Back from visiting my sister over the holidays. She's kept all the postcards you've sent, and she's right - you all have been in some interesting (and not so interesting) places! :)

I'm still spacing out sending her cards, as her treatment will go through end of April (and unfortunately if Friday's news is accurate, much longer).

But she enjoys receiving them, keeps them, and re-reads them/looks at the pics. So THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart on your generosity re: this project.

Cheers.

Got one from Machu Pichu for her.

Sharon, it would me my honor to send your sister something...please do e-mail me your address. I don't have any exotic trips planned until late Sept., but who knows what can happen between now and then!

I wish her a very speedy recovery!

I'd love to participate in this... please send me your addy and you will have a nice Vietnam themed postcard coming up. I have been receiving quite a few postcards here lately and I must say, from personal experience, it is so nice to get them. ;)

I will be glad to send post cards when I am in Hong Kong next month. PM being sent.

Alas, things are not going as well as we wanted or hoped, so her treatment will be continuing for a lot longer than expected (d*mn/upset). So if any of you are willing to send (or continue to send) postcards it would be greatly appreciated. She's going to need some cheery images. Thanks!

Cheers.

I am so sorry for the news, Sharon. And I know how important a positive spirit is to healing - both for you, as the encourager, and for her, as she seeks good health. There is so little we can do to help - but at least I'll pull out some more postcards to get on their way.

Best of luck to Cheryl (and you as well).

Sharon, I am truly sorry to hear this. My heart goes out to both of you.

~Pat

Thanks for the best wishes & support, and for those who have or are sending postcards, thank you. Cheryl keeps them all. Of course now I'm concerned that she'll want me to give her an airline ticket to each location when she recovers :eek: ;) :D

Cheers.

Hi Sharon
I just had surgery myself, beginning of March. I was blessed that it was caught very early, and my prognosis so far is good.

No exotic travels on my list right now, but I do live in scenic New England! I'll be sending a card.

My best for a full recovery to your sister.

Hi Sharon,
Sorry to hear the news; sure hoped the Cheryl Report would be better. Have lots of travel this spring so more cards shall be coming your/her way.

Unfortunately I have some bad news. I was going to relocate temporarily to help out my sister, but the cancer has spread & it looks like she only has a few days (probably) or a month at most. So those who have sent postcards in "Operation Postcard", thank you so much. It has truly meant so much to her, and I have some that I haven't sent to her yet, so I'm bringing them with me to the hospital when I fly up on Wed a.m. so she'll have some beautiful images to look at. I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment, but truly I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love my FT family.

{{Sharon}}

Life sucks sometimes.

You have my phone number if I can be helpful in any way.

We love you, too. Hang in there.

This is such overwhelmingly sad news. Small consolation, but your sister spent her career living and working in places of beauty that most of only see in small doses or until we retire.

I know that you enriched Cheryl’s life…well before the cancer; you are lucky to have each other.

I hope that she has a gentle passage and that you are able to tell her it’s OK to let go. Sharon, where ever you travel, for the rest of your life, a little bit of your sister will travel with you.

We all know what a horrible loss this is for you, Barry

I am so sorry to hear this news. My heart and prayers go out to you and your sister.

Praying for strength for both you and your beloved sister Cheryl at this time.

Very sorry to hear about this. Currently in UK, and will send another card tomorrow.

Meanwhile, love and prayers.

Much love

Please do let us know if besides postcards, you need miles points or flowers sent to the hospital ( can she have those? )

Janet

Sharon - my thoughts are with you and your family.

Wishing you safe, hassle-free travels and nothing but quality time with your sister and family.

if bychance there's anything you or yours need from nyc, please pm asap.

SkiAdcock, so sorry to hear of the news. I hope you and your sis are able to have some quality time together. My thoughts are with you.

Thinking warm, positive thoughts for you and Cheryl!!

My heart goes out to you and your sister. I have been in the same situation for the past year with my beloved brother Jaime. I am so glad that you will be able to be with your sister at this time. I was not so lucky, when it came to the end I was not informed/contacted in time to make it to his side. I will always treasure every moment I did have with him though.

I will be thinking of you both and wishing you strength and peace. :-:

Sharon,

I am truly sorry to hear about this bad news. Hope you get to spend as much quality time with your sister as possible.

Girl, you have to stay strong yourself as well. If I understand correctly, it seems the female members of your family are among the high-risk group of getting cancer. I hope you'll take every possible preventive and precautious measure to stay healthy. I'll send oriental wisdom your way if I spot some good tips that are easier to practice for westerners.

