Relay for Life

Hi All!
I was involved with the Barrington, Il Relay for Life in regards to corporate sponsorship and silent auction prizes. I just got an email from my friend Chris Freeding whose wedding I just stood up in and he is Relaying in Chicago in honor of me! At Erin and Chris' wedding, my heart melted because during the final prayer, our friend CJ discussed prayers for those healing, and they felt inclined to mention my name during the prayer. Needless to say, I was a very teary-eyed bridesmaid! If you would like to donate to Chris Freeding's Relay page, the information is: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=191207&lis=1&kntae191207=6A5440153E104672B0A428C729F0137B&supId=179681281
Thank you!

Surgery Possibility and Scan Results

Hi There,
I just wanted to let you know that I was down at the hospital all day on Monday, Tuesday and today. My scans are all clean, and scar tissue in my chest is getting smaller. Also, my bones are showing up as stronger, and healing on the scans.

Today, something strange happened on the way to Northwestern. I was walking down the stairs and felt the nail holding the rod in my femur click and move. By the time I got downtown, I could barely walk, and I had a huge lump bigger than a golfball right above my kneecap.

We ran to an emergency appointment at Dr. Fox's and everything is in place! The screws haven't moved. Very strange situation. He cited that it is inflammatory bursitis and we can't figure out why I have it. If the problem persists over the weekend, or if I choose to, I am having surgery next Friday to cut through my muscle and remove the nail from my leg. I am just worried that will be a long recovery time. I had a horribly extended recovery time after the rod was put in my femur. We'll see what happens!

Sherrie

Cancer Survivor Walk

Hi There!
I just wanted to thank everyone for supporting me during the Cancer Survivor Walk today. My sisters and I got a great picture with Mayor Daley! Also, here is the link to other pics taken as well!
http://web.mac.com/fundraiser2/iWeb/Site%204/Cancer%20Walk.html
Love,
Sherrie

More Fun!

I just found out Maggie Daly, Mayor Daley's wife, will be speaking at the walk on Sunday and will be introducing all of the folks on the banners. How fun!

Good Thoughts and Prayers

Hi There!
Just wanted to give you a little update...
First and foremost, please help me pray for my friend Janice Clarke. She is from Barrington, and she is very, very sick with Melanoma. She needs a lot of prayers.
Also, my "scanic" is occuring. I have my PET scan on Monday, CT of the neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis and an MRI of my spine on Tuesday. I also have labs, and get to meet with Dr. Winter as well. This is the last time I am fortunate enough to be able to go every three months for my scans, because my insurance won't cover it any longer. Please pray that they are still clean!
On Sunday, we have the cancer survivor walk down at Grant Park. It should be really fun! We have a ton of people walking. It will be great to honor my friends such as Auntie Josie, Molly, Janice, Jason, Alese, Kay, Uncle Mike and Anita! It is cancer survivor day, so keep your survivors in your thoughts!

Help! A Great Cause

Check this place out to send the REAL Shane birthday cards! www.shanebernier.ca

NMH Lifetime of Health

Hi There!
Here is a scanned copy of the Northwestern Lifetime of Health magazine!
http://web.mac.com/fundraiser2/iWeb/Site%204/Blank.html
Also, if any of you watch Desperate Housewives, the character Lynette on the show was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease in the season cliffhanger.

Lizzie's Graduation Pictures

Hi There!
Here are a few pics from Lizzie's graduation from Butler University last Saturday. Enjoy!

Bits and Pieces of News

Hi There!
My family had quite a scare today. We were in Indianapolis celebrating Lizzie's graduation from Butler University this weekend, and our friend Cheryl who was watching Barney said he was acting funny. We came home and rushed him to a 24 hour vet. clinic because he was tripping and slipping and walking in circles and bumping into things. We thought he may have had a stroke (the poor little sweetie is also a cancer survivor and 13 years old!), however the vet. thinks that he could have Vertigo from an inner ear infection or Vestibular Syndrome which affects balance in older dogs. We don't have a verdict yet, but our little baby is finally resting comfortably after a little Valium. He is spending the night at the hospital, and we will know more tomorrow.

I was down at NMH on Thursday taking pictures for yet another cancer brochure. My article in the Lifetime of Health magazine came out. I grabbed several copies so if any of you would like one, let me know! I have the Cancer Survivor Walk coming up on June 3 where I am going to be on one of the banners with a quote, and then I was taking pictures for a brochure for the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern. When cancer patients see all of these publications, they are going to say, "Who is this crazy girl, and why does she keep on showing up on every cancer brochure?!" It is fun though.

I am in charge of corporate sponsorship for the Barrington Relay for Life on June 9, and that has been really fun. It is amazing how a personal story, and a little bit of socializing can assist with fundraising. I have been having a lot of fun getting area businesses to donate to the cause and my favorite part is getting silent auction prizes!

