace..still college bound, we hope, but not as agressively competitive. Liz visited, and I will say, she loved it. And, so, our lives continue to move on and change. Oddly enough, one day I was there to meet, our old Neuroblastoma friends were there too, Jack and his mom,...the high dose chemo left him with some issues as well...so, maybe there will be a relay for life team from there next year, with at least 2 cancer kids there. I find it so odd how life turns out so completely different from any dream or plan we ever had at all..you just have to toss the map and go..rather unsettling at times, but it makes for meeting lots of new people, and we generally stay out of any sort of comfortable zone in life..so, maybe that is good.
Julia has gotten into Va Tech for next year...she is really pleased. Becca is still in Norfolk, and Vic doing well here. Jay and I are fine.
Lots of new BT kids on the list, dont forget them. Keep in touch...

Often, I remember this story I read several years ago, and think how it applies to us today..somewhere we never expected to be, and many days happy we are here..still often finding our way, and meeting new people that just "got off the plane". Many of our old friends are still going to "Italy", where we originally thought we were going...but, now, we are used to being here in Holland, and feel at home. I copied it from Kath Bell's page, and she got it from our good friend Lyle.

By Emily Perl Kingsley
�1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of the author.

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this...

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy"

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills... and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

much love, ma

Monday, February 27, 2006 6:01 AM CST

Hello all,
It is cold here! The wind blew in Sat night, and when I let the cat out, it was in the low 20's, which for Virginia, is cold!!! jay off on his yearly ski trip with his long time ski buddies, and we are hanging out here..Vic has exams this week, on Thurs and Fri. Julia doing school and Liz as well. The 2 get out this week on Fir for spring break...finally. Julia also will be on break, and is going to florida to see Jayne and Jim....later in March, Jay and Dutch will aslo be going...the brothers have not been together for quite some time..I think it will be very fun.

All is going along well with Lizzie...she is growning finally at a good pace for me...had been so slow. But, in return, she is doing her shot every night, not taking a break at all, so she does not like that. We are trying to keep her blood levels up of a hormone that shows it is working..has been very low, she was just so depleted and behind. She and Dr Marta are debating starting estrogen later this year, probably June...St Jude wants to wait a bit more, Dr Merchant is not in a rush, but Marta and Liz have talked and Liz is tired of it and ready to begin to mature..so, guess we will just have to let Tom M know the girls overruled him...once his girls get older, he will understand!!! We see Dr R Packer this April, to meet and find out about using some of hte drugs that may help with the memory/stress/scattered brain late effects I am seeing..Tom M arranged that, and I guess it is the beginning of our transferring care to the DC area...Packer is the neurological/oncology go to man, and Liz will get the best care if he advises us on all of this.

School...Vic is doing really well in his new school...they do a a good job with his learning style, lots of class discussion, and teachers that do well getting the info out...we are pleased. and, we think that Liz will be going there next year as well..small classes, etc.

No more news right now. Keep Jay in prayer out of town, he will be back on thurs. Keep our Becca in prayer as she is making life choices, selling life insurance, which at her age is hard beginning...help her see that with hard work, she is so very bright she can do most anything.
Keep us up on how you are all doing. Life is good.
ma

Sunday, February 5, 2006 9:30 PM CST

Hello all!!

We are just fine here..not much news. Kids are good, Becca had fun in Florida, got home safely, and her friend is coming to visit in a week or so here it seems...figures the one she likes best is from South Africa...we would have trouble with her so far, so hope they remain friends. Julia good, school going well, but hard this semester with accounting, bio., and full load. Vic and Liz both still well..school ok, .

So, not much real news, which is good!! from here. Busy with stuff.

So, this is not a real entry, just a hello, and leave us a note, so we know who is out there..Jay and I are well. My sister in law, Nancy Webb, who has been mentioned here, won a big local Athena award, through the Chamber of Commerce...for a leading Woman that is a leader and example to the community...we are very proud.
MA

Friday, January 27, 2006 2:51 PM CST

Well, we are officially home,and officially 5 years out from diagnosis. Lizzie is doing well, and is frankly ready to move on in life. She is now 13 years old, and a teenager. We are pleased.

Our Memphis trip was good. It was odd as well. We did see Seth and Anita, and they are really great...Hayes is too cute, and walking//running all over the place. He is doing great. Anita is expecting again, and we went to dinner, which was not the best idea for her...but, we had a great time seeing them.

The guys all hunted with Dr Merchant, and also our friend, Dr Matt Krasin...he is younger, rad/onc as well...a great guy. We met Matt for drinks, and DrM came along as well, though not expected to, as he has that new 6 month old, and she is just sleeping through the night...so, think it was his first night out, and they must have stayed later than we did, as Matt was not "allowed" to get out hunting the next morning..chuckle chuckle. He also had on his regular glasses,and looked like he was out too late..boys, as Liz would say. So, I guess the official news is out...Dr Merchant is most likely, though still in negotiations, leaving St Jude..he is going to the NIH, as a Director of Rad/Onc for the National Cancer Institute...he has been working on this since early last summer, and gave them a large wish list..moves slowly, but he is telling his staff and patients now. He had shared this with us some time back, and he is pretty pleased, as it apparently is a great move, with lots of research going on in his division. It is a great move, and we are very proud of him. Jay and I have become his friend, and we are very proud of his step...I know he is hoping to advance both treatment and research, and this will allow it hopefully without constraints of set protocols for all his treatment..our online group refers some overseas pts to him, and he cannot take them in Memphis, and possibly this will allow more of the more difficult stuff. Will see how it works out. We expect his move to be next summer late. Very proud and honored to be his friend, and personally I look forward to finding out how the NCI works . Nothing is yet definate, the offer still being negotiated and if it works, they will be lucky to have him...I imagine he will go only if he gets all he wishes for, and it is just right for his family.. nothing concrete is set yet...the wheels move slowly.

So, for us,that is big news..and we have not been at liberty to share it til now. I did get a call to tell me, from a pt. friend, so it did not come from us first. More to follow, but lots to work out. If it becomes final, we hope to negotiate one last trip in summer, as Anita is having the baby then!

The other kids are good..Becca is in Florida, visiting a friend with her roommate Susan...the good old airlines did the usual thing of delays, but she also got a return flight change to Mon night to make up for the delay, and they did that for free, so she was late, but leaves there late as well. Her birthday is tomorrow!..
Julia working too much, at the coffee shop and in school. Vic loves his new school and honestly, his grades are fabulous. All in the style, and class size..he is doing well.
So, good news all around. would love to hear from whoever is out there still reading this,...has been a long time, and all is well ...How are all of you>>>

Much love, ma

Sunday, January 15, 2006 1:18 PM CST

SCANS ALL CLEAN ...HEIGHT UP, SHE LOOKS GREAT.
Saw Seth and Anita, Hayes, and guys hunted lots with Docs. Merchant and Krazen..had a great time. will update later, am too tired to talk..but all is fine.
ma

We leave on Tues, am, and fly to Memphis. Scan on Wed, Thurs, and home Friday after we see Endocrine. Hope the guys get to hunt, but we know this is Dr Merchants busy time..will have fun either way, having dinner with Seth and Anita and Hayes on Wed night...cant wait.

Please, keep us in your prayers as we travel, and for Lizzie to have normal scans...we have to have normal, no inbetween...normal, as her scans have read for 2 years. Normal, and we are 5 years out, on Jan 18, from the day Dr O'Dwyer first found the tumor. We remain, very, blessed. Keep Dr Merchant in prayer, and his wonderful family of wife and 3 darling little girls..he is in some change period as well, so pray for his decisions to be the best ones for his family, and for the kids needing his treatment. Keep Seth and Anita safe, as they are expecting another child!!!!! Hooray. Our nephew, Joby, and Mindy, Joe and Nancys son and wife, are also expecting their first...the first grandchild in my generation..and Nancy is TOO young to be a grandmom!!!! Keep Julia safe, and Becca safe, as they remain at home while we travel. Julia will update when we get results...maybe Wed morning, but probably later in the day, ....dont worry if we are late, the guys hope to hunt and that puts Dr M later getting to work!!!

Much love to all,
MA

Saturday, December 31, 2005 6:33 AM CST

Happy New Years!!!

Tomorrow, officially 2006.

Five years ago, this month, Jan 19, Lizzie and I went to her first routine eye exam to Dr Andy O'Dwyer.... the tech did the eval, and I thought wow, she really needs glasses...little did I know that she was alerting Dr O'Dwyer to something very unusual...he came in a bit (really lots) later, and saw her himself, and took forever looking at her eyes...we have been friends with him for ages, I worked with him years ago when I was a social worker at the local Hospital...Jay has been to him forever, and all our kids. He then looked at me, asked her to go with the nurse to find a sticker or sucker or something..he took me into the hall, and looking back, his office staff had "the look"...all you parents of kids with any life threateniing thing know that look...told me he was certain she had a brain tumor., on the optic nerve, in the center of her brain...am sure he told me how he knew, but I cant tell you what he said. Had already scheduled an MRI for the next am at 7. Gave me a pres for valium for her (first mistake, should have been for us), and I drove Lizzie home..then went straight to Jays office.
Had the scan the next am, and Jay and I, and my parents all went with her..Jay and I in the scanner room, first experience with that..we are such old hands at it now, who would have thought what a major change was coming..during the scan we saw Dr O'Dwyer come into the control room, and we both could tell from his face what was there..we were numb..we waited after, telling the staff we want the results then..they told us no, we told them we were not leaving, and to call the radiation Doc and just tell them. They told us to walk over to his office, and he took us back and showed us the films. (said most radiation Docs dont get the chance to see something in that location in their whole lives.....sheesh.)

