News

Hi all,

I just want to let you all know that Erika is recovering from liver surgery. She underwent surgery last week and was in the ICU for a few days. She is out of the ICU and recovering well. On top of that (or I guess I should say, before all that), her cancer crept up again in her liver and brain (the reason for the liver surgery - to remove a good chunk of that cancer). The cancer in her brain will get zapped soon as well. She has had two rounds of chemo in the last 6 weeks or so, and all considering, she is proving tougher than ever.

Please send your good thoughts and write her a note as well (via snail mail). Send her good vibes and lots of love!! I'll keep this blog updated as much as possible...

Mammoth!

You know Erika is feeling well if she's skiing the steeps at Mammoth. This photo is from today. I wish I were there to enjoy it with her, and I know she's enjoying every bit of the ski day.... take that cancer!!

A Blessed Holiday Season

The good news about Erika a few months back has made me lazy about posting anything to this blog (and thank goodness for that). However, there was a date looming... the date of her next round of body scans to see if in fact the cancer had mostly disappeared. That date was 12.17.09.

The news I received from her yesterday, and I quote from the results she received, "There is no evidence of metastatic disease based on the PET scan."(!!!! - that's how I would have ended that sentence.) The cancer is no longer in her body, and it is a true blessing... Erika is busy making 4 different kinds of cookies today to celebrate Sofia's one year birthday with her family this Sunday (her bday was on 12/16), and she has Mammoth on the calendar for next year (as well as trip to SF to visit me! :) ).

There is no blog posting that can express how amazing this news is.

So enjoy all the little things in life... all the wonderful daily things that we take for granted.

Celebrate your health and your family.

Happy Holidays!

Erika Fights and Wins!

I received the best phone call yesterday. Erika called to tell me that she met with her oncologist yesterday to go over the latest set of body scans. And.... her words, "all tumors are dead." WHAT!! People... this is awesome news, and frankly, as I've said over and over again, I'm not surprised given Erika's tough attitude. She has 2 small tumors left that are basically dead and shrinking! The doctor said that this is unprecedented and absolutely excellent. (well, of course) Erika no longer needs to have chemo and will just stay on her daily cancer killer drug, and she doesn't need another body scan until December. So... all is beyond well... she needs some physical therapy (who wouldn't after being laid up for so long) and she's so happy to be zipping around town again in her favorite set of wheels. Yeah!! Really, if you do nothing else in the next few days, at least raise a glass, do a little jig, or continue saying your prayers and sending all those good vibes that worked. It's still a life long fight, but she's proven stronger than cancer for sure.

Wooohoooo!

Ongoing Strength and Smiles

If there's one thing I can say about Erika is that I feel her energy every time I talk to her on the phone. Again, it has been too long since I have posted an update, but I find that to be a good sign. I spoke to her last Friday, and she had just undergone another round of chemo. Yet her words to me were still, "I feel like a million bucks." Seriously... only Erika. It sounds as though she is mastering the chemo (or knows what to expect so she knows how to prepare for the onslaught of nausea). Also, her latest body scan is looking pretty good although, when I talked to her, she hadn't had her doctor assess the scans thoroughly yet. Her brain scan was totally clear! All positive news really... and Erika has been out and about a bit more. She and Greg were able to go out and celebrate their 2 year anniversary! And I know they've been entertaining quite a bit at their beautiful home.

All those positive thoughts and prayers are working. Certainly, Erika's strength is the real master of well-being. Go E! :)

Livestrong - Team E!

Lindsey Schroeder, her son Owen (nearly 2), Cammie Doder, and I participated in the Livestrong Foundation's event in San Jose last Sunday July 12th. It was such an inspiring event - so many people out to fight and bring down a huge disease.  We walked as Team Erika!

You all helped me raise $1,000 in Erika's name for the Livestrong Foundation! Thank you!! There were over 3,000 people who biked (up to 100 miles) or ran/walked the 5K, and $1.3 million was raised overall for the Sunday event. I was so impressed with the organization and all the amazing people.  Kids from the Lucille Packard Childrens Hospital (at Stanford) were also able to participate in carts that they decorated and that were then pulled by bikes.

Erika, you would have loved it! And even the pancake breakfast to follow (even though I'm sure you have no where near an appetite for that at the moment).  Team E was strong on Sunday ...

My visit with Erika on July 3rd was so wonderful... selfishly for me as her friend. I got to see how amazing she looks and get to just be with her... the Erika I love so much.  She is doing so well (and of course, I got to squeeze her sweet little Sofia who is just the cutest!).  Erika just underwent a round of chemo this week.  She keeps talking about how excited she is to get up to Napa and sip a little vino - I'll bet that will be sooner than later. :)  How adorable is her little baby (already 7 months today!)

My next post will be about the Livestrong event.

Seriously, are we surprised?!

All,

I can't say I'm surprised given Erika's fighting spirit, her focus on taking cancer down, her intense zest for life.  Great news... yesterday, Erika received some results of a scan which showed that much of the cancer that was at first there a few months ago is gone.  Yep, as Erika put it, "Gonzo-ed."  There is still a spot in her liver and in two vertebraes (not sure if the spot in her liver is actually cancer or just major cell restoration).  The chemo (cancer killer extraordinaire) is working, and Erika's body is reacting just as we all prayed it would.  She is beating this thing with a really big baseball bat!!  Anyway, your prayers and good thoughts are working.  Keep the support coming b/c it's still a battle.  She did another round of chemo yesterday which is no fun but all for a good cause ... send her "anti-nausea" vibes.  I get to see her in a week and look forward to catching up and giving Sofia many baby squeezes.

If you haven't already, donate in Erika's name to support cancer research: http://sanjose09.livestrong.org/kirahallemeier 

Yeah!