Hi blogger buddies! All is well in Pleasanton. Brigitte is at her soccer game, Kyle is working at Snug Harbor (my sisters marina), Sean is at work, Bonnie and Ricky are on their way up to visit and Casey is in LA with his parents. so it's a nice quiet day to do some blogging. The pic was taken in Tahoe last weekend when we were looking for Bonnie and Ricky's wedding venue. I had my third cycle of Folfox 6 last Wednesday. All went well. I now feel the neuropathy in my hands most of the time, but it should only last about a week and then subside until the next treatment in two weeks. My energy is still pretty good. I try to walk most days at least 3 miles. I do skip it when it's raining though. Yesterday I took a 3 hour nap in the middle of the day! That is unheard of for me. I have never taken a 3 hour nap in my life so I guess I must be getting tired once in a while. Today I feel back up to speed. As for my weight, I actually gained 3 lbs last week. I was challanged because the nurse told me I wouldn't gain wait with the chemo and the bag. I do like my food and challanges!!! I'm sure I'll lose it this week so I'm not worried. Next week I have an appointment with a dermatologist, OBGYN, and my Oncologist. I do feel like I have been living at the doctor's office lately. Thank you to all who continue to keep me in their prayers. Everyday I feel the Lords blessing in my family and in my life. He does listen to prayers and He continues to bring comfort, peace and hope each and every day.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

Good morning bloggers. I am doing really well today. I had my first folfox 6 treatment on Tuesday and all went well except my red and white blood counts are pretty low. I now get a weekly shot of Procrit which helps stimulate the body to produce more red blood cells. It has to be watched carefully due to high risk of blood clots. Yikes! Also my white cell count is 1.8 which is low; 4-10 is average. If it gets below 1 then I'll probably have to have another type of shot or hold off on the next round of chemo. So everyone who comes in the house has to wash their hands. I do feel fine though. Still walking daily, unless it's raining, and my appitite is good. I'm not losing any more weight. I can eat anything I want and I still don't gain weight. It's amazing!! What a way to diet!!!
The picture is of Brigitte and her friend Scott, (who is the pilot) about ready to go in the glider. What fun!! She flew over the delta out of Livermore.
Well, thank you again to all who continue to encourage, strengthen, and pray for me and my family. It is truly amazing how prayers work. God listens and he continues to give my family so much peace. We are so blessed!!!
Psalm 37:4-7 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your hearts desire. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgement as the noonday

It's another beautiful moring in blogger land! The picture of my very happy dog Kiwi shows how I am feeling as I blog, because I went to UCSF for my second opinion yesterday. I had many questions answered about my chemo regimine and am very happy about the new change. It is recommended that I switch from using Folfox 4 for 6 months to Folfox 6 for 4 months. That means that I only have 7 more cycles of treatment to go, and I'll be done with it by May if all goes well! The difference from Folfox 4 to folfox 6 is that I only have to go to treatment every other week for two days instead of three, I get less 5-FU each cycle but a little more Oxaliplatin, and since it's for 8 cycles instead of the 12, it gives less toxicity to the body overall. The data shows no difference in outcome, so less is better. Also, it is recommended I do not take Avastin because of all the unknown and unanswered questions that Avastin carries for stage III cancer. Finally, the doctor also recommended that once I am through with treatement, I get a CT scan every 3 months for the next 3 years due to the 25% risk factor of it re-occuring. I will have my scans done at UCSF. It's amazing to me how each time I have been to UCSF, my course of treatment has changed. I can't stress to you how important it is to get a second opinion and even a third if need be. When you are talking about a life, it is well worth the time and effort. It's pretty scary not knowing what to do when each decision is so important and life threating, but knowing that God is with me, guiding me and showing me each step or path to take is what keeps me at peace. I know God is in control and He will continue to watch over my family and me each and every day.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.