Met the following week with Neurosurg//told it was basically hypothalamic tumor, inoperable probably, ...I thought hypothalamic meant type...had NO idea of anything, especially that there are so many kinds of brain tumor. We did not like that neurosurg. and we then saw Dr Satin Smith, who we did like...she however, is an endocrinologist, and oddly enough is the only one we do still see.!! Met in a couple days with Dr Bevin, and I clearly remember some things, Jay remembers others. A good friend says she saw us driving back into town that day, and could tell from our faces that the news was terrible...basically he did not at the time think we would find anyone to biopsy that area without causing pretty major damage to Lizzie...however, with the wonderful help of our neighbor, Dr Jeff Foreman, we did get to Hopkins, and Dr Jon Weingart, who we still love and think of so often, and he did a perfect job getting a piece of the tumor, and telling us that day what they thought it was, and how lucky we were...thanks, again, to Joe and Nancy, Jay Butler, and Sue and John for staying with us that long day..and to Bart for driving our kids us later, mom and dad for keeping them here at home, and Dutch, Jayne and Jim, Helen and Kathy, and Seth and Anita for driving all the way to Baltimore to visit...If I forget you, I will add it as my memory becomes more accurate.
Five years later, Lizzie is thriving and after treatment for a very treatable, very rare Germinoma brain tumor, she has clear scans...Oddly enough, this year, our trip to Memphis was moved for hunting, and for St Jude to put new magnets in the scanners..they are using a new scanner as well, with 3 times the strength, and we go to Memphis this year over the anniversary of Lizzie's first MRI....on the same day she will get another one, and we meet wtih Dr Merchant, the man that we know God sent us to...he has become a friend and his radiation saved Lizzie's life and brain function. We expect her to have perfect scans again..germ cell tumors are very very rare, but they are not known to relapse after this long..we truly dont want to be the exception..he has also NOT had a germinoma kid ever relapse, we want to keep his record perfect.

So, five years out...3 1/2 out of treatment with clear scans. Is she cured?? I dont think we can ever say that this soon, but she is out of the normal relapse window. She is happy, and our lives are totally changed, as well as some of those around us..things are good.

Keep in touch, and much love,
ma

Monday, December 19, 2005 3:31 PM CST

We are loving Christmas break. Jay had his choir contata last night, was wonderful, had strings, very pretty...am one of the rare ones that love contatas.

Flu going around, mom has been feeling sort of bad...hope it is better before the weeknd.

No real news...all fine. Will try to get pics soon, Liz is growing pretty fast now, new shoes, clothes, finally catching up!

Keep in touch., if you are out there.

Love ma

Friday, December 16, 2005 8:28 AM CST

Yeah!!! Out for Christmas, finally....pick up Liz today at 12, has a friend coming over, so will be fun. Also, Vic home, was not an academic day, so he chose to do some stuff here, including cleaning his room...amazing! enough!...

all is well. His new school, working out so far, got a really good grade on first Chem test...so that is good news..

Off to make cookies...

Saturday, December 10, 2005 7:46 AM CST

wow, had it been this long????? Well, yes, so lots to very quickly catch up.

First, Liz is doing great...she is growing fast, feeling good, and having a decent enough year at school...her aunt Nancy Webb is keeping her straight at school, now that Nancy is principal of her Middle school...she is tutored at school, and uses E Beam technology to get her board notes onto her laptop computer...in math that is. It has not caught on with her other teachers yet...they seem to just not really get it that she cant SEE the board...usually they give handouts I guess. but still, it is difficult. Her memory is improved over 2 years ago, but not normal yet...so, lists are hard to remember. She is doing well socially, but frankly happier at home than hanging out in Big groups. And, honestly, the girls at school make little effort to include her, at least the main group...she does have a nice small group that she does well with...some are of course moving beyond her physically and more into the hormone stuff...we are not giving that yet, but soon. Oh well, our family is strong..and LIz is happy..it seems, as I talk to other brain tumor moms that we all have this in common, our dreams for our kids that we slowly readjust to...and they go along pretty content. So, on we go.

School...well, Thanksgiving and exams with Vic brought a crisis of sorts, lots of soul searching, and some moves...Vic, a wonderful young man, near 18, and works hard in school most of the time...like all of us, who can really do 100LL the time. Had a new, just out of college History teacher that was hard...hard, hard,and refused refused to give Vic his notes...talks really fast, and covers LOts of info. Multiple parents went in many times to talk, complain, discuss as he was not doing well with testing//grades//etc etc...no answer from school on what they were going to do to help even//level it all out. Combine math, and we were all here getting very frustrated with working hard and seeing little reward, as frankly at this point in better grades...we are looking at some sort of college, we hope!!!...so, finally, the school refused to do any oral testing, refused to do tests with Vics learning skills teacher...example...he can get a high C/low B taking his math test with his LS teacher...quiet, etc...he does not do so well taking them in class...so, obvious answer IF you are in the best interest of individual child..let them do it where they do best. Oh no, not here. So, we have moved him to Chesapeake Bay Academy, a private. exact same accreditation as NSA, but for high IQ learning disabled kids...they "tell" us vic is the kind of kid that can really do well there...we shall see. Is 45 min. drive, and he is pleasantly going, and I think while he did not want to move he is relieved. What am I looking for???? A chance for him to learn his way...more hands on, less rote memory, less frustration, more creativity, and we will see ...he has loads of friends here, so socially he is fine.

So, what does this all really mean??? Well, it means that Liz, who really needs accommodations, will not get them at her current school when she is in the Upper School...they will simply NOT do it...no matter if it is eyes, vision, memory, or whatever. I have it in writing that they do not ever test orally...and she may need it...especially if the info is long and small print. So, we now know that she also will not finish school where she began and knows everyone..and ok. We deal with that as well.

Is any of this fair??? Of course not. We are blessed that Nancy has protected her this long...I get the feeling that without Nancy she would have been out ages ago...and thank her for that. Options??? IF it works for Vic, we will consider his new school for her. I am looking into home school, and those who know me know that is a major stretch...but I like the Christian aspect of the home school as well....and there are support//class options in this area. Will just have to see, as we are doing one at a time.

Julia is well, working far too much. She is really liking the coffee shop, and also, loves her new group at Church she has met...she looks good, and we have enjoyed her being home at ODU for this time...she is thinking about going to Va Tech to finish her nutrition degree..and then, a masters somewhere...so, will see. Becca, is in Norfolk, and in a really nice townhouse, with 2 cute girls for roommates..she is working and learning Life Insurance, with New York Life, and that is a long learning proces...she is also working and while part time, is top seller at Benneton, a really nice clothing store at MacArthur Mall...she loves it. Hard to support yourself, but didnt we all do it?? Is good to see her doing well...not rich, but happy.

Jay and I are fine..he is running but not in training for a much needed break..
We are getting ready for the Holidays, and dong some decorating. Mom and dad are good, and so are Jayne and Jim is Florida...we spent last Sat. with Dutch and Penny, and they are well too, and also, Lisa, Thomas, and Jayne...we met a special brain tumor list friend, Gina and her wonderful son, and family as well,...was a treat.
Sorry it has been so long...just been very busy, and will do better.
Much love to all...ma

Wednesday, October 26, 2005 6:15 PM CDT

Has been a while!!

Just had a wonderful visit from Jayne and Jim, who left Florida for Wilma....they came here Fri. am, and we had the best time!!...Today they flew back, and their power cam on last night...good timing!...no damage, food to toss, but all is fine. Julia and I are going down Fri am on a trip to see them that had been planned for quite some time...we are still going, cant wait!!
Heard from my cousin Scott, Marges son...Marge is going to be back in Orange, staying in the neighborhood, in a mother in law house a good friend has offered...That person is so appreciated, Hooray..she can supervise her home getting repaired that way. Mom and Dad are on an Elderhostel in Branson MO, learning about behind the scenes shows..

All is going along here. Did meet with the school, about the accommodations for Lizzie....everything we need, we have. They are most cooperative, and we meet again in Jan to measure, and see how things are. Then, we meet with the upper school to begin planning for 8, 9, 10, etc grade..and we will see. hmmm. Growth hormone, etc is going fine...and, Liz turns 13 Nov. 2. Remember, we were told we would be lucky to get 5 years...we are, but we NOW expect many more..so, replacing hormones is a simple thing.

