Don't postpone joy

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2009

    CT scans showed normal liver, but enlarged lung and chest tumors. I am being moved to the experimental arm of the clinical trial.

    Liver enzymes are still elevated, so three week wait to begin chemo again.

    Received call from PCP that my skull x-ray showed numerous lytic lesions suspicious for cancer. Had a brain MRI to check for mets last night in VA. On strong pain meds for head pain.

    Blessed to have Tom by my side. We shared the joy of eating ice cream together tonight.

    Bette 

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited September 2009

    Hey, Bettelou.  I'm praying for you as I suspect so many on this site, in your church and family and everywhere are doing.  You are such an inspiration!  I am sure there are some times where you are "choosing" to have joy instead of spontaneously having it.  Thank you for being such a great example in doing that!

    You have certainly ministered to me anyway...I call myself "Eeyore" because I look at life so often as half empty...especially BC.  But you have inspired me to start my own special journal and write at least one thing I am joyful for every day.  I am ashamed that I am a 37 year old gal who has walked with Christ for 22 wonderful years, and I sit here and whine?  I am repenting right now!

    Oh--but in some ways I am not postponing joy...I just booked a Disneyworld trip for NEXT October in 2010 for 10 days, woo hoo!  I am going to LIVE life!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    Today I had to read my own posts and remind myself to "choose joy"

    WE are joyful that I don't have brain mets. However I am dealing with severe headaches and a medical establishment that is batting me back and forth like a ping pong ball.

    Lord, this is in your control. Your Word tells me to rejoice always. I choose joy today.

    Bette 

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  • EWB
    EWB Member Posts: 2,927
    edited October 2009

    Bette, You continue to amaze and inspire me. I am delighted that you take such care of your Tom and he of you, you send a reminder to me (and I expect others) that there are many wonderful things in life, simple things, we just have to choose to see them, make the time for them, If not now then when?

    I hope the docs are able to discover the source of your headaches and your new treatment works well with few side effects.

    Happy October 1st  Laughing

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited October 2009

    Today, I am joyful that I finished up radiation, woo hoo!

    And I am VERY joyful that Bettelou does not have brain mets!  I pray Lord for you that they would find the cause of this headache pain and get rid of it.  Help her through it until then.

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  • Caseysmom
    Caseysmom Member Posts: 507
    edited October 2009

    cakeisgreat:

    Congrats on finishing radiation.

    Bette:  I am so happy that your bain MRI came back with no mets!!  Still keeping you and Tom in my daily prayers.

    Hugs

    Laura

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  • arnie2two
    arnie2two Member Posts: 1,215
    edited October 2009

    Don't post often but read this thread... Cakeisgreat congrats!!!  I go for my radiation consultation today after finishing up 8 rounds of chemo...

    Bette: great news!!!  So happy to hear it!

    Have a blessed day ladies...

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited October 2009

    Thanks Caseysmom (PS I'm Laura too!) and arnie2two for the congrats.  And may I return a congratulations to arnie for finishing up 8 rounds of chemo!!!  Whew!  I hope your consult for rads goes well today!

    Today...my "joyful note" is that I am joyful to have all these new "breast" friends who I can talk to about this whole stinker of a trial! (Although it is kinda stinky that we all had to meet this way)

    Keep the joy goin!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    Today a spine MRI showed two mets and a compression fraction at one of them in m thoracic spine. I am in pain and confined to a wheelchair at this point. Tom is being a real sweetheart with working, caring for me and doing everything around the house. I am truly blessed with him as my husband and with God as my Father in heaven.  I know that everything will work out according to God's will, so I choose to rejoice instead of concentrating on pain and the possibility of a shorter life. How ever many days I do have, I know each one of them will be blessed.

    Bette 

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  • BonnieK
    BonnieK Member Posts: 655
    edited October 2009

    Bette,

    I truly admire your strength, your faith and your courage.  Although I don't post very often, you and Tom are in my thoughts and prayers each and every day.  --bonnie

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited October 2009

    Bette, I am praying praying praying for you.  I have loved the Lord for 22 years and still loving Him.  Praying for miracles and happy days and no pain and everything else.

    I hope you are having ice cream!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    cake, we did have ice cream on Wednesday!

    Bonnie, BonnieK, thanks for the prayers.

    Today I am just back from clinical trials in VA. Very tired, but happy to be alive. Family reunion tomorrow with some I have not see in years. Must rest up so I can go.

    Bette 

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited October 2009

    Good!  Then my joyful thing for today is that Bette had ice cream YUM!  Prayin for ya.  rest rest rest

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  • Candyce
    Candyce Member Posts: 65
    edited November 2009

    What a beautiful bride...and what a beaming groom.  I enjoyed the photos very much.  Thinking of you!

