We are kissing cancer goodbye
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
June 20, 2012 10:55pm CST
Two weeks ago Tom had his six month follow-up with his oncologist and I'm happy to announce that he was all clear, there is no cancer in his body at all right now. This means that he won't have to see his oncologist for the next six months and he won't have to have any more PET scans, he will be having CT scans only every six months for the next five years.
This was news that I've been waiting to hear for over a year. Yes, he was given the all clear six months ago, but was still encouraged to have radiation treatment, so this past six months has still dealt with cancer and cancer side effects.
Because of the good news that we've gotten and because of the fact that he will be getting his port removed next month, I would like to be able to do something to celebrate his victory with him. Does anyone have any suggestions of something really special that I would be able to do with him? I would like to be able to include our children as well if that is possible.
8 people like this
23 responses
@ShyBear88 (59299)
• Sterling, Virginia
21 Jun 12
Maybe you the kids can make him a cake or go and get a cake down. Go to dinner or maybe you the kids make a picnic for him take him out to places that you all like to do as a family that isn't to price.
Nothing says I love you and happy that your okay then something from all of your hearts.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 Jun 12
We have been doing some free things as we've been able to. For example, last weekend we bought some fried chicken and took the kids to the free movies that they have in one of the parks here. It was a lot of fun and it was great to be able to spend quality time with our family.
1 person likes this
@ShyBear88 (59299)
• Sterling, Virginia
24 Jun 12
that is fun. I wish we could go to the outdoor movie but it's just to hot with a 1 year old and too hot for me I would start getting sick to my stomach after being out for like 30 minutes. I hope you guys found something really good to celebrate.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
26 Jun 12
Once the kids are a little bit older, it will be something that your family will enjoy as well. At the one that we go to, they also have free activities before the movie for the kids as well and they really enjoy that. I'm planning on taking all of the kids to the movie again in a couple weeks because I promised Angie's kids that I would take them to the movie as well.
@Kashidanga1971 (1354)
• Bangladesh
26 Jun 12
Those inventors of radiation treatment looks like the direct angels from heaven. Congrats om them.
1 person likes this
I think it is great to see doctors and nurses who work to save people and to help patient.@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Jul 12
Having really had the opportunity to see what a cancer patient goes through first hand, I know that going through the battle is something that makes the patient feel like the doctors are straight out of he!!. However, I also see that these patients come to really love their doctors when they have been cured from the disease.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
21 Jun 12
This is Great news, and so Glad to hear this. I am sure many people here, and of your close friends elsewhere who have been Praying are rejoycing right now. I am sure this does deserve a Celebration. Why not plan a nice gathering and fix some of his favorite foods and such? Maybe rent a small hall or something for a couple of hrs? Get some music he likes, etc. Just a thought.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 Jun 12
That would be something that would be a lot of fun to do. Since he has started to feel better, music has been something that he has been listening to a lot more of than he has in all of the years that I've known him.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
21 Jun 12
You certainly do have something to cheer about....how about walking in a cancer walk....or finding a way to help someone else whose diagnosis isn't as good? I recently donated a bunch of my cards to a cancer place called Hope Lodge..its for people and their families that are going through treatment etc.....it was such a little things but meant so much to the people who run Hope Lodge....that might be an unusual way to celebrate....helping someone else!
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 Jun 12
One thing that both of us are planning on doing, probably next year, is to train to do one of the Team in Training events. The reason that we want to do that is because of the fact that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has been a great help to us through all of this and we would like to be able to give back to them so that they will be able to help other families as well.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
22 Jun 12
Hiya doranw.,
Great news that. Very happy for all of you and Tom as well. I would really take it easy and plan a couple of Weekends away here and there but not too far away just yet.
So glad that things have turned out right doran and continue to do so.
Also a couple of meals out here and there would not come amiss special Meals I mean you all deserve a big break. Lots of love and happiness to you all.xxx
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Jul 12
Basically what you are suggesting is what we are going to be able to do because of the fact that we do have a lot of debt as a result of all of the bills that we've had through the battle with cancer.