Kids are ok. Becca has a really cute apartment, or townhouse. She is learning to make do..wont be easy as I admit to spoiling our kids rather totally. Julia is at ODU, doing well, and beginning to think about where she is going next year...Florida State, Univ of Fla, U of Maryland, etc. etc. She has good grades, so we are looking. Vic is working hard, now, after spending some time getting in the school swing...he is a treasure, and will be so glad to get out of school one day, to do something he finds fun.

Jay is busy busy...driving all over and tired. I think he is needing to learn again to manage free time...will see. I am walking some trying to loose some age 50 weight...Ellen and I try and she does better. We hope to add on soon, a new bath, bedroom, and LAUNDRY ROOM!!!...will see.

Please, keep in touch. not much to say. We go to Memphis in Jan, for 3 days of testing, and of course, hunting for the guys...anyway we get there is fine...
hope to hear from you soon....
ma

Thursday, September 29, 2005 8:01 AM CDT

Has been a long time inbetween!....sorry, less profound things to say, I think,

Liz is taking riding lessons, on Annie, and loves it. She rode alone this week, and loved taking control...I am thinking it may be just the thing. We are doing a low vision exam soon, and hope to get the ebeam working finally at school...it is giving us real problems. l have been working with the tech man in California, but they need to send us a body..next week we hope. With the vision, we are looking into the glasses mounted miniature telescopes...and, it is totally false that the Va Division for the Blind pays for all these adaptive things, no way. They pay for the very very basic hand held things, and the books....the good stuff is private. Just for info out there, the state covers some stuff but not much, and NONE of the tutoring she needs to cover the info she misses since she cant read it, or due to her memory..we are blessed, and write a check. Many families cannot.

Vic is having a good year, and we are thrilled. Becca passed her life insur. exam, and begins work in Norfolk soon, with a really good group to train with. She moves Sat to her new townhouse, and I am emotional about it all....it is such a step, we are thrilled for her but still, an empty room...rather sad at the same time. .Julia is at ODU, doing fine, and getting better, we love having her here...Jay is busy and also liking the duck club in NCarolina and I am trying hard to get organized, hoping we are really going to add on sometime soon...

Sheri and Marge, well, Texas has now as you know been hit, and Marge lives in Orange, right at Beaumont. She is with Bob, and hopefully they can get to her house this weekend to see the damage..they know some trees are down and windows out..Sheri in Mississippi, is now with power, and drinkable water, and has her house torn apart to treat for the mold. No appliances, one bathroom that works, no walls, furniture, etc, and her "valuables" were stored at Marges...so, we are hoping they are fine..Normally Sheri and Wes would let Marge come to them,, but at this time, Sheri is living in a borrowed camper, that is leaving soon as the owner in Texas now lost his house...unbelieveable. So, They are moving mattresses in to sleep as best they can, but it is primitive at best, with them still getting ice daily and MRE's to eat. Our thoughts are with them a lot, as a family that may have lost 2 homes..Marges other son, Scott, is in Bethesda, MD, and is the hurricane//tropical storm coordiinator for the National weather Service, so at least the family got good warning to get out early..We are truly hoping Marge can come here to Suffolk and spend some time if needed.

So, things here are moving on...cancer is in our background, and it is nearly 5 years since Liz was diagnosed....Jan 06 makes 5 years. It seems like a month at most, we are such totally different family all together. It affects every member of the family, and I am realizing it affects them all profoundly and differently..Liz, with so many treatment late effects, and the other kids, just stuff. Some good, some hard to work through. Same for Jay and for me. Overall, we are thankful. Some days the details are hard to work out.

Keep Sheri, Wes, and Marge in your prayers and their families. Pray for cooler weather down south, as it is hot, dirty, and primitive. Hope FEMA gets those trailers moving soon, so they are not living in the front yard..

Keep in touch. Let us know how you area all doing too, please.
ma

Monday, August 22, 2005 7:12 PM CDT

No news!! Busy with end of summer things. ....moved Julia home, for now, and she has her classes at ODU lined up for this fall....Becca is working at Benneton, and really doing well, Like we knew she would!...she is also working at the Historical Society Dawson House, in town..it is, now, really nice having everyone here...I have adjusted to it, and really love it...not sure they do, but Jay and I are content.

Liz is good. Her Neuropsych was pretty good, and she is preparing for 6th grade...it will not be easy, the way of any brain tumor child cannot be, after so much treatment to such an important area...we still must focus on day by day, and remember to remain postive and glad she is here, doing so well. To look too far ahead and wonder, or, even more dangerous, to look back and mourn what was, is just not a good road. She is happy.

Vic is at the beach, hanging out and did see my parents...he was rear--ended on the way as well, had some back ache from it, but I have not seen him. He is still smiling after his trip to Florida, he really loved it.

need to run, busy here, with so much stuff to track...we are good. The kids to keep in prayer are endless..it never stops; especially keep Brandon, my friend Kris from the list, while they wait to see if a blip is a blip or a relapse....they are Tom Merchants', ependymoma brain tumor, and relapse could be very difficult. They rescan in 4 weeks. We did loose Dr Dave Foreman, who was diagnosed this fall 5 years ago....brain tumor different type.

Much love to all, ma

Monday, August 15, 2005 8:05 PM CDT

we are still here~~~all is fine. Busy busy busy...girls home, doing fine. Julia going to ODU this fall, they dont have her nutrition major but she will do electives and look at transferring to a school that does, or possibly returning to ECU. She spent the summer getting an A in Organic Chem, and working at school with a great group ladies, including Nancy Webb, who has been so very nice..we miss them from Church.> Becca is home, now working 2 jobs, one in a really neat clothes store that she likes and one here in town at the Dawson House, an old mansion in the process of restoration. We are having lots of restoration here, whole city being redone it seems.! We are lookiing at an addition, bedroom//bath, and our bedroom becoming a study for my computer...hooray! I do use it a lot.

Liz, did neuropsych, her memory actually came up, we were amazed!, and so was Janie Irons...we go to Charlottesville for testing, they are very specialized at this point, Janie, or Dr Irons, being a school psychologist//neuropsychologist//and specializing in ped brain tumors...cant be more suited for us than that. Liz needs more school ambition, and our years of uncertainty and focus on living rather than school took its toll..Now she needs to get serious. She is slowly growing, very slowly, but Dr Merchant and Dr SatinSmith are happy....we are going to increase her GH dose I think when we meet with Marta in a few weeks...st Jude endo voted to wait, but I personally vote to push it up high and get faster growth, it is time. She has had friends over, and summer is good.

Has been very different with all home...new routines//territory to work out..Vic is well, did his summer Geometry class, and passed, though not but barely. Can you picuture him doing 5plus hours of math daily?????? Was a real mistake, but he stuck it out, and is finished with it...I am madly reading some good books on minds, "a mind at a time". and got him approved to be evaled there this summer...did not, but now wish I had...he would have really fussed, but it was the better choice, after going today to a new guy today and neither of us liking him. So, back to square one...we really just need meds, so I may ask the peds about it.

So, all in all, we are fine. Jay and Vic just visited Jayne and Jim, and had the best time...they really did love it...hope to go again in late fall, Jay really likes his time with them, and he needs to do it more often..it seesm he really has to put it on his agenda as time passes so fast it is gone before we realize it,,and he misses them. School begins here in a few weeks, I am getting books, tapes, summer reading, and the EBeam ready. lots and lots to think about, and do, and my brain is simply full.

Lots of love to all,...keep Dr Merchant in prayer, as he and his wife adjust to baby no. 3~. All the list kids, we had about 5 new ones this last couple of weeks, there are so many. Also, the kids that are out of treatment like Liz, who are living well, but do have late affects and have to forever deal with that, not that we arent glad, but it does get weary. Will gets married in a few weeks, keep that in prayer as well.
ma

Monday, July 25, 2005 5:54 AM CDT

Wow, has been a bit....all is fine, just very busy.

Camp was great, and will load a pic of Liz there..she loved it, and made friends, lived in a cabin with other girls, stayed up late, talked, and "it was good not to feel different.". So. We went to Charlottesville this week for her neuropsych, and she did the 4 plus hours of tests, and preliminary results show her memory is UP 20 points..good grief..that is major. Dr Merchant told us germinoma levels off after his radiaition, after the 2 year period, so should have known, but was hard to believe she could improve. She does not have a way to find the info, she has lost some ability to retrieve what she learns..but, she is able to learn it. So, we have to find out how to prompt her to get the info out. More to do!

Vic is nearly finished with summer school, Yeah! has been long and not real fun, but he does like the teacher, thank Goodness. Doing math in such a concentrated form is not the best idea, just for future reference. Hopefully he will be finished with Geometry.

Becca is applying some, trying to figure out "what next"..she will find something to do temporarily, and then go from there for a job for real...guess, once you finish college, life is all for real, maybe we need to emphasize that a bit more...this generation seems to drift a bit,..

