Support for LateToSchool

[churchmusicmom]

<p>YAY, LTS, go for it! </p>

<p>I love the Verizon posse image. That’s me right behind the creepy guy saying “can you hear me now???”</p>

[mstee]

<p>Just checking in, haven’t visited in a little while. I see I missed a few new developments. Amazing thread. Amazing Garden. A date! Oh, that sounds fun!</p>

<p>I love that visual image, Alumother – a cloud of butterflies surrounding latetoschool everywhere she goes.</p>

[SBmom]

<p>I love the network/posse concept. Perfect. You can run the outfit by us too, LTS, we’ll be happy to weigh in.</p>

[binx]

<p>Absolutely not, SBmom - I am not getting anywhere near a scale.</p>

[limner]

<p>LTS, have a great time–and then tell us about it! (I’d much rather do this vicariously than for real. :))</p>

<p>maineparent, so I guess I should be glad that my H didn’t ask if I’d bought a new couch?</p>

[NYMomof2]

<p>This thread now rivals Sinner’s Alley for entertainment value!</p>

[GreyDad]

<p>I’m trying to post a song that mythmom is trying to get up, but we’re not set up for attachments. Does anyone know how to do that?</p>

[mafool]

<p>LTS, don’t mind us! This reminds of the year in HS that the first girl in our group was invited to prom (I think we were freshmen), and we all went to her house to “help” her get ready.</p>

[Alumother]

<p>GreyDad - if it has a video associated with it you can put it on YouTube:).</p>

[mythmom]

<p>Just an MP3 song from a CD.</p>

[epistrophy]

<p>In Massachusetts:</p>

<p>

An especially heartwarming valentine was sent out this week to more than 150 cancer survivors from the students at Sacred Heart Elementary School and the Weymouth Relay For Life.</p>

<p>The postcard combines the words and artwork from three valentines selected to represent about 100 cards created by the students.</p>

<p>The remaining original cards will be delivered on Valentine’s Day to residents of the Braintree Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.</p>

<p>“All the cards were beautiful,” said Relay For Life co-chair Mary Ficociello, who is also a six-year survivor of breast cancer. “A lot of them said, ‘We’re praying for you,’ ‘I hope you feel better,’ ‘We’re proud of you.’ Many of them were not specific to cancer survivors.”</p>

<p>The printed valentine card includes a design by Patrick Sexton, Grade 2, of two people and a heart surrounded by X’s and O’s.</p>

<p>He wrote, “I hope you have a nice day. I hope you feel better.”</p>

<p>Brendan White, Grade 4, simply wrote, “Happy Valentine’s Day” on a card showing a bluebird carrying an envelope with hearts coming out all around it.</p>

<hr>

<p>Making the valentines was rewarding for the students and enlightening for them, too.</p>

<p>“They know about cancer,” Ficociello said. “Unfortunately, these kids are also surrounded by cancer among their relatives, teachers, and friends. It’s not a secret any more. . . .”

</p>

<p>[Valentines</a> by students warm the hearts of cancer survivors - Weymouth, MA - Weymouth News](<a href=“http://www.wickedlocal.com/weymouth/news/x1973326072]Valentines”>http://www.wickedlocal.com/weymouth/news/x1973326072)</p>

<p>And Oregon:</p>

<p>

There are very few times in a person’s life more traumatic than the day they hear the words: “You have cancer.” In an instant, their lives turn upside down and they are faced with a myriad of decisions, questions and fears.</p>

<p>Now imagine hearing those words and being a young child who’s only concerns should be too much homework or if the holidays will ever get here.</p>

<p>For those youngsters who have gone through the trauma of a cancer diagnosis, the American Cancer Society has developed a program that will take some of the concern from their shoulders as they approach their college years.</p>

<p>The Society’s Cancer Survivor College Scholarship Program is designed to help students who have been diagnosed with cancer pay for part of their tuition.</p>

<p>One such student is Madison High School Alumni, Aleena Stephens-Tregarth, a freshman at the University of Oregon. Aleena is a 13-year survivor of Craniopharyngioma, also known as pituitary tumors.</p>

<p>"After having my brain tumor removed, I doubled my body weight in less than eight months. I would look in the mirror and ask, “Who is that little girl?” said Stephens-Tregarth. "Many doctors and neurophysiologists told my parents that I would have learning difficulties and I wanted to defy the gravitational odds that were against me. I began studying and challenging myself in many subjects, and have continued challenging myself throughout my education.</p>

<p>“I was extremely lucky to have survived, since survival rates of brain tumors were relatively low when mine was removed. . . .”

