Showing posts with label thank you. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thank you. Show all posts
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Many thanks to my PIRE Family
Mere words cannot begin to express my sincere thanks to my PIRE Family for their support and encouragement throughout these past weeks.
First and foremost is Bernie Murphy, our CEO...but Bernie has been much more than that to me over the years and especially these past couple of months…he’s been my brother / therapist / analyst / decoder of all things medical / but most of all, my friend! If it were not for Bernie’s compassion and diligence, I’d probably still be limping around the office mumbling about the pain. He stayed after me to make appointments with the doctors to pursue a diagnosis – and, once the appointments started and the pain increased, he all but demanded that I stay at home and take care of myself first. When he knew I needed some PIRE news in order to think about something other than myself, he kept me current on everything at the office…and Nancy Murphy reminded me that I’m much to feisty to let cancer get me down. Thank you so much, Bernie.
What can I say about Bob Walden? Well – if you ever have a ‘red tape’ dilemma, Bob’s your guy! When I had difficulty having my insurance cover the payment for a PET scan I needed, Bob did a phenomenal job of contacting everyone necessary to unscramble the codes of what is and is not covered. In addition, he and his wife, Susan, sent me the biggest box of gourmet chocolate confections I’d ever seen (or devoured!). Thank you, Bob!
The Executive Services Staff – what can I say about the best group in the business! Alexis, Joey & Howard have been wonderful about picking up all the slack while I’m away. They brought me a fantastic birthday lunch complete with flowers and presents (preceded by Wolfermann’s breakfast treats) and have kept in touch almost daily. Yes, Howard, I’m trying to take it easy!
I had a great phone call with Allan Cohen, the founder of PIRE, who had wonderful words of wisdom – as he always does! Harold Holder, the Chair of the PIRE Board, has been wonderfully supportive since all of this started – trying to keep my work to a minimum – and sending weekly notes of encouragement. Faye Calhoun has called me numerous times to let me know she’s there if I need anything. During a recent trip to the area, Faye came up with Bernie to visit. Many of the other Directors have sent notes of encouragement.
And good wishes and support comes from across the Institute – from Joel Grube, Kathy Stewart and Bob Saltz (Berkeley), Bob Stout, flowers and notes from Karen Friend (Providence), Al Stein-Seroussi, Matt Courser and Janet Jester (Chapel Hill).
My sincere thanks to everyone for your kindness and prayers.
First and foremost is Bernie Murphy, our CEO...but Bernie has been much more than that to me over the years and especially these past couple of months…he’s been my brother / therapist / analyst / decoder of all things medical / but most of all, my friend! If it were not for Bernie’s compassion and diligence, I’d probably still be limping around the office mumbling about the pain. He stayed after me to make appointments with the doctors to pursue a diagnosis – and, once the appointments started and the pain increased, he all but demanded that I stay at home and take care of myself first. When he knew I needed some PIRE news in order to think about something other than myself, he kept me current on everything at the office…and Nancy Murphy reminded me that I’m much to feisty to let cancer get me down. Thank you so much, Bernie.
What can I say about Bob Walden? Well – if you ever have a ‘red tape’ dilemma, Bob’s your guy! When I had difficulty having my insurance cover the payment for a PET scan I needed, Bob did a phenomenal job of contacting everyone necessary to unscramble the codes of what is and is not covered. In addition, he and his wife, Susan, sent me the biggest box of gourmet chocolate confections I’d ever seen (or devoured!). Thank you, Bob!
The Executive Services Staff – what can I say about the best group in the business! Alexis, Joey & Howard have been wonderful about picking up all the slack while I’m away. They brought me a fantastic birthday lunch complete with flowers and presents (preceded by Wolfermann’s breakfast treats) and have kept in touch almost daily. Yes, Howard, I’m trying to take it easy!