Julia working a couple more weeks at school, then taking some ODU classes. She is doing well, and looks good, is still settled on Nutrition, just looking for a place to finish..not sure about going back to ECU, may be a good thing to change, her grades are strong, and change may be good.

Jay is tired, training for one more 1/2 marathon, and then hopefully he will take some time off, long time in summer to train. And it is hot.

Have been watching the Tour daily, will miss it.. remember, Lance is a germ cell cancer survivor!, same chemo as Liz. He is also an amazing machine for riding.

Jay and Vic going to Florida in 2 weeks, to see Jayne and Jim, they are very much looking forward to that...we are off Friday to our beach week,not sure who will be there the whole time, as Julia is finishing school stuff and Becca is job hunting...Vic and Liz, for sure. I am hoping it is a quieter week than last year, which was not the calmest. Am ready for a family week, without lots of extra kids all over to pick up after all the time.

Please keep in touch...and much love ma

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 6:33 PM CDT

Well, today was the day the camp calls to let us know how Liz is...she loves it, is doing well, and is not really homesick...had one episode of overheat, but nothing big..so, She is doing great!! Julia and I are running up tomorrow to stay in the DC area, as she has a parent program Fri morning..and the traffic is too terrible to fight in the am...the DC area is the worst for travel nearly all the time in the summer..

We are well. Vic doing his last 3 weeks of summer school and Julia working. Becca is looking, and sorting out what she wants to do...travel?? move to Charleston?? Stay here(not really), just what?? It is hard, and she is having some difficulty in deciding..but, we love you, and having her home, so she will work it out.

All is fine, really. Keep in touch, and much love,
MA

Saturday, July 9, 2005 9:23 AM CDT

Hello, has been a while..we are good, busy, and things are rolling along. Tomorrow Lizzie leaves for cancer kids camp, for kids in the NOVA area hosp treatment areas ....in Maryland. She is happy to be going, and we are lucky that she is healthy, though they are staffed so they can take kids on chemo/lines/everything it seems but daily radiation. There are also many healthy like Liz, but all have cancer in common, so we will see. LOTS to do there, like any other camp. We will let you know. Next summer we are looking into camp Sunshine, as they have seperate brain tumor weeks, and several of us on the BT list are trying to go the same week.

Went this week to Williamsburg to meet Loice, and that was a real treat...she and her family are so special, Tory is adordable and Liz had a ball..meeting someone I talk to so much was good..

We are all doing fine...usual stuff, and it seems that families get more complicated as they age..not less. Kids always have things going on it feels like, and require more support and love than ever. Jay and I are so proud of them all, Becca, for finishing school so well and on time, and she is now job hunting. Julia, for fighting her own demons, and doing well, being strong, and doing so well in school...like an A in summer Organic Chem. Vic, doing ok in summer school, needs to clean his room, and makes friends just walking down the street...Liz, you know about, she is good. Jay is keeping his running up, doing a 1/2 marathon soon. I am trying to walk more, do some exercise classes, and not be fat and 50.

Keep the kids in prayer all over fighting this. There are so many. Watch Lance, as he may just win his no. 7....his cancer was germ cell...mixed, more difficult, same chemo as Liz, .. Also, Keep Dr Merchant and his family in prayer, as his wife, also Rad/onc Doc, is expecting their 3rd girl in a couple weeks...he wants Vic for a week this winter..needs to borrow a boy, I think. We are, as always, blessed to have found him, and blessed that he and Jay have become good friends. We are trying to get some pics of Hayes, Seth and Anita on here too, so you can see how wonderful they look...our next visit is scheduled for December 21, can you imagine??? Christmas fun!!!..probably will change for hunting.
Love to you all. Florida, we are watching you, and Jayne and Jim, we will call again, having trouble finding you at home (or awake!!!haha).
ma

Thursday, June 23, 2005 10:45 AM CDT

having trouble, will try again...
All is perfect....clear scans, thumbs up....

All seems well at home, no problems that we KNOW of ....hmmm.

See Seth and Anita tonight...cant wait to get Hayes and pictures of all....Much love to all, please keep us in your prayers.....

Had dinner with Lisa and Luke, they are well, adjusting, not an easy week, that first one...oh well...
Leave a message, love to all, see you tomorrow kids!!!

Thursday, June 23, 2005 6:54 AM CDT

CLEAR MRI!!

Saturday, June 18, 2005 7:00 AM CDT

Good morning! Finally have some heat relief, and we are glad. We were the hottest place in the US this week, with our heat index from all the humidity~ and, now we go to Memphis Tiues, where it is always hot...but I cannot wait to get there, am getting very anxious. I know Liz is fine, but still it is hard waiting. We are meeting a list family there that go in Sun for their first time, hope to take them to the Peabody to see the ducks ...then, one night we will run out to see Seth and Anita, and Hayes...wish you could see my screen saver, I thought he looked like Seth, but now think he has Anitas eyes.

All are fine here. Had Dr appts this week, still setting up neuropsych, etc. Weight is up (all around, sorry to say me too.) and all are busy. Vic begins Geometry this next week, he will be glad to get it out of the way over the summer, and hopefully have no math over his Sr year. He is good natured about it, though of course would prefer not to....he has had a Huck Finn week off, and will have a month after....I do not think he is playing football this year, and hope he is not sorry...dont think so, though..

We leave Tues about lunch, and return on Fri afternoon. I will have the laptop, so shoud be able to check our mail, and update.

Please, keep us in prayer..much love, ma

Thursday, June 9, 2005 9:21 AM CDT

Hello all...started a new journal yesterday, but never finished it...ooops.
We are good here, Vic out, finished exams, and will do Geometry in summer school, taking it ahead to get it done...He has had a good year, and we love having him home...he is such a treat. Had Lizzies conference yesterday, was a good and positive school year...she needs to work harder, and that will just have to come..next year she will work with Learning skills, so we can make some accommadations for her weaknesses, and style, but she will be ok in life. Becca home, going to Charleston in Oct. or so with her friend Alex, who graduates from Clemson in Jan...will be a good roommate for her.. Julia still doing organ. chem, and then will work somewhere, school, Y, not sure. She is doing well, and they are all such a pleasure to have at home...we love it. Now that I am settling in, it is truly great...

Back to Memphis the 20...our 3 year checks. We naturally expect everything to be truly ok..I do get rather anxious and sharp here, but that will pass. We will keep you posted.

Please keep a friend of Vics in prayer, Catherine...odd how we met her mom years ago on line, from our friends at Hopkins Emily who knew Catherines aunt, who wrote in this book that her sister, Catherines mom had Dr Weingart, brain tumor, etc etc., and that Catherine was a Christ Church student, and turns out a good friend of Vic....anyway, she was a passenger in a bad wreck, in ICU, medical coma, many broken bones, etc. and they are waiting to see what damage there may be ....Vic may run up today to see everyone...not sure. He is now alseep, and it is 10:30 our time!!!!!

Please keep us posted on how you are doing...we are getting geared up for summer.!! yeah!!!
Much love ma

also, Happy Birthday to Mama Jayne tomorrow!!!!!!

Friday, May 27, 2005 8:45 AM CDT

Hello All!!!

Happy Memorial day...headed to Nags Head, with the crowd as soon as school gets out...YEAH<<<<<

Also, our anniversary, hmmmm...28 years???? We actually forgot our 25, in the middle of relapse, remembered it the following year during our Make a wish trip.! Has been fast, and good.

All well here, Julia in class, Becca packing, Vic and Liz at school for the last week, then exams, then we go back to Memphis on June 22....will be a perfect trip and we hope to see Seth and Anita and Hayes...

Keep all the kids in prayer, lots going on with the BT list, and also, 2 new germinoma kids this week....rather amazing to have met them when there are so very very few even diagnosed in the US in a year.

Keep in touch, it is great to see who is reading and hear from you. Sue and John, hope you are well...and headed our way soon.

Please sign in so we can know who and where you are. Lyle, great update, and we miss you all...know you go back soon, all will be fine.

Much love to all,
MA

Monday, May 23, 2005 9:40 AM CDT

Hello all, school is nearly over for the year, hooray!!! Liz and Vic doing well, but Liz is going to need to pick up the pace next year a bit...she just does not like to study, and when she does she does fine. Reading is the worst part, hopefully she can be inspired soon. Still, she is doing well socially, and has had a good overall year.. We are making our summer schedule, going to Memphis, and to Charlottesville for neuropsych, and possibly to Baltimore for eyes..will see. No dates yet for Memphis, had to change our original time because of exams here. We are very confident all will be truly fine..and hope to see Seth and Anita, and Hayes while we are there. I keep in touch with Dr Merchant, so we know he is overworked, busy and well////thank Goodness.

Julia home, taking her chem class, and we are pretty sure the plan is to have her home next year...I have called about sub letting her apt., and they are fairly confident that will be fairly easy....she will be home gaining weight, and basically making me and dad feel more comfortable ...she is doing well. Becca continues to be here and we love it, she is taking some time to relax, and also doing lots of much appreciated baby sitting in the neighborhood...these young moms are thrilled to have her home. She is still looking for a job, Charleston area, so if you have any ideas, let us know...also, getting her stuff straight for insurance, health, car etc.

