Christmas

Happy Holidays to all! Wow, what a season of joy, tears, and wonderment! A special thanks to my friends who organized the barrage of holiday cards, gifts, and ornaments. Our Christmas tree is simply gorgeous, and so uniquely decorated. It seems impossible to thank each person individually, but you are all in our hearts and prayers. I have never been so touched by the display of love and giving from everyone. Cathy and I are truly blessed to have been given so much. I extend my love and gratitude to all of you. May your holiday season continue in the same way you have touched our lives.

An update on my condition--I have had two chemo treatments so far. On Monday, I have a third treatment, and then will have another CAT scan of the brain. The chemo treatments are tough, and make me ill for three to four days. However, right now it is all worth having this time with my girlfriend, friends, and family.

Love and gratitude to all of you,
Ellen

An Ellen Update

Hello
Cathy here. Just want to update you all on Ellen.
To begin, we had a visit from our good and fabulous friend Donna the weekend before Thanksgiving. We shared a lot of laughs and tears, in the usual good way that close friends do. We both felt a lot of positive energy from the visit, even though I did have a bit of a hangover one morning.
We flew to Lafayette the Sunday before Thanksgiving so Ellen could spend some time with her family before beginning chemo treatment. It was a wonderful visit. She shared time with each of her siblings and cried and laughed in the usual good way that family does. We returned home on Thanksgiving day to what we thought would be a quiet and turkeyless evening and discovered our friend Deb had prepared an entire Thanksgiving dinner for us. We were surprised and very touched by her efforts. So we cried and laughed in the way that good friends do and ate turkey with dressing. Our Thanksgiving prayer gave thanks to all of our friends and family for the support and love they share with us and for the blessing of God in our lives each day.
Ellen did have her first chemo treatment on Friday and did not have any severe reactions. She's had a rough weekend of fatigue and nausea, but today, Monday, she is feeling somewhat better. She has an appointment for a port infusion placement this week and another chemo round on the 15th of December.
When we are lying in bed at night, since the chemo, I believe I can hear the cancer cells screaming for their lives. Die you little bastards, die!
Keep thinking good thoughts and thanks so much for all your love and support. It has meant so much to both of us
love,
cathy

More News

Ellen and Cathy received some sobering news on Wednesday. Ellen's follow-up MRI has shown that the tumor has continued to grow in the area that had been previously radiated. She is still planning on starting an IV chemotherapy treatment next week to help with tumor symptoms and to continue to fight this thing. The first treatment will be set up to see if her body can tolerate the chemo cocktail that her doctor is suggesting. Ellen is really hanging in there, but needs our love now more than ever.

Donna 

Good Morning! Just wanted to touch base with all of you after yesterday's second opinion in Jacksonville. The doctor was extremely nice, and after hearing bad news for so many weeks, we finally got a glimmer of hope. After looking at my MRI's Dr. Jaeckle said that he was not so sure that the radiation has not worked. He said that the radiation dye can look like new tumor growth on the image, because the dye can actually leak out and appear like a tumor on the MRI. The bad news is that there were new spots of tumor growth on areas not treated. The bottom line is we need to keep plugging away at this nasty tumor. Today I have another follow-up MRI, and then I finally make a decision about continuing treatment.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers, hopes, and never ending belief that anything is possible.

Love,
Ellen

MRI update

Sorry for not posting Monday or yesterday, but the bad news continues, and I am just doing my best right now. I saw Dr. Nick on Monday morning. The brain tumor has advanced. He said it happens to maybe one in four patients who undergo the radiation/oral chemo. Somehow, don't ask me how, I just knew the news was not going to be good. Basically, Dr. Nick said I have three options: 1) Pursue clinical studies 2) Undergo an IV chemo treatment 3) Let the disease take it's course. Of course, he also suggested I get another opinion, which we are pursuing at this time. I already have an appointment with a doctor in Jacksonville on election day. So, the process moves on.

Thanks to all of you for your unending words of love and support. I have received gifts and notes from countless people. I cherish all of them. Somehow without you holding me in your arms this would be much harder.

All my love,
Ellen

Yes, it has been way too long since I posted. My dear friend, Donna, has finally accomplished the task of getting me to write to you. Since my radiation ended two weeks ago, physically and mentally it has been hard to function. Of course, I always think if I cannot write something positive, then I should not write at all. Everyone who reads and posts on this blog are very special to me. Some, I have never met, yet they write such endearing thoughts of encouragement. If for one day, I can take one thing that was written and focus on it, I can make it until the next day. That's what I have been doing. And sometimes, it is very difficult because you don't know how many days are left. Cathy and I talked about that today. At the beginning of this illness, I thought that by knowing I wasn't going to live until 90, would somehow get me prepared to die. That has not happened yet. Today, I saw a therapist whom I immediately liked and connected with. In a one hour she helped me to realize that I cannot possibly have all the answers now. It seems so simple doesn't it? It is not easy, but knowing that all my friends and family support me is a great comfort.
With love to All,
Ellen

Update

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." —Albert Schweitzer

Ellen is going to need our sparks for the next couple of days! On Thursday, October 16th (at 9:00 a.m.) she has a follow-up MRI to see the results of the first round of radiation and chemotherapy. Then on Monday, October 20th (again at 9:00 a.m.) she meets with Dr. Nicholas Avgeropoulos (Dr. Nick) for the results. This is a very trying time for both Ellen, Cathy, their families and for all of us (their extended family). We are all with you Ellen, and will be sending our light your way. Thanks for letting us be with you on your journey!