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#191666 01-31-2016 05:55 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
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Uptown Offline OP
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Not sure where to post this but we lost Gabe overnight. She was such a beautiful lady and part of the OCF family since 2007. May she rest in peace.


SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
Uptown #191667 01-31-2016 07:52 AM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
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Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Even though I was aware of Gabe being very ill for some time now, it still is a shock when hearing if her passing. Even though she lived on the other side of the world, Gabe and I were good friends for a long time which makes this even harder. Too many good people have recently passed away.

Newer members may not know Gabe, but her posts will live on for a long, long time helping other OC patients and caregivers.

Gabes profile

RIP my friend!



Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
Uptown #191668 01-31-2016 07:58 AM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 701
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"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
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Oh my God! I can't believe it! I really enjoyed knowing Gabe and sharing our love of painting. What a huge loss. She was a beautiful person and helped support me in many situations. I will miss her.


Anita (68)
CG to husband, Clark, 79,
DX SCC 11/07, T4N0Mx, PEG 1/08, RAD, post rad infection 3/08,
HBOT 40 dives, ORN, Surg 11/09 mandibulectomy w/fibular graft.
Plastic Surg 4/10, 12/10, 3/11, 10/11, 4/12, 10/12. All PETS clear,
PEG out 1/11. 6/11 non union jaw fracture
Fractured jaw w/surgery 7/14
Aspiration pneumonia 7/21, 10/22
PEG 7/21
Botox injections
Uptown #191675 01-31-2016 11:48 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 446
"OCF Canuck"
Platinum Member (300+ posts)
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"OCF Canuck"
Platinum Member (300+ posts)

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 446
I'm deeply saddened to hear of Gabe's passing. As with Cathi, I remember clearly when she first found the OCF, and enjoyed many conversations over the years.

The passing of two old friends in less than a month has served as a sober reminder to me, and for those of you newly out of treatment, or with two or three years distance, or those "old timers" like me; NEVER let your guard down! Get check-ups regularly; if your ENT or
Oncologist says you don't need to, find a new Doctor.

It's long been my personal belief that we do ourselves a disservice by considering ourselves "cured" after 5 or more years. I'm coming up on ten years that I view as a long term remission, not that I was "cured". I take every precaution I can & will continue to. In addition, in remembrance of my two lost friends, I will be scheduling a check-up tomorrow for as soon as possible, even though I'm not "due" until June.

Oral cancer CAN & DOES return, even many years later. Please be well...

Wayne


SCC left mandible TIVN0M0 40% of jaw removed, rebuilt using fibula, titanium and tissue from forearm.June 06. 30 IMRT Aug.-Oct. 06
Uptown #191681 01-31-2016 01:23 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
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Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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I'm truly sorry to hear of Gabe's passing, along with Cathy, and Cindy, as well.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs






Uptown #191683 01-31-2016 02:35 PM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,275
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I am so sorry Gabe passed. I remember reading her posts. My heartfelt condolences to her family.


Gloria
She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails... Elizabeth Edwards

Wife to John,dx 10/2012, BOT, HPV+, T3N2MO, RAD 70 gy,Cisplatinx2 , PEG in Dec 6, 2012, dx dvt in both legs after second chemo session, Apr 03/13 NED, July 2013 met to lungs, Phase 1 immunotherapy trial Jan 18/14 to July/14. Taxol/carboplatin July/14. Esophagus re-opened Oct 14. PEG out April 8, 2015. Phase 2 trial of Selinexor April to July 2015. At peace Jan 15, 2016.
Uptown #191684 01-31-2016 03:32 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,024
"OCF Kiwi Down Under"
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This has hit me hard. Gabe was a special friend.
RIP Darling, Beuatiful, Sweet Gabe.
TammyπŸ’”πŸ’”πŸ’”


Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!
Uptown #191685 01-31-2016 03:54 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 595
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 595
Rest in Peace, Semper-Fi Bob


Bob age 57, non smoker,non drinker, ended treatment on 11 Nov 2007 and started back to work on 29 Nov 2007. Veterans Day 2012 the Battle was lowered, folded, Taps was played and the Flag buried as I am know a 5 year survivor. Semper-FI !!!
Uptown #191688 01-31-2016 04:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 291
Gold Member (200+ posts)
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Posts: 291
This hits me hard. Gabe and I belonged to an exclusive circle: the oral cancer/gastrointestinal stromal tumor group. Last time Gabe corresponded with me which was only about 3 months ago was to tell me she was happy for me that my GIST was apparently gone while hers was super aggressive. That speaks volumes to the kind of person Gabe was. Her attitude, her selflessness, really touched me.

GIST is a sarcoma while our OC's, Gabe's and mine were of course carcinomas. They are vastly different in their treatments and the tumor's behavior. Both can be deadly for certain.

I will miss seeing her beautiful photos of Australia and of birds on FB.


SCC tongue 9/2010, excised w/clear margins:8 X 4 mm, 1 mm deep
Neck Met, 10/2010, 1 cm lymph node; 12/21/'10: Neck Diss 30 nodes, 29 clear, micro ECE node, part tongue gloss, no residual scc
IMRT & 6 cisplatin 1/20/11-2/28/11 at MDA
GIST tumor sarcoma, removed 9/2011, no chemo needed
Clear on both counts as of Fall, 2021
Uptown #191689 01-31-2016 04:16 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
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"OCF Down Under, Kiwi"
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I will miss Gabe a lot. She was one of the main people to support me here when I had similar tongue surgery to hers. She has spoken to me on the phone and sent me flowers.

Both Cathi and Gabe were great Facebookers whose posts I enjoyed.

The "downunder" head and necks have lost a fine champion in Gabe. I will not forget her. All my love, Gabe.


1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol.
September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision.
October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT.
February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.
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