Vic doing well, grades are really getting to where I know he can be..he is tired of school though. Guess we all are. He and Jay have joined a duck club, and bought a real nice boat...is fun. They will love it, I am sure . I am very proud of Vic.
Keep in touch. We are well, busy, but good. Keep Jayne and Jim in mind, as Jayne has a foot that is healing from surgery, and Jim has a bothersome rotater cuff injury. My folks are doing ok, beach time, so that makes all better. Our BT list is busy as usual, it just never stops..over 500 members now, up about 300 from 2 years ago.

Will post relay for Life pics when I get them. It rained, but Liz and her team had some fun...raised good money, and stayed til late. This is her 5th relay year, as she moves through her full 5th year since diagnosis, and her 3rd year since radiation...did you think we would get here???? It is amazing. Stay well, Love ma

Monday, May 16, 2005 8:05 PM CDT

all is well. busy and going along. Becca finished and is home, doing some babysitting and will need to start looking for a real job and place to live soon...she is taking some time, but hopes to go to �harleston...Julia is taking organic chem. at Norfolk state, and is debating the ins and outs of being home next semester to get a few things straight..she has never been much but tiny, and she has gotten too thin, so needs to be here for some home cooking for a while..we are NOT worried, and happy to think she may be here for a couple of semesters..grades fine, just may take a break and be here for a while taking full classes.. Vic finishing his first year back,...has done well, and his Lacrosse team won the TCIS championship.......wow, tomorrow they play Woodberry for the beginning of the state championship!!! and Liz, she is doing well..thank Goodness the year is nearly over..the Relay for LIfe is this Friday, and she is on a team with some 7th graders..she will walk in her 5th Relay...actually 4th walking, the first one I went to as she was too sick, but the last ones she walked in..so. this is Number 5...

So, all is ok...busy, and full house,. We have Micheal here as well in the Magic room, the Suffolk center director...just a few more weeks...he has been no trouble, but we could stand the room at this point..so, he has bought a house, and his family will be here in a couple of weeks...He is running the old Suffolk High School that has been redone as an Arts center..they asked us to put him up for a while (2 months in reality), and we said we could..has been good for us actually, and as Jay and I said, we were "put up " in Memphis by the kindness of others....

We go to Memphis in June..not real nervous, we are sure all is fine..still, keep us in prayer. It is not easy, though it is fun at times.

Please sign the book so we know who is out there..we miss all of you.
Much love,
MA

Sunday, May 1, 2005 8:24 PM CDT

hello all, will be a fast update...am pooped. Jay did great in the Boston marathon...he finished just over his goal of 4 hours, and the conditions were hot....hilly, hard, we are very proud of him. no pics to post, as he had a toss out camera...he did great,

Bought a really fun boat, for hunting...the guys are loving it. did lots of yard work, had the golf tournament for abc2 brain research, and had a Lacrosse game. Julia home for the summer!!! and we run tomorrow to enroll at a summer organic chem. class in Norfolk...BECCA GRADUATES THIS WEEKEND FROM JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY!!!! good night, it hardly seems possible. she has done so very well, and we are very very proud and pleased with her. Her plans are to come here and regroup, hoping to go south for a job....she will do fine. Liz doing fine, school tough, some times tough with friends, but she is a trooper. showing some signs of stress, but we go on. Vic is having a good year, and hopefully will continue and end the year on a strong note. it is so good having him here.

Mom and dad doing fine...dad having some med. adjustment with his heart, I think he is tired, and he ignores us. Nancy and I cleaned the beach furniture, and got the decks all straight..was fun and is a big cottage to clean, dont know how they have been doing it alone...amazing dad let us do it, he is rather bossy sometimes, but we had fun!!!(sorry, but you know it is true.)!!! Jayne and Jim doing well, Jayne had some foot surgery but is doing pretty well with it. hope to see them this summer, but no firm plans yet. We are busy...lots of stuff going on. mostly good but some mentally hard things, oh well.

Please, keep the kids in prayer. Our list gets bigger weekly....had about 9 new ones join this week...one germinoma, which is great, and mom is now in touch with Dr Merchant about best rad. treatment...is good to "talk " to parents all over the country, they are out in the west...

Marge, I will get a pic on moms hair...it is too cute, she looks great..younger, fun....she has to keep it short..everyone loves it.
Bart, we miss you...Love to all
hello Lyle, talk to you both soon.
ma

nearly forgot...went to get my organinc chickens this Sat, and came home with a kitten....she is cute, fuzzy, and Liz just wanted one so bad....Cooper is being very bad, getting neutered this week...haha. You know we put Princess to sleep, and we have now replaced them all...I must be nuts.

Sunday, April 17, 2005 6:24 PM CDT

DANCING QUEEN, DANCING QUEEN, SHES A DANCING QUEEN!!!!!

Lizzie went to her first dance! Friday night....did you ever think she would get to this point????? It was great, she had a ball....no dances with boys, the girls dance in a group all night...she was nervous at first, and then fine!! Her wonderful friend Virginia invited her, and she rode the bus home, went to the dance, and spent the night...did not call me, but one short call....Mom, I'm at the dance, it is really fun, bye.

This morning we had an early TV thing for St Jude, it went well. Liz is very poised on tv, and the newslady, Priscilla, knows her from the past couple of years, so they do well. It is the absolute least we can do. They always ask us if we go back soon, and I have to admit we go 2 times per year, because we WANT TO, not because we have to...Dr Merchant would do it one time per year but I would be nuts...The dream home raises loads of money for Memphis, but never enough to make it enough. We met a really wonderful mom from Memphis, and she came just for this....still has �lex there in treatment, medullo, so good odds, and was a pleasure to meet her.

Jay off to Boston for the marathon, and Becca in her last weeks of college..�an you believe it????? I really cant...has flown and we are so proud of her, with her getting out totally on time and having done so well. She will be home this summer for a while, looking for a job...Julia inducted into the Honor �raternity, she is doing very well...keep them all in your thoughts. Vic is really beginning to fall into the rhythm, and has a term paper due soon...yuck.... Liz doing fine, Everything is very very good.

Lots of Love, ma

Saturday, April 9, 2005 8:25 PM CDT

Very short tonight....not much news.

School...Our Mrs Mullins has left , ...gone to another job, or something...she will be missed by us, Liz and I liked her. However, Nancy WEBB has the Headmaster job...as she should have all along, so,,,,HOORAY!!!!!! We are proud of Nancy, and Proud of Shane for picking her...and not making her apply, ....great job.

Home....we had to put Princess to sleep today. Diabetes.....her liver enzymes were about 1200, rather than 200...and loads of other serious serious things...we could have done Insulin, with a small chance of her getting better, but she would not have been able to wander, eat food from her friends down the street, eat Mochas food, or leave the invisible fence...what would she have liked doing if she could not do any of that????..special diet?????Anyone who knew her, knew that would not fly. So, Jay and Vic took her, and Liz, Julia and I cried. Last time Julia was home, we had to put Fluffy to sleep...Old animals, Poor Boo. She is doing well, keep her in your prayers please as she ends the year, with some stuff that she needs some strength for....
Becca....3 weeks to go, what more can I say????????? Hooray for her!!!! We are so very very proud.

Vic and Liz, doing well. Jay running Boston next Mon week. I am trying to loose weight!!!!!!

Keep Bart in prayer as he begins a new job.....

Monday, April 4, 2005 6:34 PM CDT

wow. busy here. The sun is finally out, finally no rain, finally got into the yard and did some work!!! Kids are good, just lots going on..school busy. Liz is doing well, and the radiation effects just keep on....but, she is Making friends, and fitting in, Hallelujah!!!! I watch her on the playground, and while last year, kids turned away and blocked her from the group, I dont see that. I see her IN a group..Praise God!...she is making her way...that is my goal, for her to finally finally feel secure with her age..it has taken a long time. Will things be perfect, of course not...last week an OLD friend told her she hated her...but one thing a BT will do is give you the resilience to not fall over on that one..she knows what is valuable and true. She is still finding it hard to follow the thread of conversations...it is common with BT radiation girls...noone knows why..she self focus' too often, talking about herself a bit too much sometimes, but she is learning. She is the most friendly child I know to strangers, which serves her well....however, we know that may also not be good in a large city one day....She did GREAT on the ad for the St Jude dream home...totally relaxed, calm, not at all nervous. Neither were Jay or I, it is fun. Class work...hmmm. Not as great..but, wont worry about it now either..math teacher not using the ebeam ....lots of money to not be used...Liz may have to be more forceful one day..is hard to focus, and hard to want to focus...Know we have to. The other kids are good, very good. Life is not perfect, but close to it. Becca finishes College in a few weeks,,,,I cannot believe it..she is coming home. I think she needs to, be here, cocoon for a bit, relax, and make up lost time...so very many emotional things from the past years..lots and lots. Maybe we need some time to just sit. Do you think she can just sit??????
Julia doing well, nutrition right up her alley...finishing up her pledge to the honor frat this week, hopefully, unless she decides to forget it...think she will do fine... Vic, hanging in there. Getting some of his best grades ever..still working on Math, but we will work that out....he is a wonderful kid.
Have a guest in the Magic room...the new director of the Suffolk Center...the old high school turned art center..?ery unusual for us to do this, but he needed a place, we had it, and we are really ready for some newness in life... Besides, I know how it is to head somewhere new and live in a room!!!!..meeting someone new and living close really does not bother me now...frankly, I often reallly miss Peggy, Lyle, and Nancy N and the crowd!!! at Ronald Mcdonald.

