Dear Amy, Hi!
I saw your blog and felt compelled to write to you.
I am a Cancer survivor of 7 years. I was diagnosed when my first Grand baby was born. The prognosis for my rare cancer was bleak, my pathologist after surgery gave me less than one year he said before he would see me in a coffin. I remember rocking my new grand son to sleep and crying because I knew I would’nt have the opportunity to see him grow up.
I’m grateful that prediction was wrong, I believe it was because I went to alternative treatments.
The main reason I want to write to you, is because I believe that people need hope and answers when they face devastating illnesses.
I took care of my Grandmother at the age of 15 who raised me. She had battled cancer 3 times in her life before she died of colon cancer.
Watching someone you love suffer as they die,made me start searching for answers to important questions. Like, if there is a loving God, why does he allow such suffering to go on?
What realy happens to us when we die, and what is the hope for our dead loved ones? Have you ever asked these questions yourself, Amy?
I now spend alot of my time in volunteer work,helping people get the answers to questions like these.
I would love to be able to share this with you, I think you will find it to be very comforting.
My baby sister died recently, and I remember thinking at the funeral, probably every one in here is a Christian, and yet I bet if you asked them each one would have a different opinion about death.
What’s important is to know everything the Bible has to say about death, from Genesis to Revelation. That way the answer is from God.
In Genesis 3:4 the very first lie was spoken.
Eve was tempted by Satan to eat of a certain tree, and she knew the penalty, death. “Satan said “That’s a lie! You will not die! God knows very well the instant you eat it, you will become like God knowing good and evil.” From that moment in history on, Satan has done everything in his power to make people believe that something survives death. But the answer is in the same chapter verse 19 “Then you will return from the ground from which you were made, for dust you are and to dust you shall return.”
Adam did not exist before he was formed from the dust, and he went back to the same state of non-existence.
Amy, there are many, many other verses to back this up.
So what then is the hope for the dead?
There are 9 accounts in the Bible that show us the hope for any one who has died is a resurrection. The word resurrection literally means “Standing back up” and that is logical because if a person had not really died why would they need a resurrection?
I love the one in John 11:11-14 “Then he said: “Our friend Lazarus has gone to sleep, but now I will go and awaken him!” The disciples, thinking that Lazarus was having a good night’s rest, said “That means he’s getting better!” But Jesus meant Lazarus had died. Then he told them plainly Lazarus is dead.
All of the other accounts of the resurrection are the same, the ones who had died were not aware. They had not gone on to a life somewhere else.
They were brought back to life on the earth!
Amy, this really helped me when I had to face death to know the suffering would be over and I would simply wake up with a new cancer-free body on an earth that would be a paradise.
Revelation 21:4&5 “And he shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither will outcry, or sorrow or pain be anymore the former things will be gone forever. And the one on the throne said: “Look, I am making all things new, write because these words are faithful and true!”
My e-mail address is ourhope12@hotmail.com
I would love to hear from you Raechel Miles

Amy—
I just read your comments on Jackie’s blog about hair loss and I wanted to first say that I’m sure you are beautiful this day and every day, even with that “skinny” ponytail! Secondly, I, like you, did not completely lose my hair, but only experienced thinning (quite a lot of it in some places). I wanted to let you know that someone gave me a tip about what to use on your hair to make it stronger when it is coming back in. Use a biotin shampoo. You can find a brand called Jason at GNC stores. It is usually sold in a dual pack with both shampoo and conditioner. I began using it back in December 08 and I really think it helped my hair a lot. When I used up the last bit of the shampoo a couple of months ago, I switched back to my old brand and my hair looks about like it did before cancer, only I have a shorter cut now. So, you might try this type of shampoo. I know that it can also be ordered on line if you don’t have a store nearby that sells it. I hope this helps you!

Hugs—
Martha

Posted on November 1, 2009 at 6:57:12 PM by mp327

Hi Amy, thank you for the hugs and prayers, we can always use them. Having a great support team is a big help in gettng thru the rough times.
Now that I think about it, the rough times seem so distant, just the scars remain, but they show me that I’m alive, they are like a bookmark in a new chapter in my/our life.

Hugs,
Eli

Posted on October 29, 2009 at 2:31:13 PM by eli

Hi Amy, I hope that you are doing well and standing strong against cancer. Keep the faith and don’t ever give up. As a retired veteran, please thank your children for me for serving their country.

Eli

Posted on October 28, 2009 at 1:19:04 PM by eli

Hi Amy, You can beat this, I did. I was stage three colon cancer when I was first diagnosed. I had radiation, surgery and 6 months of chemo. I was 34 and had three children who were ages 14, 12 and 8. I had a very supportive husband and family. Try to keep your calories up even if it is in the form of liquids. I drank alot of lipton brisk ice tea, which I never drank previously but did not get sick with. Stay positive that is most important. If you want to talk please send me an email and I would love to listen. My thoughts re with you! Val

Good Morning Amy,

It is morning here in Tucson, Arizona.

I wish I could give you advise from my experience but I did not take chemo.

It is important to get plenty of sleep as I believe that sleep is the enemy of all disease and sleep heals your body.

May all your dreams come true!

We are having pot roast today,

Ron

Posted on September 12, 2009 at 8:50:11 AM by miraclemanstory

Hello Amy,

Thank you for stopping at my blog.

I wish you the very best.

I never had chemo because Cleveland Clinic had no treatments available for my type of aggressive cancer so I have no idea what you are now going through.

