LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 08:19 AM

SRS made a comment on my Facebook page last night about a photo of Jeremiah and it made me think about all of you here at Mudcat. I read over some of this thread, particularly the dates after Jeremiah arrived and I am sorry to post that I have neglected putting up photos for my friends here. Today, we remedy that!!! Last night I spent some time going through my photos from this year and picked out a few of my favorites so that you can see Jeremiah growing. He is now 2 1/2 and a very busy, chatty, sweet little boy.

On the cancer front, everything seems to be going well. I still am tired much sooner than I think I should be, my body doesn't move like it used to and I have regained a significant amount of weight to which my GYN/ONC shrugs and says it comes with the hysterectomy and will be very difficult to lose. HMPH. I keep telling myself that I have my life and my family...the belly is what it is. I have a tumor marker check up on Friday and as usual, I am praying for low numbers.

Enough of that, here is Jeremiah: http://jeremiahthomaslawrence.shutterfly.com/

Love to you all!!!!
XOXOXOOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 07:32 AM

all of the above

love from sandra

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 07:18 PM

Michelle, I'm so proud of you! You've come so far and grown so much! What a dynamo!

Maggie

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Bobert
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 06:56 PM

Onward and upward, Michelle... Reading your good news is music to my eyes...

B~

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: maeve
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 06:43 PM

What a bouquet of well deserved honors, Michelle!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 06:37 PM

Hooray!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Little Robyn
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 05:57 PM

Wonderful!
Robyn

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 05:50 PM

I had my tumor marker test/check up on Friday late in the afternoon and got the results this morning. My CA-125 actually dropped down a little over a point with a reading of 14.7!!! YAHOOO!!!

Also, I have been invited by the American Cancer Society to facilitate a pilot group called Cancer: Surviving and Thriving.

Further, the American Cancer Society invited me to apply for a program called Voices of Hope. This is a very selective program accepting maybe 50 people from the state of Pennsylvania. I applied and recently received my acceptance letter!!! I will be going to an all expense paid training adventure for a few days later this fall. I am so honored and excited!!!! I'll be sharing my story with other Relays, Coping with Cancer Groups, various health organizations, with medical students, etc.   It feels really, REALLY good to be able to give something back!!!

And finally, I am the Chair of the Survivorship Committee for the area's Relay For Life next year!!! YAHOO!!!!

Much love to you all!

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 11:12 AM

lookimg forward to reading your next post, Michelle when the time is right

sandra

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 12:55 AM

Thanks for that note, Kat, I'll pass it on to a friend of mine at work who might use it.

SRS

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 12:46 AM

Oh there is so much to share about a recent Relay and my experience now being on the other side of the diagnosis.....but not tonight.

Kat,

   I think what you have shared is a GREAT thing and I don't mind one bit!! I remember many days when I hurt so much that I couldn't stand long enough to do the dishes....those things have a way of piling up while all you can do is sit and watch, feeling useless. I would have LOVED it someone would have come in once a month to vacuum, dust, give my husband a break from the double duty he had to pull!!!

   There are also organizations that will bring meals to a chemo patient as well. I'll have to look up that site and get it on here too!

LuvYaKat!!!! XOXOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 12:29 AM

Michelle, you have become such an eloquent writer amongst all of this. That was beautiful and wonderful to read. What a grand example you set.

I received the following by email and thought this might be a good place to make note for folks to be able to pass it along. Hope you don't mind:

Cleaning for a Reason

       If you know any woman currently undergoing chemotherapy, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning - once per month for 4 months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service. This organization serves the entire USA and currently has 547 partners to help these women. It's our job to pass the word and let them know that there are people out there who care. Be a blessing to someone and pass this information along:


http://www.cleaningforareason.org

luvyakat

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 May 12 - 09:59 PM

Of course they cheered when you got to the part about Jeremiah! We all did!

Maggie

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 23 May 12 - 09:07 PM

What a positive experience. I am glad you were able to do this, and I'm glad I got to read about it.

And I, too, look forward to seeing your pics!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 23 May 12 - 10:53 AM

a wonderful report, Michelle, thanks for posting it

& I second Bobert!!

sandra

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Bobert
Date: 23 May 12 - 10:01 AM

We want pictures!!!