Speaking of the RMC>>>>>>>keep the list close...SO many new kids. Several Pontine Gliomas, recently so many relapses...it is so hard..these kids deserve to live, but I guess in their own way, they do..maybe just not here?? Too deep tonight, keep Sing Hoew in mind as he sorts out his daughters relapse, way out in Singapore..he is in touch with Dr Merchant, but St Jude cant take but a certain no. of out of country kids per year, and they have MET THE QUOTA it seems..It is just APRIL....good grief. Lots of sad stories, not in the mood...the sun is finally out, my girls are nearly home for the summer, and things are ok here today!!!!
Much love to all, ma

Saturday, March 26, 2005 8:39 AM CST

wow, has been a long time! day correction

We are on the St Jude fund raising thing this coming Wednesday.., 12 noon, channel 3, or cbs. Is local only and just a blurb, as ad for the dream home...The news crews also went to Memphis, and got to briefly interview Dr Merchant...so, is this week, 12 and 5 on Wednesday., cbs, or channel 3

Not much other news. Busy here, but things are good. Working with Liz and school, trying to get her to do all her work, on time, and as best she can....one of her teachers thinks she is playing us, but I think it is a combo...really not remembering, being happy to do the makeup work at lunch or recess, and we are just going to work out a system as best we can. There is just so much right now, with all of them....Becca getting ready to graduate in a month, needs both a job and a place to live..and the motivation to get going...unfortunately, the summer off babysitting is no longer an option...time for the real world, especially in light of her recent speeding ticket...now, car in her name, insurance in her name, real things!...Julia doing well, we are working on her weight gain too...she and Liz doing simular things with that. Vic, usual teen things, hoping to get through the year succesfully, having a good Lacrosse season. Jay runs the Boston Marathon in a few weeks...he is running 20 miles today!! good grief. Doing really well with it, is so motivated!!!! Just a lot going on, keep us in your thoughts..family things keep us all busy.

Jayne and Jim seem well, Julia reports. Dutch doing a great clown ministry up at his church in Beaver dam, Va. Mom and dad doing really well, getting the beach house ready.

No other real news. Please keep my good and dear friends Pat and Wayne in prayer for their only son Kevin as he completes some hard weeks..Pat was my support and Lizzies close friend, and is a survivor herself. The BT list is busy and sad as usual, though I have been on less with stuff going on here.

Have a Blessed Easter weekend. Love to all,
ma

the links have been removed by Caringbridge as they were having privacy issues...we had someone contact us for instance wanting to use Liz on a Tee shirt, but would not tell us how he got her link....they are working on a system to allow us all to move backand forth throughout Caringbridge with some security on place.

Sunday, March 13, 2005 3:34 PM CST

New pic on pic page of the puppy. Also, had to put our 17 yr old Fluffy to sleep...heart failure, and she had fluids, O2, and spent one hard night at home with heart failure. We got her just before Vic was born, was Beccas kitty, saved from a ditch!!!
Did our St Jude fundraising TV thing today, so look for Liz on TV for the dream home...she did well. Julia in Florida, Becca home today, and Vic and Liz in school doing fine. Love to all....

Has been some time, sorry. Busy here, with Exams with Vic...will get grades this week, hope he did well. then, Spring break for the ones at home began last Fri....took days to sleep, rest, shop, and then hit the beach for a couple days to clean...odd weather there, warm, short sleeve weather///front blew in////sleet, snow, waves, and cold. Nancy Webb came down and we cleaned, Liz, Vic and I went Mon. and mammy and Pappy were there, dinner out, was very nice. Nancy came and she and I cleaned Tues, and the kids all came home, then Nancy and I shopped and had dinner out.. Spent the night with just us, no kids...quiet!!..Becca out on break as well, off to Savannah with some friends. Home Wed, Becca here, nice week, Vic off Fri am to a lacrosse tournement, in C-ville. Then, Julia came home Thurs night and surprised us all...home on her break, so we had all the girls here!. Sara Blythe was here too, and Grace Saunders on Sat, so we had a girls time with giggles like it used to be with so many here... ALSO, and help, Becca has decided she would rather live south, sort of the Savannah//Charleston area....and needs a job...anyone out there with some ideas, she graduates college this May, English//psych major...good grades, good kid...think I will begin looking and also think about going down with her in May to look for job//place to live//etc. She will come here right after graduation to regroup and begin looking.

Rough week otherwise..our list friends and caringbridge friends have been hard hit...a couple years ago a great lady named Jinny joined our brain tumor list...is married to John, a 30 yr pediatric bt survivor//brain stem//benign astrocytoma sort of tumor showing growth and signs of changing. Our list adopted them, though Jinny was not a parent, her husband is about 39, 30 yrs out.!....she not only , with John, taught us lots about loving a survivor, but we taught her some little too...anyway, John died this week late, after a rough year surgery/chemo/relapse/ beginning of treatment...30 some year cancer patient. I have grown to love and communicate fairly often with Jinny...is hard. Also, our Emerald, age 10, gbm of spine, treatment, relapse, surgery Hopkins, etc etc....just 2 short weeks ago showed rapid regrowth and we lost her last night...thought their lives were very different, they lived them with such love and faith, and died with grace..Ann Powell, our neighbor, 3 time cancer pt. also died this week, after being on Hospice for some weeks..please keep them all in your prayer..the funerals are today, but the support and love came in the past weeks of their living..John died with Jinny holding his hand, as he became more uncomfortable, and they finally began a dose of morphine. Em went to a movie Fri. night, came home, became in great pain, recieved pain meds and also went into a short coma. Both of these wonderful people, like Ann, were are home and much loved. It is all hard, and a reminder of the fraility of life...so live it please, each day.

On a wonderful note...I have mentioned my friend Nita, whose daughter is now about a 20 yr bt survivor...she lives down the street and has been such great support to me//us. Well, Ann Cox is expecting!!!!...after all that treatment...Praise God.! She lives in Winston Salem, and is now 35, they are thrilled...so, life comes, and life goes, and it must be lived well. Our minister today spoke on your passion and wants, and living for God rather than earthly things, and enjoying what you have but not living for what you have...so, live Today for peace in your heart, with hope, and the knowledge that life is so very special..and death can be with love and peace... Jinny wrote Em's mom that she pictures her John meeting Em at Heavens doors with God to welcome her in....on the list, we spoke of all the younger bt angels meeting John hopping all around because he finally made it there..it is a spiritual group, because you must be.

Much love to you all.
oh yea, Vic also brought me a puppy this week....our 3rd dog, what a gift. He knew I would want it....haha. Is a 10 lb, miniature pinscher, looks like a tiny doberman, and is a lap dog totally, sleeps in the bed, great personality, Jay loves him...I am thrilled.
Please keep in touch, we miss hearing what all are up to.
Congrats Tom, on your clear scans!!!!
ma

Thursday, February 24, 2005 6:23 PM CST

Hello All!!

Glad to hear from Sue, John is hanging in there, finished now I assume with Radiation...great going! All well here, getting ready for exams, finally got Liz caught up with the school work, getting her tutoring in math, doing piano, and art class, and she is fine...boosted her up a notch with school work, as is needed...not fun though!!! We are feeling the "leave town " itch, we get it when we have been here TOO long without driving off somewhere...so, break is needed! Headed to the beach for a few days and Liz is taking a friend...Nancy W and I wil clean, and shop some...girls wll play, and Vic may take a friend as well...he has to work so will be home earlier. Not sure, but that is the plan so far. She is fine at school, making a few close friends, still having the "usual" difficulties with social cues...radiation for some unknown reason does that to most of these kids...they just cannot read into the cues...take things wrong, whatever, and it is common and hard..most of her old friends have lost patience, and no longer have much use for her...I am so sorry, it hurts her, but we are moving on...she will manage..

Girls are good, car stuff with Julia now,...need to call Bob Nimmo...get the name of a repair shop. Becca looking for a job in DC area...any one have any leads/??

Keep Emerald in prayer please, spinal tumor, recent resection at Hopkins, home just a few weeks, and it has grown back with a vengence...they are giving her a very short time, and Em is young..and very aware, told her mom she would be fine, and Em would not send her any signs from Heaven because it would scare them all....good grief..how does a parent deal with this. Rough week on the list, the kids lost a few, but we did get 2 to St Jude so that is good news...it never stops, but at least with the best care, the chances are more even.

