*NEW* - Remembrance Page

[gah_70]

Mid and I decided it would be nice to remember those ladies who we know who have passed away from Ovarian Cancer.  There seems to be quite a few as of late, and maybe a few some of you never had the pleasure to meet.  If you have someone you would like to add, go to the Health Pages, then click on Categories at the top.  Scroll down to Memorial Pages.  There you will see the first entry with a box beneath it.  Click on "edit", then move to the second box and add your information.  Mid will add more boxes as needed.  Please send her a note that you'd like one, and she'll get it put up for you.  If you need help getting your information or picture in the box, let one of us know and we'll be glad to help you.  

Mid and Gail, your Community Leaders

[Jan214]

Okay that last line should say "aren't exactly banging down the door to join."

Marty, I have been a lousy friend lately. This last 4 or 5 months have just been hades on earth, but at least for now I am still on this earth and I am enjoying seeing all of my babies pop out of the ground.  

You are so loved here Marty, and so much a part of who we are that I am glad you are still around.

Love
Jan

[SimplyStar]

Jan dear, you do have a way with words,  that is exactaly how I feel about this entire forum, the posts for info, the updates, the venting, the sense of friends helping friends through tough times and happy times.  I go back and read through what all of you said to me in my darkest hours, and I feel the Love return a hundred fold.  To give of yourself to others, is a good thing, to remember,  is also good for the soul.  This forum will remain my friend to my dieing day, because through it you always helped in various ways.  Marty

[Jan214]

Our remembrance page is so much more than a place to go to remember our friends from the forum who have passed away. I think it is a wonderful tribute to them and a nice way for people who read their posts to be able to see a little about them, but still, it is about more.  

It should also be a reminder of what our friends and caretakers are going through. It is hard to live with the fear of being told you are a short timer, but it is uplifting to me that my friends are here to share that sorrow with me. It also helps me remember that the pain of the caretakers and loved ones left behind doesn't just go away and holding up our friends in their grief is not something that can be done for a day or two and than forgotten.  (I am SOOOOOOOO guilty of that myself, and I am very sorry).  It is a way to comfort Marty and remember her daughter Leslee for, and with her.  It is supporting Irene who seems to have lost so many people this last year to cancer.  Yes, it can be a sad reminder of what some of us have ahead of us and no it isn't very uplifting.  However, the sad facts are that some of us are going to leave this world sooner than we would like because of this insidious disease & it is nice to know that we are all here for each other to help get through those sad times to a time that can be a little happier and where we can remember with love & joy, instead of commisserating in tears. I know sometimes it seems to just hurt to much to remember, but we would be doing them a disservice if we let our pain stand in the way of remembering our funny, quirky friends who were always here for us.  

While some of the people who others want to list may not have been fortunate enough to have found their way to our wonderful group, they are still our sisters in this battle, & they are still the loved one of one of our friends and we should support our friends in their loss and their grief whether we knew that person or not.  They are still part of the sisterhood. Think of all the many women who went before us who didn't have it near as easy as we do. My mom died in 1964 of this, and of course the internet was not around, but it was women like her that were the guinea pigs and test cases & because of those "pioneers" our situations aren't near as harsh as theirs were. We have better options, surgeons, specialist, drugs etc.

When we did the balloon release in Springfield the last name I read was my friend Camille, who did not belong to the forum, but my friends on here supported me during the lonely, sad time of her passing the same as they do when one of our members passes on and that is the way it should be. I don't want any of my friends like Irene or Marty to ever be alone with their grief just because they mght have lost someone who wasn't part of the forum.  

For those of you who weren't at the 1st Annual Cyber Party at Springfield (you really missed something and you HAVE to come this year!!!) below is a link to the balloon release we did for our sisters. Chris & TC worked so hard on it and it was all just beautiful. It was something to see all of those beautiful teal balloons floating up into that amazing blue sky.  It was a sight you should see for yourself if you haven't.

Well, that is my two cents. I say we are just one chaptherhouse in a worldwide sorority that people are exactly banging down the door to join.  Hel! week with this sorority really is hel!.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHvMqo4m_cI

Is anyone beside me having trouble seeing the pics?

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

this is very wonderful
We all keep each other alive in our hearts and souls
take care

[JC145]

I say "DO IT" .... she was your friend and should be remembered.

So sad for your loss, Irene

Judy

[ireneo]

Would it be OK to add my friend, Chris, who just lost her battle with this %&$@@& disease? I knew things looked bad but had some hope when she spent 2 weeks in Texas at MD Anderson. When they sent her home with no treatment ideas, I was devastated. Looks like they were right because within 2 weeks, she was gone.

