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.

Tomorrow is the completion of week 3! YEA! I am still doing ok, however, I do really well in the mornings but as the day progresses, I start to feel tired and by 8-9 I am in bed. Monday I started needing Lomotil everyday and now I use both Lomotil and imodium to keep food in as long as possible. I went to a nutritionist who specializes in cancer patients. She is very good and knowledable. She told me to walk in the morning before treatment because it oxygenates the blood which helps the treatment to kill off the cancer cells. She also has me taking 2 tsp three times a day of Glutamine with 1 tsp of aloe juice to help rebuild the good cells that line the colon. Plus I drink a protein drink everyday with yougart to help with the bacteria balance. I can't eat any raw vegtables right now, whole wheat products, or any other type of fiber like salads, and I have to stay away from most fruits as well. I can eat potatoes, lots of rice, sweet potatoes, white breads, and meats, but she prefers me to eat fish. I can eat cooked vegtables like asparagus, carrots, spinach, and zucchini, and fruits like skinned apples and bananas. And of course 10-12 glasses of liquid to keep me hydrated! This is just for the next three to five weeks to get me past treatment. I'll meet with her again the week after I finish treatment to get the right nutrition going for building my body up for surgery. It's very interesting to me on how the body works with certain foods. Even though I know the next few weeks will be harder and harder, I am feeling very positive because I know I have so many people praying and encouraging me daily. God bless you all and thank you for all your love you have shared.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit

Hi everyone,
I just finished week two of treatment and am still doing ok. Monday I felt great, so I pushed myself a little too much. Tuesday I was tired so I took it easy and the rest of the week went ok. I am starting to feel a little tired once in a while and having some symptoms in my intestines from the radiation, but not too bad. And no, I do not lose my hair with this treatment in case some are wondering. I still walk everyday at least 3.5 miles. That is a must! Mornings seem to be a good time for me so I'm glad I go in for treatment everyday at 9:45am. I am going to a nutritionist who specializes in cancer next Tuesday to help me with my diet. I can't eat stuff like whole wheat bread, raw vegtables, and go light on ruffage, if I can help it. Opposite of what I have been doing for many years. Meat is good, as is pasta, fish and chicken. I drink fruit smoothies everday with bananas. Remember the BRAT diet (banana, rice, apple sause and toast)?? Well, it really works! I do have to keep up with nutrition and vitamins so it's a balancing act not to eat the foods that offer good nutrition while trying to get the nutrition anyway. It's very interesting on how the body functions and how easly it can get off track. I drink smart water everday on my way up to treatment to keep up with the electrolytes. Plus I have to go in with a full bladder to protect the other organs from the radiation. Anyway, thank you all for your continue support, prayers and love you are all showing me. I know I will get through this with God's grace, and so many friends and family encouraging me along the way
Hew 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.

One week down and still feeling fine!! I went for radiation every day last week and I am doing fine so far. I have adjusted to my new bed buddy, the pump! I just put it in the dresser drawer next to me and sleep pretty good. I am still trying to learn how to shower without getting the port wet. It's not as easy as I thought. Oh well! I'll get better as time goes on. Yesterday my friend and I went to a nutrition class sponsored by the Wellness Community. It was very informative and interesting. I learned how much fluid we should be drinking everyday. The formula is your weight divided by two. That is the amout of fluid each of us should drink every day. I need about 16 more oz because of the treatment I'm in. The fluids are a combination of water, juices, soups, etc.. So everyone, drink your fluids!! The other very important part of nutrition is to execise everyday, but we all do that anyway right?? Thank you again for all you prayers and support I receive everyday. I look forward to seeing everyone soon.
Psalms 121: 1&2
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come? My help comes form the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Good first day of treatment,
I had my pump attached to my port today and started the chemo drip of 5-FU. Then I went to the radiologist and had my first session of radiation. All went very well. Even the PET scan results came back completely clear! Again, thank you all for your prayers and support because they really help every day. God is so good to me!
Phillipians 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me

Hello to all my friends and family,
Thursday I had the PET scan. I do not have the results, but that is fine....as someone said to me yesterday at the wedding I attended for my cousin, "it is what it is!" and that is true. The picture is of Amy, a very special friend, and I at the wedding. Friday I had the port put in. The surgery went fine. I was a little sore on Saturday, but I still went for my 3.5 mile walk, took Brigitte dress shopping for the upcoming Homecoming dance, and went to the wedding last night. Today I feel more rested and not very sore at all. Tomorrow I will be connected to my new friend, the 5-FU chemo pump. I will carry it around with me for the next 6 weeks. I also start radiation at 3:15 tomorrow and will do that everyday as well. Please keep those prayers coming in. It gives me strength knowing there are so many people praying for me and my family. Yes, it's very scary, but God continues to be by my side.
Matthew 6:33-34
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself, each day has enough trouble of it's own. Amen to that! So I will try not to be anxious and instead hold on to Gods promise that He will take care of me.

Hi everyone,

This week as been ok. Monday, I met the radiologist for the first time. Very nice and organized. I had a CT for mapping on Tuesday. I got my first visable tattoos, but sorry, no one gets to see them! They are very small and I can't tell the difference between my freckles and the tiny dots. Then I had a chemo class with the nurse. She told me everything that I'll be taking and how the port works. Tomorrow, I have a PET scan and Friday the surgery for the port. Monday, I start chemo at 2pm and radiation at 3:15. The Radiation is only for about 15 minutes a day, M-F and the chemo I'll be carrying with me for the next 6 weeks. The surgon I am with is heading up a clinical trial that is sponsored by UCSF. It is to determine the best time for surgery after treatment. I am in the fist group. What that means is I will be having the normal treatment for 6 weeks, then 6 weeks of rest, then surgery. The second group (of 4 groups) will have the same except adding two more treatments of chemo and then surgery 4 weeks later. Each group pushes out surgery to see if it's better to wait for surgery and do more chemo. Being in the clinical study is good or me because I'll have extra eyes following my treatment, and that is always good.
I won't have the results of the PET scan for a few days so I'll update when I'm done with the port surgery and have more news. Thank you all for the prayers, cards, gifts, calls and love I am being lavished with. It is truly a blessing in my life to have so many friends and family who care. God bless you all, and if you haven't already had one, get a colonoscopy done now!!

Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2