Hi There,
I just wanted all of you to wish well wishes to my friend, Molly. After she had her second baby last Spring, she was randomly diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer. She was 29 years old. She had her Thyroid removed, and many lymphnodes (I think 24!) She had the Radio-Iodine treament done at NMH. Now, she is pregnant with her new little one, and found out that her tumors are still malignant. She has a wonderful husband and daughters, and is going to beat this! She will win, once again! Please keep her young family in your thoughts and prayers!
Love,
Sherrie
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Hi
Hey There!
How are you? I have been trying to post a lot of Door County family pics when my Grandparents were up along with my Auntie Char and Uncle Phil, and some of my Mom's friends. We have a dial up wireless situation here so everything runs as slow as molasses!
When I was home, I had labs done and my white count and Neutrophils are again, very low. Your ANC is your ability to fight infection. When I was going through chemo, if my ANC was .5, I was told not to leave the house. Now, my ANC is .9. Kind of scary.
However, I have been working at my two jobs about 6 days a week, dealing with massive amounts of the public and knock wood, I haven't gotten sick. We will see what happens when I get around the kids this fall.
Here are some of my pics. I can't believe summer is flying by!
How are you? I have been trying to post a lot of Door County family pics when my Grandparents were up along with my Auntie Char and Uncle Phil, and some of my Mom's friends. We have a dial up wireless situation here so everything runs as slow as molasses!
When I was home, I had labs done and my white count and Neutrophils are again, very low. Your ANC is your ability to fight infection. When I was going through chemo, if my ANC was .5, I was told not to leave the house. Now, my ANC is .9. Kind of scary.
However, I have been working at my two jobs about 6 days a week, dealing with massive amounts of the public and knock wood, I haven't gotten sick. We will see what happens when I get around the kids this fall.
Here are some of my pics. I can't believe summer is flying by!
Friday, July 20, 2007
A Very Exciting Time!
Hey there!
I wanted to let you know that my brother Gary, and his girlfriend Jenn got engaged today after 10 months of dating. It is a very exciting time!
I wanted to let you know that my brother Gary, and his girlfriend Jenn got engaged today after 10 months of dating. It is a very exciting time!
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Uncle Mike's Obituary
My Uncle Mike had a wonderful write up in the Chicago Tribune for his obituary.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obituaries/chi-hed_strodenjul08,1,3816446.story?coll=chi-newsobituaries-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obituaries/chi-hed_strodenjul08,1,3816446.story?coll=chi-newsobituaries-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Summer Pics and Uncle Mike
Hi There,
We came home from Door County for Uncle Mike's wake and funeral. Although he suffered at the end, there are a lot of joys to be thankful for as well! In late August or early September, my cousin Michelle is having her third baby boy! This little guy will join Hugh (4) and Owie (2). Michelle was going to name the baby a nice Irish name, but decided to name him Michael after my Uncle Mike. That is so awesome that he will have a namesake!
Amongst all of this sadness, here is a link to some fun summer pics. Hope you are all enjoying your summer!
http://web.mac.com/fundraiser2/iWeb/Site%207/Photos.html
We came home from Door County for Uncle Mike's wake and funeral. Although he suffered at the end, there are a lot of joys to be thankful for as well! In late August or early September, my cousin Michelle is having her third baby boy! This little guy will join Hugh (4) and Owie (2). Michelle was going to name the baby a nice Irish name, but decided to name him Michael after my Uncle Mike. That is so awesome that he will have a namesake!
Amongst all of this sadness, here is a link to some fun summer pics. Hope you are all enjoying your summer!
http://web.mac.com/fundraiser2/iWeb/Site%207/Photos.html
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Sad News
My Uncle Mike passed away today. His body just couldn't handle the fight of his lymphoma any longer. Please pray that he is in heaven, and that my Aunt Carol and Michelle weather this horribly emotional storm.
Love,
Sherrie
Love,
Sherrie
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Sad Family News
Hi There,
Please pray for my Uncle Mike, and my Auntie Carol and cousin Michelle. Carol and Michelle have decided to convene and make final decisions concerning my Uncle Mike's life. He has been on life support for 12 days, and his infections and blood clots are only getting worse. His organs are beginning to shut down. It is such a sad time for my family. Please pray that the Lord takes my Uncle Mike naturally, and my Aunt and cousin are not forced to make such horribly difficult decisions on thier own.
Love,
Sherrie
Please pray for my Uncle Mike, and my Auntie Carol and cousin Michelle. Carol and Michelle have decided to convene and make final decisions concerning my Uncle Mike's life. He has been on life support for 12 days, and his infections and blood clots are only getting worse. His organs are beginning to shut down. It is such a sad time for my family. Please pray that the Lord takes my Uncle Mike naturally, and my Aunt and cousin are not forced to make such horribly difficult decisions on thier own.
Love,
Sherrie
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Well Wishes and Prayers
Hi There,
I always feel like the bearer of cancer news. This beautiful little girl is yet another person afflicted by this horrible disease. I don't understand cancer. My family and friends had never experienced it, and now all we do is live with it. Please check on little Teagan daily.
