Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
“When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade!” The running joke is that we’re making lemonade, sometimes spiking it too! On December 29, 2020, Lauren underwent a radical hysterectomy in Denver following a diagnosis of cervical cancer in November. Initially the doctors and Lauren felt reassured that the cancer was found early and her treatment would only include surgery. Following her hysterectomy, the pathology revealed a lymph node in her left pelvic region was positive for cancer, making Lauren’s cancer stage 3 and changing the course of her treatment to also include chemotherapy and radiation. Hearing the news that she had cancer was tough, but hearing that the cancer was more progressed than originally thought was a tougher pill to swallow. In typical Lauren fashion, she has taken it all in stride dealing with the news with a mix of humility, courage, sadness, joy, and determination.
January was spent recovering from her hysterectomy at her Dad and Janis’ home in Snowmass Village. She was surrounded by the love of family and friends. Thanks for all the calls, texts, flowers, meals, and cards! It also gave her time to research her options on where to pursue treatment. With the help of a dear friend knowing a Board Member at MD Anderson in Texas (the #1 Cancer Center in the U.S.), it was confirmed that MD Anderson was Lauren’s top choice after a week-long evaluation in Houston.
On a stormy Valentine’s Day, Lauren and her Dad departed Aspen on a flight to Houston beginning a new chapter. Little did they know that the winter version of hurricane Harvey was brewing and moving across the United States. What was to be Lauren’s first week in cancer treatment at MD Anderson, turned into a week-long ice and snow storm that shut down the entire city of Houston and caused all of Lauren’s first week of appointments to be cancelled. George and Lauren rode out the storm in Houston in their newly rented apartment, while Janis waited out the storm in Colorado before driving the dogs (Nelly & Ace) and a truck full of belongings to their new home away from home. Grateful that she and her dad maintained electricity and heat in Houston, it was hard to stay positive as the anxiety of the unknown and delayed treatment was always on their minds.
Despite the setback, Lauren’s appointments resumed the following Monday. First up, was a rescheduled biopsy of the lungs to confirm some suspicious spots on a recent scan were not cancer. Hallelujah!! The lung biopsy came back negative and her treatment is all set to start on Monday March 1st! She will undergo 6 weeks of therapy which will include radiation Monday thru Friday and Chemotherapy every Tuesday. She has the best team of Doctors, Nurses, Family, and Friends supporting her. She is ready to kick the cancer to the curb!
Check back regularly for updates on her treatment and wellbeing here.
If you’d like to send notes of encouragement please leave them here or mail to:
Corporate Retreats -Lauren Garrity 3 Hermann Museum Circle, Apt 4207 Houston, TX 77004
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