Coming up on ONE YEAR!!

I'm so excited to say it has almost been one year since Char's diagnosis. On December 21st our lives were rocked by the news that Charlotte had a brain tumor (it's really hard for me to say brain tumor without putting the word stupid in front of it... but I will try for blogging purposes).

Over the past year, Charlotte has been the strongest person I have ever known. She has fought the stinkin tumor (woops) with the best weapon, a positive attitude and the love of her family and friends. She has had some other weapons, like Chemo, radiation, and her electro helmet, but she attributes her current health to the love she is getting from those around her. So thank you to all of you!

One year ago, Char had lost feeling in her arm and leg and was in quite a bit of pain. Today, she has regained her mobility and the Tumor has gotten smaller. As of her latest MRI report, the tumor is 2.8 cm x 2 cm x 1 cm. Every MRI since a year ago has shown the tumor decrease in size or unchanged.

We are so thankful to Swedish Medical Center and all of its staff for doing everything possible to keep that tumor shrinking. We know with the continued love and support of you all and Char's amazing determination it will continue to do so.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

~Rachelle

heads up

checking for a pluse out there. news coming soon.... getting a 'printout' from the Dr.

xoxoxoxoxo!

Walk for Charlotte!

This Saturday is the 3rd Annual Seattle Brain Cancer Walk. It directly supports care and clinical trials for brain cancer patients in the Pacific Northwest. As you are aware Char is taking part in such a clinical trial so we think it is very important that as a family we get out and walk for such an important cause.

It is too late to sign up online, but feel free to join us Saturday morning at 7:00AM at the Seattle Center. Or you can just donate to our team, Walk for Charlotte!, online.

http://events.abc2.org/site/TR/Events/Seattle?team_id=1830&pg=team&fr_id=1060

Happy Memorial Day!

say 's it's a perfect day to say Thank You! Thank you to all those who's sacrifice exceded all expectations...... "so shines a good deed in a naughty world" W. Shakespere. I love you all!

Happy Birthday Charlotte!

Everyone make sure to send Charlotte extra love today. Have a great day Char.... we love you so much!

Exciting News...

Soon after the news of Char's diagnosis, Leonard and Char got in touch with a doctor doing an experimental trial called NovoCure. The trial was happening in California, but luckily since then the trial has been expanded through Swedish Medical Center and Char was accepted as a patient in the NovoCure trial in Seattle.

Today Char starts her treatment and gets to wear an "electricity helmet" that will shoot electricity at her tumor. She is going to Swedish today to start treatment and gets an MRI. Of course, since it is a trial one-in-three people will get a placebo helmet. But still, either way, she is helping advance the treatment of brain cancer and we are so proud of her.

http://www.novocuretrial.com/

MRI RESULTS ARE IN!!!!

THE TUMOR GOT SMALLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is all the info we have at the moment. Char has a doctor appointment on Thursday to find out more information. BUT that's the info we wanted to hear. Char attributes the results to the "good mojo" and I do too! Thank you all for keeping Charlotte in your prayers and sending her all your good mojo. Keep it coming!!!

We'll update with more info as soon as we have it.

LOVE TO ALL!

MRI News

My MRI at Valley Med Ctr is scheduled!!!! Yea! Tomorrow, Friday at 12:45. They'll call me on Monday with the results. Again, thank to all for the wonderful 'Bowling' party. I couldn't believe the huge turn out. I hope I said hello to you all!

Radiation is done!... whew! Next I wait for another MRI, in three weeks or so.

A great big thank you all my Family and Friends for the wonderful Bowl for Charlotte. What a success of fun and generosity. I thank you you all so very much. I feel so warm and loved wrapped in hugs by all!!!!! thank you again and again!!!

Every sunrise is a miracle, every moment, a treasure. love char

What a Success!!!

Thank you all for coming out last night and supporting Charlotte. What a crazy fun night!!!! I know a lot of money was raised, but better than that Charlotte was blown away by all the support. My family and I cannot thank all of you enough! And I hope you enjoy your new goodies from the silent auction. I know some great deals were had:)

Love to all,
Rachelle

Silent Auction Catalog Ready for Viewing

Click the link below to view the Silent Auction Catalog for tomorrow's Bowl for Charlotte Auction:

Silent Auction Catalog

Silent Auction List of Items

Reminder, bowling is $25 per person and that is for shoes and games for the full 2 hours.

Here is the list (in no particular order) ...we've hit "crunch-time" so the post ain't pretty, BUT THE LIST SURE IS! :)

