From: Marsha Claus <marshaclaus@...>
Subject: Re: [cancer_survivors_gathering_place] Back to where it all started
To: cancer_survivors_gathering_place@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, October 13, 2008, 8:59 AM

Hi Paula, no, I live in Calhoun, GA!  My husband lived in Reno when he was younger.   Ok, you are a survivor!  In my mind, anyone was had been told cancer was found in their body is a survivor.  So, congratulations on being a survivor!  Awesome feeling, I'm sure, to have treatment #1 done and over with.  For me it was the scariest not knowing how my body would react.  Only 5 to go!!!!!!!!!! !! Marsha Claus 770-608-5100 marshaclaus@ yahoo.com --- On Mon, 10/13/08, paula crowder <crowd6807@yahoo. com> wrote: From: paula crowder <crowd6807@yahoo. com> Subject: Re: [cancer_survivors_ gathering_ place] Back to where it all started To: cancer_survivors_ gathering_ place@yahoogroup s.com Date: Monday, October 13, 2008, 11:21 AM Hi Marsha:  I'm just getting around to reading all my e-mails this morning, and I noticed you mentioned Reno.  Do you live in Reno?  I live in Portola about 48 miles away.  I do go into Reno for treatment though.  I just had my first chemo last Wednesday, October 8Th.  Can't actually call myself a survivor yet cause I have 5 more chemos to go and then some radiation... but I will be a survivor.  Guess I would be called a survivor in the making.  Would love to chat when you get a chance. Sincerely, Paula --- On Wed, 10/1/08, Marsha Claus <marshaclaus@ yahoo.com> wrote: From: Marsha Claus <marshaclaus@ yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [cancer_survivors_ gathering_ place] Back to where it all started To: cancer_survivors_ gathering_ place@yahoogroup s.com Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2008, 5:11 AM Sounds like you had an awesome experience.  It's amazing to me how quick the bond develops when you realize someone is a "survivor".  Seems that's all it takes is for someone to say "I'm a survivor" and all of us know instantly what they mean.  I've been a survivor for only 3 years, but some of my best friends have come out of this whole thing.    I told my students yesterday I'm glad I had cancer.  Most of them about fell out of their seats!  Of course they wanted to know why.  I told them I've grown as a person, that I feel honored God knew I could go through the experience and come out on the other side shining for him.  I also told them some of my best friends are the people I met through the whole experience.  My two chemo nurses are some of my closest friends.    Anyway, if you ever head to Reno or East of the Mississippi - let's try the get together again!  I'd love to meet more survivors face to face!   Marsha Claus 770-608-5100 marshaclaus@ yahoo.com --- On Wed, 10/1/08, marlapence <marlapence@hotmail. com> wrote: From: marlapence <marlapence@hotmail. com> Subject: [cancer_survivors_ gathering_ place] Back to where it all started To: cancer_survivors_ gathering_ place@yahoogroup s.com Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2008, 5:11 AM Dan and I had some airline vouchers that had to be used up, so Sunday morning we flew out of San Diego for three days in Reno, NV. Most of you are too new to this group to know that 14 years ago, we took our then-turning- 21 daughter to Reno to celebrate the occasion. There were a lot of active people at that time, all of us trying to survive cancer, and I shared the plans for this trip on the site. A couple of days later, one of the members (who is no longer with us) came on and said that Reno was only a couple of hours from her home, and she might drive down to have dinner with us. Pretty soon Pat G. logged in. She lived in Washington, DC at the time working for one of the airlines, and she thought she could pick up a flight to Reno. (Pat, if you're lurking here, drop me a note....the email address I have no longer works for you._ Somewhere along the line Jim decided to go. Evie really wanted to go, but she had never flown in an airplane, and had never been that far from home. She screwed up her courage, asked her beautifule daughter to come along, and got on the plane. I don't remember how many people we had -- Anne Loeser (are you lurking, Annie?) and many others (can't remember how many now) showed up. We had t-shirts made that we all proudly wore. This was the first reunion of the Cancer Survivors group (though in those days it was a Bulletin Board on Prodigy). We met several times after that, but as we got further from our diagnoses and life took over our cancer time, most of us have moved along. But it was all brought back to me when we stepped off the plane. We had such joy then to have survived to whatever point we were in our treatment and we made friends for life there. Through our travels we've been able to see many of the people that were there, and stay in touch through e-mail. This group of friends I've met here are dear to me, and I can't thank you all enough for the spot you've played in my survival. I hope that you who are new to this board find the comradery and friendship that I did. It was a major point in my recovery and people here can be that to you...... We're home now, in fact got in Wednesday night. On the flight home I was composing this note in my head. But life is back, and it's 2:00 a.m. on the following Tuesday night, and I just got the chance to check in. It's been a great ride all these years, and it will continue to be. Marla