Good morning blogger buddies. Well, I'm into my first of 12 chemo series treatments. Yesterday I was there from 9:30-3:45 and today it should be only about 3 hours. Tomorrow will be about 1/2 hr to remove the buddy pack until the next series in two weeks. Yesterday took a little longer than expected because my port in my chest would not work right. It took just under 2 hours to get it working. It would allow drugs into the body but not allow for removal of blood. It's a two-way port and only one way was working. Apparently, sometimes the body produces a film inside that blocks the exit of fluid from the port. The nurse gave me a med that disolved it enough to allow full usage of the port...for the day. It will probaby happen again, but at least I was able to start the series. I didn't have too much trouble after that. Of the three types of chemo I received, I had a slight reaction to the Oxaliplatin. It sped up my heart rate from 60 to about 80 within the first hour. So next time I get it I will be given more bennidrill (I had 12.5mg instead of the usual 25mg) Today I will have Leuccvorin and 5FU bolus or booster like yesterday but without the Oxaliplatin. I am carring around my buddy pack again for 3 days each series. I Think over all I did pretty well, except my dear husband Casey gave me a bad head cold that came out the day before treatment. I had to take Sudafed during treatment to breath. They weren't concerned about me being sick at the start because it's not an infection...yet. I hope it doesn't go to my chest. As for nausea, I haven't experienced that yet and hopefully I won't. They gave me an anti-nausea drip, steriod drip, (are you jealous Barry?) and a few othet drips to help boost up the body. I did not start the Avastin drug yet because I was not 4 weeks out from surgery, whick is a must. I will start that on the next series in two weeks. In the meantime, I will see a doctor at UCSF for a second opinon on the drug regimine. I thought it was interesting that of the 6 patients in the room, 4 to 5 of us were dealing with colorectal cancer. You can tell by the buddy packs around the room, and the nurse mentioned a few. I hope you all are getting your colonoscopy !! Thank you all for your continual prayers and encouragement. Sometimes I get comments about being so positive and srtong, and that comes from not only knowing that God is with me every step of the way, but also from all of you who are praying for me, and encouraging me in so many ways. As I said before, I am truly blessed by each one of you in my life. Thank you
Mark 11:23,24
Truly I say to you, whoever says to the mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him. Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted to you.

HI everyone and happy January. I am doing really well these days. I have been out walking almost every day up to 5 miles (in two outings). I have my energy back and am now ready for chemo. Monday I talked with my Oncologist and he wants me to take Folfox 4 with Avastin for the next 6 months every two weeks. It will be administered over 3 days, the first day for 5 hours, the next day for 3, and the third day just for about an hour or so to remove the bed buddy pack. Yes, I will have my bed buddy back for two nights every two weeks. I can't say I've missed her but we'll get reaquainted. The folfox treatment is a mixture of 3 different drugs. 5-FU (what I previously had in the pack), leucovorin (folinic acid)and oxaliplatin. This is standard treatment for stage III cancer. Avastin is a drug that is currently used and approved for stage IV cancer but not stage III. Which means, my insurance will not cover it and we will have to pay for it. It is quite expensice but my doctor feels it may have good results. It's used by cutting of the blood supply to the tumor. Since I no longer have a tumor, we are not sure if it will help or not, but I have talk to a few different doctors and they agree with the use. It's been a hard decision but we are going to go for it. The doctors hope is it will give better odds that the cancer will not return at a future date. So Monday I go in for a "teach" class about the drugs. Tuesday I will start my first treatment. Please keep me in your prayers that all goes well.
Hebrews 10:23,24
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful: and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.

