2010 Liver Cancer Symposium Dallas TX

About three weeks ago my mom, dad, sister and I took a trip to Dallas TX for a Liver Cancer Symposium. Everyone there was a cancer survivor, caretaker, Doctor, or just along for the ride!! My sister and I were there for moral support, and also a little shopping! We decided to drive since none of us are big flyer's. My dad and I did all of the driving! Things have sure changed since I was a kid. We would take trips, long trips, and my dad NEVER wanted to stop.....well now he likes to stop!!! I was in the zone, ready to drive until we reached Oklahoma City, but the old people in the car thought it would be best to not drive at night...what if the van broke down etc..........

Dales turn to drive...........
This is what Princess likes to do in the car..........

I bought the cutest suitcase at the lake a couple of years ago. Red and white patent leather pokie-dots. I had it as full as I could possibly get it. We stopped in Blackwell, OK. It was freezing there, and extremely windy. I went back down to the van to get my suitcase and started carry it towards the door..........handle breaks....oh DARN IT, try to tie it...I will get it fixed when I get home..........oh no the second handle breaks,,,,I started to laugh....the uncontrollable laugh....and I was all alone.........ok..I grabbed the other handle........OH NO, this one ripped off.......now I am hysterically laughing, crying......still all alone in the parking lot.......I grabbed the only handle that was attached.....OH NO......now I have NO handles and my hands full of other things!!!! Still laughing so hard I can't function. I finally get into the hotel....still laughing........get up to the hallway.....my sister and mom come out to see if I am ok....they think I am crying...I couldn't speak I was laughing so hard........my cute suitcase is ready for the garbage!!! I was so mad I had to go to Walmart and buy a dorky dufflebag!!!!!!

Did you know that by the size of the water tower, that is how big the town is?????? EVERY town we came up to....my dad would say.....OH, Susan, this must be a big town.......it has a nice size water tower.............it really through him for a loop when there was two water towers!!!!!

The Liver Symposium friends had a day at the races so my sister and I were able to go in a NASCAR. I had three prayers.....that the suit would fit, that I could fit into the car, and that I could get out of the car. I wasn't even scared about crashing. It was so much fun!!! You can't move your head, and all the spit was gone from my mouth!!!!! This was he car I was in.

The was my driver. He was so kind, and talked about his 14 year old son that has Down Syndrome. He spoke how he loved to hang out with his son, because he only sees good in the world. He doesn't know hate, or cancer, or any of the bad stuff in the world. He was also very cute!

Here is my mom and dad at the track. They decided to watch and not ride in a car.

My friend told me to not get attached to some of the people. She knows how I am!!! This is the first girl we met, and we fell in love with her. Her name is Erica Paul, she was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 26. She has no family history. Her cancer has spread to her liver and lungs. She was so inspiring to be around. She has so full of hope! She has a great family, friends, and doctors. She has an adorable husband named Michael, and he takes real good care of her. She just celebrated her 29th birthday last Friday!

This is Suzanne the founder of YES. She is AMAZING!!!!!!! She was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age 0f 31. The Doctor told her to go home and get her life in order. She went home and purchased a coffin. She then started searching for new treatments. That was 12 years ago, and she is still alive and kicking!!!!! She NEVER complains!, she is just thankful to be here, and spread all her good words! She has helped my mom and dad so much with insurance stuff!

This is Jane. She has bile duct cancer. It has a fancier word, but I can't pronounce it or spell it. It is very rare, and she can't find too many people that have it in the United States. She lives in Chicago with her husband. She has no children, aunts, uncles, cousins....just her husband and her mom. Before she left for the symposium her doctor told her that there was nothing they could do. She looked great!!!! We told her that we would come to Chicago and be her moral support.

This young man in the blue is Jonny Immerman. He was one of the most amazing, positive people I have ever met. I asked him if he would move in with us!!!!! He is the type of person you want to be around all the time. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer when he was 24. He stated a foundation, Immerman Angels. He said when he was diagnosed at such a young age he couldn't find other survivors to talk with. That is what his foundation is all about. He will pair you up with an Angel. Someone who has the same cancer as you, around the same age, but further along in their treatment. Wendi has his phone number, so they have been texting each other!!

We had the best time together...we laughed all the way there!!! I am so thankful that my dad has responded to treatment so well. My mom and dad will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary in July!! It's gonna be a fabulous celebration!!!!! Our two brothers weren't able to come with us, they had to stay home and run the family business!!!!!!

Doctors can treat, but only GOD can heal!!!