Freedom!

To any and all of my friends who may be checking in~ HURRAY! Summertime and freedom are in the air~ I am SO happy! I want to celebrate life with all of you. My MRI was CLEAR last week and the radiology report stated that even the scar tissue was less intense as compared to the last MRI. I truly have received a miracle! Thank you for each and every prayer; they have been instrumental in my healing throughout the past year. I am so grateful. God Bless you! I am now on "surveillance mode" - just being watched over - no more chemo, no more radiation, nothing to worry about except having fun! I will most likely have follow up MRIs quarterly, but other than that I will just be sipping green tea! :) Enjoy your summer!
God is GREAT! Love, Bridget

Wow, How Time Flies!

Tom here, I ran into someone we know from church last night that had prepared meals for our family last year (still so thankful to her and others that did this) and she asked how Bridget was doing. That same day someone else who I had not seen for a while mentioned the blog had not been updated and was wondering how Bridget is doing, so it made me think we should post an update. Little did I realize that it was last October since we last did so!

As you can imagine we were so humbly happy to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Easter, all of our family birthdays, and most recently Mother's Day all since the last post. What a very special day it was for us all to be together and celebrate the fact that Bridget is with us and recognize the outstanding Mom she is. The highlight of the day was a nice, long conversation we had with the kids that touched on many topics from thankfulness to spirituality to the importance of daily prayer, and taking one day at a time. We are thankful and greatful that our kids really seem to get it.

We took our first family ski trip out west for some spring skiiing in April at Beaver Creek, Colorado. We had a blast! Kids have been skiiing on our local Midwest slopes for years, so to get out on some actual mountains was a great experience. Bridget was so happy to be out skiing and keeping up after the thought that before her surgery, doctors had mentioned that she could experience some paralysis on her left side. She continues to wake up each day giving thanks for her ability to use her left side normally!

Bridget was honored last month by Envoy Medical for her part in the past with keeping her Dad's implantable hearing aid (now called the Esteem) going after her parents death in a car accident over 20 years ago. The device received FDA approval on St. Patrick's Day this year. Her Dad (and Mom) were appropriately recognized at the shareholders' meeting. Her brother Stuart, sisters Susie and Peggy were there as well to accept awards recognizing their Dad. The awards had harps on them in recognition of her Mom who was Irish and played the harp (FDA approval on St.Patrick's Day ties into that). At the meeting, we were able to meet patients who had the device implanted and hear first hand how it has completely changed their lives. The way they described how it worked completely echoed what her Dad said as to how it would work decades ago when it was just a concept. It was as if we could hear him speaking through them. He truly had great vision and we are still thrilled that this has come to fruition so it can change the lives of so many people in need of a better solution for hearing impairment. It also shows you how a life can continue to transform others in a positive way long after that life has ended on earth. Amazing.

Bridget is doing great and we continue to take one day at time. She continues to follow up with MRI's and will have another one at the end of May. We truly appreciate your thoughts and continued prayers. The Hanchette Family.

Return to the Nirvana of Normalcy

Several people have mentioned that we hadn't updated the blog recently and I understand that the lack of updates could be taken two ways. Let me assure you that Bridget continues to do great! She had her 6 month MRI a few weeks back and it came back all clear again!!! I cannot express the relief that came with that.

Our life has returned to a more normal routine with kids back in school, kids events, kids getting colds (and in Ben's case breaking a collar bone in soccer), work at the business ever present, and so on. Of course mixed in with that is Bridget continuing her chemo cycle of 1 week on, 3 weeks off and the physical and mental ups and downs that come with subjecting your body to chemo, but she, as always, is amazing in taking it all in stride and not letting it control her life. She has integrated all of this into her and our family's psyche in such a way, that it does seem at times to be just another part of the fabric of our life not unlike any of the other parts.

God is great! When you tap into the power of that love it is amazing what a sense of peace and calm you can experience despite everything that life can throw at you. In that way bad things that happen, things that we fear of happening and pray do not, can become the exact catalysts for experiencing God in a truly honest way. With your ego no longer in the way, suddenly there is God. I can see now why Jesus said (paraphrasing), unless you become as little children, you cannot come to be with God.

