Hey guys, I've missed you...

[February]

Ahh! I forgot about "They can't take that away from me!" thanks Sus going to look up the lyrics...

Wallaby, I was shocked too there is any chance at all for beating this thing back I seriously expected it to be stage 4 overall as long as he waited to seek treatment.

Though I'm trying to be cautiously optimistic...reading that the survival rate for T4 tumors like he has is usually somewhere in the neighborhood of 50-60 percent for five year survival :/ but it's better than no chance at all that's for sure and better than counting down in days or months.

Nervously waiting for the phone to ring- thanks for all the thoughts and support guys right now I'm muddling through an hour at a time. They may contact me tomorrow but I'm really hoping they manage to do it today...will keep you all posted.

You're the best!
xoxo
Bru

p.s. Sing it with me, Susi...

Our romance won't end on a sorrowful note,
Though by tomorrow you're gone;
The song is ended, but as the songwriter wrote,
The melody lingers on.
They may take you from me, I'll miss your fond caress.
But though they take you from me, I'll still possess.

The way you wear your hat
The way you sip your tea
The memory of all that
No, no, they can't take that away from me

The way your smile just beams
The way you sing off key
The way you haunt my dreams
No, no, they can't take that away from me

We may never, never meet again
On the bumpy road to love
Still, I'll always, always keep the memory of

The way you hold your knife
The way we danced till three
The way you changed my life
No, no, they can't take that away from me
No, they can't take that away from me

We may never, never meet again
On the bumpy road to love
Still, I'll always, always keep the memory of

The way you hold your knife
The way we danced till three
The way you changed my life
No, no, they can't take that away from me
No, they can't take that away
Can't take that away
Can't take that away from me

[February]

Well, what a surgeon my dad has.

The man called me at 8 tonight, from home it appears, to give me the news himself. The panel has decided the best plan, and they believe that plan is surgery.

THANK GOODNESS.

I had a feeling all along that was the right way to go, this confirms it.

So now we start planning. We are supposed to go in to see him next Monday for paperwork/meet anesthesiology team/etc but the hope is that they can do the surgery at the end of next week.

In the meantime my dad is eating better and trying to build up his blood (he was anemic when he left the hospital, no wonder poor man!)

I may actually get some sleep tonight...what a kind man, he could have had his office staff call me in the morning- but he didn't, he called me himself.

Did I mention I loved this guy the minute he walked into the exam room? He's already done one surgery on my dad to fix the trach that the other place messed up (twice) so I know he is the man for the job...

please keep the good thoughts coming- I need to stay healthy so I can handle this the rest of the month at least- keep a good thought for us all.

Thanks again your support these past weeks has been so overwhelming- you guys truly are the best.

hugs
Bru

[Whazzup]

Hi Miss Poppin-Fluff. You are strong and resilient, and you bounce back from adversity. You are soft and gentle when you need to be, and strong and firm when the job requires it.
Your Dad is so lucky to have you in his life taking care of him, although it's a shame that it is all falling on you when there are other healthy family members who should be ASHAMED of themselves for not providing support at this stressful time.
Hope you're getting a good night's rest. Pleasant dreams February Grace.

[Ms. Matterhorn]

Bru, I am praying for your dad and for you.

[DisneyMom]

Bru, what about a combo of Surgery followed up by chemo/radiation? I wonder if that is being considered to completely eradicate every cancer cell, or is the surgery itself considered enough?

[GaTechGal]

Bru I'm so happy that you guys have such a wonderful doctor. Looks like you are on the right path. Get some sleep and start building YOURSELF up too. Hugs and more prayers coming your way.

[Princess Susi]

Ahh! I forgot about "They can't take that away from me!" thanks Sus going to look up the lyrics...

Wallaby, I was shocked too there is any chance at all for beating this thing back I seriously expected it to be stage 4 overall as long as he waited to seek treatment.

Though I'm trying to be cautiously optimistic...reading that the survival rate for T4 tumors like he has is usually somewhere in the neighborhood of 50-60 percent for five year survival :/ but it's better than no chance at all that's for sure and better than counting down in days or months.

Nervously waiting for the phone to ring- thanks for all the thoughts and support guys right now I'm muddling through an hour at a time. They may contact me tomorrow but I'm really hoping they manage to do it today...will keep you all posted.

You're the best!
xoxo
Bru

p.s. Sing it with me, Susi...

Our romance won't end on a sorrowful note,
Though by tomorrow you're gone;
The song is ended, but as the songwriter wrote,
The melody lingers on.
They may take you from me, I'll miss your fond caress.
But though they take you from me, I'll still possess.

