#4955 02-05-2005 04:53 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP  Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | My daughter, Kelly, was crowned the Atlantic Shores Christian School 2005 Homecoming Queen tonight......every young ladies dream. True to form, she had the crown off within 5 minutes and was in the bleachers with her cheer team, gown and all, cheering on "her" boys. I am amazingly proud of this incredible life I brought into this world. She graduates in June and I pray every night that she will choose to stay home to attend college rather then move away.
I also count my blessings that I am here to witness her success in everything she tries her hand at.
There were two young ladies in the homecoming court tonight that touch my heart and whose family I think of every day. We call them The Carlson family, and they are one of the most popular families at our school. There are four Carlson children, Jared, Anna, Ryan, and Sally....all the type of children we dream of having. Dad is one of the kindest men I've known to date. Mom is dying of ovarian cancer and has been battling and fighting for every minute of life for the past four years. They gave her a year to live, four years ago. Her will to live is palpable when you're in a room with her. It's obvious that she's sick, very sick, but she is always smiling. These kids have spent the past four years watching their mother slowly die and her time is getting closer and closer. The cancer has spread to her stomach and liver now. They operated almost two weeks ago and removed half of her liver and most of her stomach, they told her family they didn't expect her to leave the hospital after this last go around. She begged to be able to come to homecoming, both her daughters were in the court, Anna as a 10th grader, and Sally as the 11th grade rep. She simply wasn't strong enough to come and I felt myself watching her children just as much as I watched my own child. I wish there was a way for me to give Mrs. Carlson the memories I have of her daughters at homecoming. Her daughter, Sally, was named Maid of Honor, a special honor for an 11th grader. When we were all taking pictures after the ceremony, I watched the two girls with their father and could see that the two girls missed their mother being there. They went out back and used the cell phone to call her at the hospital and left early to go to the hospital rather then out to eat with the rest of the court. I left there in awe of these kids and this wonderful, brave woman lying in Norfolk General Hospital tonight, knowing she has very little time left, but still manages a smile and a positive attitude for her children.
It is a certainty that cancer disrupts and changes our lives, but some of us are so much luckier then others.
Please say a prayer for the Carlson family.
Thanks for listening,
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#4956 02-05-2005 11:57 PM | Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 156 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 156 | minnie how very sad i was reading your post, icannot believe a family can go on with so much sadness. they must be a very strong and together family my thoughts and prayers go out to them all
god bless them and walk with them in there hour of need maz | | |
#4957 02-06-2005 12:01 AM | Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 156 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 156 | minnie.how proud you must be for your daughter , always rwmember what you sow ,you reap. well done regards maz | | |
#4958 02-06-2005 03:21 AM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | Minnea
What a heart wrenching story..while being so sorry for your friends I am very grateful that you were able to be there for your daughter. Not only are you a great mum but a very generous person with your time, as proven by all you do for this web site.
You desrve a big pat on the back....xxx
Take Care
Marica
Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
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#4959 02-06-2005 04:12 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 | Minnea, thank you for sharing this with us. While a sad story, it shows the indominable spirit of humankind if we look at the silver lining of the cloud. My prayers go out to the Carlson family. I am sure the children are as proud of their mother as she is of them. The Lord gives us only that which we can handle.
Congratulations on the honors your daughter earned. Another example of the rewards for fighting this disease as long as we can or need to. God bless.
Regards, Kirk Georgia
Stage IV, T1N2aM0, right tonsil primary, Tonsilectomy 11/03, 35 rad/3cisplatin chemo, right neck dissection 1/04 - 5/04.
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#4960 02-06-2005 07:27 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Minnie, thank you so very much for sharing this story. I will be praying for the Carlson family. God Bless, Love, Carol
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
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#4961 02-06-2005 10:48 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Minnie
Thanks for sharing; "there but for the grace of God go I.."
my prayers for the Carlson family, also for you for Friday...
Sunshine... love and hugs
Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
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#4962 02-06-2005 02:20 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 | Wow, Minnie, sure puts the life we are living now in perspective. Way to go with your daughter and will definitely keep the Carlson family in my prayers.
God bless,
Debbie
Debbie - Caregiver for husband, Dan, diagnosed with tongue cancer 7/03. Partial gloss., mod. neck dissections, graft. Recurrence neck tumor 12/03. Radical left neck dissection 12/24/03-unable to get all the tumor. 8 weeks chemo/rad beginning 1/12/04.
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#4963 02-06-2005 09:13 PM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 134 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 134 | Minnie,
That is so exciting for your daughter. And I am saying prayers for the Carlson Family.
God Bless,
stephany
Stephany.Daughter of mother who passed away 3/26/05 from Recurrent Gum Squamous Cell Carcinoma. She had 3 surgeries, and 6 weeks radiation, and then passed due to infection. I miss her very much. She was 65 years young when she passed. Love you Mom!
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#4964 02-07-2005 05:03 PM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Hi Minnie,
That was a very moving posting. Congratulations
to your daughter. You should be proud of her as I'm sure you are.
I will add the Carlson family to my prayer list.
She seems like a person we all could learn from.
Could you post her name for us?
It is so thoughtful of you to share in Sallys
acheivements. You are such a valuable member of this forum. Looking forward to meeting you soon.
Love ya, Danny Boy
Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.
Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06
Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
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