Happy New year!! I am feeling really good after a week of recuperation. I'm up to walking again and feeling my energy increase each day thanks to all the wonderful people who have been bringing in great dinners!!! My appetite is back in full force!! The picture is of my very special "healing Hands" blanket from my Foothill Family. It keeps me warm and loved every minute!
The first few days home were a little rough for me having to get used to a new addition to my body...an ileostomy. It's an "off ramp", as Casey calls it, between my small and large intestines. I will have it through chemo and until my colon heals completely. I was supposed to have a home health nurse come three days a week starting right away to help me out, but as I was leaving the hospital, the nurse informed me that they couldn't find anyone to come to my home. To say the least, I was upset, scared, and had a million questions on how to care for this new thing. But once again, God provided. My neighbor came over and offered her help. She is a retired nurse who used to work with patients and ostomys. She even drove me up to John Muir the next day for a visit with the ostomy nurse. I am feeling much more at ease now and am learning to adjust. As for the next round of treatment, I should be starting chemo in about 3 more weeks. I do have a second opinion appointment at UCSF for chemo on the 29th of January. Since there were so many lymph nodes involved, they want to go heavy on the drugs and wipe any hidden cells. I say go for it!. I have always said that God gives you only what you can handle. Now I realize that when there is more than you can handle, He comes along and helps carry part of the load. He also helps you find your way. A dear friend told me that when He brings you to your knees it's only because He wants you to see His path more clearly. I know that as I go through this next phase of treatment, God will be right there with me. I won't be carrying it alone. I pray if one of you go through trials or tribulations, you remember that God is with you and He will help you each and every step if you let Him.
Jeremiah 29:11-12
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

I'm back!!!!! It's New years Eve and am sitting down stairs after a wonderful dinner. Thank you to all who have been bringing us dinners. It is such a help to all of us and we love the food. Thank you. I am doing ok. I'm taking Darvocet and that seems to help. The pathology results came back. They took out 15 lymph nodes and 11 were positive. I was pretty disappointed and a little shocked. We thought only one may have been involved, but 11?? I was disappointed for a while but then I try to remember to trust God. He knew already the results and He knows how I'll be in the future. I just have to trust Him. The surgery was very sucessful according to the doctor. Very clean margins, and he got everything. He wants me to start chemo in 4 weeks instead of the usual 6 weeks so he can blast any remaining cells that may be present. I'll be making a lot of calls on Tuesday to set up appointments and try to get a second opinion for chemo at UCSF before I start.
Thank you so much for all your continued prayers and support. My family and I appreciate each and everyone one. No words can express the gratitude and love I have for all of you. Here is a poem my friend passed on to me that I want to share. Happy New Year to all and God bless you in 2007

New year's Prayer by Helen Steiner Rice
You are ushering in another year,
untouched and freshly new,
So here I am to ask you, God, if
you'll renew me, too.
but, Father, I am well aware
I can't make it on my own,
So take my hand and hold it tight,
for I can't walk alone.

Jill is home now and resting. She needs to slowly recuperate. She is feeling pain now that the epidural has worn off. Keep her in your prayers and thank you for the continued support. When Jill gets a chance she will give a more detailed update.

Hello everyone in Bloggerland. Jill is doing great. I am sorry it took so long for me to get to an internet connection and let you all get an update. She feels great for someone having had a major operation as she has had. This morning she was up by 5 am, and at 6:00 the nurses took out most of her IV lines. Then she took a walk of 6 rounds on her floor -- all before 7 am. You just can't keep this girl down!! But as her big sister, and I guess I have always known this. Back in Burbank growing up, she was the one jumping on the beds in the morning. Wake up... Wake up!
Anyway, the doctor said she is looking so good, but he wants her to REST! Doctor says she is healing very quickly. It looks like if all is well tomorrow, she could be home at some point on Saturday. Thanks for checking in and sending up so many prayers for her. She sends her love and happy cheer to everyone! Jill will be back to updating this blogger site hopefully by Sunday.
Have Blessed New Year!
Updates have been by Big Sis- Lorette