</p>

<p>[OregonLive.com:</a> Everything Oregon](<a href=“http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/1202844014290520.xml&coll=6]OregonLive.com:”>http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/1202844014290520.xml&coll=6)</p>

[NYMomof2]

<p>The number of pages on this thread is about to go into three digits.</p>

[Karen_Colleges]

<p>padad: “The officer in question may be the fortunate one, as many of us here have, learning about life differently by interacting with you.”</p>

<p>Yes. I noticed that I have learned things on this thread that make me a much better friend to my IRL friends (in particular, to those who are going through some rough spots).</p>

[epistrophy]

<p>. . . this one by a college biology professor, first diagnosed with cancer in 2004, which appears on the university’s website. </p>

<p>In tone and detail, Professor Upton’s reflections on his experience - in their mix of curiosity and clinical interest, calmness and humor - are a bit reminiscent of Dr. Oliver Sacks’ comments about his experiences with cancer in the interview I posted a while back. </p>

<p>A brief excerpt:</p>

<p>

I thought some of you might be interested in more pictures. I especially like the one that shows the crater in my brain from tumor #2 (below, right). If you can believe it, normal displaced brain filled right back in where giganto tumor #1 originally resided. Other than some residual swelling, it looks pretty normal (not shown). But, repeated surgeries on tumor #2 have resulted in my walking with a walker (actually a hemi-walker) or sitting in a wheel chair. It’s unlikely that I will improve much more. However, it does not seem to affect my responsibilities at work (other than I tend to get to places more slowly than before, have difficulty getting through heavy doors with spring-loaded hinges, can’t go up or down stairs easily, can’t write very well, must use the computer one handed, I don’t do well at all getting up from low toilet seats, and I have some minor short term memory problems). I guess the upside about all of this is that Southwest airlines treated me and my wheel chair like royalty over Thanksgiving.

</p>

<p>[Upton’s</a> cancer update](<a href=“http://www.k-state.edu/parasitology/cancer.html]Upton’s”>Upton's cancer update)</p>

[epistrophy]

<p>

“The pictures are so inspiring because it’s actual patients.”</p>

<p>If you’ve ever fought the battle against cancer, you’ve taken a ride on that emotional roller coaster.</p>

<p>"They go through the process of healing, recovery, pain, all the things they’ve gone through, the complete range of emotions.”</p>

<p>Five years ago Lilly Oncology found a way to give cancer survivors a way to let those emotions out while also showing their artistic side. It started with 10 paintings and is now up to 2000.</p>

<p>This is oncology on canvas. People are usually exposed to the world of serious art when they visit a museum, and this exhibit at the visual arts center in downtown Panama City is no different.</p>

<p>Cancer is serious business, and not just for the person whose been diagnosed. Fighting cancer is not just a single battle. It’s a battle that is conducted by everyone in your family.</p>

<p>Local oncologist Dr. John Nanfro was instrumental in getting this art exhibit to our area, along with the Tommy Hamm Senior Cancer Center.</p>

<p>“I’ve seen it in New York, Chicago, and to have it come to Panama City is just emotionally overwhelming when you watch your patients looking at them you just see this glow in their eyes and just how they are, it just makes them feel like, I got through that, I’m a survivor.”</p>

<p>Every single one of these pieces exhibited here are cancer patients, cancer survivors, and that’s the way this particular exhibit is designed to bring hope and optimism to people that have cancer and have dealt with it, family members who are dealing with it on behalf of a loved one.</p>

<p>Several of the pieces are by female physicians who have gone through cancer themselves.</p>

<p>“So it sort of tells you that we are all one, cancer affects everyone and we’re no different and no matter what personal strength we think we have, cancer can bring us to our knees and then we recover and cancer gives us a greater perspective on life to make us live life to the fullest.”

</p>

<p>[Oncology</a> on Canvas](<a href=“http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/15599017.html]Oncology”>http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/15599017.html)</p>

[momof3sons]

<p>So, LTS, is that date with Washington’s finest set up yet? Inquiring minds want to know. Hope you are having a good week. Please post if/when you are up to it.</p>

[latetoschool]

<p>Ah - no dates for me yet; I didn’t respond to his latest email or voicemail message. I had chemotherapy Monday, and, then, Tuesday night, freezing rain in Washington. I intentionally take the Metro in order to walk the mile to and from my house so that if all else fails I am at least getting two miles of walking exercise every day, and, anyway, slipped and slid home in patent leather shoes no less - I forgot that it gets colder, faster, in Arlington and that the stuff would freeze. Almost fell several times, finally figured out that walking in the grass helps. </p>

<p>Then, Tuesday night, I got just simply ridiculously sick with some sort of flu symtoms - burning with fever, chills, aches, etc. Still went to work Wednesday (was tempted to drive but there were icecicles (sp???) hanging off the Mustang - that looked really weird), but was so sick by late afternoon took a taxi home. Slept until this morning - like 16 hours straight, then came to work again, feel a lot better but no where near 100%. </p>

<p>So while everyone else is enjoying their Valentines Day I will be in bed early again. This makes me sad but I’m determined to make up for it, once I get past this flu situation…</p>

[tobia_e]

<p>Best wishes for a fast recovery, LTS. Your go-getter spirit truly amazes me.</p>

[latetoschool]

<p>Thanks, I have never felt so poorly in my life…felt so bad, and everything hurt, I wanted to take some Tylenol or something, but couldn’t even manage to make it to the internet to try to figure out how Tylenol interacts with my current chemotherapy drug, let alone make it to the drug store to buy any. I am thankful though that today I am better - at least that tells me some small part of my immune system is working…</p>

<p>I am disappointed, I was too ill Tuesday night to even watch the news reports on Obama’s Potomac victories - am thrilled that he won, and sorry I missed all the coverage.</p>

[mstee]

<p>Feel Better LTS. Hope your feeling frisky enough to get out on that date soon.</p>