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited November 2009

    Bettelou...how ya doin?

    :)

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2009

    Cake is great. I am now in hospice. Joyful to be alive. Happy to to be with my sweetie pie.

    The Lord provides each day.

    Bette 

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited November 2009

    Treasure every sweet minute.  And, yes, the Lord does provide each day and He never leaves our side.  Many blessings to you and your family. 

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  • Nedeza
    Nedeza Member Posts: 666
    edited November 2009

    bettilou68 ~  Thoughts & prayers are on your way...from Exchange City  thread!!! You don't know me but I wanted to let you know that because we are bound by a common thread may these prayers and thoughts be with you!!!

    Many hugs!!!  

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  • txred9876
    txred9876 Member Posts: 392
    edited November 2009

    I have not posted much in this forum as of late even though I am an IBC survivor. My heart goes out to you and yours. I am so glad you have God in your life and there are always things to praise him about.

     God bless you and yours,

    Tina

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  • fortunate1
    fortunate1 Member Posts: 644
    edited November 2009

    Hugs for you and sweetie-pie Tom. I wish you two all the joy you can hold. And more ice cream.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited November 2009

    Bette, I'm still praying for you.

    Leah

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  • kjbell
    kjbell Member Posts: 974
    edited November 2009

    Bette-you are a truly inspiring lady. You have made me look at the joy we can find in our everyday busy lives. I hope you are resting comfortably. God bless you and sweet Tom.

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited November 2009

    betteLou---you are wonderful.  Your writing is so thoughtful and complete.  "don't postpone joy".  What a deeply inspirational thought.

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  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited November 2009

    Update on Bette, sorry to say that she has passed on Friday night :(

    "Dear Friends hi Tom here,it is with sadness in my Heart & great joy for my beloved wife Bette George Dietrick went to her Heavenly reward at !:55 am. Bette was surrounded by Brother Ken George,Rachel her daughter,and her loving husband. When Bette & I married on March 28,2009 we said in our vows to Death us do part. Funeral arrangements are pending(Founds Funeral home,West Chester & interment will be at Green Mount in West Chester,Love all of you who were a part of this journey.Thank you all Bette is at Peace with God. "

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  • EWB
    EWB Member Posts: 2,927
    edited November 2009

    It was such a gift to have known Bette, if even for a short time. My heart and prayers go out to Tom and all who knew & loved Bette.

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  • fortunate1
    fortunate1 Member Posts: 644
    edited November 2009

    Oh Tom, I'm so sorry. Bette was a dear, a sweet help to me and many others. She will be missed.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2009

    From husband Tom Dietrick, daughter Rachel Wamsley,  and brothers Ed and Ken George.

    We know that the BCO community was very precious to Bette during her jouney over the past months. We want to express our deep gratitude to all of you for the support, prayers, cards and phone calls that helped to sustain Bette in the toughest times. We will be creating a display of many of her BCO posts for friends to read at the services.

    Bette's passing on Saturday morning was peaceful in a comfortable environment at the Neighborhood Hospice at West Chester, PA. She was surrounded by family as she passed to be with her Lord. We rejoice that she is free from pain and in the presence of God.

    Below is the obituary notice that will appear in our local paper.

    God bless and keep you all

    Ed George (ebg@aol.com)

    Bette George Dietrick, of West Chester, went to be with her Lord early on Saturday, November 28 at Neighborhood Hospice. She was 54 years old. Bette was a loving mother, sister and daughter, a devoted wife, a talented knitter and cook, a joyful spirit and a Godly woman.
    She is survived by her husband Thomas Dietrick of West Chester, her daughter Rachel Wamsley of Baltimore, her mother Dorothy George of Oxford, and brothers Edward George of San Diego and Kenneth George of Parkesburg.


    A public celebration or Bette's life will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 11:00 AM at Reformed Presbyterian Church, 312 W Union St, West Chester.


    Family suggests donations in Bette's memory to Neighborhood Hospice, West Chester.

    No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

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  • fortunate1
    fortunate1 Member Posts: 644
    edited November 2009

    Bump for sweet Bette.

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  • tigerkanga
    tigerkanga Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2009

    My Sympathies to Bettes family, she inspired many with "Dont postpone joy"

    Thank you Bette for sharing your dear sweet soul

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    Bette was laid to rest last Wednesday (2-Dec) and today, one week later, we held a celebration of her life at the church. It was sad, but full of joy, hope and praise.

    The link below is to a video made by Bette's daughter Rachel as a tribute and played during today's service.

    Tribute to Bette (YouTube)

     Warm Regards,

    Ed George (Bette's brother)

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