This Saturday, Feb 26, is my brother Bills birthday, but to us, a bigger day. THE DAY, 4 years ago, that Liz had her surgery, and Dr Weingert told us...how odd, it is faded but vivid...she did well, is very stable, in picu waiting for us, and the first look path is germinoma, which would be our best news, as they just have radiation and "poof", they dissappear...and, long 2 years later, he was right.! It seems like a short and a long time...that little thing in the waiting room before surgery, Dr Weingart coming in to talk to us, helping her pick out her pants to match her gown, and the nurses putting an ID bracelet on Snickers, the DOG that is still upstairs, worse for wear now after all the chemo and rads he went through...yeah, it is all still there..her in that wheelchair, and hat, with the black eye, all those staples, the nights in PICU, sleeping on the floor, bench, anywhere we could put our pillow and blanket...we were so new to it all!! and did not know what to take with us...by Memphis, I took it all!....can pack in 5 minutes for a week. And, now, we are slowly trying to get to usual...after living day to day, it is hard to be that....but, for Liz, and our other wonderful, strong and great kids we love and are proud of, things are normal. Forever changed, that is for sure...our priorities are very very different, but that is a good thing.

Enough. Keep the kids close..Em, as she beings VP-16, or etoposide...chemo that may work....we used it..Dr Jallo at Hopkins is the spine man...very good...but could not get it all, got 99but now, all back and more...tooo much to take in. We are good, How are you all????
Love ma

Friday, February 18, 2005 9:50 AM CST

this picture???? Who knows????

Too long, sorry!!! Been tied up, doing stuff, reading novels and sitting by the fire....haha. Just usual things...

Sue, How is John???

Not much real news here...all moving along as it does with kids who are far from perfect...Liz has VA coming over this afternoon, she is so happy she was up, yes Becca and Julia, nearly before light!! Imagine that. She is thankfully more confident this year with friends, not a big crowd, but doing what I think is better...slowly learning how to do the girl thing and be less of an oldlady, and center of attention...it is just hard. School work wise, some bumps, but we have Mr Shore working with her now...and he is great in math...she pays full attention the entire hour, but it takes constant doing to remember the steps...Hopefully one day she will use a calculater and only have to remember the steps...will see. Am working with her guidance counsel. now as well, to try to streamline my needs, make me more reasonable, and I just hate to get Nancy W in the middle...her teachers this year are tops, could not be better. We here at home are slowly making a mental shift, from "forget it and go have fun" to this is serious stuff you better learn it.....has been very hard for me...

Girls, we miss you ! Becca is finishing up some stuff, and working out her spring break plans, and is off this weekend to Snowshoe with a group to ski, and celebrate birthday....Please be safe! Julia, busy with her Frat group, car wash, interviews, labs, and stuff...hard courses this semester, cutting up frogs and stuff...but she is well and loves it. Vic, working and loves that, getting ready to begin Lacrosse and most of his grades are showing some stability...he is working here, and when we study together, he usually already knows the info, and has read it, so he is frankly taking some good steps...he has been struggling to fit into a group, and home, etc and is finally seeing some success at grades...his English teacher is especially encouraging, and he is responding to that..she is great.

Jayne and Jim are getting ready to have Julia come visit, and my mom is doing well, off to the neurosurgeon today for a check..dad the same. Jay training hard for Boston, and running good times. I am trying to do Pilates, loose some weight, keep mentally busy, and am on the low end of helping with a local golf tourn. in memory of Kay, who I memtioned here many times...

Keep the kids in your prayer....Love to Kathy � in Florida..it is still hard, as she continues with life with out Robert, and so many changes. Our friend Sammi is having another surgery, and keep her mom Ellen in prayer as she makes changes in their life...Go Sammi, good going with the GH injections...I am proud of you!...Keep as usual Dr Merchant in prayer, as just this week he took 2 of our list kids into St Jude...continued strength, youth and wisdom for him.,
Love to you all, Please sign in and let us know how you are doing...would love to hear from Cheyenne in Australia soon...know it is nearly scan time.
ma

Thursday, February 10, 2005 8:04 PM CST

couldn't resist the picture of our Fluffy, age 17, doing her favorite thing!!!

I need to update!! Sorry, all is well. No real news, busy busy with kid stuff...all getting behind from being sick, pressure on us to catch up, and get our stuff together. School on Liz to keep up, so we are changing our thoughts to work more and enjoy less I guess..not much fun there but maybe it is time..who knows..lots of work in 5th grade.! Vic ok, impulsive, grades slowly pulling up in most, some blips on the screen but we are working. Guess it would be nice to have a quiet month, with NOTHING out of the usual going on.

Becca and Julia great, Becca has a wonderful house//apt, and is doing well...getting ready to graduate, which is rather hard. Did a fabulous job with her up til dawn, and they made good money for St Jude this year....I just realized she did not ask us for a donation!!! Becca, send me a form!! Julia good, pledging an honor frat//sor. and likes it..she is doing well and likes nutrition.. We are proud of them., thank Goodness 2 are so simple. I may regret saying that, right!!!

No other news here., Jay training hard for the Boston Marathon, in April...he now considers an 11 mile run his short weekend. I still feel virusy, going to the Dr tomorrow for an antibiotic..better work fast. working with a group for a golf tourn. for Kay Gillette, for benefit Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure, that is interesting. These ladies work hard, I am just there..Julia so very excited about going to Florida this spring break to see Jayne and Jim. now Becca thinking she may do that too..they love it totally there. no other real news, ready for some warm and sun. Love to all, keep in touch please!!! ma

Thurs Feb 3 2005 9:42 AM CST

I will for a bit leave the journal of our trip, as I have figured out how to also add the pic of Victor, a 13 yr medulloblastoma survivor, in the back country of Costa Rica...with spinal involvement...that we "happened" to meet on our trip...as you can see, with his high dose radiation, his hair did not recover but his heart surely did..so, here's to hope for all the futures..

Today we are feeling better...since our trip all have had some bug, but today Liz is back at school, though terribly thin again, and Vic fine, Jay not as great and I'm better...oh well. More fun, we go tomorrow to see BECCA and her house and do the up til Dawn night...We cannot wait.! Keep us in your prayer as we all travel. Mom is ok, some high blood pressure...keep her close, as her health settles out. Carol had her knee done, is home, and doing pretty well...spirits are really good! and Will is home, Joel back at Tech to finish....quite a change from his Hawaii living I assume!! Have heard from Sue Stallings//Slater, and John is doing fine, finishing rads, and slowing a bit which is probably a good thing!..Please let us hear how you all are...Marge, we think of you often so far away, and Bob N. did visit last week and the two of them are great..How are you????
Keep in touch..

Happy Birthday to Rebecca Bartlett, Age 22
Today ! !!!!!! We miss you!!!!!!

Hello All!, or some Spanish thing./...from Costa Rioa...Becca, or Julia, please call home and let them know I posted, we are great, is so $$ to call, and we miss you all. Is beautiful here, truly, and we have rented a car for the day Jay had no meetings and really took in a lot...I am going to tell about it here, as it was such an odd and unusual sort of day. Lyle, I especially want you and Peggy and Steven to read, and you will see why. The day has certainly left me with a great sense of peace...
We went into Jaco(orHaco), a surfing town, to rent a car, had breakfast, and saw the very beautiful beach, surfing dudes, and many folks on vacation. We hoped to see one of the large major rainforests down south,...which we found out was closed on Monday. So, we just took off, as we like to do and followed the road (kids, driving on our side,and yes,the car had proper mirrors.) We found a smaller park we had been told about, and pulled in to get tickets...a park ranger wandered over, had a wonderful sense of humor, spoke American...we should learn a language, really and then said..I have been waiting for you. Now, we know he tells everyone that, but we took his tour. The forest was very nice, and we saw not just birds, hudge ant,wasp, and other nests, we, including me, ate a termite, as they are protein and taste like cinnamon,,but we saw crocodiles, monkeys. and lots of other exotic things. He was very much a naturalist, we learned about medicinal plants, leaf cutter ants, and other neat things...found monkey's flopping in a tree branch, etc.etc. So, after that tour we mentioned wanting to go to a waterfall we had heard about you can reach on horseback, and hiking. The guide, did I mention his name,...Victor, said in a bit he could help us with that if we like. So, we took off in the car, with Victor, and while riding found out more. He was from the mountain village, 40 minutes up this tired dirt road we were taking, born, lives there with his family, which actually consists of about 400 cousins, uncles, etc etc. He then mentioned his life there was wonderful, especially after an Illness he had when young. Now, here it gets good. I had noticed "the scar", Steven, just like yours, but really, what were the odds that a world away we would run into this. I asked what was your illness,and he tells us of being 18, and having vision, balance, etc problems, and finally getting over the mountains to the hospital, where an MRI showed a brain tumor...had surgery, and the path showed medulloblastoma, a "commom" pediatric brain tumor..they could not remove it as it was too large, also involved the spine. They gave him very little chance, and he got sicker and sicker after surgery...commmon signs to most of us..but this was years ago in this country. He "left his body, and went to heaven...was taken with an angel, and saw heaven, then was shown a house, unfinished, and told he was there too soon, and had to return.."..so he did, and had radiation. 16 yes, 16 years later, with spinal involvement, and no total resection, he is not just doing well...he has become involved in volunteering in the parks, learned good english, married(admits it was hard finding a not so close relative in the village), and has 2 beautiful little girls. Now, what are the odds that this would happen???? So, we traded stories, went up the mountain and had lunch in his village, met his family, and then took the horses down to the waterfall, hiked a short distance down, but long way back up to see it, and then swam in the pools..ate cheese they make, and rode thru the teak plantation of his uncle...100,000 teak trees, planted on an old cattle farm. That is how they are reforesting the country, with cash crops like teak, that take 30 years to grow. What an amazing day. So, we have his info, and will write, and IF anyone goes to Costa Rica, we have a wonderful guide. So, you tell us, is life random or very planned? Victor is totally happy, and why not, his life is hiking, teaching, and his scans are totally clear..no cancer at all. His memory has returned fairly well, he cannot work in the fields, but he has learned a language, found a great career, and against odds, has beautiful girls. We made a friend, and saw some of the real country..so, there it is.
We are having fun...Jay meets today all day, so I will be by the pool...the beach is rocky and black, and the surf is not here, but south and north. The coffee is great..and the food good, though yesterday lunch, which we just let Victor plan, was the best. Amazing.
Kids, we miss you. We really wish you were here, you would love it..Vic, I can see you here big time, but you have to learn the language. Girls, also think you would love the country, and yesterday was very much like outward bound...will bring you. Lizzie would love Victor, they both have that personality, though in the rainforest, you have to be quiet, which would be difficult for you!
So, will be home Wed. night late. We love and miss you all. Mammy, Pappy, Jayne, Jim, you would like it here too, the tours are great fun. Love to you all, ma

