MI Survivors

Sphynx

Welcome Kimbly - C'mon and join us some time. We don't bite - not too hard. Our group is from all over but we manage to get together several times a year and always have a great time.

Wings - A Popeye mouth? At least you have lips. Believe me, you look great. We need to have Susielou price lips for me. Where is Susielou?

I have a few pics to post. There is a nice one of Rockysmom, Not-me and family and Skinny Carol (SC) and family. SC's mom had breast cancer but I didn't know that all her aunts on her mom's side had it and 3 died young. I suggested that SC, Maria and the other sisters get gene tested but they are afraid to do it. Maria had a funny mammogram story at Hockey Town and I was trying to remember the details of Neesie's gyn story but forgot it! We will have to save them for our next gathering.

I am having a hard time posting the pics. What the heck, what changed?

SEI

It was great seeing everyone.  I'm still surprised I made it home.  I think I drove on every expressway in the tri-county area on the way home.  Still not sure how I ended up on south 75. 

We need to get together again real soon.  We definitely didn't get enough time to talk. 

Sounds like there are problems posting photos, so here's a link to mine.  Maybe that'll work better.  Let me know if you have any problems.

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563697509Licobs?vhost=good-times Take care,

Irene

neesie

Thanks for the pics, Irene!  I have no doubt in my mind about the route you took to get home..................probably the same one that DD and I took on the way there!  Miserable Construction!

I agree, not enough talk time...................shall we try and plan a lunch?  In June..the 14th and 22nd. are out for me.............I know the 15th is Fathers Day which for some might pose a problem.

How's the 28th or 29th look??  Evenings work for me during the week..but I know alot of you work full time and don't want to drive after...(I wouldn't!)

Denise 

rockysmom

Hi all. The company I work for is a large sponsor of the Relay For Life in Redford, MI. I purchased a luminaria for "my friends at Breastcancer.org". I'll be going back out there later tonight for the ceremony and to walk a few more laps.

winggirl2

Rockysmom - Thank you for lighting a luminaria for us. That must of been a touching ceremony and walk.

Irene - Great pictures thank you for sharing.

Hi to all the MI gals.

Wings

rockysmom

[IMG]http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL15/729461/19802255/320469688.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL15/729461/19802255/320469692.jpg[/IMG]

rockysmom

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL15/729461/19802255/320469688.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL15/729461/19802255/320469692.jpg

Anna_Marie_Rogers

I'm back to reading the forum again.  This grandmother of two thing is keeping me too busy.  I hope to come to your next get-together, God and OPEC willing. 

Ann

Anna_Marie_Rogers

I'm back to reading the forum again.  This grandmother of two thing is keeping me too busy.  I hope to come to your next get-together, God and OPEC willing. 

Ann

Anna_Marie_Rogers

I'm back to reading the forum again.  This grandmother of two thing is keeping me too busy.  I hope to come to your next get-together, God and OPEC willing. 

Ann

Anna_Marie_Rogers

I'm back to reading the forum again.  This grandmother of two thing is keeping me too busy.  I hope to come to your next get-together, God and OPEC willing. 

Ann

sunkistmi

Hello ladies,

My name is Wendy (Sunkistmi) and I just found this site.  It looks like the last post was 4 years ago so maybe I'm not the only one that didn't know it was here.  I was dx with DCIS right breast 2/06, had lump but dirty margins, mast w/DIEP recon in SC 4/06.  Recovery was fast, went to AK end of june for 5 weeks!  Now DCIS is back in left breast.  Met with PS yesterday and she will be meeting with the surgeon that did my DIEP Weds.  She trained with him after her collegue saw my surgery.  It is so great to now have a dr doing perferator flap recon here in MI.  I was dumbfounded to find out that with Karmanos, U of M and all the other cancer centers in MI that no one was doing perforater flap recon.  There is a good chance that I will be the first in MI to have the newest flap recon using the muscle from the interior thigh, since there is no muscle on the tummy.  The PS is leary of doing the GAP because of problems with my sciatic nerve.  They try to stay way away from it but I would rather not take any chances.

I live in Livonia, am 55 yrs. old, and have been married 34 years to a wonderful man who has been thru way too much for me, but he loves me.  I am so blessed.  Our only son is a junior majoring in trumpet performance at Western Mich. Unv. in Kalamazoo.  I also share our home with two girl kitties.  I have one sister, a colon cancer survivor and lost mom to bc and dad to pancreatic cancer.  His sister and mother both died of ovarian cancer.  We really know about cancer in this family.

