MY DEAR SISTER'S STRUGGLE IS OVER

[2020CURE]

To all my dear Free to Breathe friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I must report that my sister, Marta, has passed away. It was a very hard struggle since the end of this last February and we are deeply saddened by our loss. Her metastasized lung cancer, unfortunately, was discovered way too late at the age of 85 since she had thought that her symptoms were a result of a continued bad cold and the doctors (which she loved and trusted for years) that she had originally been going to never did the correct testing. See, she was very independent and tough! I almost had to drag her out of her house to go to the emergency room when I went to visit her that day in February. Her daughter and myself tried very hard to address her advanced cancer with targeted therapy; however, because of her age she did not have both the physical and/or mental strength in her body to achieve improvement.

I truly believe that the most important thing is the patient's personal positive outlook with any disease and to have caregivers that support you every single minute of the way.

I wish all of you in this group and throughout the world with any type of cancer to stay strong and positive because I know that in the very near future there is going to be a cure. Additionally, all of these targeted therapies and immunotherapies DO WORK. If my sister had been a bit younger it would have been a totally different outcome. We all need to be strong together!!!

In this sad time I am happy to report that we are encouraging all our personal friends and family to donate to the Free to Breath/Lung Cancer Research Foundation in lieu of flowers. If anyone here knows the exact website link I would appreciate your sharing it with me now so that I may tell my family and friends the exact direction for donations.

May God bless you all and may God give you a complete cure and continued health from this day forward.

With all my love,

Betty Mitchell

PS: My sister in the middle of this photo during better days in her red jacket. She loved red!

[SusieJo1948]

So sad i lost my father,brother,sister to cancer. Please know that i care and i know what your going through. Keep in touch with us. we would like to hear from you. love susiejo

[2020CURE in reply to SusieJo1948]

Thank you Susiejo!!! Much love and blessings to you!!!

[FtB_Peggy]

Betty,

I am just so very sorry to get this news about Marta. Please take care of yourself in the time ahead, grief is hard work as I am sure you know. You were a strong advocate for her and did all that you could. She certainly knew she was loved.

Kim, from Free to Breathe, will email you about the donations tomorrow (she is out of the office today), so please look for that message from her and sincere gratitude to you for raising awareness and helping to fund research. You have a generous and kind spirit. Heartfelt hugs.

[2020CURE in reply to FtB_Peggy]

Thank you Peggy, so much. I feel lots of love for you and this great group and will continue to do all I can to support this great group and cause. Much love, Betty

[FtB_Peggy in reply to 2020CURE]

Trust me, Betty, it is mutual

[Buddy03]

I’m so sorry for your tremendous loss. What a beautiful lady. May she Rest In Peace. She was blessed to have such a loving sister and family. My beautiful 70 year old mom is suffering with Stage 4 NSCLC. It’s heartbreaking, and so true to stay positive and just take one day at a time. The caring people on this site have helped me. God bless your family at this difficult time. 🙏🏻

[2020CURE in reply to Buddy03]

Thank you Buddy03. I wish your beautiful Mom the quickest recovery ever! Everything is possible - so m any people in this group with stage 4 NSCLC. It makes a difference when you are younger like your Mom as far a stamina and endurance for treatment. God bless you and your Mom! Love, Betty

[Buddy03 in reply to 2020CURE]

Aww, thank you. Mom also has a pleural effusion. She just had a drain put in for a visiting nurse to drain. Not easy. She is trying to be strong and positive. She’s just so tired and nauseous. We’re not giving up on her💜 Thanks for your support.

[2020CURE in reply to Buddy03]

Pleural effusions are common and they can be treated very successfully with good results. ❤️

[Buddy03]

Thank you so much💕You have no idea how that gives me hope

[Ncpoet in reply to Buddy03]

Buddy, I am 71 and was diagnosed in 2013 with stage4 NSCLC and after over 2-1/2 years treatment I am in remission and have been for 2 years now. So there is indeed hope for your mother!

Praying for her healing,

Judy

[Buddy03 in reply to Ncpoet]

That is wonderful, Judy!💜 I appreciate your response. I will keep praying and try to be positive. What’s sad is, she’s so thin and doesn’t want to eat. We give her Boost shakes with Benecalorie when she doesn’t feel like eating. What else can we give her when she won’t eat? So upsetting. 😞

[2020CURE in reply to Buddy03]

There are medications to boost her appetite. I forget their names. They really help.

[Buddy03 in reply to 2020CURE]

Thanks so much

[Ncpoet in reply to Buddy03]

Buddy, I went through a spell of not wanting to eat due to chemo. Even though my choices weren’t always the most nutritious, it was getting calories in me. I was able to eat frozen yogurt and ice cream, puddings and jello which were easier to swallow. I could tolerate soups better than regular food. I liked cold mandarin oranges. I couldn’t eat much at a time. So just try anything with a flavor she likes and if it is only a few spoonfuls at a time,at least she is trying and perhaps she can try more often. I pray she feels more like eating soon. I always used to wonder why my father-in-law just wouldn’t eat when he was fighting his lung cancer. It was so frustrating to the family, but once it happened to me, I understood. What has the doctor said? It is good she can tolerate the Boost shakes.

I am pulling for her. Keep us posted !

Judy

[Buddy03 in reply to Ncpoet]

Thanks Judy, We will try all those things. She is diabetic too, so that is challenging. The doctor said to keep trying small frequent meals and whatever she can tolerate. I appreciate your support. 😊 You are so nice!

Cherise (Buddy is my pups name)

[Presley11 in reply to Buddy03]

Hi I have the same eating disorder my doctor gave me megestrol acetate oral liquid, I has helped

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

So very sorry for your loss and your pain. You were a wonderful advocate for your sister and from what you’ve written, your niece was as well. Sometimes people leave this world never knowing if they were well and truly loved, not your sister though. I think she knew what you meant to her.

I hope you find comfort in the company of your loved ones and peace in the memories of happier days.

[2020CURE in reply to Denzie]

Thank you dear Denzie! May God always bless you and yours ❤️!

[PegD]

I’m so very sorry for your loss. She lived a life well loved as demonstrated by you and your niece. May your memories bring you joy and peace.

[Ncpoet]

So sorry for your family’s loss. Know how deeply this community feels when we lose one of our own.

Judy

[2020CURE in reply to Ncpoet]

Thank you so very much ❤️

[Loveee1000]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. God bless you and give you plenty of strength you will need.

[2020CURE in reply to Loveee1000]

Thank you so much. May God bless this group - I know that a cure in on the way. Much love, Betty