B~

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 May 12 - 09:55 AM

So…
Montour County Relay For Life. What a great event! Normally this relay is held on the track of a local school however last year's flooding caused a huge amount of damage so that wasn't possible. This year the Relay was held in Riverside at the Fire Department. All the trucks had been pulled out of the building and parked in front so that a Survivor's Dinner could be held inside. The actual Relay was outside in back of the fire department where it was grassy with lots of shade trees, a large pavilion where luminaries were being made and a white line marked the path for the walkers and runners. Around this path were all manners of tents and campsites which made for a very welcoming sense of community.
Valerie and I left Mansfield around 1:00, stopped at Wegmans for lunch, another stop at Best Buy so I could get a new photo card and then a stop at her favorite yarn shop and then finally the Relay. We got there around 4:30pm, the sun was hot and we weren't sure of where everything was so we poked around a bit. I signed myself in as a Survivor, got my goodie bag (which contained a t-shirt and a pin) and went in search of my contact person. I finally found her and she told me that I should be near the stage around 5:50pm. No problem. Time flew by and before I knew it there were announcements being made over the loud speaker for people to gather at the stage to begin the Survivor Ceremony. Not long after that, I was being introduced and invited to share my story. I started out just fine, barely needing my notebook (because I had the entire thing written down to read) but there was a part where I choked up and after that I did read from what I had written. I knew it well so I was able to look up and around frequently. (It feels WONDERFUL to be that prepared….I wasn't nervous at all….more excited than anything). People were attentive, some cried right along with me and when I got to the part about Jeremiah something unexpected happened. They cheered. They clapped. I cried. To feel that kind of love and support all around is an overwhelmingly wonderful feeling…..and my tears were of gratitude for both Jeremiah and the love of this crowd.
I finished up and introduced the hematologist who was to speak after me. He did an excellent job in sharing the personal side of what it means to be a doctor that deals with treating people with cancer. I loved that he was personal and not clinical…it's what I love best about Geisinger.
Afterwards, several people came over to give me hugs and one lady in particular hugged me for a long time and sobbed. She was on a team called Carol's Crusaders….all dressed in teal….she lost her friend Carol to ovarian cancer last year. She said that the things I had said touched her….how do you respond to that? I hugged her tight. Sometimes words just aren't necessary. I imagine she felt my heart ache as much I as felt hers.
Survivors were asked to line up for the Survivor's Lap. The hematologists were asked to carry the Survivors banner and I was to walk in front, leading them all while carrying a torch. There were a lot of people wearing purple shirts (indicates cancer survivor) at this event and I was honored to have been chosen to lead the way.
The parade ended at the fire hall where survivors and caregivers were invited to a sit down dinner of chicken, baby carrots, mashed potatoes and a dessert of our choosing. On every table were pots of petunias…enough for everybody to take one or two or an armful if they wanted!
After dinner, we had fun getting our faces painted, wandering around looking at the different team sites and the things they had for sale and then it was time for the luminaries to be lit. The luminaries that were in honor of someone (Valerie made one for me), were red bags and they were in the middle of the field in a design. The bags that were in memory of someone were white and there were so many that the entire path around the field was full of them all crowded together. The visual was intense and I think Valerie summed it up best: "Dear God."   Very sobering.
By that time it was about 9:30pm so we packed it up and started on our way home. The conversation couldn't have been better…..serious stuff but lots of silly stuff too. We stopped in Liberty to use the restroom and we went in with our glow stick necklaces perched on our heads like a crown and with our face painted and tattoos…..we were punchy and having fun! As we got back in the car, there was a man standing nearby and our silliness interested him. We completely ignored him! As Valerie was getting in the car, I noticed a butterfly that had his wing stuck under a garbage can. I gently picked him up, showed Valerie and then put him down. He immediately spread his wings and let me take his picture (which I'll put up later).
Our next stop was Smythe Park in Mansfield where they were also having their Relay For Life event. I am sorry to say that it was pitiful. There were maybe 4 tents/team sites there…everything was picked up for the night and only the luminaria was there to remind us that there was indeed an event taking place. Also, there were only 6 other people walking the track. I think it was pitiful and a sad commentary on our community with the lack of participation….and in comparison to the event we had just come from…it was obvious which community needs MUCH MORE awareness to take place.
It was a day well lived. I felt alive, silly, happy and thankful for my life. It was a reminder to me that not so very long ago it was unclear which luminary would hold my name….in honor or in memory.

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 May 12 - 10:19 PM

Great photos!

SRS

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Bobert
Date: 20 May 12 - 09:48 PM

The pics filled with happy people...

Great job, Michelle...

B~

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 20 May 12 - 08:09 PM

Yes, great photos! I love all the smiling faces!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 May 12 - 05:19 AM

love the pics! especially boy & bunny.

sandra (patiently awaiting the rest of the story)

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 May 12 - 11:49 PM

Here is a link to a few recent photos including: A quilt I made today, yesterday's Relay For Life, the glucose implant sensor and Jeremiah.

Photos

Enjoy!

Michelle

PS. Details of Relay to come soon...too busy today!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 19 May 12 - 11:20 PM

Take your time. Tell us more when you can.

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 May 12 - 01:13 AM

Today was a day well lived.
A day to inspire and to be inspired.
A day that leaves me longing for more.
Amazing, exhausting and amazing.
Huh. I sad that twice, didn't I?
Meant every word of it!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 May 12 - 01:04 AM

Today was a day WELL lived! Details later this weekend!