My wife, Sara, treated me with Pot Roasts that put the weight back on almost instantly after surgery. I needed protein from meat as my type of cancer ate all mine.

Hugs and Smiles from me and Sara!

Ron

Posted on September 9, 2009 at 3:17:30 PM by miraclemanstory

Thanks Amy,
Hang in there, I know it seems like forever for the end of chemo, I thought the same thing and it finally arrived. I actually started crying happy tears when they gave me the go ahead for the last treatment. Well, sobbing was more like it! It is a great feeling and I hope everyone here gets the opportunity to experince this!

Posted on August 26, 2009 at 7:21:00 AM by khl8

~~~~Oh Cheryl you seem like your old self again! I had to laugh hysterically when I read about the glazed doughnuts because I don’t normally eat them either but guess what I ate this morning? Yup, a glazed doughnut! I totally understand all this medication crap, we are on so many things who knows what is doing what to us. I do know for sure that shot to raise my white cells made me sicker than I ever was so I am planning on calling the doctor first thing Monday morning as I do NOT want that shot again, there’s gotta be something else they can do I hope.
Blessings to you and I hope you get a chance to cook soon, I know I haven’t been cooking to much and I miss it also!
hugs and love and prayers to you!
Amy~~~~~~~~

~~~~reply~~~~~
Hi Amy, now that I’ve scored some glazed donuts, I moved on the powered LOL…..after that who knows Look out!
I’m sure you will do much better with the change in your meds, it’s not a fun change but it will be a hell of a lot better than what you’ve endured thus far. Nausea is just the worst!

Take care. Thank you for all your support. Now that I’m feeling better I’m hoping to return some of that wonderful healing energy.
Big hugs, Cheryl~~~

Posted on August 26, 2009 at 2:37:39 AM by cherylofoz2008

Hello Amy,
I just read your bio and wondered how you are doing. Have you finished your chemo treatments? Did you find a wig? I hope you are feeling better and your prognosis is good. This is such a interesting road to travel isn’t it? I pray your sons are safe, and your health is doing better.
Take care,
Erin

Posted on August 17, 2009 at 11:51:55 AM by erin

my email maryln3@aol.com

yes we could meet before or after our final treatments..

this is so fraky this cancer journey… lets keep in touch used my email addres

maryln3@aol.com
cell 6104168967

Posted on August 17, 2009 at 5:42:35 AM by maryellen

Hi Amy,

Thanks for your comment on my hair post. That’s a great idea to check with the insurance company on the wig…how nice that some companies cover this type of cost.

I hope you’re feeling good these days and hope you had a nice vacation!

Sending lots of good thoughts your way~

Posted on July 27, 2009 at 9:11:23 PM by kim951

Hi Amy,

Thank you for your kind comments and support. I agree with you…it’s amazing how we find the inner strength to endure the things we must do. Wishing you all the best as you walk this road, too. Lots and hugs and prayers for you, too.

Posted on July 8, 2009 at 10:47:19 PM by kim951

Thank you Amy!
I will keep you in my thoughts and be reading your blog for updates. You can do this!
_BARB

Posted on July 4, 2009 at 2:39:54 PM by couponbarbie

Hi Amy,

Thanks for your kind words and nice welcome. This is a great place to be, indeed.

I love the photo of your grandson driving his car …what a cutie pie!

Take good care.
Hugs,
Kim

Posted on July 2, 2009 at 8:40:48 PM by kim951

Hey Amy

Thanks for supporting me. When i read your blog, i was happy to look at your smile on the profile pictures. And obviously your braveness and very positive mood influenced me as well:) It’s good to know that you’re having a wooooonderful family life and that is really cute grand baby. Happy for you:) I’m carrying a baby at this moment as well:) only three months, haha!! All the best for you by now. Hugs!! xx

Posted on June 25, 2009 at 10:03:39 PM by kana

Hi Amy—
My hair began coming out on day 21 of chemo, which would have been the beginning of week 4. For a few days prior to that, I had itching and burning of the scalp, so I knew something was going on. I hope you will just have the thinning like I did. I did get my hair cut pretty short prior to starting chemo, as I knew if I lost any hair, a shorter cut would look better. Hope you are doing well.

Martha

Posted on June 17, 2009 at 3:55:47 AM by mp327

Hi Amy—
Thanks for your post to my blog. I appreciate your support! I’m sorry to hear about all you’ve been through. I know what you mean about the shock of it all, as I thought I was in the best shape of my life when I learned otherwise. Cancer—it really does suck! I was interested in knowing what chemo drugs you were getting, as you mentioned that you were told your hair would thin but probably not entirely fall out. I was treated with 2 rounds of mitomycin and 5-FU, and just as the nurse told you, my hair began to thin in week 3. But the good news is it only thinned in spots and I never lost enough that I felt uncomfortable about it. I hope this will be the case for you as well.

Thank you for becoming a supporter of mine. I think we all need each other! Take care.

Martha

Posted on June 16, 2009 at 11:12:19 PM by mp327

Hi Amy,

Welcome to the site. I am fairly new here too. I think it is a great site to be in. Lots of caring people here in the same boat as us. You sound like a strong willed fighter too. I also have grandbabies. Twins a boy and a girl. My daughter, her fiance and the twins moved in with me Oct. 2008. I was trying to help them get a start in life because they were struggling and then I started getting sick in January 2009. How ironic it ends up they are helping me. Hang in there. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Nancy

Posted on June 12, 2009 at 6:29:37 AM by nancyp

Thanks for your kind words…