I want to tell anyone reading this how appreciative we all need to be of "normal every day life". That is where my mindset is at these days. Sweet, blessed normalcy! The stuff of every day life that we all too often take for granted and even despise, not realizing how much of a gift it really is. If we all just slow our minds down enough to finally be able to see the holiness, the true gift of our every day life; then all our lives would be transformed into a more fulfilling and thankful state of appreciation for things we so take for granted. Its hard to get into that state...prayer, meditation, (Bridget and I have been doing Qi Gong and Tai Chi while praying - wonderful stuff!), trying to put into practice an attitude of giving and acceptance in our daily lives, these are things that can help and that we are using to try to stay on this course of awakening and healing.

Thank you all for your continued prayers for Bridget and our family!

Tom

P.S. Picture was taken in August in Minocqua, WI.

Home Sweet Home

All of you have been so generous. Tommy and I want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything. I feel very behind in sending notes of thanks out to all of you. However, please know that we appreciate all that you've done. We are getting back on track and hope to see all of you soon!

I woke up this morning and realized my brain surgery was exactly three months ago (Tuesday, April 14th). It has been quite a journey - one with many miracles and beautiful nuances along the way! Amazing gifts of humanity were bestowed on us through all of your love, prayers, food and support during such an unexpected and intense diagnosis. It's because of all of you that this was doable and I have thrived. Tommy and I truly cannot thank you enough for sticking with us through all of this!

Since returning home June 5th I have been resting and getting my energy back. I had no idea how tired radiation could make you! Coming home has been wonderful, don't get me wrong; however, it has also been a challenge trying to keep up with the normal pace of a healthy family household. I know it will come with time. All in all, it is going excellent. I had my follow up MRI and all was clear! (The brain tumor was completely resected - still a miracle that I never want to forget!). After a month off, I also started back on chemo (Temodar); only this time I just have to take it one week a month for 6 months or so. I am being closely monitored by a local Medical Oncologist with weekly lab work to insure my body is tolerating the monthly chemo. I am extremely blessed to be doing so well. Yes, I am mostly bald, however, in the spectrum of issues that could have happened, this is nothing. Each morning I wake up and point and flex my left foot and say "Thank you!" to God for Dr. Benham Badie! I am so grateful to be able to walk! Independence Day this year had a whole new meaning to me.

The picture to the left is of some flowers that had fallen off of a tree by our cottage at City of Hope...obviously they had some help from Tommy getting arranged into the word pattern you see spelling out HOPE. It was a beautiful message for me to see on my last day of radiation treatment out there. Tommy also mentioned that he hoped the teenage boy next door to us would see it on the way to his treatment that day. Its really a message for all of us to hold on to. No matter what is going on in your life - always keep hope alive and trust in God. There is always hope!

Sincerely, Bridget

Welcome Home Mom

Hey everybody! This is Adelyn and Gretchen speaking. We are sooo happy our mom is finally home. Mom and Dad got home at midnight on June 5 while I (Adelyn) was just getting home from my eighth grade trip to St. Louis, MO. Even the pets were happy to see mom return. My mom came home to a freshly painted bedroom, new curtains, bedspread, newly planted flowers, a garden, and a clean barn:) Thanks dad, for all your hard work and for getting everything ready for mom's homecoming.

My Mom is really happy to be home, and is enjoying the peace and quiet that is nothing like the bustling California. She's been resting a lot because she has been really tired. Yesterday she met with her new local medical oncologist, who she will be following up with monthly.

Now we're all just adjusting to having our mom tell us what to do again and getting everything back into order. We are all just so thankful she's home and now we are off to soccer and band practices. Talk to you soon!

It is accomplished!

Yesterday, Bridget received the large, hand- crafted, and very inspirational sign from Sherri (her elementary school teacher friend) that you see here. It definitely gave her added strength to get to that last appointment today! Thank you Sherri and helpers! Your giving really made a difference! We laid it right outside the door for her to see on the way to the last radiation treatment this morning.

Let me restate that important point...Bridget finished her last radiation treatment today at 9am! She is done with that chapter!!! Whew Yeah!!!!! Way to go Bridget!!! She even received a medal from her radiation team after this last treatment. Dr. Radany commented on what a fighter she is and everyone was happy and sad at the same time to be leaving each others' company...lots of hugs and tears. Bridget also took her last dose of chemo for a while (she gets a month off before having to take that again, but its oral tablets and generally well tolerated)!

We are packed up and, after a few quick errands, are ready to go to the airport. Bridget will be home tonight!!!

