A couple of years ago, my sister was diagnosed with cancer. Her prognosis wasn't good. She had, in addition to other cancers throughout her body, Stage 4 breast cancer. Her oncologist told her that the best he could hope for was to prolong her life and make her comfortable. He started her on estrogen based treatments, no surgery, and hoped for the best. Every time she went in for a PetScan, her tumor markers got smaller! This year, her doctor got approval to try a new medication - one that has yet to be approved by the FDA but one that has been successful in other countries. Amazingly, her tumors continue to shrink. She is now cancer free in some of the areas where cancer was originally found. She takes her medication every day and her fight continues but she is doing very well. If not for the research into this new medication and the original medication she was on, my sister may not be here today. I have a lot to be grateful for.
A colleague of mine recently lost his young son, Shaymus, to cancer. Shaymus was a wise soul and fought a good fight. He inspired a lot of people to be better and really tried to make himself well. In the end, he was too tired and too sick and knew it was his time to go. I don't even think he was 10 years old yet.
Then I read about Ida. Ida is a little girl who lives here in Wisconsin. She was diagnosed with liver cancer at only one year of age. Liver cancer in a child that young is almost unheard of. She went through loads of chemo that made her sick and made her hair fall out. She was in and out of the hospital all the time. And now? Now, Ida is cancer free!
My friend Paul introduced me to St. Baldrick's this year. He was a shavee last year and I decided that I would do it this year too. I'm doing it for my sister and in honor of Ida and all the children who are struggling right now with their own cancer battles. If you can, please donate. Follow this link:
Mary Beth Big Bald Bowling Ball Head
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