Comments on: Countdown http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/2009/02/15/countdown/ A first-hand look at the good, the bad, and the ugly about pancreatic cancer. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:01:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Amy http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/2009/02/15/countdown/#comment-5779 Amy Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:40:10 +0000 http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/?p=128#comment-5779 Hi Kate, I've been following your blog for a while and often check for updates. It's been quite a while and I hope you are OK. Please update if you can, I'm sure I'm not the only one out here thinking of you and holding you in my prayers. Hi Kate, I’ve been following your blog for a while and often check for updates. It’s been quite a while and I hope you are OK. Please update if you can, I’m sure I’m not the only one out here thinking of you and holding you in my prayers.

]]> By: Donna http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/2009/02/15/countdown/#comment-5672 Donna Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:41:00 +0000 http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/?p=128#comment-5672 God bless Patrick Swayze and his family. Rest in peace. God bless Patrick Swayze and his family. Rest in peace.

]]> By: John Powderly MD http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/2009/02/15/countdown/#comment-4341 John Powderly MD Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:12:16 +0000 http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/?p=128#comment-4341 Kate, I was googling my name just for fun, and it linked to your site because one of my GMU KA Fraternity Brothers posted about our cancer research clinic. So, I was shocked when I saw your picture and I realized I remember you well from GMU, and the many KA parties. Since GMY, my life has been devoted to cancer research, and our clinic has multiple cancer vaccine/immunotherapy trials which you would be eligible. Please email me back, and I can help get this info to your local oncologist, to see if you might be interested in these clinical trials. I personally have had a stage IV pancreatic cancer patient respond in the past, which is helping to bring these Phase I drugs into Phase II trials. Good Luck. Please call. John Powderly MD Oncologist and Principal Investigator, Carolina BioOncology Institute 704 947 6599 Kate, I was googling my name just for fun, and it linked to your site because one of my GMU KA Fraternity Brothers posted about our cancer research clinic. So, I was shocked when I saw your picture and I realized I remember you well from GMU, and the many KA parties.

Since GMY, my life has been devoted to cancer research, and our clinic has multiple cancer vaccine/immunotherapy trials which you would be eligible. Please email me back, and I can help get this info to your local oncologist, to see if you might be interested in these clinical trials. I personally have had a stage IV pancreatic cancer patient respond in the past, which is helping to bring these Phase I drugs into Phase II trials. Good Luck. Please call.

John Powderly MD
Oncologist and Principal Investigator, Carolina BioOncology Institute
704 947 6599

]]> By: Dorothy http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/2009/02/15/countdown/#comment-4041 Dorothy Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:20:32 +0000 http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/?p=128#comment-4041 Just another internet fan - but want you to know that I'm thinking about you, Kate, and hoping that you are doing ok. Just another internet fan - but want you to know that I’m thinking about you, Kate, and hoping that you are doing ok.

]]> By: Debbi Veney http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/2009/02/15/countdown/#comment-4037 Debbi Veney Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:37:22 +0000 http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/?p=128#comment-4037 Hi Kate, It's been a while since we chatted but I think of you often and pray that you are healing and continuing to be strong on this very difficult journey. I celebrated my 3 year anniversary since the Whipple in May and 2 years since my bowel resection in March. As I continue on this journey, I continue to pray and ask God to heal you and so many others who have this awful disease. As you know, I believe that through prayer all things are possible. Keep the faith and keep praying! Debbi Hi Kate,

It’s been a while since we chatted but I think of you often and pray that you are healing and continuing to be strong on this very difficult journey. I celebrated my 3 year anniversary since the Whipple in May and 2 years since my bowel resection in March. As I continue on this journey, I continue to pray and ask God to heal you and so many others who have this awful disease. As you know, I believe that through prayer all things are possible.

Keep the faith and keep praying!

Debbi

]]> By: Dennis Pyritz, RN http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/2009/02/15/countdown/#comment-3390 Dennis Pyritz, RN Sun, 24 May 2009 00:28:50 +0000 http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/?p=128#comment-3390 How are things going? I have added you to my blogroll - Cancer Blog Links at www.beingcancer.net - my first pancreatic blogger. Take care, dennis How are things going? I have added you to my blogroll - Cancer Blog Links at http://www.beingcancer.net - my first pancreatic blogger. Take care, dennis

]]> By: Jayne http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/2009/02/15/countdown/#comment-2869 Jayne Wed, 06 May 2009 02:51:10 +0000 http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/?p=128#comment-2869 So glad I found your blog. My you are inspirational and I love your Blue Merle Sheltie. I have one too! She is 3 and her name is Blue Belle. Here's to a cure in our lifetime! No more chemo for both of us! Wishful thinking on my part but miracles do exist and I plan to start a new diet once I am able to eat normally!) So glad I found your blog. My you are inspirational and I love your Blue Merle Sheltie. I have one too! She is 3 and her name is Blue Belle. Here’s to a cure in our lifetime! No more chemo for both of us! Wishful thinking on my part but miracles do exist and I plan to start a new diet once I am able to eat normally!)

]]> By: Dorothy http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/2009/02/15/countdown/#comment-1724 Dorothy Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:29:55 +0000 http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/?p=128#comment-1724 Hi, I check in with your blog to see how you're doing. It was good to see a new post from you. Wishing you well - and wishing you MANY more Valentine's days! Hi, I check in with your blog to see how you’re doing. It was good to see a new post from you. Wishing you well - and wishing you MANY more Valentine’s days!