Happy Mother's Day!

Wedding Pictures

Here are some fun pictures from my friend Erin's wedding. She was an exquisite bride!

Prayers

Please pray for Alese Coco's family. The spirited young woman who inspired me to fight so hard passed away today at 1:20 California time. As I went through my Hodgkin's experience, she encouraged me to fight. Through my blog, many of you have understood first hand, Alese's strength, beauty and perserverance. The Lord and the Angels in Heaven have recieved a very special person today.

Prayer Request

Please help me in praying for Alese Coco. She has been fighting Hodgkin's for so long, and she needs so many prayers right now. Please allow her to continue her fight, and recover from this horrible illness.
Love,
Sherrie

A Special Day

Dear Friends,
Today is a special day for our family. This is the one year anniversary of Sherrie’s stem cell transplant. She has now been cancer free for one year. She has been truly blessed, “Praise the Lord”!
Without our Heavenly Father watching over us, we couldn’t have gotten through these past two years. He gave us strength through our wonderful family and friends that were always there for us. We had many trying times when we didn’t know what our next step was going to be, but through lots of prayers, He always lead us through the right path. He gave Sherrie the best doctors, nurses and the best facility where she was treated. He also gave Sherrie the ultimate strength to get through this on a daily basis. When we think of how many times she was poked & prodded throughout the day, and how very sick she was, I know God was always watching over her. He gave her unbelievable strength to keep smiling. In her weakest moments she always managed to smile. She is truly the strongest and bravest person we know.


Dear Heavenly Father we thank you for the many blessings you have bestowed upon Sherrie & our family. Please continue to bless Sherrie with good health throughout her lifetime, and keep her cancer free. We also thank you for hearing our cries of help during Sherrie’s illness, and answering all of our prayers. In Your Name, Amen.
Gary & Gloria

Dr. Visit

Hi There,
Everything seemed good at my Dr visit today but they are slightly concerned about one thing. My white blood count, and absolute neutrophil level have been so low since my transplant. This occurs in less than 20% of patients. They took blood from me, so a pathologist could examine my blood to make sure that nothing else was going on that would contribute to my low counts. I really don't have any physical symptoms of the disease, and I feel great, so I am confident that all will be well!

Happy Sunday!

Hey There!
For those of you in the Midwest, what a beautiful weekend we have had! It is so nice to see sunshine, and wear sandals. I think the weather is supposed to change again this week, but we have been blessed!

Things are going really well. I have been kind of hiding under a dark cloud for a little bit (I think the Winter hangover could be to blame!) I think this boost of Spring is good enough to get a spring in everyones step!

Another very exciting thing...it is baseball season again! Here is a pic from the Cubs opening day!

Tomorrow morning, I meet with Jane Winter for a check-up. I think everything is going okay. I have been itching a bit (which is a classic Hodgkin's symptom) but it could just be change in weather. I am very concerned about my hormonal levels though. I have been off of Estrogen because we are trying to determine if I am really in menopause. The last time my levels were checked, they were very menopausal. Plus, I have been having symptoms of that. Let's hope they drastically change for the better!

Love,
Sherrie

Prayer Request

Please help me pray for my Uncle Mike. After finishing chemotherapy in January, his brain tumor has re-occured. Please pray for him, and allow him to beat this all over again.
Love,
Sherrie

Boston Marathon T-Shirt

Hi!
A friend of mine sponsored someone who is running the Boston Marathon. That person has my name on his T-Shirt, and is wearing that shirt as a tribute to my cancer. It's really neat!

Second Photo Shoot

Hey!
I had my second photo shoot for NMH today, and the pictures will be used for the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Cancer Survivor Walk which will be held at the lakefront on June 3. These pictures will be on banners highlighting the lake, and I guess I am going to be on them!
In May, the NM Faculty Foundation Magazine will debut with an article about my transplant experience, and how it relates to Celebrating Life and the survivor walk.
The photos from today should be posted on the following site: marcharris-photo.com/
When you get there, log on to "Clients." Then, add the password lurie. The pics are not up yet, but my name is. It is amazing how many survivors are out there. The woman getting photographed before me was pregnant, and the little girl after me (absolutely adorable!) must have been only 4 years old. It's exciting to see that even though I feel like a cancer minority because of my age, there are so many people out there like me.
Love,
Sherrie

Happy Easter!

Hi Everyone,
Happy Easter! Today is a special day for me. A year ago today, I was told that although I wasn't in remission, my Hodgkin's Disease was on the run, and Dr. Winter wanted me in for a transplant a week and a half later. The rest is history. That, along with finding out I was in remission, was probably the happiest day of my entire life! Hopefully I will someday have more good days to top that, but for now I am so thankful to the Lord.
Have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends!