This is a long and important update...
As most of you know, Marina was diagnosed with Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma last June. True to Marina, it is very rare and special.
Marina has been doing well with treatment, which requires chemotherapy infusions every 2 months. Her next one is March 9th at the Tebo center in Boulder. When she gets an infusion, she has difficulty sleeping for the first couple of days but rebounds quickly. She can and does enjoy all the things she normally does but does need to avoid stress and illness, as her immune system is compromised.
As if that wasn't enough, just recently, Steve was diagnosed with colorectal cancer that has metastasized to his liver. On Wednesday, February 7, he had his first chemotherapy at the Tebo center. Since diagnosis, Steve has been hospitalized for nearly 2 weeks, with a number of complications, including pulmonary embolisms, the flu, and spiking fevers. Athena and Stevie are either presently at home, or coming within a few days to help. This is an enormous challenge for the entire family.
As you can imagine, things are pretty overwhelming and they need all the kindness and support you can offer. The caring bridge site is being reactivated to offer them the support that they now need. I will have the most up-to-date information. We will be posting here very regularly with updates. Please use this as your primary source of knowledge and information. Of course, the whole family appreciates your care and concern and wants to hear from you. It is hard for them to manage to update everyone individually, so please be patient. You can send cards and write notes which are always welcome, you can also text and email, just know that they probably will not get back to you in any sort of timely manner right now.
Because at this point everything is unknown and changing daily, often even hourly, everything is unpredictable and who knows what will happen next… We are looking for daily support for them for the next few weeks.
· Daily coverage- dates and times in the planner- please sign up- and see ”things you can do” update.
· Food- snacks and meals every other day would be most welcome- please again see the planner to sign up and see the “food” update
· Things you can do- See “things you can do to help”- in general, and for daily coverage
FOOD
As part of their cancer alternative treatment, they basically eat a Ketogenic/Paleo diet. This means, no grains, no legumes, no sugars. Basically vegetables, quality proteins, and fats.
You can cook for them if you enjoy that -just follow the guidelines above.
· Good snacks include:
· bone broth
· cut veggies
· Epic and Quest bars
· Nuts
Or you can order food for takeout and/or delivery. Some of the restaurants below offer food that is compatible with her diet (no sugar, flour)
· Fresh Thymes Restaurant on 30th-
http://www.freshthymeseatery.com (
http://www.freshthymeseatery.com/)
· Fresh Thymes Marketplace on Bluff
· Back to Basics –
http://www.backtobasicskitchen.com (
http://www.backtobasicskitchen.com/)
· Buddha Thai-
http://www.buddhathaicuisine.com (
http://www.buddhathaicuisine.com/)
· Chez Thuy-
http://www.chezthuy.com (
http://www.chezthuy.com/)
***Or you can order catering : Marina has been on a strict Ketogenic Diet and has worked with Carol Carlson, who is familiar with the her needs. Carol@goodsensehealth.com (mailto:Carol@goodsensehealth.com) 303-859-0500
There is a cooler in the front hall where food can be placed if you are on a tight schedule. Containers will be returned clean in that same cooler.
THINGS YOU CAN DO :
When you show up to offer coverage, be ready for anything. Once you have signed up, text when you are on your way and see if anything is needed. If no response, just come to the house.
Visits
Give Steve a ride (until he begins to drive again)
Dishes in the sink
walk , coffee, outings with marina
Run errands if needed
FROM MARINA EARLIER IN 2017
First of all, I want you all to know how much I love and care for you.
There is certainly not enough room here for me to write my full Biography, so I’ll just skip to the present and why some of you dear ones have put this site together for me. I feel very honored and humbled.
5 to 10 more years. What a shock. I guess that 5 to 10 will become my newest and most daunting challenge to Defy.
I have been diagnosed with a very rare type of Lymphoma called Splenic Marginal Zone. this cancer has been indolent and slow-growing for probably 15 years, So I really don't know that I feel any different than before, other than enraged and very heartbroken.
The month following my Fathers deadly car accident, while proceeding with Life, my annual checkup turned my life upside down. It all went so lighting fast that we could barely keep up, let alone breathe. test after test after test without answers.
as a result of the uncertain news, Athena flew home from Cannes for Memorial Day weekend. We had a wonderful time, despite the unsettling circumstances. Unfortunately, my patient portal (online medical records) had been updated without my having had a chance to speak with my doctor, so we discovered my stage iV diagnosis that Saturday night. What a shock. And WTF!!!!!
Splenic marginal zone lymphoma hits only 2% of all lymphoma patients worldwide. The majority of the cases and most of the research happens to come from the Mediterranean region and in particular from Greece. What a coincidence?! I guess my mother”s orphanhood is now showing some color.
https://www.lymphomas.org.uk/about-lymphoma/types/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/splenic-marginal-zone-lymphoma#transformed-splenic-mzl (
https://www.lymphomas.org.uk/about-lymphoma/types/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/splenic-marginal-zone-lymphoma#transformed-splenic-mzl ) (
https://www.lymphomas.org.uk/about-lymphoma/types/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/splenic-marginal-zone-lymphoma#transformed-splenic-mzl (
https://www.lymphomas.org.uk/about-lymphoma/types/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/splenic-marginal-zone-lymphoma#transformed-splenic-mzl )) (
https://www.lymphomas.org.uk/about-lymphoma/types/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/splenic-marginal-zone-lymphoma#transformed-splenic-mzl (
https://www.lymphomas.org.uk/about-lymphoma/types/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/splenic-marginal-zone-lymphoma#transformed-splenic-mzl ) (
https://www.lymphomas.org.uk/about-lymphoma/types/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/splenic-marginal-zone-lymphoma#transformed-splenic-mzl (
https://www.lymphomas.org.uk/about-lymphoma/types/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/splenic-marginal-zone-lymphoma#transformed-splenic-mzl )))
I will fight this with more tenacity than I have ever fought any challenge before. And as my ancestors before me, the Cretan Resistance fighters, who destroyed the Germans to end the occupation, I will shout “Freedom or Death” all the way.
http://greekodyssey.typepad.com/my_greek_odyssey/2006/11/the_battle_of_c_2.html. (
http://greekodyssey.typepad.com/my_greek_odyssey/2006/11/the_battle_of_c_2.html. ) (
http://greekodyssey.typepad.com/my_greek_odyssey/2006/11/the_battle_of_c_2.html. (
http://greekodyssey.typepad.com/my_greek_odyssey/2006/11/the_battle_of_c_2.html. )) (
http://greekodyssey.typepad.com/my_greek_odyssey/2006/11/the_battle_of_c_2.html. (
http://greekodyssey.typepad.com/my_greek_odyssey/2006/11/the_battle_of_c_2.html. ) (
http://greekodyssey.typepad.com/my_greek_odyssey/2006/11/the_battle_of_c_2.html. (
http://greekodyssey.typepad.com/my_greek_odyssey/2006/11/the_battle_of_c_2.html. )))
Please keep this amongst those who will care and not the only question. I have not had time to inform anyone except close friends nearby. I look forward to seeing you when I get through this first round of treatment and plan on many journeys and adventures with those of you who are willing and able to join me I look forward to that!
