What's happening this week - November 25th



Leaving for Florida, 11/21/12

Lis, Joe, Mom, Denise, Dad



Hey, hey-
Hope you are all well and had a lovely Thanksgiving.  We returned home from the Florida sunshine this afternoon.  Definitely a fabulous trip.  We left for Fort Lauderdale on Wednedsay morning. Late Wednesday afternoon as the sun began to set, we enjoyed a cruise on the intercoastal waterway on Ray's lovely boat. Mary and Lou, (Denise's parents), were amazing hosts! Thank you for making us feel so welcome and at home.  Mary and Lou went all out preparing and planning and made the holiday and food super special. We all loved the Ritz. Friday night's dinner was at Runway 84, a very cool Italian restaurant which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. The last evening we relaxed at Mary and Lou's home with the best pizza imaginable.

Dad, Denise, Joe and Lou 11/21/12

Mom, Joe, Lis, Mary, Denise and Dad, Thanksgiving '12



We had some very special visitors come to call on us at the Ritz. On Thanksgiving morning, Mary came by and we all enjoyed sitting by the pool overlooking the beautiful blue ocean and wide sandy beach.

Friday afternoon, we hung out with Ahsha, Vanessa, Jahan and Tom.  While keeping in touch via Facebook  is surely a good thing, nothing can take the place of sitting side by side with our family and hearing first hand about Jahan and Ahsha's jobs, and finding out what's happening with everyone.   It was fun to see Vanessa's excitment with the holiday cookie decorating that took place poolside, too. 

Joe, Jahan, Vanessa, Ahsha 11/23/12

Joe, Jahan, Vanessa, Ahsha, Tom, Mom, Denise, Lis 11/23/12

 



Saturday, Ali Ingersoll, (Lis and Ali go way back to Rumsey days and St. George's, too) and Ali's dad, Ralph came from Miami.  Lis and Ali reminded us of little kids as they eagerly looked forward to seeing one another. We learned about Ali's upcoming plans to relocate to China in March. We will be pulling for you, Miss Ali.  Your will and determination inspire all of us.  Your beautiful smile comes right from your heart!

                                                 

          Lis, Ali, Joe 11/24/12

Here is what is in store for this week:

Monday morning we are heading to NYC to Memorial Sloan Kettering.  Joe will have a second radiation treatment on Monday morning and a third one on Wednesday afternoon.  The first treatment was last Tuesday. Joe's radiologist decided that the most effective  way to  treat the tumor in Joe's L2 verterbra was with three mega doses of radiation instead of one dose as originally planned. We hope this brings big time relief for Joe's pain.

Saturday, Lis and Joe will be at a lovely wedding as Chrissy and Kevin get married at Fordham and celebrate with a big reception at the Bronx Zoo!

Thanks for checking in and caring.

Lots of love xoxo,

Lis, Joe, Doreen, Denise and Michael

PS A big thank you to Dad, (Mike), and Denise for all they did to make this a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Love, Doreen, Lis and Joe

 

 

 

 

Thank you for all your love for Joe! And... What's Happening This Week - November 18th

 

                    Chris, Mike, Stephanie, Josh, Hillary, Lis, Erin, Joe, Watertown, CT 11/10/12

Joe would like to say thank you for all the lovely care packages, thoughtful presents, carefully prepared food, and most of all, for the in-person visits.  These things mean the world to all of us and we appreciate every single thing.  Sending you lots of kisses and love.

Here is what's on deck this week: Tuesday afternoon, Joe will receive a one time mega dose of radiation for the tumor in his L2 vertebrae.  This is an extremely strong dose of radiation that will destroy the tumor and we hope this treatment will provide pain relief for Joe.  A special cervical mold was made a couple of weeks ago during Joe's planning session.  Joe will need to remain completely immobile while the radiation takes place.

If all goes well and Joe feels okay, Wednesday we will depart for Florida for Thanksgiving!  We are ready for some sunshine.  We will stay at the Ritz which is a favorite of Joe's, until Sunday.  Mary, Denise's mom, is going to cook us a big Thanksgiving dinner! Woo-hoo!

Joe is on schedule for chemo the following week, Tuesday, Nov. 27th.

Thanks for sending us positive vibes for the radiation treatment!

xoxo

Lis

Here are some photos from our lovely DC visitors from last weekend :)

Hillary, Lis, Stephanie  11/10/12

Dad and Lis 11/10/12

What's Happening This Week - November 12th

Denise and Michael, Memorial Hospital, NYC 10/31/12

Today Lis, Joe, and I head to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at 53rd St. for 11:15 am.  Joe will have blood work, see his oncologist and receive his chemo treatment.  The day will be long.  Hopefully, we will be back to the Upper West side by 8:30 pm. Joe receives his chemo drugs via his port this afternoon and brings home a portable  infusion pump to deliver another drug over the course of two days.  (The pump fits in a small pack worn around the waist.) Joe will have the pump disconnected Wednesday afternoon.

Mia will hang out in the Upper West side apartment enjoying her new toys and treats from Bone Appetite awaiting her next walk in the park.

Mia, 11/12

Wishing everyone a good start to the week.  Thanks for thinking of us.

Love from NYC,

Doreen

Trying to Get a Handle on the Pain

Greetings loved ones,

(Thanks Snoop, as in Dog-gy Dog).

Joe and I watched a bit of the news coverage last evening for the 44th presidential election of the United States. What stuck most? Brian Williams, on NBC, mentioning that 1 million television ads aired for this 2012 campaign. Williams concluded this remark saying, “Imagine what disease we could have cured if that [the money spent for 1 million political ads on television] went to science instead.”

We are home this week, trying to get a handle on the pain. Which is what we try to do most every day. Joe is remarkable as per usual, as he never complains - ever.

Joe was discharged from Memorial Monday afternoon. Eight days in the hospital. As Meghan commented, "Surgery and Sandy in one day!" We had some lovely visitors, big shout out to Sarah, Tiff, and Chrissy. Joe’s ladies representing obvi. In addition, Dad and Denise came by dressed up in costume on Halloween, a gangster complete with a pinky ring and a witch, with a very large and feathery hat. From CT, Mia dressed in scrubs, complete with a surgical mask, looking very official and in charge – Joe’s fav doctor.

Mia, 10/29/12

We are very excited to have some DC visitors coming to CT this weekend, Mike and Hillary and their brother along with Josh and Erin, still our favorite newlyweds.

Mia had her first adventure in the snow today and seems to think it’s cool/ something very scary/ a big ice cube she can eat, as she loves ice cubes.

Below are some pics from two recent events, the Cancer Research Awards Dinner at the Waldorf and a Cancer Research Fundraiser at the Village Pour House. Hope you are somewhere warm and toasty.

Thanks for your love for Joe and your hope that we can get a better handle on the pain.

xoxo
Lis