Hello Everyone:
It is with breaking hearts that we have to tell you that Marcia passed away this evening, March 29th at about 10:30 PM. She fought a valiant and courageous fight against this terrible disease and beat it at every turn, but in the end, after surviving long beyond the predictions of any and all of her medical team, her body finally just gave out and she could not fight any longer. When the family was called in - Tina was of course already there as she has been all along - at about 3:00 AM on Sunday Morning they were told that she would have about "3 or 4 hours" left to her here. No one - the doctors and nurses and other medical staff - could believe that she held on another incredible almost two more days. They did not understand it and cannot explain it but we know - she was determined to stay here with her family and friends and the wonderful life she was having. She wasn't done yet. But God had another idea... One we don't understand and are struggling to come to terms with - but nevertheless, God's plan.
At her specific request you probably won't be surprised to hear that there will be no funeral service as such.... she did not want a sad occasion and she did not want you to be sad... Sooooooo.... wait for it..... there will be a PARTY!! There will be a "CELEBRATION OF MARCIA'S LIFE" PARTY ON APRIL 25th. Please save the date. We will let you know and post here the time and exact location and other particulars. But as we said.... SAVE THE DATE! We want you there to make this a very special and joyous event.
There will be an obituary in the paper to tell her story however we're not sure when so you can watch for that too.
We are, as we said, heartbroken, but we view her now.... flying high and free and restored and getting some sort of social event organized over there.... we're absolutely sure of it. For the rest of us the long and difficult journey of coming to terms with this unbelievable event has just begun. Please continue your positive thoughts and prayers for Marcia and her heroic family who all fought the good fight right along beside her.
Thanks for everything and God Bless you all.
Marcia's Family
Pat
Tina & Jeff
grand kids Brianna & Justin
Shawna & Chris
grand kids Alexa & Cameron
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Marcia's News for March 10th
Hello Everyone:
Well, the good news first. The most recent diagnostic scopes seem to indicate that the Graft-Versus-Host Disease(GVHD) is GONE! There is a bit of margin for error in this as the scopes go only so far "up" and "down" from either direction and there is a bit of digestive tract between these that they don't reach, however as far as they can tell, again, IT'S GONE! This of course is huge because this is one of the most lethal transplant "side-effects" - although it doesn't seem enough to call it that because it is a gigantic challenge all in itself.
The not quite so good news is that the Cytomegalo virus (CMV) is back. She also has a "bit" of another fairly common virus too. They have begun treatment for these... the most dangerous one being the CMV. These are virus's that are common in our bodies and our environment, however as we've said many times before, when you have almost no immune system and a compromised digestive tract you are vulnerable to everything! The other challenge with treating all of this is that some treatments for some of these things are directly opposite - one "fights" and negates the other. So they successfully treat one thing only to open the door to the other and back and forth and back and forth. The goal of course is to make sufficient progress with the treatments that they become less and less each time and while Marcia gains strength to also fight them off with her own system immunity too.
And yes she is getting stronger. It is very, very slow progress and most days she cannot notice it which of course is very discouraging. But the progress is there. Where she could not lift her legs as all she now can raise one leg and cross it over the other. This may not seem like much, but trust us it is huge. And she can sit up a bit for a little while again. She continues to work very, very hard at this. She has an absolutely indomitable will to survive this and we are all impressed and amazed on a daily basis. But please know that the road ahead will continue to be a long and excruciatingly difficult one for Marcia and for her family - God bless Pat and Tina and Shawna for all they have done and continue to do - and will not be much if any easier anytime soon. Your continued prayers and attention for all of them are very much needed and wanted, perhaps now more than ever.
Thanks for everything and please please keep her and all of us in your thoughts and prayers.
Marcia's family
Well, the good news first. The most recent diagnostic scopes seem to indicate that the Graft-Versus-Host Disease(GVHD) is GONE! There is a bit of margin for error in this as the scopes go only so far "up" and "down" from either direction and there is a bit of digestive tract between these that they don't reach, however as far as they can tell, again, IT'S GONE! This of course is huge because this is one of the most lethal transplant "side-effects" - although it doesn't seem enough to call it that because it is a gigantic challenge all in itself.
The not quite so good news is that the Cytomegalo virus (CMV) is back. She also has a "bit" of another fairly common virus too. They have begun treatment for these... the most dangerous one being the CMV. These are virus's that are common in our bodies and our environment, however as we've said many times before, when you have almost no immune system and a compromised digestive tract you are vulnerable to everything! The other challenge with treating all of this is that some treatments for some of these things are directly opposite - one "fights" and negates the other. So they successfully treat one thing only to open the door to the other and back and forth and back and forth. The goal of course is to make sufficient progress with the treatments that they become less and less each time and while Marcia gains strength to also fight them off with her own system immunity too.
And yes she is getting stronger. It is very, very slow progress and most days she cannot notice it which of course is very discouraging. But the progress is there. Where she could not lift her legs as all she now can raise one leg and cross it over the other. This may not seem like much, but trust us it is huge. And she can sit up a bit for a little while again. She continues to work very, very hard at this. She has an absolutely indomitable will to survive this and we are all impressed and amazed on a daily basis. But please know that the road ahead will continue to be a long and excruciatingly difficult one for Marcia and for her family - God bless Pat and Tina and Shawna for all they have done and continue to do - and will not be much if any easier anytime soon. Your continued prayers and attention for all of them are very much needed and wanted, perhaps now more than ever.
Thanks for everything and please please keep her and all of us in your thoughts and prayers.
Marcia's family
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