Update on Leslee

[SimplyStar]

Well the trip to Mayo is over, talked with Leslee several times today, first off about the report from Mayo, her CA125 has not changed since she went off of Gemzar and the doctors there do not want her to quit it  just yet.  They said she was healthy and think that the Gemzar will do its work for her. They gave her a through going over and felt that all was stable at this time. She came home in several different moods, elated and confused.  Elated that they could not find any futher  reason for not taking more Gemzar and confused because the doctor here in this clinic seems to have given up on her.  She really wanted a change of scenery for the rest of her treatments, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards right now.  The second call was about  the place where she works, it was totaly damaged in the flood,  there is so much that has to be done now, relocating the facility, gathering up new equipment and figuring out how to handle all this.  She is just shy of having 20 years in and can retire  with  fewer benefits, but no insurance. Luckly  she is carried on her husbands insurance and can get by on that.  Where they want to relocate is out at hawkeye downs, which is the race track facility and is not air conditioned.  Since I have a son that is a Downs , he would be working there also, I am not in favor of it for him or her.  I told her that with her ability she could work at several jobs, but there are over 6000  without work here now,  so we shall see on that. She sounded really up  but I know she will want to be working, so we have to handle that now. the dumb people where she works did not attempt to move anything , they didn't think the water would get that high.  We are talking about 2 semi's  , 2 new vans with wheel chair lifts, 4 transportation cars, all 1 year old. All the desks and equipment inside the building , records, brand new carpeting and tile, all the ceilings are ruined,  she is upset by this, I klnow.  The clinic where she took her chemo was flooded also, that won't open for another week or so.  Our downtown area is completely ruined.  hundreds of houses are being torn down, all the waste  is being piled in the street,  the smell is unbelievable, the water has so many bad germs in it, and the misquitos are carrying  West Nile, E coli, and other bad things.  I told her today I think we should all move to AZ,

[SimplyStar]

i actually was able to drive through town yesterday, all the bridges are open except of course the ones that fell in.  It is absolutly the worst thing I have seen since I was in Korea  with a  MASH unit. Our building is completely distroyed, the piles of trash, peoples dreams, were piled high on every street. I saw young and old people going through trash,  there are no business's that are not affected in the entire city district and  it will take months if not years to recover. Can you imagine all the records that were distroyed, marriage , birth, death, house, car lincenses, even dog and cat  and fishing licenses.  We don't even have a land fill large enough to dump the stuff in , it smells really bad, hundreds of cars, all totaled, we lost 2 semis, 2 vans  and 4 new cars at our facility.  I am still working at the shelter  for about 4 hours a day, feed them lunch, we have over 1000 animals , mostly dogs and cats that no one has claimed as yet.  people without houses are begging  for places to sleep, we have had 6 sucides since the flood, mostly old people, they just gave up.

[crecco]

  That is such great news about LesLee, and I am sure she is happy as can be!
I have trying to keep an eye on how things are up your way and it looks just horrible, so I can imagine what it looks like right there! It is terrible that it got so bad, but I hope that you and your family have been spared from the worst. Please take care and keep us posted on how things are going.
      Chris

[kimmywah]

Hi Marty,
Great news from Mayo for Leslee and you.
We have had some news over here about the flooding, but I did not realize how absolutely devastating it really was.  I have never experienced something like that before and it is hard to comprehend the terrible toll that it has on the people in the area.
Please keep safe... My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time.

Love and Peace...Kim

[msjazz]

I am sorry Leslee is dealing with the flood issue with her job.  I hope they get something good worked out for all of you. Glad she is doing o.k., and got cleared with Mayo.   Donna

[Brownie3321]

I'm glad to hear the news about the recent trip to Mayo, but I too am heatbroken due to the floods. May peace be with all those effected. D

[Terrin2]

Breaks my heart to see and hear about the floods.  My prayers are with you....

[Jan214]

Marty, that really is good news from Mayo and hopefully the Gemzar will kick into gear.  It worked really well for me except for the throwing up thing.  I too have followed the devastation in your neck of the woods, and the health risk is awful especially for someone with cancer.  I went down and volunteered after hurricane Andrew swept through FL and they made us wear masks it was so awful. Just thinking about it makes me recall the incredible stench that arose from the piles of rotten everything.  If you all live that near to it, I would hope that Leslee is wearing a really good mask.
I am sure Leslee is very smart and resourceful, like her mom and she will land on her feet with this job thing.  Perhaps you all could look into finding a more suitable location for her office.  I can't imagine not having air conditioning for a building that deals with sick and handicapped people.
You know I wish you all the best of luck with this.
Jan

[TrudieC]

Glad that Leslee had a good visit at Mayo.  It is so sad to hear and see what is happening there.  I feel very blessed to live in a safe place (so far) and can't believe the extremes of weather causing so much strife.  Arizona does sound nice :)

[vegas2cr]

The devestation I have watched on television I am sure can not relay what is going on in your part of the country. I But the good news is that Leslee is stable..  Can she find another oncologist to handle her case that is more in tune to her way of thinking...
Arizona is great yesterday in Phoenix it was 116 at my friends patio and in my home town of Las Vegas it was 111... But it is a dry heat... LOL

[butterflytc]

   I am so sorry to hear how bad the damage is. I have been following it in the news, and the pictures of the piled up trash on the sidewalks is awful, I am sure it is so much worse in person, esp. with smell of wet rot. I am sorry about leslee's job damage, but am glad she got good news from Mayo. Hope you are coping alright.
Take Care
butterflytc