Hang in there!

I am so sorry to hear this news.
 

Please post if you need anything - we are with you in spirit and in love.

Sharon/Cheryl Update
 

Sharon's connectivity is going to be sporadic so I thought i'd do an update for her.

Sharon arrived in Seattle this afternoon and was able to visit with Cheryl briefly while she was lucid. She and two cousins are currently staying at my sisters apartment (Sissy is off galavanting about Spain at the moment).

Cheryl's wish is to be hospiced at her home which is about 3 hours from here. If all goes as planned tomorrow, she'll be leaving by ambulance back to her home in Marblemount, where the hospice team and friends are readying her place.

Please keep them both in your thoughts. Things are obviously very hectic and emotional right now.

Sharon -- I (and Patrick) are thinking the best thoughts possible for you and your family right now.

Greg

Sharon, I am so sorry to hear this sad news. You are both in my thoughts at this time.

Thanks for the update, missy.

Just heard from Sharon:

Cheryl is on her way home in the ambulance. Sharon's cell doesnt work out there for anyone who might try to call.

I'm in contact with the park rangers and someone is supposed to call me back with some local info about flowers and any kind of pampering services that might be available.

I know a fund has been set up for the continued care of Cheryls 3 golden labs (one of whom currently requires $100 per month in heart meds). The "pup-pups" will be going to Utah to live with Cheryls best friend..who also has goldens. I'm waiting for more info.

I have PO Box info for anyone who'd like to send a card.. just PM me if you're interested.

If anyone wants to pitch in for flowers or something nice for Sharon, let me know too. When I know what the local options are, we can put something together... even if I have to drive a care package out there myself.

Missy, I just sent you an email. Thank you for taking point on this.

I forgot to ask for Cheryl's address. Would you please send that?

I won't have access to my home email til tonight (stupid office firewall) .. but I just PM'ed the address to you.

If anyone would like daytime contact with me.. please use the PM feature :)

Missy

Thanks for taking the lead on this. I know we have used paypal to collect for things in the past - would like to contribute to whatever you feel will help Sharon the most.

Janet

Update:

Spoke with Sharon a few minutes ago... she's on her way back to Sea-tac to pick up some friends of Cheryls.

Cheryl is home and hospice care is set up. She's surrounded by friends, and her beloved pup-pups.. who are very happy to have her home.

Also of note was the HAWT Fireman who was part of the EMT team in the ambulance. Sharon said she was trying to figure out how to get his phone number for me, but thought it *might* be inappropriate to do so with her sister lying between them.

It seems that she'll be back and forth to SEA at least once more next week for airport runs, so I think the best option is to coordinate a care package delivery when she's here, and I think I'll still plan to take a drive out there (possibly this weekend but probably next weekend).

For those of you who expressed interest in contributing.. expect a PM from me soon :)

Missy,

You have PM.

Dan

Sharon sends her appreciation
 

I let her know that I've been keeping y'all in the loop... and that you understand that she has limited connectivity as well as a very full plate.

Also from the note

FT Care Package part 1 - Delivered
 

Took advantage of the gorgeous sunny weekend we were having and made a trip out to Marblemount to see Sharon.

The weather and scenery were spectacular, but hit a couple glitches along the way. Sharon had transposed the phone number so I couldn't call her to get directions to the house. So, I decided to wing it, figuring that someone at the Ranger station could help me once I was close. But alas, the ranger station was closed. Ended up finding a park ranger at the gas station in town who pointed the way. Crisis averted. Otherwise, I was going to start going to the local businesses to see if anyone knew her or would hold on to the gift basket until I could get in touch with her via email to go pick it up.

I delivered the basket full of goodies (champagne, a gorgeous potted orchid, snackies, as well as a big stack from my book collection in case she needed some other mental stimulation) and good wishes from all her FT friends, then we went for a nice long walk with the dogs.

She's holding up as well as can be expected. obviously lots of stress and emotion.. and its not helping that there are so many people in and out of Cheryls tiny house. She really really wanted to make sure that everyone knows that she appreciates the voicemails and emails, and when things settle down, you'll all hear from her personally.

Planning to head back next weekend with the $$ part of the gift. I'm going to transfer the donations from paypal to my checking account tonight so its accessible in the next couple days ... so if you were still thinking of donating that way... please do so asap! PM me if you still need the info.

Hadn't been keeping up with the thread and I'm so sorry to read the news--both Cheryl and Sharon are in my thoughts.