I had a great phone call with Allan Cohen, the founder of PIRE, who had wonderful words of wisdom – as he always does! Harold Holder, the Chair of the PIRE Board, has been wonderfully supportive since all of this started – trying to keep my work to a minimum – and sending weekly notes of encouragement. Faye Calhoun has called me numerous times to let me know she’s there if I need anything. During a recent trip to the area, Faye came up with Bernie to visit. Many of the other Directors have sent notes of encouragement.
And good wishes and support comes from across the Institute – from Joel Grube, Kathy Stewart and Bob Saltz (Berkeley), Bob Stout, flowers and notes from Karen Friend (Providence), Al Stein-Seroussi, Matt Courser and Janet Jester (Chapel Hill).
My sincere thanks to everyone for your kindness and prayers.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Pat and Herman leave today...
Pat & Hermie are leaving today. They've done an absolutely fantastic job of setting up my home office. Once the PIRE IT team gets the new All In One printer online, I'll be ready to publish the next issue of PIRE News and anything else that needs doing!
I'm so sad to see Hermie & Pat go. Hermie just left to take Pat to the BWI train station, but they're coming back for Thanksgiving, I hope! George is already planning the menu - being very careful of their slightly idiosyncratic diets.
I don't know what I would have done without Hermie & Pat this week while George was on business travel (which had been postponed for two weeks). They were here when I received the dreaded diagnosis...and, needless to say, I will never forget those moments - or them, for being here, and giving me hope and inspiration to fight this damn lymphoma.
They have grocery shopped, cooked meals, set up the home office, cleaned out my closet (which hadn't been done since the 90's :), took out the trash and recycling, and generally not let me lift a finger since they walked in the door.
George cooked a fabulous last dinner for them - crab cakes! He's also extremely thankful to both of them for being here with me. Tonight it's just the two of us and dear, dear George will have to go back into Nurse mode. He's been fantastic since all of this started; especially when I couldn't get up and down the steps the first week after the uretal stent was implanted. He was unbelievable! He ran up and down the stairs delivering meals, and Hagen Das 'coffee' ice cream. He's also been very diligent about making sure that I drink at least three bottles of water each day.
For both the stent and biopsy, George sat diligently at my bedside before and after the procedures. I think he may have 'had' the procedures for me, if they had let him. After each procedure, the medical team strongly suggests that you be 'watched' for 24 hours...and he did...literally...cautiously listening to every whine and wimper even when I was sleeping.
On Monday I will FINALLY have the PET scan. More about that later...
I'm so sad to see Hermie & Pat go. Hermie just left to take Pat to the BWI train station, but they're coming back for Thanksgiving, I hope! George is already planning the menu - being very careful of their slightly idiosyncratic diets.
I don't know what I would have done without Hermie & Pat this week while George was on business travel (which had been postponed for two weeks). They were here when I received the dreaded diagnosis...and, needless to say, I will never forget those moments - or them, for being here, and giving me hope and inspiration to fight this damn lymphoma.
They have grocery shopped, cooked meals, set up the home office, cleaned out my closet (which hadn't been done since the 90's :), took out the trash and recycling, and generally not let me lift a finger since they walked in the door.
George cooked a fabulous last dinner for them - crab cakes! He's also extremely thankful to both of them for being here with me. Tonight it's just the two of us and dear, dear George will have to go back into Nurse mode. He's been fantastic since all of this started; especially when I couldn't get up and down the steps the first week after the uretal stent was implanted. He was unbelievable! He ran up and down the stairs delivering meals, and Hagen Das 'coffee' ice cream. He's also been very diligent about making sure that I drink at least three bottles of water each day.
For both the stent and biopsy, George sat diligently at my bedside before and after the procedures. I think he may have 'had' the procedures for me, if they had let him. After each procedure, the medical team strongly suggests that you be 'watched' for 24 hours...and he did...literally...cautiously listening to every whine and wimper even when I was sleeping.
On Monday I will FINALLY have the PET scan. More about that later...
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