Saturday, March 8, 2008 - Today was Nana Helen's funeral. A small but lovely mass at St. Rita's was followed by a large and wonderful service at the Tabor Academy chapel and a reception in a nearby hall. Inspirational words, beautiful music, touching stories from family and friends, many tears, many hugs... Both services were inspiring... Helen touched sooo many lives. She was well loved, and will be deeply missed.
I talked with many people who we haven't seen since Mady's diagnosis, and everyone was happy to see her and very interested in how she's feeling. For the record, she seems to be doing great these days... not going to school much, but reading voraciously--sometimes up to a book a day. She's also doing reasonably well with her grades, which is amazing to me considering how little she attends. Perhaps this is a testimonial to the power of one-on-one tutoring, compared to being part of a large class. Or, maybe they're cutting her a lot of slack. Either way, she'll be fine... she's a smart girl, stronger than ever, who still has her sharp sense of humor and that twinkle in her eye.
Mady was supposed to start her next phase of chemo yesterday, but her oncologists said it was okay to delay a few days for the funeral. So, I think "Second Induction" starts on Tuesday. Those of you following along with a scorecard (the protocol information that I provided earlier) may be saying to yourselves "Huh? Second Induction? I don't see that on that nice calendar you posted a while back on Day 59." Well, my response is, hmmmm... you seem to be right. I'll check on it and get back to you!
In any event, Mady is about six months into a 2 1/2 year protocol... 20% done, according to my calculations. She will definitely have to complete the entire chemo program to have a good chance of completely ridding her body of cancer. There are no tests accurate enough to detect any leukemia in her body right now, but the oncologists know that if they stopped at this point (which they used to do), the cancer would very likely return with a vengeance in a few years. Decades of data show that there is great benefit gained by treating ALL for 2 1/2 years... likely killing that all-important very last leukemia cell. Why not 5 years? Or 10 years? Actually, they have tried that, with very little additional benefit. Barring complications, Mady is likely to be cured shortly after her 16th birthday in early 2010. Ah, what a great day that will be.
In the meantime... We love you Nana Helen, and we miss you.. -tk
Mady and Nana Helen... a few years ago
Day 181: The Funeral
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5 comments:
Dear Chris, Trey, Maddy and JJ,
We're thinking of you in your time of loss.
Chris, your Mom was such a wonderful lady, I remember her quiet sweetness and gentle smile.
Hugs and much love, Laurie(and Dan) on Whidbey
Hi Chris, Trey, Mady, Julia, it's us around the corner, the ones with the ferocious dog. We think of you every day and marvel at your strength to move through these days. I heard in a book (I mean, on tape) about God's work being in three stages: impossible, difficult, done. Perhaps that will be your experience. We love you and are here all the time for you. Much love, Jane, Mike, Mark, Ginny, and Mick (FD)
We are thinking about you guys, David says "hi" (you know he's not all that chatty, but we are both sending love up to you.
As for Mady, all I could think of is you and Chris should start saving for a sweet ride for one future very happy 16 year old. That day will be here before you know it.
Hugs!
Kathy
Sweet Family,
Reading of the most recent event of loss, we are struck with only the need to reassure all of you that support and love is part of every thought that we have as we think of all of you right now.
Hugs all around - love, love, love ....
Connor and Donna and Charlotte
The chemo will go by very fast- believe me! I thought my dads chemo was never going to end, but his final biopsy is in August. Im always hoping and praying. Me and my mom are also sorry for your loss.
Love, Jenna Drolette
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