• Airfare for TWO to anywhere in the US including Hawaii on Delta (or "sister airline")
• Rebekah J Designs Jewelry Experience (Rebekah J is a local, independent jeweler/artist)
• Starbucks Gift Basket
• 150 Pounds of organic freshly frozen beef
• Windows 7 - Ultimate Edition
• Comfort Food of the Month (1 prepared meal per month for one year)
• Microsoft Zune media player
• Microsoft Sidewinder (gaming mouse and keyboard)
• Microsoft LifeCam Show
• 2 Tickets to Men's Giant Slalom Event at Vancouver, BC Winter Olympics
• Mary Kay Gift Basket
• Gift Certificate for one hair cut and foil by stylist Julie Drake
• Highline Athletic Club - one month free membership and no enrollment fee
• 1 Night stay at downtown Seattle's Hotel Monaco
• Hand-made afghan set
• Hand-made baby blankets
• Collection of 30 assorted greeting cards (hand-made)
• The Feedback Lounge Gift Basket (includes his & hers apparel and $50 gift certificate to lounge)
• 2 Nights at Hyatt Regency SAN DIEGO in upgraded room and 2 Sea World Passes
• 4 Mardi Gras Masks
• Gift Certificates for 1 hour massage with LMP
• West 5 Gift Certificate for 1 free large Mac N Cheese dinner per month for one year
• Queen size quilt (hand-made)
• 3 different hair product gift baskets
• Golf at Glen Acres - 1 round for 4 with 2 carts
• 4 different matted and framed prints by local artist Wayne Gibbens
• "Garden Guardians" (you'll see, they're so cute! ...for your yard)
• Brook's Running Shoes - up to $120
• 2 Wine Gift Baskets
• Earrings (hand-made)
• 1 Night Stay at Salish Lodge at Snoqualmie Falls

That's not all...

In addition to the auction items, we'll be raffling off a bunch of gift cards! We'll also have prints of the "Potlollach," a ship Eric Pardy, Charlotte's dad, painted. Charlotte will also have a table set up with her hand-made purses, hats, hot water bottle cozies, hand warmers and pin cushions.

AND DON'T FORGET BOWLING!

See you all in a week!

What a Party!! ...only two weeks away

Don't miss Char's cute little bed warmers below this post!

We can't wait to see you all there, if you haven't already RSVP'd for the Bowl for Charlotte event on FB, do it now! Don't wait! Now, now, now!

We ask that if you've committed to donating to the Silent Auction but haven't already made arrangements to get the items to Rachelle please email her at the link to the right. I am also available to take donations at work this week Monday thru Friday 9:30 - 6:00, Watermark Credit Union, 14647 Ambaum Blvd SW in Burien. As much as we'd LOVE to take donated items right up until the auction, we need to make Sunday, January 31st the last day (we have to get bid sheets and description write-ups put together prior to auction day).

Again, CANNOT SAY ENOUGH how much the support means to Charlotte and the rest of us!

That's all for tonight, see you in a couple weeks to help Charlotte kick some brain tumor butt!

Callie

while mom is away at radiaion.....

This just in....

A two-night stay at the Hyatt Regency in San Diego WITH SEAWORLD TICKETS has just been donated to the silent auction! This is a beautiful hotel with many fun amenities, including being within 10 minutes of Sea World. This auction is going to be out of control! Make sure to RSVP and let me know how many are bowling at Bowl for Charlotte on February 6th!

Chemo is on!

An update on Char... Yesterday the Chemo Pills finally arrived and Char took her first set last night. She was feeling fine when I talked to her. Hopefully, they are no biggie and she doesn't get any side effects.

She is still going to radiation 5 days a week. She moved her appointment up from 11:00 AM to 10:00 AM so it doesn't break up her day so much.

Charlotte is so excited for February 6th! We are keeping her updated on all the planning and she loves all the ideas.

Love to all,
Rachelle

The planning has really begun.

Hi All,

The planning committee for Bowl for Charlotte met yesterday at the West Seattle Bowling Alley and wow is this event going to be fun!

Just wanted to clarify a few items up front. The cost posted of $25 is for the people who are bowling. We hope most people will pay to bowl, since the bowling alley is charging us per lane not per bowler and we have rented all the lanes. But we feel it is much more important to pack the place with people supporting Charlotte than charging everyone that walks through the door, so please come and support Char in whatever way you feel comfortable. As of now, Charlotte is planning to be at the event and I know a packed bowling alley of people that love her is probably the best medicine we can give her right now.

We are going to need a better head count of the people that are bowling about a week before the event, so keep those emails and facebook RSVPs coming. Specifically plese let us know how many total are coming and how many you expect to be bowling.

There will likely be two tables of items up for auction. The first table will close 1-hour into the event (roughly 5:00) and the second table will close after 2 hours (6:00).

If you have offered to donate something for the auction, first of all we cannot thank you enough for your generosity, and second I would like to gather all the auction items a couple days before the event. So please send me an email so we can figure out logistics on how to get it from you. I am more than willing to drive anywhere to pick something up. One final note on donation items, if you are donating something and don't mind writing up a description of your item and emailing it to me for display on the table, that would be so appreciated. Items that are pretty self-explanatory or can be set out on the table, probably don't need a description.

Stay tuned for much more to come. I will post another update on auction items soon. We have a lot more cool stuff!

Love,
Rachelle

Some little darlings!!!!!!

Hold the presses, I got an idea!!!!!

during radiation, i'm on platform bed thing and this huge machinewhich takes up one end of the room is spinning and moving around me making cool tumor killing noises. I have lay still beause they put a mask they made of my face and it snaps downto the table to hold my head still. ...going to my happy place..... going to my happy place. just to move a fraction of an inch in this feels like waves of closterphobia but it's pinpoint accurate....

here's my idea---I 'm going to start looking for donors but since it't my idea I get to pick rom the donor list before the surgery....there could be a few candidates (government officials, heads of state) who deserve one more than me but too late, I thought of it!!!! I'm using it.

HAHA! XOXOXO!!!!

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2010 and all its wealth of healing properties. !!!!!!