I love to quilt and do most kinds of handwork and needlework.  I also love to garden and ride horses when my back can handle it.  We love to travel and are active in our church, including working with our Sr. High Youth (when we were younger) and leading mission trips to Alaska, Mexico, Jamaica and Mississippi.  We have been going to a bible camp in Alaska for the last 16 years working for 2-5 weeks at a time.  I have a good life. 

This surgery coming up will be the 22nd one I will have had since '71, including 2 knee replacements & thyroid cancer surgery.  I am REALLY tired of surgery.

It would be fun to get together as a group.  On one of the sites there is a group of quilters and I am trying to get together a fabric exchange that we could then put together into our own throws.  It would be a group memory for each of us that when we need a hug, we could wrap up in it.  I volunteered to act as the 'stackmaster' and send out the fabric squares but have not heard from anyone.

I feel very blessed to have found this site on the weekend.  I have not done much else but type on the site, but I was so upset to find out the cancer was back.  In hindsight, the cancer was most likely there in 4/06 when I had the last surgery.  I should have had a bi-mast but at the time didn't want to take off a "healthy" breast.  No crystal balls and it does no good to beat up on self (at least I keep reminding myself of that fact). 

Thank you to all of you, my sisters, and I hope to hear from my MI sisters soon.   

Wendy

Sphynx

Wendy - You must have read an old post because this site is one of the most active on breastcancer.org! I think we have more posts than the MOJO topic. Welcome and thank you for the introduction and details of your reconstruction here in Michigan. I am intrigued by reconstruction using thigh fat. I asked about it when I had reconstruction using implants in 2005 and know there was no-one around then who would consider it. Please keep us posted on how everything goes.

I'm sorry you are back with DCIS on the other side. I know it must be quite a shock.

Us Michigan chaquitas get together often and always have a blast. Stick around and meet us. We met in Novi a few times and also Brighton and Ann Arbor. Neesie was talking about meeting again soon and I'm looking forward to that.

We have a pretty big group that does the Komen Race for the Cure together. We are called "Wings of Hope" if you would like to join us next year.

I'll send you a PM with more info.

Hi Anna - glad to hear the grandbabies are keeping you on your toes! "God and Opec willing" Too funny!

Rockysmom - nice pictures and thank you for thinking of us on the luminaria.

Irene - nice pics again! You have a knack.

How is everyone doing? The site is loading so slow that I gave up taking a peak at work. How about those storms. I do love the hot weather though.

Hope to catch up with everyone soon.

xxxooo
Nancy

sunkistmi

Thanks Nancy,

Yes, I feel really stupid.  I looked at the bottom of the page and saw '68'.  I was so excited at finding a MI page that I had not gone to the end.  Oh well.

The doctor that is doing the thigh replacement is Dr. Robert Allen out of SC and NOLA.  He was pretty much the originator of the perforator flap surgeries and trained many of the ones that are doing the DIEP, GAP flap surgeries out there.  I went to him in SC in 2006 when I had my mast.  He is absolutely wonderful!  When I returned home & had my stitches out, my surgeon out of Providence was so impressed she called a plastic surgeon she works with and suggested she check out Dr. Allen.  She did a fellowship with him and is now the only PS in MI doing the perforator flap surgery.  I saw her yesterday and really like her.  I hope it will all work out.  I see the breast surgeon tomorrow.  I will be happy to keep in touch. 

Well I really need to get off this laptop and get some things done.  I've been glued to this site and have really been uplifted.  So much of this disease is emotional and it plays havoc with you.  It seems like over the last week one moment I'm crying and the next I'm OK.  Go figure.  You'd think it would be old hat by now.  Have a great evening.

Wendy aka Sunkist

neesie

A warm welcome to Wendy!  So glad you found us..........I'm sorry for all you've been through, however you sound like you are in good hands and lead a full, happy life.

Stick around, you'll have to meet up with us for lunch........going to try and pull one off pretty soon!

Hi to all of the Michiganders and hope this heat isn't melting you!

Hugs,

Neesie (Denise) 

Di53

hiya Wendy   welcome to the thread..... I'm a quilter too.... a starting quilter and an active member of prayers and squares in my church

 I think we all can understnand the emotions that you're going through...as we all go through em daily....

God BLess.

winggirl2

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR DEAR NEESIE!

Wanted to post this earlier today but I got side tracked......sorry.

hugs

Wings

PSW224

Hi Sphyn and all:

I have not been on the post for a long time! I attended several of the lunches at the end of 2004 and beginning of 2005. Then, I became very busy writing my dissertation, whcih I finished March 2007.  I was wondering how everyone is doing, so I thought I would check in. So far, (knock on wood!), there is no re-occurrence. I was diagnosed in March 2004. 

Pam from Woodhaven 

neesie

Just letting you ladies know that Wings (Bonnie) FIL passed away.  They (Wings and Mr. Wings) have done an amazing job of helping him the past few years and this has hit them hard.  Let's all send our blessings to the family.