Good Morning Everyone! Jill is feeling so much better. Its really amazing. That epidural drip is great. She really doesn't feel any pain. As a result she is alert and talking, and just her regular self. She had breakfast with Casey -- liquid style-- and today it stayed down. That's a good sign. She was waiting for lunch at 12:30 when I left and actually feeling hungry. She will take a nap this afternoon. Jill said to let people know that its okay to call her cell phone or the hospital. I would suggest between 8 am and 8 pm. Know that she will probably be taking naps after lunch though. Thank you for the ecards that have come in already. She recieved twelve this morning!! from everywhere!!
Here is a picture from yesterday to share. I want to tell you the story behind the picture. Jill calls it a "God thing", a real blessing in so many ways. Yesterday morning Casey and Jill left for the hospital at 5:00 am or so. The night before she had said good night to the kids, all but Sean. He wasnt' there--working or something like that. She missed him but thought" oh well???" Anyway, all the kids showed up at the hospital to wait with Casey during the operation. (Except Sean who was working) Nicki, Linda were here also, and I showed up later after my drive up from SB. The family was waiting in the Lobby in the afternoon by then. Then in walks Sean in his AMT uniform. He sees Bonnie first and then the rest of the family. The "what-are-you-doing-here" begin. It turns out Sean, who works for Alameda county AMT had to deliver an emergency patient to Contra Costa County -- right to John Muir Concord. Then his ambulance breaks down as they are pulling in. He has to wait for a towtruck. Sooooo while waiting, he goes inside to get something to eat. And there is his family!! He was shocked because he thought his Mom was over in John Muir Walnut Creek. Anyway, Jill was coming out of recovery and being sent up to her room 6213-1. The picture is the family together Greeting Jill, Sean included.

OOPS!! For those of you paying attention! I got the wrong room number below. Jill is in room 6213-1 at the John Muir Medical in Concord. You can send her a ecard at this link -- https://www.johnmuirhealth.com/index.php/greeting.html?src=homepage
It would be better not to call, as she is resting a lot right now. But Cards are great!!!

Hello everyone out there who has been waiting for an update on Jill. Jill is out of surgery. She went in around 7:30 and came out sometime around 1:30. She was then in recovery for 2 hours. Casey and the kids, Nicki and myself ( Lorette) were able to finally see her around 3:30. Jill looks great and is feeling pretty good. She has an epidural (sp?) drip that is very comfortable for her at least right now. The doctor wants her to rest and take it easy. Casey will be staying with her tonight. The doctors update as I understand it-- a lymph node and other tissue was also removed in the area of the tumor. He thought it looked good but until the results of the biopsy, we don't know for sure the actual stage. Jill is in good spirits, as always, and Casey keeps her laughing. Keep them in your prayers. Jill sends her love to everyone. She is soooooo lifted up by everyone's concern and love and FUNNY cards!!!. She is at the John Muir Hospital ??? in Concord and you can send ecards through their hospital site. I will keep you posted as best as I can. You can call the Brierley household and leave your number. One of us will try to get back to you. Her room is 6013 if you want to send her an ecard. She gave you the address in the blog below. Please don't call the room because she will be resting A LOT!!

Merry Christmas! Are you ready?? One more day to shop! These last few weeks have been great. My strength and appetite have all come back and I feel almost as good as new. I'm very grateful that I have this time to get ready for Christmas. This week I went for my pre-op with the doctor and the hospital, and had all the blood work, chest x-rays and EKG done. I am almost ready for surgery on Wednesday. I still have to drink the wonderful gallon of mixture on the 26th. The surgery should last about 4 hours and I should be in the hospital for about 4-5 days. If interested, John Muir Hospital, Concord campus, has a website where people can send e-cards and volunteers will print out and bring to the patient. https://www.johnmuirhealth.com/index.php/greeting.html?src=homepage
I will have one of my sisters update my blogger site for me so all my friends and family will know how the surgery went. Please keep me and my family in your prayers on the 26th at 7:30am.
Words can not express how grateful and appreciative my family and I are for all the love, support, prayers and concerns that have been raining down on us since I was first diagnosed. To everyone, Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please have a very Merry Christmas and remember to invite Jesus to your celebration! God bless you all and have a safe and loving 2007