Thursday, January 20, 2005 9:00 AM CST

Well, here we are. Officially 4 years...will say it is a milestone, leaving one year to the magic 5 that frankly, we were told we would not see in our first meeting in Norfolk...How wrong they were, and how that brings home the SECOND and third opinion !!!!! Today, 4 years ago, Inaguration day....one day after our eye appt. Lizzie had her MRI at Obici Hospital..then we met with Dr Odwyer, and found out there was a tumor...actually, we refused to leave the hosp until our neighbor, a radiologist, had met with us and shown us the films...he told us the exact location, and said it was so rare a location that most rads. would go their whole career and not see one...lucky us. We then had to go to school to let Julia know, and get them to call Mr Gil, the Sexiest Batchelor, who had the Govt. class in DC for the Inaguration and tell Becca...fun day. How difficult it must have been for Becca to even go on that trip...not knowing what would come here, and then to get the phone call..we picked up Vic later at school, in Chesapeake. .looking back, we prob could have kept Becca home. Our kids are all survivors.

So, now, after a long time, here we are, and Liz is in remission, cured, if Dr Merchant is right, ( and he has NEVER had a germinoma pt. relapse), and while we do deal with LOTS of late effects, things are generally good. Now, we are trying to pay back, not just ST JUde, but other families who are in this BT mess.

We also, can never thank enough, our families...who were always there, came to visit daily, called, stayed with whoever needed staying with, and held it down here at home..called and stuck by at distance, and never stopped believing. Our friends, and there were so very many who did food, called, came, nursed, and were there, and the most important thing any of them did was believe..have faith,,and Never let us know they did not think we would make it..Jay and I really never thought Liz would not, though there were tough times..so, thank you to all.

Keep the families in grief in your prayer...Kay Gillette who died this week after battling a glioblastoma...frankly, there is no cure for that, at all, and any treatment they found was the right one, it was just too hard from the beginning. The kids list I am on is now over 400 families, and we add about 4 a week...that is new pediatric BT all over the world..I write often to a mom in New Zealand, and her daughter had the same tumor as Liz, but they are NOT doing radiation...so, I am scared for them. The list is long. Love to Sue and John, as John does his treatment. Mom is doing great...would love a pic of her here with her hair....she looks like New York, and should leave it short for sure..but, she is cold!..she is driving, talking fine, we are so very very lucky she did so well, and got a great surgeon out of the blue..
Keep in touch, PLEase let us hear how you all are..ma

keep my family in prayer as Jay and I travel to Costa Rica on business, and fun....long way, and Julia will be home this weekend, and Ella here too, of course!

Saturday, January 15, 2005 8:16 AM CST

All is really good, but miss the older girls back at school...they are well, getting into the swing of new semester classes.. This is Beccas last semester, which we cannot believe! She is taking some really interesting classes, and also talking to some St Jude people for possible job openings...just looking, possibly in the NOVA area. Julia taking a 6 hour food lab, long day, right?? What can you do for that amount of time?? Vic working at Dashiells, and loves it. Liz has her E BEAM hooked up in class, and is using it first for math, it is great....small v shaped tool attaches to the white board, beams the content in real time to her new laptop at her desk, where she can see the actual lesson being taught for the FIRST time...she is thrilled. The school also hooked her up wirelessly to their printers, and she can print any page of the lesson as well. It is great.

Please note the week it is....Four years ago this week, Thurs and Friday by year time, the 17 or so by date, Liz had her routine vision checkup. Praise God for Dr O'Dwyer, who was so very on the ball and quickly picked up on her and took us seriously...sent for MRI the next day, and there it began. 4 Years, and with the germinoma diagnosis, we were blessed. Becca went to DC for the first inaguration, and I am trying to remember what we had to call her there for...my mind is so very blank today! However, we are living testament to GET THE BEST care and always, always second opinions, always, go to the best, and always, with a child, no exceptions, go to a major pediatric center.!!! Please let us hear from you, Sue and John, we are keeping you in prayer. Mom is good, we miss Jayne and Jim...
Love to all, ma

Monday, January 10, 2005 6:57 AM CST

Good Morning all,
Has been too long since I updated....been busy with all the kids home and a great Christmas vacation...was very fast, very short it seems and terribly nice to have all home again together. The older girls left yesterday to go back for classes today....they are good, and this is so strange, but Becca, our little Becca, is now in her last semester of college...I wrote her last regular tuition check! It seems so impossible.. but there it is. She has done really well in school, is a good student, and now, she will find that all that studying and worry about grades is gone, as noone asks what your average is!!!.....Please keep her in your prayer as she finishes, and thinks about where, with who, what to do....she is going to love life. Julia back at ECU, and doing well, looking into going to Memphis for some time this summer to do some practice with Lizzies Amy...our great St Jude nutritionist...should be fun for the both of them. Vic cut his hair!!!!....or had it cut, was not easy getting those dredds out, but today the school should be a bit happier....and he is working part time now at Dashiells, the hunting store...he loves it, being around a very new group of people....is fun. Liz went to school yesterday for Open house, to lead tours for new students....she loved it, and had fun. She is good, and making her way through the 5th grade social scene, and we are now beginning to push her a bit academically to see what she can do...

Mom is better, and I really want to get a pic of her here, with her very short hair cut...she cut it all one length, and frankly it looks great on her...she is just letting it grow, and tomorrow she sees the Neurosurgeon...still has some symptoms, frankly, but not too terribly many....dizzy, hard time finding words, writing is hard in the afternoon, ...overall, I think she is doing great, but is frustrating for her. Her CT scan did not show any active bleed, but tomorrow the Neuro will read it and we will see what he says....keep her in prayer.

Bart did get home, and he looks very good....is teaching, finishing his Masters, and happier than ever before I think....less money, less travel, and more content....isnt life odd??? As we get older, we find that the money is not the issue, but contentment....finally I think he has found his calling.

Jay and I go to Costa Rica in a couple weeks....for business, some Insur. captive and they meet offshore, which is nice..however, I get very anxious leaving all so far when I go, so think of us. Ella, our Ella will be here, so all is fine at home, yet, I hate leaving...the kids are not protesting however, so that tells us something!!! I am doing exercise big time til then, having to put on summer stuff in January!!!!

Please keep your prayer going for all the kids...Dr Merchant says he is very very busy...so many new ones all the time..and also for our Sue and John, as John continues his treatment...by the way he does look great. Please keep my brother and his wife Carol in prayer as they begin to resolve their issues...and all the family travelling, off at school, and moving around. We miss Jayne and Jim, down in Florida.....Vic is planning his trip down now, looking for the time he can come....feels very far away sometimes.

Keep my list friends close, Sammi, as she gets another shunt revision and her mom, Ellen, as she worries..also, Cheyenne, our germ cell friend in New Zealand as they watch an odd spot on her MRI>..we have certainly been there, but the resources are less out that way it seems...if she relapses, I am going to beg them to try to get to Memphis. They did not do radiation and I am very concerned.
Life here is good, complicated, but good. Please let us know you YOU ALL are....we miss hearing from you all. Love to Peggy and Nancy, ma

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