The way you wear your hat
The way you sip your tea
The memory of all that
No, no, they can't take that away from me

The way your smile just beams
The way you sing off key
The way you haunt my dreams
No, no, they can't take that away from me

We may never, never meet again
On the bumpy road to love
Still, I'll always, always keep the memory of

The way you hold your knife
The way we danced till three
The way you changed my life
No, no, they can't take that away from me
No, they can't take that away from me

We may never, never meet again
On the bumpy road to love
Still, I'll always, always keep the memory of

The way you hold your knife
The way we danced till three
The way you changed my life
No, no, they can't take that away from me
No, they can't take that away
Can't take that away
Can't take that away from me

Oh you! Now I have those little tears in my eye that Fred never sang to me or danced with me! That has to be the MOST romantic song ever written. The Gershwins were genius's! That is my all time favorite song! It just gets to me everytime! Isn't it strange how that old music and those dances can bring a sense of peace and of who we are. I remember watching the films as a kid and just sighing over Fred. I wanted to be Ginger so badly...hehehe...but I'm not blond! ;)

Anyway enjoy these too:

This was the original sung in "Shall we Dance" one of the best of the 10 films they did together. What a moment!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3SNluoMwtE

And later they reprised it WITH dance in "The Barkleys of Broadway"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ0DWEbEAqA

Sing it with me, Bru. You will hear my voice resounding all across the whole of the United States, I love these old films so much! :)

TCM has them from time to time, but you could always come to Denver to stay with Ralph and me and we could have an old Musical festival...I have so many of the old ones, Fred and Ginger and of course, Gene Kelly..sigggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

I am so happy to hear your father is getting the excellent care he deserves. This doctor sounds like the miracle you needed. I am praying for his hands to be guided by the grace of God by during surgery and that your father comes through with renewed strength and health! This is a blessing and you are a strong and compassionate woman who has stayed with him and made things happen.

Bless you, Bru, for all that you do...your father is a fortunate man to have you on his side and to take care of him when the others are too afraid or simply won't. You are a special angel!
with much love and many hugs coming your way...
Susi
"They can't take that away from me".........hehehe ;)

[Elena (aka: Bubble Lady)]

[font="Palatino Linotype"]dearest bru...an angel on earth for your dad...much good luck to you both...i know this is a very trying time for you (and without the support of your birth family...tsk tsk...shame on them)...this is the time when you find out who your friends are...the surgery really sounds like the best way to go and you all are in my thoughts and prayers...please do keep us all posted...

i know that fred and ginger have been mentioned here, but when my son was ill it was WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS by queen that seemed to be our motto...and he beat the odds...less than 30% and 20 yrs later i still have my son [/font]

[February]

Bru, what about a combo of Surgery followed up by chemo/radiation? I wonder if that is being considered to completely eradicate every cancer cell, or is the surgery itself considered enough?

Yes, DM (that's DisneyMom- though it puts me in mind of Danger Mouse which I love too LOL) they are talking about some potential follow up radiation too, but getting him through the surgery first is the thing and getting the thing OUT.

Elena, that's a great anthem! My dad and I both especially love "Hold on tight to your dreams" by ELO and that is an anthem for us- though he also is fond of "We're not gonna take it" by Twisted Sister- which to me goes with the button I saw all the people at the Oto office wearing- "Cancer Sucks"

I want one of those and a t-shirt that says "It's not my fault" a'la Han Solo LOL

Okay, the towncar is booked to pick us up monday morning, Dad and I, from his house (dh will drop me off before he goes to work) we'll head to the U, to to see the surgeon and speech pathology- then we'll go to another medical building not to far away to see the anesthesiologists (sorry for spelling massacre there) and then head home in another town car.

I just hope I can eat by then. I've been unable to eat solid food for days now without being really sick. Stress, what stress? Oh well, liquid diet isn't all bad I'll get back into those tiny jeans maybe...bright side, right?

They're still trying to schedule the surgery they're talking either the 19th or 23rd and trying to narrow it down.

On top of it all had to take my daughter to get three straggling baby teeth pulled last night- no fun but she bounced back quickly (they were big ones). Now hopefully this weekend it'll be calm and quiet so I can prepare for Marathon Monday.

I really can't thank you guys enough. In a rare moment of lucidity my mother asked me today if I had friends that were giving me help in dealing with this- and I said first thing, "the folks on the Disney message board I frequent- have all been amazing."

and you are.

Happy Friday, everyone. Enjoy every minute of it.

xoxo
bru

[GaTechGal]

Breath in, breath out, take that mental walk down Main Street towards the castle....

Sounds like y'all have a plan, and I know that I always feel better and more in control when I have a plan.

Take it easy this weekend. We'll keep praying for you.