And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord".
Luke 2:10-11

Happy Christmas Season! I hope this new post finds you enjoying the Christmas season and trying not to stress too much. As for me, I am enjoying the time for walks, listening to music, slowly putting up decorations, and just feeling good. Yesterday I had the endo-rectal ultrasound. All went pretty well. The radiation treatments did shrink the tumor enough so the doctor will be able to get clean margins at surgery, so that is good news. I am feeling really well and will be able to enjoy my Christmas dinner before I have to fast for the surgery on the 27th. Here is a poem that was sent to me in a book that I thought was true.
What Cancer Cannot do
Cancer is so limited-
It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannnot corrode faith,
It cannot destroy peace,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot suppress memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot steal eternal life,
It cannot conquer the Spirit.
I have found that not only is the above listed true, but
It can make you closer to God,
It can make you stop and appreciate each day,
It can bring families closer together,
It can make love grow,
It can friendships into your lives,
And it can save other lives by reaching out to others.
God bless you all and have a wonderful, happy, healthy, and loving Christmas season
Psalm 9:10
And those who know Thy name will put their trust in thee: For Thou, O Lord, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee.

HI Everyone,

Today is a beautiful day to go for a hike, and that's just what I did today! I am feeling really well, and full of energy now that my intestines have settled down since the end of all the treatments. I have even started to gain back some weight...yikes! Next week we are going to set up our Christmas tree and start getting ready for Christmas and the celebration of the birth of our Lord. It usually takes a few days to set up, but on Thursday I will have to take a break because I am scheduled for an endorectal ultrasound to look at the size of the tumor, or what is left of it. As far as I am concerned, it's as good as gone! I am feeling very positive and uplifted because of all of the love and prayers that has been coming my way everyday. There is so much power in prayer. I do hope and pray that each one of you finds the love, peace, and hope that God gives to those who ask. He is an amazing God!
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had as nice of a Thanksgiving as our family had this year. Our Thanksgiving started with a big, family and friends, football game in Livermore. Then we had dinner with our very special friends the Allens, who hosted my family of 18. With her family and friends for a total of about 26 for a great sit-down dinner. Then on Friday, we headed up to Napa to have Thanksgiving with more of our family, including my father who came out of the hospital for the occasion. We had about 30 for another great feast. We each had an opportunity to tell my father how thankful we are to him for all he has done for us. A true thanksgiving and a great memory for us all. We have so much to be thankful for each and everyday, it's a shame we can't celebrate thanksgiving every week! Of course we would all have to diet during the week to survive those big feast! After 2 full days, I am taking it easy watching TV, reading, and doing e-mail. It's been two weeks since my last treatment and I am doing better each day. I'm taking lots of vitamins and other supplements so I will be ready for surgery on the 27th of December. I am very thankful to everyone for your continual love, support, and prayers. I am doing better each day because of you. Thank you
Colossians 2:6-7
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus a Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness

Life has been pretty quite lately. Back when I was working and extremely busy with life, sometimes, I would think about how nice it would be to be stuck in bed for what ever reason. To have the time to read, nap, or just listen to music. Well, now I find myself in that exact position and I don't like it. It didn't occur to me how sick or sore one must to be, to be stuck in bed or in a house day after day. I am ready to get on with life, but my intestines are not. And since they are the rulers of my body at this time, I must listen to them and stay put. I was told it takes about 2 weeks before my bowels start to heal after treatment, but I only have one week to give, because next week is Thanksgiving and my family will be up to celebrate. We are planning on a two day Thanksgiving celebration. Thursday with our dear friends the Allen's, and Friday in Napa with my sisters. Any weight I have lost by now I'm sure to gain back by the end of next week! December starts the prep for surgery. I will have the endorectal ultrasound December 7th to see how much the radiation/chemo treatments killed the tumor. December 27th is my surgery to remove all remaining tumor. I should be in the hospital about 4-5 days. This is a good week for my family because it's Casey's slow time at work, Bonnie will be up for the holiday and the kids are all out of school; so they'll be able to come visit me! I will start the new year a tumor free woman! To all my friends and family, have a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving and remember to thank God for all of His love and blessings.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and stength. A very present help in trouble.
And I can say He has been with me each and everyday and through all my treatments. He never leaves me. Thank you for your continued prayers. God bless.

