Update From The Family

Hi To All>>> We Hope all your holiday celebrations went well. We have a lot to be >>> thankful for in 2008 and more to look forward to in 2009.>>>>>> Hillary had a wonderful, strong appointment this week. She went to >>> Dana Farber on Monday with a couple of friends that are teachers and >>> were on Christmas break. Her test all came out well. She will have >>> more labs on tuesday and then on Jan 12 she will have a pet scan. If >>> the pet scan is clear she will be in remission. Jan 18th will be her >>> 100th day and also her rebirthday from her 1st transplant. What a >>> finish of 2008 and start to a new Year!! We are all very excited but >>> are holding our emotions in check as she has had several pet scans >>> that has put her in remission but none have lasted more than 3 >>> months before the cancer came back. She still will have a lot of >>> restrictions after the 100 days. She will be able to eat a few more >>> things. She is ready to come out of her home confinement but will >>> only be able to do a little more than she can do now.>>>>>> Hillary has taught us a lot in 2008. She was scared to death when >>> she found out in April that the cancer had come back. She kept a >>> positive attitude, Switched her doctors and Hospitals, found a bone >>> marrow donor and did a second bone marrow transplant. Her upbeat >>> attitude, killer smile, outstanding outlook has given me a whole new >>> perspective on life. I think she has a personality that is >>> infectious. She can spread it quickly to whoever she is with. With >>> that she was as low in confidence in late july and August. Her >>> financial battle with the health care industry became a war. The >>> people she had touched came out if force to help. What an impact!! >>> She found out how many people were pulling for her. They helped the >>> financial situation but this was the turning point in her healing. >>> She new that with this much love, many people showing her that she >>> could make a difference. In August or September Fr Stan called all >>> excited 1 evening and told Hillary that he talked with GOD and god >>> told him that Hillary needed to touch more people and tell them >>> about being positive. Believing in god and passing along her >>> attitude became her.>> Byrnn and Nichole were able to see Hillary work a room when they took >> her to Dana-Farber. The waiting room at a cancer hospital is a scary >> place. They watched as Hillary talked with her piers that were in >> many different levels of cancer. She changed the whole atmosphere in >> the waiting room in 10 minutes. She had people talking about cancer >> and what they had already been through. She transferred her positve >> vibes to 50-75 people in the waiting room, She handed out her Baldies >> Blog cards to everyone that asked for them, and there were a lot that >> wanted them. How can anyone in such pain look past it and try to >> help so many others. Her college friends have always told me she was >> something special. She just brought the best out of people. She was >> not stopped by racial barriers or statis. You have white, black, >> Asians,Spanish, indians and Hillary. She is now partially european as >> well as multi cultural. She will not be stopped by Health Statis either> I want to thank all of you for helping us get through a very tough > 2008. I honestly believe that all of you had a hand in getting us to a > better place in this world. I don't know how to thank you all for your > tremendous support. I do know that 2009 will bring out the best in > us all.As the economy gets tough it will talk a positive attitude to > show us a new way.> May 2009 be the best year of your life and each day be special.>> Lots of Love.> Vic, Nancy, Patrick, Grace, Heather, Allen, Pierce, Xander, Jon and > especially Hillary