That said, I hope that sometime in the near future we will be able to do something more as a family in order to celebrate this victory.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
22 Jun 12
What a wonderful disease to be able to say goodbye. i wish that everyone could feel this joy. Too many people have suffered and loss at the hands of the horrible monster called cancer. My late husband battled this monster seven years ago. Unfortunately, he lost the battle. Enjoy your cancerfree moments and i hope that you never have to face them again. take care.@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Jul 12
I have known many people in my life that have not been able to beat the battle with cancer and for that reason, I consider our family to be very lucky that my husband was able to beat his battle with cancer. I do realize that there is the chance that he could relapse at some point and we will only have to cross that bridge when and if we come to it.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Jul 12
You know, hearing his doctor tell him that he didn't have cancer anymore was a moment that I will remember for the rest of my life. It is almost as important to me as the moments when our two children were born and the moment that we were pronounced man and wife.
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
21 Jun 12
You should take him out to the place he has been longing for, for he has been staying at the hospital too long, or a nice trip to seaside is also very romantic and good view.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 Jun 12
In his battle, he was quite lucky because of the fact that he didn't have to have any overnight stays at the hospital. However, the fact that during the entire time that he was going through treatment he was tethered to Lexington because of the risks of treatment does mean that it would be wonderful to be able to get away from here for a few days.
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
21 Jun 12
Certianly this deserves something really special. Do you as a family have someplace you could go back to that you have fond memories of? Is there someplace that you have put off do to the family circumstances? Even it it's just a night out at a sports event or some other event that the whole family would enjoy. Hope
you can find something really special and will share it with all of us who have held you and your family in our prayers during this time of stress. Blessings
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 Jun 12
Before Kathryn was born, we took an overnight trip to Mammoth Cave and we've been talking about going back for a while now because of the fact that the children are getting old enough that they will be able to appreciate it as well. We can't afford that at this moment, but it should be something that we will be able to do within the next couple of months.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215929)
• Chile
21 Jun 12
I congratulate you all, dorann! I know what this has been for all of you and I also knmow you all need to celebrate. I`m on remission and I had a party where I invited all the people that had helped me keep my good spirits during all the time of the chemo. Is there a place near where you live with a theme park where the children might have fun? You could have a weekend of fun in such a place.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 Jun 12
One thing that we've thought about if we are able to come up with the money to do it is to take the kids for an overnight at Mammoth Cave. It is somewhere that Tom and I went together not too long after we met and now that our children are getting a little bit older, it is a place that I really think that both of the kids would enjoy.
@marguicha (215929)
• Chile
22 Jun 12
I hope you can take your family to the Mammoth Cave. It sounds so perfect to celebrate in the very spot the has so much meaning for Tom and for you.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
26 Jun 12
That is what I'm hoping to be able to do. Right now we are selling one of our vehicles to help with our financial situation and once we've done that, I think that we will be able to do it and have a great time as a family together.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
26 Jul 12
I know I am a bit late here, but I still would like to send out my congratulations. And I am still hoping that Tom is still cancer-free as of today.
And I don't know if you've celebrated already.
I recently brought the kids to a waterpark nearby. It's the kind where they have big slides. It was fun and inexpensive.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
27 Jul 12
Thank you so much and yes, he is still feeling quite well at this point in time.
We really haven't had the opportunity to celebrate yet, but what we are thinking about doing is going up to Northern Kentucky next weekend and go to a festival that they have up there every year that we've wanted to go to for years but we've never made it up there yet.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
5 Jul 12
Congratulations dorann
I am so glad to know this, thanks for sharing in details..
GOD BLESS YOU BOTH
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Jul 12
Thank you friend.
I find that there are times that we will talk about those bad things that are happening in our lives, but we fail to inform our friends when things have turned and there are good things that are happening in our lives.
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
21 Jun 12
hi dear Dorann you have been through so much and stood by him and were the best wife he could ask for so I am doing the happy dance with you and him and the kids now knowing he beat the cancer.
Congrats from the bottom of my heart. Thats such super super news. woohoooooo
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 Jun 12
Thank you, there has never been words that have come out of someone's mouth that I've been as thankful for, except for those two times that doctor's told me that my babies were healthy.
1 person likes this
@elguardian (353)
• Malaysia
21 Jun 12
First of all, congratulations to Tom and of course to you. Cancer is not a disease that can be played with and you guys won the battle. I raise my hat to you.
I suggest your family could go and escape somewhere peaceful where all of you can spend time together and really cherish every moment. It doesn't have to be far away in another country. Something as simple as a chalet by the beach near to the place you live.