I'm a free woman!!! Yesterday was my last treatment with radiation and I gave back my bed buddy as well. I got to take a nice long shower without wrapping up in Saran wrap! Some of the simple things in life are so nice, and yet we forget how much they mean to us....Until you go 6 weeks without. Then it's a whole new world again! I had a great day yesterday. My friends were over to visit and I was feeling great. Now that I am done with treatment, I will be getting a call as to when the surgery is scheduled. I'm still looking at the last week in December or first week in January, but it will depend on the outcome of the endorectal ultrasound that I will have in about 4 weeks. The doctors feel I went through treatment really well, and I attribute it to all the love and support I am getting from everyone. My family has been great! They make me feel like "we" are going through treatment, not just me. I am so blessed! I've asked my kids how they are feeling and they tell me they feel fine, and positive. I know they are feeling all the love and prayers as well so again, thank you so much for keeping my family and I lifted up all these weeks.
Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fullness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.

This past weekend was a quiet weekend. Casey and I celebrated our 28th anniversary hanging out together. We are planning on going to Greece for out 30th so it was ok to have a nice quiet evening. I'm just about done with week 5 and am doing ok. My skin is still holding up and I'm not too tired very often. Some days I don't feel so good so I just hang around at home reading and doing computer stuff. Other days, when I'm feeling good, I go out after treatment for a little while. I just got back from the book store. I found I am reading lots of books, so if you know of a good one, please pass it on. I just read the Lance Armstrong book, "It's Not About the Bike". Very good bood. Plus I am also reading books on cancer, being a smart patient, and of course my bible. That's the best of all. Tomorrow the radiation field will be smaller and more intense as they say. This will be for the last 6 treatment to target just the leftover tumor, to help get a good and complete kill. My blood counts and blisters are all fine so the doctor gave me the ok to start walking again. I am looking forward to next Friday when I can give back my bed buddy and not have to drive everyday to Concord. I am finding out that treatment takes patience. Thank you again for your continual prayers. There is so much power in prayers and love.
1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Hi everyone,
This is Sean and Kyle trying on their new Halloween costume for this upcoming weekend. They are a character from TV called "flavor-flavor" or short for Flava-fla. They are fun guys to have around the house, even if it was 3am this morning when I took the pic.
I am just about done with week 4 and am looking forward to starting week 5, because then I'll be that much closer to week 6! YEA! Iam doing pretty good. Ihad to give up walking for a while because I began to develop blisters on my feet from the chemo. So the doc said no more walking. Thank goodness my very kind neighbors are picking up my dog, Kiwi, for her nightly walk. I'll probably start again next week, I hope. I am staying pretty close to home, except for the treatments, because on my unperdictable bowels. The mornings are still good for me, but I seem to get pretty tired in the later afternoon and evening, so I have been reading and keeping up with e-mails and such. I am feeling so blessed lately. I have been rained on by so much love and prayers everyday from so many friends and family. It is so heart warming and encouraging. Each day it seems the Lord shows me another blessing associated with my cancer. Today, my 24 year old son Sean, went in for a colonoscopy. Since my diagnose, he mentioned some symptoms he was having. Well, I made him go in and get checked even though his primary doctor brushed it off as "mom being paranoid". Well, sure enough, they found a polyp which they removed. He is doing fine now and glad to be able to eat. You have to fast for one day before you have the test. He apparently has a disposition for creating polyps so the doctor said he has to get checked in 3 more years. If I didn't have this cancer, Sean would not have told me anything, I would not have made the effort to have him checked, and it's a good possibility he would have had cancer in his thirty or forties. God blesses us in so many ways even though some of the blessing don't seem so blessed at the time. We just need to trust Him and know that He loves us always.
Psalm 9:1-2
I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all the wonders.
I will be glad and exult in thee. I will sing praise to Thy name O Most High.