Re: Anniversary Date - 5-5-02

[Guest guest]

Barb what a lovely post, but did anyone read it without crying or am

I just a big blabberer nowadays??? At first I kept looking for ways

that CML had changed my life but I too cherish all the things you

mentioned and realize what a changed person I am.

Barb I wish I could give you a huge hug, here comes a cyber one.....

Love Donna x

--- In , " Barb Stanley " <barbarastanley@...>

wrote:

>

> Hello All,

>

> Each year this time rolls around and my mind goes back to the day

of

> diagnosis – 5-5-2002. I had buried mom the previous November with

> complications from CLL. At the same time, I was suffering from

> bone pain, extreme fatigue and night sweats and I just chalked it

up

> to menopause and the death of a parent.

>

> There are few moments that will stick in someone's mind like a

> diagnosis. And usually they are happy times, times of wedding vows

> and births. This was not a joyous occasion but one that has

changed

> my life forever – and for the good.

>

>

>

> In the short 6 years tomorrow that I have had CML, it has gone from

> a fatal disease to a chronic condition. Oh don't get me wrong, it

> has the power to take your life, but the medical studies and the

> treatments available for it are multiplying like rabbits. What was

a

> 3-5 year survival rate at diagnosis is now something that can be

> treated and managed for a good number of years. Life expectancy

for

> those of us lucky enough to reach remission and PCRU (undetectable)

> has as little as a 3% chance of relapse. Those are pretty good

> odds. I have always had a streak of luck in me.

>

> The drug treatment will be a life long thing. I have had to switch

> from Gleevec to a new drug: tasigna. There is no cure right now

but

> they are working on one as well as a vaccine for leukemia. Wonders

> never cease. God is so good.

>

>

>

> Each year at this time, I take stock of my life…. And especially

the

> last 6 years. Here are some things that seem different for me:

>

> I no longer swear at the cars that cut me off. In fact, I let folks

> in.

> I remember to say I am sorry a lot easier.

> I tell my kids I love them every single day. Bill too.

> I took up gardening and plants. Caring for them somehow helps me to

> care for myself.

> I began to pray to, think about, and try to be with the angels.

> I spend quality time in both private and community prayer

> I found a job that absolutely lets me make a difference in my world

> and that of others – a sheer joy to my heart!

> I take at least two days off of wearing makeup now, because my skin

> needs a rest and it doesn't seem as important to me to have my face

> look perfect – I discovered my family loves me anyway!

> I make sure my grand baby gets plenty of loving every possible time

> I can get my hands on her!

> I make time to see more movies with Bill, sit at the fire pit on

> cool nights and talk and hold his hand more…

> Recently I made a bucket list and am busy checking things off…(

> rode in a NASCAR at 165 MPH April 5!!!) and Ireland will see me in

> July of 2009. The list is growing…..

> And finally, I find that people, who have come into my life, are

> there for a purpose.

>

>

> My point is this: I want to say thank you – to all the people in

my

> life who have held my hand, prayed for me (the ONLY reason I am in

> remission) and given me support and love during these past 6 years.

> The diagnosis identifies your friends and defuses your enemies. It

> also brings people who want good for you into your life. It tells

> you not to sweat the `small stuff' and to make the time for really

> intentional living.

>

> Blessings to all you CML warriors......

> Barb in AZ

>

[Guest guest]

Right back atcha kiddo!!

Barb

> >

> > Hello All,

> >

> > Each year this time rolls around and my mind goes back to the day

> of

> > diagnosis – 5-5-2002. I had buried mom the previous November with

> > complications from CLL. At the same time, I was suffering from

> > bone pain, extreme fatigue and night sweats and I just chalked it

> up

> > to menopause and the death of a parent.

> >

> > There are few moments that will stick in someone's mind like a

> > diagnosis. And usually they are happy times, times of wedding

vows

> > and births. This was not a joyous occasion but one that has

> changed

> > my life forever – and for the good.

> >

> >

> >

> > In the short 6 years tomorrow that I have had CML, it has gone

from

> > a fatal disease to a chronic condition. Oh don't get me wrong, it

> > has the power to take your life, but the medical studies and the

> > treatments available for it are multiplying like rabbits. What

was

> a

> > 3-5 year survival rate at diagnosis is now something that can be

> > treated and managed for a good number of years. Life expectancy

> for

> > those of us lucky enough to reach remission and PCRU

(undetectable)

> > has as little as a 3% chance of relapse. Those are pretty good

> > odds. I have always had a streak of luck in me.