Hugs,

Neesie 

neesie

Looking for my MI friends....................Did everyone flee the state and forget to take me????????????????????

Hope all are okay and just busy or having fun!

Neesie 

rockysmom

Hugs and prayers for Bonnie and the Wingman.

HI to all. Just passing through.......

Not-Me

So very very sorry Bonnie and DH.  My MIL has been gone 9 month and we are still recoverying.   

I am around...still checking in with all.  Had an emergency scare...had the "see all docs (oncologist, radiologist, surgeon) and get tests in one day and schedule surgery one week later"...surgery was last Monday.  All is B9!!!  4.5 years out.  I guess I have a new surgeon...Dr. Ruark out of Beaumont...I like her.

Pam...welcome back and we hope to see you soon at a get together.  Speaking of which..maybe we should plan since it is always so hard to get all of us together.  What about a Sunday in August or September???  What about the idea of a pot luck at Hines/Kensington/elsewhere???

I am really enjoying summetime in MI...flowers are great and birds are singing!

Linda7411

Hello East Side Michiganders!

I'm still here in Kalamazoo.  Aaahhh, summer is great.  So sorry to hear this news, Neesie.  Prayers to Bonnie and family.

I'd still love to get together with all of you.  I'm planning to take some time off work for a couple of months, so hopefully I'll be available when you plan a get-together.  If we plan it soon, perhaps more can attend.

Keep on swimming, keep on swimming  -  Linda

faithandfifty

Bonnie and dear Wing Man..... I add my support at this time of your deep loss. Know how many here are sending up prayers of support in your honor.

Take good care of each other.

xx00xx00xx00xx00xx00xx

neesie

Hello all.................I'm acting like a worried Mom here..............but I'm getting concerned about Nancy.......................this is your warning Nancy......come out, come out, where ever you are..........or Detective Denise will have to come look for you!!!!

Hoping all are enjoying this crazy MI weather!

Neesie 

Sphynx

Oh - this is new. I feel lost on this site!

First - Happy belated birthday Neesie! I'm here, don't worry! Looking forward to our next get-together.

Wings and Mr. Wings, So sorry to hear about your FIL.

Worried in Woodhaven - Pam, welcome back and good to hear you are healthy and moving on. Congratulations on your dissertation.

Chris - Yahoo on the good results but sorry you had to go through the tests and surgery.

My cable has been so erratic at home and work is crazy busy. I had cable yanked because I refused to pay for a defective box. $200.00 and they say it was "damaged". How the $#@$# do you damage the box? It sits on the shelf and you point the remote at it. That would be one deadly remote, shooting off damaging rays. So, being that Charter is the cable monopoly in my area and that they control my Vonage phone, internet connection and tv (which I could do without), I had to pay! It was blackmail! They re-connected it for about a week and now it is out again. So, nothing big happening with me and all I have is the little stuff to gripe about and that is fine with me.

I'd like to get-together sometime & Sunday in August works for me.

I read that Janice - Fitztwins is back in the roller coaster. My heart goes out to her. I haven't written her yet.

kinde5069

Hi Everyone. I am Toni from Westland, Mi., I was dx on 5/30 and had my left mastectomy on 6/20/08. I am home and very sore. Just happened across this posting and thought I would say hi.

My sister is here now, so I wil be back later.

Huggs

Toni

neesie

Geez, I've posted on two sites and came back and they aren't there!!!!  Maybe I've hit preview instead of submit????

 Welcome Toni...........you have come upon a great group of girls.  I'm sorry you had to join us but am glad that you found us.  We are from all over the State and periodically meet for lunch....hope when you're feeling better you will be able to join us!

Neesie 

kats

Whoa...................when did the change take place? Not sure if I like the 'new' look, sorta sterile looking.

neesie- Happy Belated Birthday.

Bonnie- Sorry to hear about your FIL. {{{HUGS}}} 

Nancy-Got the pkg you sent, thanks so much. It made me feel like I was still a part of the Team ( I wore my 2008 Race for the Cure shirt on Race day too). The butterfly is cute, heavy but real cute...don't know if my chubby flabby arms could have carried that for the whole walk though .

rockysmom- You did a great job on the headboppers and pin, you're very creative. Thanks for putting them aside for me. 

Irene- Great pictures as always, thanks for sharing them.

Mary  

Caseysmom

Hi! I'm Laura from Clinton Township, MI I just found this thread  I was dx with IBC on July 19, 2004. Prior to my mastectomy I had 20 weeks of chemo and another 27 weeks of chemo followed by 7 weeks of radation therapy.

Hugs

Laura