Anyway, I'd love to have her name here even if she wasn't a visitor to the forum.

[Searching48507]

In memory of my mom.  Just thinking a lot about her today.  Barbara June LaBarge (October 2, 1935 - May 18, 2008).

Love ya Mostest!

Karen

[JC145]

Just to chime in, as a woman with OVCA who has established many friends and obtained much needed information and support from this site, I find this remembrance page as a place to reflect on the fight of those we have lost and gain strength and determination from their struggles to continue my own fight against the "beast".   I would like to think those who use this site regularly would occasionally stop and remember me and my personal story and that by remembering, they become more determined to go forward.

Judy C

[Tjoyce]

I am really sorry for your loss.  Just to clarify, I didn't mean that this website on ovarian cancer is depressing, only this thread about the ones who we have lost.  I suspect you meant this thread about that but wanted to clarify.  I agree wholeheartedly that you will find very caring women on this site and thread and it helps to share in grief so I guess some would find this thread helpful for that and for that reason I accept your opinion.  Tjoyce

[SimplyStar]

To me this is not a depressing site at all. I am one that frequents it often, it is very uplifting to me to feel the love that these women have for each other and even though  some have gone on to their rewards in heaven, we do not forget them, they were full of love and hope also when they were with us.This is a place where we can come to reflect on those that are gone, to remember the times we had with them, their voices are silent now,  but we do remember their ups and downs with this disease.  They would be the first ones to encourage all users of the forum to fight and stay strong.  They did not dwell on death , they cherished life.  By reading through these posts I feel close to my daughter again. All of this is done with LOVE.   Marty

[Tjoyce]

Dear friends,
                    While I understand the love behind this I for one really find it too depressing.  It's not constructive or uplifting.  It's just a sad place for women fearing the worse to even get more depressed about.  Your intention is honorable but I don't believe it has benefits women trying to get answers about how to best survive this desease and to offer hope rather than to get hit in the heart with all those who have not won the battle and are dead.  Sorry but I am only trying to consider the feelings of all the women living with the fear rather than hope.  I hope you don't take offense at my remarks.  Tjoyce

[RavenLady]

You go Girls!  MV

[milashka]

What a nice idea, although it is quite sad. I have not been here in a long time. Glanced over the names, holding my breath, saw that alanpvegas' mom passed away. I remember well when he came here for info. It hurts to see she did not make it.

[StillFighting]

Blinks, Leslie went to play with the Angels?
I have not been online in a while and just saw that. My heart goes out to her family.

[Mid]

Thank you  

I'm so glad that you like what I did....

It was a pleasure to do it for you.

Take care
Mid

[SimplyStar]

Thank you , you did a beautiful job.  Marty

[Mid]

I will work on that for you and it will be up sometime my day today/ your night

What a lovely Poem and Photo

You take care
Love Mid

[SimplyStar]

I have found what I think would be nice for Leslee,   I want to include this poem and the picture of her with the rainbow from my photo page   can you do that ?   Here is the Poem

Somewhere over the rainbow,
I'll find my way to the sky
Where voices of my loved one's,
Sing sweet lullibies.

Somewhere over the rainbow,
My love will fall from the skies,
And I full of new powers
Will dance along with butterflies.

somewhere over the rainbow
all ways of light and gleam
one day we'll all be together
Picture of beautiful dreams.

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
The love we'll have is forever
I've found my way to the sky.


March 7, 1957  -  October 9th,  2008

thanks Marty

[gah_70]

That is perfectly understandable.  Whenever you are ready, let us know, and we'll help you do it, or you can tell us what you want to say and we'll do it.  Hoping you and your family find some peace.  

Gail

[SimplyStar]

I will try and get a picture to you of Leslee   tell me how  and I would like to put a little rememberence of her there also,  I want to get it just right,  Right now I am kinda like an empty shell,  Everything I see or hear reminds me of her.

[Jan214]

I would like to try and gather the real names of these ladies.  Some I know but other's I don't.  I only know Alan's mom as Mum and I think they deserve to be named.  If you can add a given name to this list I think that would be nice.
Thanks Gail and Mid for thinking of this.
Jan

[JC145]

A bitter sweet remembrance.  Thank you.  Judy

[lvfrogs]

This was a very nice thing to do. I remember a few of the women and I think this is a wonderful idea. I hope too, that in the future we do not have to add anymore names. Hugs,
Colleen

[SimplyStar]

I read through the names and was remembering some of the ones that I knew, this is a very nice gesture  to keep these women "alive" this way.  Hopefully someday there will not be any names to add, that we will have a cure.  My heart aches for you all.