Love,
Sherrie
www.princessteagan.com
I always feel like the bearer of cancer news. This beautiful little girl is yet another person afflicted by this horrible disease. I don't understand cancer. My family and friends had never experienced it, and now all we do is live with it. Please check on little Teagan daily.
Love,
Sherrie
www.princessteagan.com
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Anniversary
Hi There!
I just wanted to give you a few updates.
My Uncle Mike is still on Life Support at NMH. They did an MRI of his brain, and noted that after two treatments of this chemotherapy that his brain tumor is much smaller. He is only on 40% strength for his life support level. Please pray that he gets through this!
I am up in Door County for the summer and having a blast. I am working at Al Johnson's one day a week, and have been filling it at Ecology Sports. The problem is, I don't think that I am as spry as before I got sick. I am extremely exhausted at the end of the day, and end up passing out around 8:30, and sleeping twelve hours. I wonder how things will be when I go back to teaching in the fall!
I am also taking golf lessons, spending time with friends and family, and scheduled to take paddling lessons. The weather has been so beautiful that I am just trying to keep as active as possible!
I am also working on my book about my cancer experience and have touched base with a wonderful copy editor that my friend Anita used for her book. My goal is to finish my complete rough draft by August 1.
Today is the two year anniversary of when I found out I was sick. My how time flies. I have written a little bit about that day in my book, and here is an exerpt.
"The weekend crawled by, and considering it was June in Chicago, the temperatures creeped up into the 90’s. On Monday, I woke up and decided that I couldn’t feel bad anymore. I showered, threw on a cute summery outfit and curled my hair. My Mom and I were going with my sisters Lizzie and Katie to meet my Auntie Sherry for lunch in Lake Forest. I was awfully quiet on the ride to Lake Forest. We approached a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop, and I got a call from a strange 847 number on my phone. “Pull over,” I told my Mom. We knew that this is the phone call that would determine my fate. I paced around the car and answered the phone. “Sherrie, this is Dr. Charrous. You have Hodgkin’s Disease which is a type of cancer. You didn’t do anything to get this, it just happened. A lot of young people get this type of cancer. You are going to have chemotherapy. Do you know what that is? You are also going to have radiation, do you know what that is?” I answered meekly, “Yes.” Also, I want to let you know that this is a very curable, treatable cancer. If you are going to get any cancer, this one is the good one.” The good cancer? After all of my treatment and hardships, NO cancer would be the good cancer!
You would think that a person, especially a young person, would be hysterical and upset when someone tells them they have cancer. I wasn’t. I was so relieved that they found something. I took the news graciously, and was so at ease knowing that the determinate of my symptoms had been revealed.
My Mom and sisters knew it was bad as I paced around the car. When I told them, seconds later, all I remember is my sister Katie, who generally does not show emotion broke into hysterical, wet and salty weeping sobs. She was sobbing so hard, her face was beet red, and fat tears stung her eyes. My Mom just gripped my hand. I called my Dad right away. I could hear him on the phone, choking away the sadness. Later on that night he told me that he had known I would be diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease all along. There were three indicators in which he discovered the source of my symptoms. The first was the day of my lymphnode biopsy (the previous Friday), Dr. Charrous really didn’t come out of the OR and tell my parents that things were all right. He came out of the OR and when my Mom and Dad inquired about my status, he remarked, “It doesn’t look good.” My parents told me later that he came to talk to them, and stared directly past them; he couldn’t even look them in the eye. He explained that a Hodgkin’s Disease cell resembles a large circle with two big eyes, almost like owl eyes. The lymphnodes he collected from my neck were big, puffy owl eyes. I don’t even know how my parents could look at me all weekend, knowing that I had a potentially fatal disease, and still remain positive. The second inkling that my Mom and Dad had was the research that they were doing online. All signs led to Hodgkin’s. As my Dad sat at work that frightful Monday morning, he was forced to participate in a meeting. All the while, a strange number kept on popping up on his caller ID. Finally, after many tries by the caller, my Dad answered the telephone. “Gary,” said my Uncle Joe. “I’m calling you because I need to prepare you and your family for the news you are about to receive.” My uncle, who was a doctor at Glenbrook Hospital had been sleuthing around that Monday. He said when he found out the results of my biopsy, as well as my abnormal chest film, that he instantly went weak at the knees. I was his favorite niece, I was one of the first kids to be born in the family, how could this be happening to Sherrie?"
Hope all is well!
Sherrie
I just wanted to give you a few updates.
My Uncle Mike is still on Life Support at NMH. They did an MRI of his brain, and noted that after two treatments of this chemotherapy that his brain tumor is much smaller. He is only on 40% strength for his life support level. Please pray that he gets through this!
I am up in Door County for the summer and having a blast. I am working at Al Johnson's one day a week, and have been filling it at Ecology Sports. The problem is, I don't think that I am as spry as before I got sick. I am extremely exhausted at the end of the day, and end up passing out around 8:30, and sleeping twelve hours. I wonder how things will be when I go back to teaching in the fall!