> >

> > The drug treatment will be a life long thing. I have had to

switch

> > from Gleevec to a new drug: tasigna. There is no cure right now

> but

> > they are working on one as well as a vaccine for leukemia.

Wonders

> > never cease. God is so good.

> >

> >

> >

> > Each year at this time, I take stock of my life…. And especially

> the

> > last 6 years. Here are some things that seem different for me:

> >

> > I no longer swear at the cars that cut me off. In fact, I let

folks

> > in.

> > I remember to say I am sorry a lot easier.

> > I tell my kids I love them every single day. Bill too.

> > I took up gardening and plants. Caring for them somehow helps me

to

> > care for myself.

> > I began to pray to, think about, and try to be with the angels.

> > I spend quality time in both private and community prayer

> > I found a job that absolutely lets me make a difference in my

world

> > and that of others – a sheer joy to my heart!

> > I take at least two days off of wearing makeup now, because my

skin

> > needs a rest and it doesn't seem as important to me to have my

face

> > look perfect – I discovered my family loves me anyway!

> > I make sure my grand baby gets plenty of loving every possible

time

> > I can get my hands on her!

> > I make time to see more movies with Bill, sit at the fire pit on

> > cool nights and talk and hold his hand more…

> > Recently I made a bucket list and am busy checking things off…(

> > rode in a NASCAR at 165 MPH April 5!!!) and Ireland will see me

in

> > July of 2009. The list is growing…..

> > And finally, I find that people, who have come into my life, are

> > there for a purpose.

> >

> >

> > My point is this: I want to say thank you – to all the people in

> my

> > life who have held my hand, prayed for me (the ONLY reason I am

in

> > remission) and given me support and love during these past 6

years.

> > The diagnosis identifies your friends and defuses your enemies.

It

> > also brings people who want good for you into your life. It tells

> > you not to sweat the `small stuff' and to make the time for

really

> > intentional living.

> >

> > Blessings to all you CML warriors......

> > Barb in AZ

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Beautiful, Barb. And one last thing...every Survivor becomes your

Brother or Sister.

[Guest guest]

Dear Barb,

You brought tears to my eyes. May we all grow old together and

usher in a cure for CML together. Thank you for putting things in

perspective so beautifully.

Love,

--- In , " Barb Stanley " <barbarastanley@...>

wrote:

>

> Hello All,

>

> Each year this time rolls around and my mind goes back to the day

of

> diagnosis – 5-5-2002. I had buried mom the previous November with

> complications from CLL. At the same time, I was suffering from

> bone pain, extreme fatigue and night sweats and I just chalked it

up

> to menopause and the death of a parent.

>

> There are few moments that will stick in someone's mind like a

> diagnosis. And usually they are happy times, times of wedding vows

> and births. This was not a joyous occasion but one that has

changed

> my life forever – and for the good.

>

>

>

> In the short 6 years tomorrow that I have had CML, it has gone from

> a fatal disease to a chronic condition. Oh don't get me wrong, it

> has the power to take your life, but the medical studies and the

> treatments available for it are multiplying like rabbits. What was

a

> 3-5 year survival rate at diagnosis is now something that can be

> treated and managed for a good number of years. Life expectancy

for

> those of us lucky enough to reach remission and PCRU (undetectable)

> has as little as a 3% chance of relapse. Those are pretty good

> odds. I have always had a streak of luck in me.

>

> The drug treatment will be a life long thing. I have had to switch

> from Gleevec to a new drug: tasigna. There is no cure right now

but

> they are working on one as well as a vaccine for leukemia. Wonders

> never cease. God is so good.

>

>

>

> Each year at this time, I take stock of my life…. And especially

the

> last 6 years. Here are some things that seem different for me:

>

> I no longer swear at the cars that cut me off. In fact, I let folks

> in.

> I remember to say I am sorry a lot easier.

> I tell my kids I love them every single day. Bill too.

> I took up gardening and plants. Caring for them somehow helps me to

> care for myself.

> I began to pray to, think about, and try to be with the angels.

> I spend quality time in both private and community prayer

> I found a job that absolutely lets me make a difference in my world

> and that of others – a sheer joy to my heart!

