For those of you that have read my Caring Bridge page, you are aware that I have stage IV malignant melanoma. As a result, my future is quite uncertain. The worst case scenario is six more months on the planet. The best case scenario is unknown, which is great news! In another 8 weeks I will know if I qualify for a clinical trial that is showing very promising results. 60%-80% disease control and a 50% to 60% response rate! Comes with 50% likelihood of terrible side effects, but I can deal with that.
I have continued to work full time since my diagnosis in early 2012 in spite of 5 surgeries, a year on interferon and radiation. I truly thought that this was what was best for me: Just keep things as normalized as possible. Well it has been 3 years and I have progressed from a stage III b to a stage IV and have active disease in my lungs. So now I have to do something different. Within the next month or so I will be resigning my job so I can focus on improving my baseline health. Stress management, nutritition and exercise. These are the things I must focus on now to improve my chances of survival. I want to improve my chances of sticking around as long as possible for my family and friends.
When we moved from Tucson to Vermont in mid 2010, we bought a very cool house on 3 acres that needed a ton of work. At the time, we were making the kind of money that would support a significant remodel. We started planning and ripping out flooring the summer of 2011. Then I was diagnosed six months later and we have not done a thing since. Uncertainty, medical costs and a financial step backwards with a job change my condition required me to take all contributed to our lack of any progress on the house. Plus nobody had the gumption or desire to care about it at the time.
The goal now is to be able to fix the house up enough to sell it. We want to get back to Tucson where we have both spent the majority of our adult lives and where Zoe our daughter has returned to go to school and build her life. I miss my friends. I miss Mexico. I miss Mexican food!
Although this is very uncomfortable and is COMPLETELY not in my nature, I am asking for your help. We are stuck in Vermont in a house we cannot afford to get into sellable condition. Please consider a contribution that will be used to enable our return to Tucson.
I need to remain hopeful. I want to live as long as possible and cling on to all that is positive. Getting back to Tucson will support these goals.
Thank you so much for your consideration.
Love, Greta
I have continued to work full time since my diagnosis in early 2012 in spite of 5 surgeries, a year on interferon and radiation. I truly thought that this was what was best for me: Just keep things as normalized as possible. Well it has been 3 years and I have progressed from a stage III b to a stage IV and have active disease in my lungs. So now I have to do something different. Within the next month or so I will be resigning my job so I can focus on improving my baseline health. Stress management, nutritition and exercise. These are the things I must focus on now to improve my chances of survival. I want to improve my chances of sticking around as long as possible for my family and friends.
When we moved from Tucson to Vermont in mid 2010, we bought a very cool house on 3 acres that needed a ton of work. At the time, we were making the kind of money that would support a significant remodel. We started planning and ripping out flooring the summer of 2011. Then I was diagnosed six months later and we have not done a thing since. Uncertainty, medical costs and a financial step backwards with a job change my condition required me to take all contributed to our lack of any progress on the house. Plus nobody had the gumption or desire to care about it at the time.
The goal now is to be able to fix the house up enough to sell it. We want to get back to Tucson where we have both spent the majority of our adult lives and where Zoe our daughter has returned to go to school and build her life. I miss my friends. I miss Mexico. I miss Mexican food!
Although this is very uncomfortable and is COMPLETELY not in my nature, I am asking for your help. We are stuck in Vermont in a house we cannot afford to get into sellable condition. Please consider a contribution that will be used to enable our return to Tucson.
I need to remain hopeful. I want to live as long as possible and cling on to all that is positive. Getting back to Tucson will support these goals.
Thank you so much for your consideration.
Love, Greta