| | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 221 Gold Member (200+ posts) |  Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 221 | Brenda had a way of offering no nonsense advice in a compassionate manner. Even though she knew that this disease would take her one day she still kept her sense of humor and selflessly gave of herself to anyone who needed advice or words of encouragement. I believe that we are all better people for having known her and having her touch our lives through her words. The way Brenda lived should be an example to us all.
I offer Brendas family my deepest heartfelt sympathy.
Love and Hugs,
Joy
CG to Father, 75 yo with SCC of the mouth; upper maxillectomy and neck diss. performed on 5/23/07. Father also suffered heart attack during surgery and now has CHF. RT complete on 8/28/07. Cancer back 11/27/07. RT and Chemo to start on 12/17. Cancer back 6/17/08. Finally at rest 08/08/08.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 | Not sure if you all caught Sue's thread in this forum, "Update on Bren"....she kind of led us on to the info there as she was given it.
I do know that in my last e-mail with her she did speak of being tired but was determined to go on her trip. What a fighter!
Sue said she would try to get on in a few days if she was up to it.
I wish everyone here comfort as they cope with our loss of our dear friend.
Love,
Donna
Donna
CG to Mom, dx 4/25/07 with tongue cancer,T3N0,tx began 7/6/07, 31 tx's of IMRT, 8 cycles of Erbitux. Brachytherapy, surgery, left neck dissection and temp trach placed all on 9/17/07, trach removed 10/17/07. ORN of jaw, late effect of radiation symptoms. **lost my beautiful mother on 5/5/11.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 31 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 31 | Hi everyone,
Well, that's it. My dear, sweet, amazing, wonderful mum passed away at 11.15pm PST, 7.15am UK time. The nurse said it was peaceful and she wasn't in any pain.
She's gone to be with gran and grandad, actually, they're probably all sat there having a brandy!
My mum had such an impact on so many lives, and you all had such an impact on here life. Thank you.
I will be having a service here in Orange County - probably on Saturday - and will give you all details of that, and the UK service once it's organized.
Mum asked for donations to be made to this website, so I'll spend the day organizing that also.
I'm hanging in there, spent the night at a friends. I'll be back online later.
Mum - sick as a dog, see her sig.
Dad - diagnosed with throat cancer late 2007.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 | Thinking of you with love and sympathy
Donna
CG to Mom, dx 4/25/07 with tongue cancer,T3N0,tx began 7/6/07, 31 tx's of IMRT, 8 cycles of Erbitux. Brachytherapy, surgery, left neck dissection and temp trach placed all on 9/17/07, trach removed 10/17/07. ORN of jaw, late effect of radiation symptoms. **lost my beautiful mother on 5/5/11.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 | Sue(and everyone)
She seemed so brave and yet so human..I will miss her,
Deb
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997.
DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07 SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0
TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5.
TREATMENT END: 10/1/07
PEG OUT: 1/08
PORT OUT: 4/09
FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams. ALL CLEAR!
Passed away 1/7/17 RIP Bill
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 | I spoke with Bren for an hour and a half ,just a week before i left for Abu Dhabi.She was indeed a lot sicker than she ever told anyone here,and was desolate that she had picked up a flu bug and was unable to meet me as we had arranged but she was very very determined to have Christmas and the New Year with her beloved Ray.We spoke a few times while i was away and she consistently enquired after my state of mind and well being right up to and after i came home.
This was the woman that was Brenda.Always more concerned about others than herself,but in her darkest times she reached out for reassurance.I wish she hadn't suffered so much pain in her last few weeks ,it seems so uneccessary in this day and age,and i am so sorry she didn't get her final wish to die in a hospice with her family all with her.She really didn't want to be in hospital.
It didn't seem much to ask really for a warm loving woman who cared so much about others .
Liz in the UK
Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007
Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.
Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 | What an amazing woman she was. Her attitude sense of humor was so inspirational.
Left tonsil SCC, HPV+. T2N0M0. Tonsillectomy 3-07, bilateral radiation, cisplatin 3x, Tx completed 6-06. Clear PET 4-01-2008.
Thyroidectomy 5-9-08, resulting in permanent surgically-induced hypoparathyroidism and adrenal problems. Bummer.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | Through her posts, her inspiration, her gifts to us all, she will be remembered forever. She has touched us all. My prayers and thoughts for Brenda's family, and for Brenda, I know she has moved on to a better place of eternal joy.
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 27 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 27 | I know I haven't been around here long, but I recognized how much support Brenda gave and how much courage she had. I hate cancer and how it takes someone from the person you know and love to one you hardly recognize. I saw that in my own mother who died from cancer almost 17 years ago. Sue my prayers are with you and your family. My prayers are also with those here that counted Brenda a member of your OCF family. We do have the comfort of knowing she is longer in pain. Although that doesn't always fill the void for those left here on Earth.
Cindy
SCC of tongue removed 3/07 mod. left neck dissection. Tumor reappeared 6/07. Removed 8/07, right neck dissection, free flap from wrist for tongue graph. Radiation 30 (IMRT), chemo cisplatin 4 rounds finished 11/07.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Sue, just post the time of your srevice in Orange County .'m sure most of us will be here praying with you. I'm older than Brenda, but many times I almost called her mom.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
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