What's done is done

August 20, 2001

High fives to Ginny and on their posts I

actually laughed outloud Ginny, when you told me how

the doctor's face completely changed when he was

introduced to you...hehe

And ...you said that 74% of doctors support

abortion if the baby is going to be a dwarf to prevent

the " pain and suffering " of raising that child...I

find that number to be so hard to believe but I do not

find it hard to believe that some doctors are not more

postive thinking when it comes to a fetus that is

developing with a physical/mental condition. Adam, my

boyfriend for those who know me, has a niece who is 5

and she is achon. When his sister had an ultrasound on

one appointment they noticed then that was not

matching the normal " images " for a developing fetus at

that time. So they did an amnio and got the results.

Adam's sister and brother-in-law thought long and hard

about what to do...they already had a son, ph 3,

and at the same time, they had just met me at the

beginning of me and Adam's relationship. I rememeber

Adam's sister telling me that the doctor gave her a

lot of options, told her the complications/problems

achons have as they grow older, etc and it worried her

to death. So I sat down with her one day and talked to

her and gave her information about achondroplasia that

I printed out from the lpa site...I told her about the

physical problems I have with day to day life

eventhough I'm Diastrophic and how me and my family

deal with them and overcome them. I told her how when

I was born in 1979, before the dawn of technology,

that my mom and dad did not know I was a dwarf until I

laid in that incubator blue as Elvis's suede shoes and

not breathing...BUT they did not leave me...it helped

Adam's sister and her husband make their decision and

is now running around like a normal 5 yr old and

hasn't had as many of the problems as a lot of achon

children have around her age...and her big brother is

never too far from her either I'm not trying to say

I'm the hero for 's birth, her parents are, but it

proves the idea of what would have happened if they

never met me? What would have happened if the doctor

did not tell that woman her baby was a dwarf? And how

did women before our time deal with the surprising

fact that their newborns have a physical difference? I

know some of those facts are kind of grim but

otherwise, there ARE some good outcomes and

possibilities.

I guess what I'm trying to say is only the strongest

can deal with the " pain and suffering " of raising a

child with a disability and apparently, all of our

parents have and have done good jobs with us. If this

woman was mentally disabled then the doctor could have

at least let her carry full term and put the baby up

for adoption, IF she was so far mental to where she

couldn't take care of the child whether it was a dwarf

or not. There was a story in the paper a while back of

a Downs Syndrome woman who was about 25 and got

pregnant...her baby was healthy but her family signed

papers to raise her baby for her, since she was so

mentally incapacitated. There are so many " yeah

well.. " 's and " what if " 's with this situation...but

unfortunately what's done is done...no one can bring

back that child but I think this tragedy, like many

others, is also a lesson for those who are pregnant

now with a child with a disability and dont want to

keep the baby but also dont want to kill it, and for

those that just question the reason for their

existance. And unfortunately, I know for a fact that

this kind of thing has happened before for the very

same reasons...that only the weakest give in to some

of the most challenging, yet rewarding, things.

Gretchen

www.geocities.com/elfsnot20

=====

" I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you

get in a diamond. " Mae West

__________________________________________________

December 11, 2005

Dear Buzz:

Of all the information I have received from the SLL-CLL web page, the

statement on living everyday as it might be your last, should be emulated by

everyone who has this dreaded disease. It's easy to speculate and second guess

your actions, but to live like today maybe your last is very appropriate for all

of us to practice in our daily lives. " Thank You For Reminding Us On How We

Should Live Our Lives! " When in doubt, GO FOR IT!! When it's time to let go and

place our trust in our God, go with dignity. Hope everyone has a " Happy Holiday

Season! "

Pete Fritsch

Diagnosis: CLL January 15, 2002

Rituxan Six (6) Treatments

Rituxan and Fludarabine Ten (10) Treatments

Campath Thirty-six (36) Treatments

Flavopiridol Twenty-four (24) Treatments*

Flavopridiol Twenty-four (24) Treatments*

* Clinical Trial - The Ohio State University

BUZZ SHINN <shinnbuzz@...> wrote:

Re: the wonderings of some folks and speculations thereof concerning why the

cancers. The fact is that few of us can really say how or why our cancers are

caused. The simple answer is " all of the above " Yeah things have changed since

the 50's 0r 60's or.... " but its really irrelevant and mere speculation. The

fact is that in the past (and even now) we have willingly partaken of chemicals

that later proved carcinogenic or mutagenic. What caused the cancers? Who can

say but I know for certain I have had numerous exposures to bad stuff.What to

do? do my best to eliminate those things which are questionable in my life and

live each day like it may be my last (it will be someday). I choose to honor the

gift of life by enjoying it to the fullest no matter what the circumstances. I

also hope to have the wisdom to know when its time to go and to let go

gracefully to the last great adventure of this life. I guess I share my thoughts

with y'all in the hopes that they might add to our lives.

So much for the soapbox, I just wanted to share.

With peace love and joy to all. buzz

December 11, 2005

Buzz Shinn writes: " The fact is that in the past (and even now) we have

willingly partaken of chemicals that later proved carcinogenic or

mutagenic. "

No argument there but what about all the toxic materials that have been

showered on us without our knowledge or approval? The list is long, very

long and anyone who pays attention should have a good idea of what's been

going on since the days of WWII.

I don't mean to start a debate but I can offer a synopsis of a recent study

that addresses the issue of involuntary exposure. I offered to send this to

members of the ACOR list and will do the same for members of this list. Just

send me your e-mail address and I'll forward you a copy.

A final word to Buzz. It certainly is true that it's too late for us to

worry about what caused our cancers. But if we simply close the book on the

issue, are we not doing a disservice to our succeeding generations?

Fred Hummel, 79, Arcata, CA;

CLL/SLL dx 1.98;

Fludara 2000;

Fludara, Rituxan, Novantrone, Decadron, 2002;

Rituxan, 2004;

Rituxan, Chlorambucil, Prednisone, 2005.

December 11, 2005

Fred, Thank you. Your point about remembering our

obligation to future generations is correct. Please

send me the summary you mention. Carolynswift@...

--- Fred Hummel <fch@...> wrote:

>

> Buzz Shinn writes: " The fact is that in the past

> (and even now) we have

> willingly partaken of chemicals that later proved

> carcinogenic or

> mutagenic. "

>

> No argument there but what about all the toxic

> materials that have been

> showered on us without our knowledge or approval?

> The list is long, very

> long and anyone who pays attention should have a

> good idea of what's been

> going on since the days of WWII.

>

> I don't mean to start a debate but I can offer a

> synopsis of a recent study

> that addresses the issue of involuntary exposure. I

> offered to send this to

> members of the ACOR list and will do the same for

> members of this list. Just

> send me your e-mail address and I'll forward you a

> copy.

>

> A final word to Buzz. It certainly is true that it's

> too late for us to

> worry about what caused our cancers. But if we

> simply close the book on the

> issue, are we not doing a disservice to our

> succeeding generations?

>

> Fred Hummel, 79, Arcata, CA;

> CLL/SLL dx 1.98;

> Fludara 2000;

> Fludara, Rituxan, Novantrone, Decadron, 2002;

> Rituxan, 2004;

> Rituxan, Chlorambucil, Prednisone, 2005.

>

December 11, 2005

From my point of view, to ignore what has been done to

our environment, and is still being done, is indeed

to harm our grandchildren. We may not want to look at

what has been done to us, but it is our obigation to

do so. Carolyn, age 77, dx 9/04/ w & w