#8402 10-02-2006 11:03 AM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 67 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP  OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 67 | I received a letter from Danny's family today with a donation for $1000.00 from people at the funeral. I thought I would share it ith everyone here. Dear Brian, I am sorry it has taken so long to send you this letter and the money from Dan
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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#8403 10-04-2006 12:30 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Brian,
Thank you for sharing Marcee's letter. Although I never met Danny, he was a great "friend".
This post has helped me a great deal in handling his passing. His humor, love and inspiration is greatly missed.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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#8404 10-04-2006 07:00 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 | Brian,
I cant tell you how much it saddens to hear about Dan. I have been away from the group for a while kinda of getting on with life if you will but I never forgot about Danny. He and Lynn (another great past member) really helped me when I was totally convinced I was going to die.
When his recurrance happened it broke my heart.I was so sad for him. But he kept very upbeat and positive.
He told me something that changed my thought process profoundly.
He helped me to realize that no matter how long the this cancer free ride lasts, every tick of the clock is time I didnt think I had. And never never take one second for granted.
Thanks for posting this Brian.
Thank you Danny. I will miss you.
Your friend,
Robert Hamilton
SCC 1.6cm Right Tonsil 10/3/03, 1 Node 3cm, T1N2AM0, Tonsil Removed, Selective Neck Disection, 4 Wks Induction Chemo (Taxol,Cisplatin), 8 Weeks Chemo/Radiation (5FU,Hydroxyurea,Iressa), IMRT x 40, Treatment Complete 2/13/04.
41 Years Old At Diagnosis
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#8405 10-04-2006 12:46 PM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Brian, thank you for posting the letter and thank you to Marcee. I had the pleasure and honor of meeting Danny Boy and Marcee at the Virginia OCF Walk. Oh my, he had a twinkle in his eye. I felt I had known him forever, he blew kisses to me when they pulled away....I will never forget him. I miss him......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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#8406 10-04-2006 04:48 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Danny did have a twinkle in his eye, didn't he Carol? And it was an even brighter twinkle when he was looking at Marcee. Those two were certainly in love. Danny left his mark on the world that's for sure.
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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#8407 10-05-2006 05:58 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Brian,
Thank you for sharing. I know each time we lose one of our own, as I call it, it tears out a piece of our heart. I just want to reiterate how thankful I am that you have given us a place to hang out and meet such wonderful people.
Ed
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
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#8408 10-13-2006 11:16 AM | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 583 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 583 | Thank You Brian for sharing this beautiful letter from Dans family.
Marcee will pray for us, but I will pray for her and her family.
Diane
2004 SCC R.tip 1/4 tongue Oct. 2005 R. Neck SCC cancer/Chemo Cisplatin 2x/8wks. Rad. Removed Jugular vein, Lymph gland & some neck muscle. TX finished 1/20/06... B.Cancer 3/29/07 Finished 6/07 Bi-op 7/15/09 SCC in-situ, laser surgery removed from 1st. sight. Right jaw replacement 11/3/14. 9 yrs cancer free as of Jan. 2015
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#8409 10-13-2006 12:17 PM | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 24 Member | | Member
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 24 | I too have not been on in awhile, trying to carve out some kind of a life. I am so saddened to hear of Danny and his wife's loss. I must admit I was afraid to "come back", not knowing what I would learn. This news is most certainly heartbreaking and he will be sadly missed.
Doreen
Caregiver to husband Lee-Stage IV SCC base of tongue/epiglottis. Had total glossectomy/partial laryngectomy/ radical neck dissec 4/05 followed by chemo and rad.
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