Or maybe you could do some kind of thanksgiving dinner for your family and some invited guest. To really feel grateful and give thanks for the success of winning the battle. It is probably during this time, that the guest will give words of encouragement and congratulations to Tom and this in turn would give Tom more reason to be happy and also vigilant against the disease.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 Jun 12
I am so very thankful for this victory because this time a year ago I was afraid that I would be raising our children by myself and that was a thought that really scared me a whole lot.
What we would like to do is to take a weekend trip to the caves because it is somewhere that we both really like and a place that we would like to be able to share with our children as well.
1 person likes this
@lynboobsy11 (11343)
• Philippines
21 Jun 12
Congrats doran and happy living to Tom, it is a great relief when someone in the family is no longer have to suffer from the pain. You can treat the family a picnic or a nice dinner.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 Jun 12
What I would really like to be able to do is to take the kids down to the caves and have an overnight there. It is a place that Tom and I went to together before we had children and now that they are getting a little bit older, I think it would be a place that the kids would really enjoy visiting, plus it is a special place for the two of us.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
22 Jun 12
oh wow wonderful dorannmwin thats the best news I have heard today. I have wondered how your hubby was faring with the c ancer. IO am so happy for you and hubby and family. yes its s ure time for a family
celebration. why not if you live near enough a beach to spend the day at the beach the whole family or in the mountains if thats more appropriate. an all day outing someplace you all love to go, and picnic with all your favorite foods. if you lived in Southern California I would suggest a trip to Catalina Island for the whole family, thats really a fun day.or a special restaurant where you seldom go as its pricey but take the whole family. there are a lot of things you could do of course.If you have a mountain resort sort of place like we had in south Dakota I would suggest a days outing there. in the black Hills we visited Mt Rushmore with the Presidents heads, and climbed harneys peak to look out from an old fire tower.
Whatever you decide to do good luck and God bless. I am so happy for you all, great news. w ow. hugs from hatley
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Jul 12
Though we really haven't had the opportunity to do something really special yet, we did all pack up this past weekend and took the kids to a dragstrip that is about an hour away from our house so that they would be able to experience that. It was something that we all had a really good time with because they had a jet-motor dragster and also fireworks on Saturday night.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Jun 12
That's awesome. Also, that's awesome!
All I can think is Disneyland!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Jul 12
I would really like to be able to take the kids to either Disneyworld or Disneyland, but both of those options are things that we definitely cannot afford to do right now.
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Jun 12
That's great news!! I know it's been a long, trying year for you all . . . glad it's all getting better. I guess if it were my hubby, I would ask him what he would want to do to celebrate. I think it would all depend on my hubby's energy level, these days anyway. I'd say he'd be more apt to say to go on a trip, as others have said - even a local one - just to step away from everyday routine - and be able to focus on our little family. Yah, I think it'd be important to include the children too!! You are such a good wife and mom, dorannmwin! Bye bye cancer!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 Jun 12
You see, there are some really interesting places that aren't more than a couple hour drive from where we live that we would like to be able to take the children to. Financially, we aren't able to do that at this moment, but then again even if we have to wait a couple months to be able to do it, it is still worth it because I believe that every day should be a celebration of sorts.
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
21 Jun 12
That is woinderful news. I am so happy for both of you and now I am glad that you can all go back to doing things together. I am not sure what your financial situation is, but can you get away for a weekend or for a couple of days as a family. If not maybe you can have a fancy dinner at home and just keep things simple.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 Jun 12
I honestly wish that we were able to afford a weekend away from home right now, but that isn't in the books at this point in time. However, if we do wait for a couple of months, I don't think that it is outside the realm of possiblity.
Now, going out for a nice dinner could be something that might be able to swing.
@mariakelly42 (54)
•
21 Jun 12
Wow congratulations and I'm so happy for you. It must've been really hard for you and your family to deal with the dreaded disease,and I'm so happy that you no longer have to deal with it. I wish Tom all the best in his new life, and may God bless you.
Cheers~
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 Jun 12
Thank you so much. I know that anyone dealing with cancer is not something that is easy to do. However, I also have to say that it has been made even more difficult because of the fact that we do have two young children that have had to been through all of this as well.