]]> By: James Tripodi http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/2009/02/15/countdown/#comment-1556 James Tripodi Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:10:41 +0000 http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/?p=128#comment-1556 Dear Kate, You do not know me. As you can see via this email, I've come to know you. I've come to know Randy Pausch as well and I am sure you know him. I lost my Mom to PC 3.5 years ago. She was diagnosed, had the Whipple and passed exactly 15 months post-op as predicted on diagnosis. She had 11 kids and lived a bountiful 71 years on this planet and was the most kind and giving human being I'll never know. That battle with PC still rages very hard in my mind and I constantly recount everything. It was not fun. Most human beings do not understand it. I do. And you do too. Actually I really do understand your emotions. This is not a game for the faint or the weak. This is one reserved for the strong, the tough, the fearless; He/she who can take the worst in life head on and deal with it and challenge it - and survive. That can’t go on a resume. You are doing that and my Mom did as well. You’re young and have a legit crack at winning. I won't lie and can't predict the future. My Mom did not win, but the battle was brutal and fought with dignity and I was a big part of it and am very proud yet scarred. I replay events quite often and most do not understand. You do. Sleep which rarely comes is filled with replay. I suspect that will not end anytime soon. Pride is there too though and my sense of importance and values is now nicely adjusted. I just wanted to tell you that and I will be truthful. We do not know if you'll win but it is a battle worth fighting and if you win, you will encompass a happiness you can’t fathom. At the same time you’ll join a class in a most rarefied group of people and nothing in life will feel any better. You’ve a good crack at it so all I can tell you is to go out and just win – nothing else. You’ve demonstrated so much and I’d love to meet you and chat to be honest. I’ve seen too much what losing in the PC world is like. I want to see what a win is like. You are a winner and I think it would be neat to talk with a winner in this game – The rarest of rare breeds - you. Just my thoughts. James Tripodi Mahwah, NJ – 201-818-2540 jtripodi@talx.com Dear Kate,
You do not know me. As you can see via this email, I’ve come to know you. I’ve come to know Randy Pausch as well and I am sure you know him. I lost my Mom to PC 3.5 years ago. She was diagnosed, had the Whipple and passed exactly 15 months post-op as predicted on diagnosis. She had 11 kids and lived a bountiful 71 years on this planet and was the most kind and giving human being I’ll never know.

That battle with PC still rages very hard in my mind and I constantly recount everything. It was not fun. Most human beings do not understand it. I do. And you do too.
Actually I really do understand your emotions. This is not a game for the faint or the weak. This is one reserved for the strong, the tough, the fearless; He/she who can take the worst in life head on and deal with it and challenge it - and survive. That can’t go on a resume. You are doing that and my Mom did as well. You’re young and have a legit crack at winning. I won’t lie and can’t predict the future. My Mom did not win, but the battle was brutal and fought with dignity and I was a big part of it and am very proud yet scarred.

I replay events quite often and most do not understand. You do. Sleep which rarely comes is filled with replay. I suspect that will not end anytime soon. Pride is there too though and my sense of importance and values is now nicely adjusted. I just wanted to tell you that and I will be truthful. We do not know if you’ll win but it is a battle worth fighting and if you win, you will encompass a happiness you can’t fathom. At the same time you’ll join a class in a most rarefied group of people and nothing in life will feel any better. You’ve a good crack at it so all I can tell you is to go out and just win – nothing else. You’ve demonstrated so much and I’d love to meet you and chat to be honest. I’ve seen too much what losing in the PC world is like. I want to see what a win is like. You are a winner and I think it would be neat to talk with a winner in this game – The rarest of rare breeds - you.
Just my thoughts.
James Tripodi Mahwah, NJ – 201-818-2540
jtripodi@talx.com

]]> By: Sheryl http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/2009/02/15/countdown/#comment-1494 Sheryl Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:19:31 +0000 http://www.katethaxton.com/survivingpc/?p=128#comment-1494 You have just put into writing everything that my Brian feels. He just passed his 3 year mark (Valentines Day) and I KNOW that he wonders if he'll have a 4th, 5th, etc. We are in a different space than we were a few months ago. We have to figure out how to LIVE with this cancer because it is not going away. That is a hard thing. Brian was dx in 2006 and had a whipple in Nov of that year. He went back to work in Jan. 2007. At our first bonfire of 2007 we burned, page by page, the 2006 calendar that had all of his appointments written on it. It was an awesome thing to do! I am so glad to see you write again, and that you are well enough to do so. Hope. Believe. Dream. Sheryl You have just put into writing everything that my Brian feels. He just passed his 3 year mark (Valentines Day) and I KNOW that he wonders if he’ll have a 4th, 5th, etc. We are in a different space than we were a few months ago. We have to figure out how to LIVE with this cancer because it is not going away. That is a hard thing.

Brian was dx in 2006 and had a whipple in Nov of that year. He went back to work in Jan. 2007. At our first bonfire of 2007 we burned, page by page, the 2006 calendar that had all of his appointments written on it. It was an awesome thing to do!

I am so glad to see you write again, and that you are well enough to do so.

Hope. Believe. Dream.

Sheryl

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