:) Michelle :)

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 12 - 11:29 PM

I imagine you're exhausted. Report back after a good night's sleep!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 18 May 12 - 10:03 PM

I hope the weather was great and you got a thrill out of every minute. Hooray for you!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 12 - 11:50 AM

Sassypants - is what it sounds like! She's revved up and ready to go, she has some attitude and some energy and is ready to rock!

SRS

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 May 12 - 10:12 AM

sassypants?

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 May 12 - 08:28 AM

Today is the day!!! I've got my Sassypants on and I plan to ROCK IT!!!!

Both cameras are charged and ready!!! :)

Thanks for cheering me on!!!!

I love you guys!!!!

XOXOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 May 12 - 02:58 AM

photos, please!

have a great day

sandra (in the chair)

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 17 May 12 - 08:44 PM

Any chance you can put some photos of you at the event where we can all see them? Or links to photos/articles from newspapers?

Enjoy your day! I wish we could all be there in person to cheer you on!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Bobert
Date: 17 May 12 - 07:29 PM

We can just pass the chair around...

B;~)

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 May 12 - 07:17 PM

I think you'll have to be honorary co-chair of that fan club, Mr. Beaubear - there are a lot of other folks here cheering with you!

SRS

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Bobert
Date: 17 May 12 - 06:57 PM

Hey!!!

Send me some of that dessert...

They couldn't have a finer person for Honorary Chair, Michelle...

You've come a long way, Baby...

B~ (Honorary Chair of the Michelle Fan Club)

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 17 May 12 - 06:51 PM

Fantastic day here, got tons done and am now packing up my gear for tomorrow's Relay For Life event where I have been asked to be the Honorary Chair. I will share my story in front of a few hundred people, be a judge on the dessert committee (oh the horror of it all), lead the Survivor's Lap carrying an Olympic torch (that's the theme of this particular relay) and lighting the larger torch that will burn for the remainder of the relay. I am STOKED!

Love to you all!!!

XOXOOXOX

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Bobert
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 06:14 AM

You know that this ol' hillbilly's prayers of thanks have been delivered...

Love ya' bunches, Michelle...

B~

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 02:23 AM

me too

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 14 Mar 12 - 06:02 PM

I'm smiling--at YOU!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Mar 12 - 02:16 PM

Beautiful!!!! Thank you!!!! XOXOOXOXOXOXOXO How can you NOT smile at a sunflower????

XOXOOXOX

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: maeve
Date: 14 Mar 12 - 12:50 PM

Of course it's good! Here's a smile for you:
Sunflowers to celebrate victory!

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Mar 12 - 11:01 AM

Test results are in...up a little bit but not a huge jump. I'm thinking this is good!!! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Mar 12 - 10:08 AM

:) You guys sure do know how to make me smile!!! I don't have my test results yet, might not have them until tomorrow. In the meantime, I've been asked to be the Survivor speaker at the Danville Relay For Life. Some of you might remember that I spoke last spring at the local university Relay to about 400 students. Danville, however, is where I go for all my surgery and chemo. It is a large town and I imagine there will be way over 400 people (although I'm not sure really). While I was at the clinic yesterday and milling around the back where folks get their chemo while a dissolving solution was working on my ever-loving fussy port, one of the nurses came over and asked me if I would be the speaker on survivorship. I just kinda looked at her and she said that they were discussing who might be a good speaker and that my name came up. I am feeling very honored to be asked because they see hundreds of cancer patients on a weekly basis...must be I made an impression somewhere along the line (oh and it might not be a good impression..probably more of a GOOFY impression...I love to play with my nurses!). Anyway, what an absolute honor.

Keep those prayers coming please....I KNOW that they work!!

XOOXOXOXO

Love you all!!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Mar 12 - 09:01 AM

fantastic! & thoroughly deserved

sandra

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: olddude
Date: 13 Mar 12 - 10:22 PM

Getting out my rosary ... it never fails me ...
nothing but good reports ya hear ... nothing else is acceptable

xxo

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: maeve
Date: 13 Mar 12 - 10:16 PM

Tired Michelle has posted a brief update here:
Exercise & Declutter March into Spring 2012

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 13 Mar 12 - 10:07 PM

Add me to the list of people watching for that report.

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Mar 12 - 01:39 AM

well said, maeve

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: maeve
Date: 12 Mar 12 - 11:39 PM

Watching for your report, Michelle. Go find someone who needs to be given one of your blazingly beautiful smiles.

Maeve

Subject: RE: LilyFestre-Mommy+Daddy+Baby...now on to Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Mar 12 - 11:35 PM

Tumor marker check tomorrow, 2 months early due to slowly rising numbers. Mammogram to follow port flush/blood return/labs.

Results in a few days. :/

Michelle