That quote by Rilke and the one by Emerson are two of my alltime favorites (I had both up on the walls of my house (Rilke) and office (Emerson) long before I ever got hit by cancer.

Minnie, your story of talking to your 12 year old daught really touched me too. I'm sure that was one of the hardest answers you've ever had to give but I'm guessing your daughter will remember that much later, maybe when she's a mother, and understand even more deeply your courage.

Nelie

SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"