After arriving this past Sunday to be with Bridget for her last week of treatments out here, I have to admit that it was a rough week for her at times. However, as always she managed to tough it out, get through the low points of each day, and somehow manage to get herself going to go out for dinner or just get out and about for a time. Bridget gives all the credit to Divine intervention and your constant prayers and I do too. At the same time I am also amazed at the determination and grace of my beautiful, strong, and inspiring wife. Helping to get through the week, was a visit from Bridget's cousin Peter McCormick who was out on business. We took in dinner at Mastro's where a talented musician friend of ours, Rob Gonzalez, plays a few nights a week. It was a wonderful time with great music and Peter has a natural ability to make everyone smile and laugh. Local resident and my cousin, Quinn Hanchette, had dinner with us on our last official night in California. It was so great to have him so close during all this time out here.

We have been keenly aware that Bridget's time out here corresponded with block of time in the church calendar from Holy Week to Pentecost. The walk of Christ and inspiration of the the Holy Spirit has really been a gift to experience in a new way during this time for Bridget and our family. The masses with our wonderful priest, Fr. Mark, at home with copies of sermons forwarded on to Bridget...the wonderful masses themselves truly celebrated with gusto by our fantastic congregation have contributed greatly to keeping us going as a family.

I couldn't help myself and had to post a few more pictures of just some of the additional amazing blossoms that popped since my last stay here at City of Hope. I didn't have the chance to to ask someone what they are, but the purple flowering trees are in full bloom all over out here right now. As the blooms fall, they shower the ground in a carpet of purple. Everything blooms with flowers out here, even trees that look like maples get those pink little star fish shaped blossoms you see in the picture below. Remember to slow down...smell and see the flowers in life, when you do you'll appreciate that this is life as it meant to be lived, not the hyper-paced life many of us have created for ourselves for some crazy reason. Slow down, breath in life. Pace yourself, don't race...instead enjoy the journey and gift of life. You can't force a flower to bloom when you want it to. Take time to observe it as it unfolds.

We have been told that the drain on energy Bridget has been experiencing will last for a few weeks, so please understand if we don't pick up the phone or are hermits for a while as we settle in with Bridget at home. Note that Bridget has been living and breathing medical care for weeks on end. She has shared with me that when she gets home she wants to talk about "normal things"...not cancer, not medical treatments in particular. She is ready to just get back to living her "normal life" again. Your help with this will be most appreciated.

Thank you so very much to each and every one of you for your cards, prayers, time devoted to Bridget, advice, medical care, Denise cleaning the cottage, meals, giving rides to our kids, letting them stay at your houses, offers of help, taking pictures of our kids to send to Bridget, being there during surgeries, encouraging words, hugs, pats on the back, sharing pet cats for pet therapy (Thurman rocks!), handling the extra responsibilities at work, attention to our kids at school, and so much more. Words cannot describe our deep sense of love and appreciation.

Please continue to keep Bridget in your prayers each and every day.

Love, Tom and Bridget.

Malibu to the Rescue!

As I count down the days before I will be departing City of Hope I was lucky enough to be visited by my neice (and Goddaughter) Jacque Schaefer. Jacque just finished her first year at UW-Madison and plans to pursue something medically related for her career. I think her visit here helped her see what a few options in healthcare could be and possibly helped her narrow her choices. It is so important for all of us to discuss with the younger generation what their passions and dreams are - for this will effect the future of our world!

I wish I could explain the surreal world in which I have been living! The California weather is great and there are beautiful blossoms everywhere, yet there are times when I've never felt more sad. I've become so acutely aware of each person I come in contact with - what they may be struggling with, or how they are feeling. I guess it's just a compassion that you develop when you've been knocked around a bit! I always thought I had it - the ability to connect and have compassion for others - but it has been intensified dramatically. Each human is doing the best THEY can do. So, don't get frustrated with slow drivers, slow talkers, or teenagers that don't know what direction they're going. Instead, ask them how you can help them. It's truly refreshing! YOU have the ability to make a difference in this world!

Jacque and I found ourselves at a very authentic Greek restaurant one day while visiting Malibu Beach area for some fresh ocean air. We sat out on a patio and enjoyed the atmosphere. It's so nice when friends and family have arrived here and distracted me from all of this. As you can probably see from this photo, I'm feeling pretty tired in these last few weeks of radiation. Of course, this is to be expected. I have continued to get great lab results and through your prayers and support I have found the strength to get myself to walk over to the clinic daily for these treatments. I am completely dependant on God's intercession and truly could not do this without all of you! Thank you to each and everyone of you for the prayers, cards and for those of you who have helped support our kids while I've been gone. All of this has made my time away tolerable.

Gratefully yours,

Bridget