> I take at least two days off of wearing makeup now, because my skin

> needs a rest and it doesn't seem as important to me to have my face

> look perfect – I discovered my family loves me anyway!

> I make sure my grand baby gets plenty of loving every possible time

> I can get my hands on her!

> I make time to see more movies with Bill, sit at the fire pit on

> cool nights and talk and hold his hand more…

> Recently I made a bucket list and am busy checking things off…(

> rode in a NASCAR at 165 MPH April 5!!!) and Ireland will see me in

> July of 2009. The list is growing…..

> And finally, I find that people, who have come into my life, are

> there for a purpose.

>

>

> My point is this: I want to say thank you – to all the people in

my

> life who have held my hand, prayed for me (the ONLY reason I am in

> remission) and given me support and love during these past 6 years.

> The diagnosis identifies your friends and defuses your enemies. It

> also brings people who want good for you into your life. It tells

> you not to sweat the `small stuff' and to make the time for really

> intentional living.

>

> Blessings to all you CML warriors......

> Barb in AZ

>

[Guest guest]

You are a wise and wonderful young woman in your own right.We will

grow old together and we will rejoice in the cure - for us and

everyone....

Blessings my young friend,

Barb

> >

> > Hello All,

> >

> > Each year this time rolls around and my mind goes back to the

day

> of

> > diagnosis – 5-5-2002. I had buried mom the previous November

with

> > complications from CLL. At the same time, I was suffering from

> > bone pain, extreme fatigue and night sweats and I just chalked

it

> up

> > to menopause and the death of a parent.

> >

> > There are few moments that will stick in someone's mind like a

> > diagnosis. And usually they are happy times, times of wedding

vows

> > and births. This was not a joyous occasion but one that has

> changed

> > my life forever – and for the good.

> >

> >

> >

> > In the short 6 years tomorrow that I have had CML, it has gone

from

> > a fatal disease to a chronic condition. Oh don't get me wrong,

it

> > has the power to take your life, but the medical studies and the

> > treatments available for it are multiplying like rabbits. What

was

> a

> > 3-5 year survival rate at diagnosis is now something that can be

> > treated and managed for a good number of years. Life expectancy

> for

> > those of us lucky enough to reach remission and PCRU

(undetectable)

> > has as little as a 3% chance of relapse. Those are pretty good

> > odds. I have always had a streak of luck in me.

> >

> > The drug treatment will be a life long thing. I have had to

switch

> > from Gleevec to a new drug: tasigna. There is no cure right now

> but

> > they are working on one as well as a vaccine for leukemia.

Wonders

> > never cease. God is so good.

> >

> >

> >

> > Each year at this time, I take stock of my life…. And especially

> the

> > last 6 years. Here are some things that seem different for me:

> >

> > I no longer swear at the cars that cut me off. In fact, I let

folks

> > in.

> > I remember to say I am sorry a lot easier.

> > I tell my kids I love them every single day. Bill too.

> > I took up gardening and plants. Caring for them somehow helps me

to

> > care for myself.

> > I began to pray to, think about, and try to be with the angels.

> > I spend quality time in both private and community prayer

> > I found a job that absolutely lets me make a difference in my

world

> > and that of others – a sheer joy to my heart!

> > I take at least two days off of wearing makeup now, because my

skin

> > needs a rest and it doesn't seem as important to me to have my

face

> > look perfect – I discovered my family loves me anyway!

> > I make sure my grand baby gets plenty of loving every possible

time

> > I can get my hands on her!

> > I make time to see more movies with Bill, sit at the fire pit on

> > cool nights and talk and hold his hand more…

> > Recently I made a bucket list and am busy checking things off…(

> > rode in a NASCAR at 165 MPH April 5!!!) and Ireland will see me

in

> > July of 2009. The list is growing…..

> > And finally, I find that people, who have come into my life, are

> > there for a purpose.

> >

> >

> > My point is this: I want to say thank you – to all the people

in

> my

> > life who have held my hand, prayed for me (the ONLY reason I am

in

> > remission) and given me support and love during these past 6

years.

> > The diagnosis identifies your friends and defuses your enemies.

It

> > also brings people who want good for you into your life. It

tells

> > you not to sweat the `small stuff' and to make the time for

really

> > intentional living.

> >

> > Blessings to all you CML warriors......

> > Barb in AZ

> >

>