I am also taking golf lessons, spending time with friends and family, and scheduled to take paddling lessons. The weather has been so beautiful that I am just trying to keep as active as possible!
I am also working on my book about my cancer experience and have touched base with a wonderful copy editor that my friend Anita used for her book. My goal is to finish my complete rough draft by August 1.
Today is the two year anniversary of when I found out I was sick. My how time flies. I have written a little bit about that day in my book, and here is an exerpt.
"The weekend crawled by, and considering it was June in Chicago, the temperatures creeped up into the 90’s. On Monday, I woke up and decided that I couldn’t feel bad anymore. I showered, threw on a cute summery outfit and curled my hair. My Mom and I were going with my sisters Lizzie and Katie to meet my Auntie Sherry for lunch in Lake Forest. I was awfully quiet on the ride to Lake Forest. We approached a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop, and I got a call from a strange 847 number on my phone. “Pull over,” I told my Mom. We knew that this is the phone call that would determine my fate. I paced around the car and answered the phone. “Sherrie, this is Dr. Charrous. You have Hodgkin’s Disease which is a type of cancer. You didn’t do anything to get this, it just happened. A lot of young people get this type of cancer. You are going to have chemotherapy. Do you know what that is? You are also going to have radiation, do you know what that is?” I answered meekly, “Yes.” Also, I want to let you know that this is a very curable, treatable cancer. If you are going to get any cancer, this one is the good one.” The good cancer? After all of my treatment and hardships, NO cancer would be the good cancer!
You would think that a person, especially a young person, would be hysterical and upset when someone tells them they have cancer. I wasn’t. I was so relieved that they found something. I took the news graciously, and was so at ease knowing that the determinate of my symptoms had been revealed.
My Mom and sisters knew it was bad as I paced around the car. When I told them, seconds later, all I remember is my sister Katie, who generally does not show emotion broke into hysterical, wet and salty weeping sobs. She was sobbing so hard, her face was beet red, and fat tears stung her eyes. My Mom just gripped my hand. I called my Dad right away. I could hear him on the phone, choking away the sadness. Later on that night he told me that he had known I would be diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease all along. There were three indicators in which he discovered the source of my symptoms. The first was the day of my lymphnode biopsy (the previous Friday), Dr. Charrous really didn’t come out of the OR and tell my parents that things were all right. He came out of the OR and when my Mom and Dad inquired about my status, he remarked, “It doesn’t look good.” My parents told me later that he came to talk to them, and stared directly past them; he couldn’t even look them in the eye. He explained that a Hodgkin’s Disease cell resembles a large circle with two big eyes, almost like owl eyes. The lymphnodes he collected from my neck were big, puffy owl eyes. I don’t even know how my parents could look at me all weekend, knowing that I had a potentially fatal disease, and still remain positive. The second inkling that my Mom and Dad had was the research that they were doing online. All signs led to Hodgkin’s. As my Dad sat at work that frightful Monday morning, he was forced to participate in a meeting. All the while, a strange number kept on popping up on his caller ID. Finally, after many tries by the caller, my Dad answered the telephone. “Gary,” said my Uncle Joe. “I’m calling you because I need to prepare you and your family for the news you are about to receive.” My uncle, who was a doctor at Glenbrook Hospital had been sleuthing around that Monday. He said when he found out the results of my biopsy, as well as my abnormal chest film, that he instantly went weak at the knees. I was his favorite niece, I was one of the first kids to be born in the family, how could this be happening to Sherrie?"
Hope all is well!
Sherrie
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Prayers
Hi There,
Please pray for my Uncle Mike Stroden. He has thrown over four pulmonary embolisms to his lungs as a complication from his lymphoma. The clots are located near the aorta in his heart. He has been paralysed and sedated in order to sucessfully keep him on life support. There is a chance that he could pull through this, yet it is a very serious situation.
Thanks!
Sherrie
Please pray for my Uncle Mike Stroden. He has thrown over four pulmonary embolisms to his lungs as a complication from his lymphoma. The clots are located near the aorta in his heart. He has been paralysed and sedated in order to sucessfully keep him on life support. There is a chance that he could pull through this, yet it is a very serious situation.
Thanks!
Sherrie
Friday, June 22, 2007
Prayers
Hi There,
I just wanted to let you know that my friend Janice passed away this morning from Melanoma. She is survived by her husband, and three kids.
Also, please keep my Uncle Mike in your prayers. He is still fighting a battle with Lymphoma of the Brain. He was admitted to Northwestern this morning, with symptoms of fluid filling his lungs.
Love,
Sherrie
I just wanted to let you know that my friend Janice passed away this morning from Melanoma. She is survived by her husband, and three kids.
Also, please keep my Uncle Mike in your prayers. He is still fighting a battle with Lymphoma of the Brain. He was admitted to Northwestern this morning, with symptoms of fluid filling his lungs.
Love,
Sherrie
Thursday, June 07, 2007
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!
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
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
Sunday, June 03, 2007
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
Friday, June 01, 2007
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!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
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!
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!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
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.
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.
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