Jen’s Update: Avastin/CPT-11 Round 1 Complete, Jen Back Home

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2008 09:52 PM, CDT

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Avastin/CPT-11 Round 1 Complete, Back Home

Entry by TR from TN

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Greetings Jen Nation!

Seven hours all told today at the Vanderbilt Clinic. We were in the Infusion Clinic where the actual IV chemo is administered for the better part of five hours.

Everyone is very nice. They have a volunteer board that bakes treats and donates refreshments for patients and their families.

Dr. Edgeworth came by for my sister to sign some permits. She has great confidence in him; she said he memorized her entire 9-year history before their first appointment, not even bringing in a chart! She’s been blessed with a string of talented doctors — Bingaman & Stevens (Cleveland), Nabors & Beth at UAB, and Edgeworth at Vandy.

She may experience some mild side effects with the blended Avastin/CPT-11, most simply alleviated by common OTC drugs. As her system processes it, it may reduce swelling and allow her to cut back on steroids. Doc had an encouraging twinkle in his eye, saying he thought this would work.

We stopped on the way home in Murfreesboro, having sandwiches at Jason’s Deli and a treat from Marble Slab Creamery. I’ll never forget savoring ice cream with her and my Mom in the setting sun, getting away from our cares if only for a fleeting moment.

On the way to a fun dinner last night at Olive Garden, she made a poignant observation: “I can’t remember not being sick.” Not a complaint — NEVER … just a gut check for a fighter digging down for another burst. Nine years is a long time, but it’s been blessed with many miracles that we too often neglect to rejoice.

We’re hopeful she can take her long-awaited vacation to Chautauqua (NY) with no cause for concern. Her greatest discomfort tonight is from the port, where they actually had to cut muscle to bury it in her chest. But it will make future doses every three weeks much easier without needles.

Your prayers and support continue to make the difference. This thing doles out punishment every day, but we keep finding reasons to fight. – TRH

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Read Journal

VotePact

June 18, 2008
www.votenader.org
www.officialnaderstore.com

Ralph was on Democracy Now this morning with Amy Goodman.

In the interview, Ralph says that Obama is “a corporate candidate from A to Z.”

Ralph condemns Obama’s speech to AIPAC and calls Obama the “panderer in chief.”

Please forward this Democracy Now interview to five of your friends and family now.

During the interview, Ralph promotes the idea of VotePact.

Here’s how it works.

Let’s say you live in a swing state.

Like Michigan.

Where it’s a virtual dead heat between McCain and Obama.

This week it’s McCain 42, Obama 41.

Doing the math, that leaves 17 percent of the population of Michigan who don’t like either of the corporate candidates.

(Last we heard, Ralph Nader was at ten percent in Michigan – and that’s with approaching zero mainstream media publicity.)

Okay, so let’s say you are a Michigan Democrat who doesn’t exactly care for Obama’s pro-right-wing AIPAC stance on the Middle East.

You’d prefer to vote for the peace candidacy Nader/Gonzalez, but you are concerned about throwing Michigan to the war hawk McCain.

What to do?

Pick up the phone and call a friend, or a relative, who is a moderate anti-Iraq war Republican.

That Republican would like to vote for the anti-war Nader/Gonzalez ticket, but he is concerned that if he does, he will tilt the election to Obama.

You get together with that Republican and both of you decide to vote for Nader/Gonzalez.

That way, Nader/Gonzalez get two votes, McCain and Obama get zero.

Nothing “spoiled.”

This idea is called VotePact.

We like it.

Why?

It gives Nader/Gonzalez a chance to win in swing states.

(In non-swing states, you can vote for Nader/Gonzalez straight up without fear of “spoiling” anything.)

If VotePact catches on in Michigan, Nader/Gonzalez could move from 10 percent to 20 percent.

And with Nader/Gonzalez at 20 percent, people will sense a three way race.

Get Nader and Gonzalez on the debates, and 30 percent becomes possible.

And 30 percent is striking range in a three-way race.

So, anytime you run into someone who is concerned about “spoiling” it for Obama or McCain, tell them about VotePact.

Together, we are making a difference.

Onward

The Nader Team

PS: If you are in the New York City area tonight, please join with us at a rally for Nader/Gonzalez at Symphony Space.

Hope to see you there.

PS: We invite your comments to the blog.

Your contribution could be doubled. Public campaign financing may match your contribution total up to $250.

WTF Thursday: When “Catchers” Don’t Catch

Man falls while receiving the Holy Spirit, sues church

Posted by Lindsay Beyerstein, AlterNet

A Tennessee man is suing his church for dropping him when he swooned at the altar, under the influence of the Holy Spirit. He alleges that the church “catchers” failed to protect him when he fell under the influence of the Holy Spirit:

JUNE 5–Last June, Matthew Lincoln was attending an evening service at his nondenominational Tennessee church when he approached the altar where a visiting minister was offering individual prayers for parishioners. Assigned “catchers” were present on the altar in case congregants fainted, fell, or otherwise lost control. When the minister, Robert Lavala, slightly touched his forehead, the Knoxville-area man “received the spirit and fell backwards.” Except nobody was there to catch him, Lincoln charges in a $2.5 million lawsuit filed yesterday against Lakewind Church and its pastors. Lincoln, 58, claims that he fell backwards, striking his head against the “carpet-covered cement floor,” according to the Circuit Court complaint, which was first reported by Courthouse News Service. A copy of Lincoln’s lawsuit can be found below. Since he already suffered from a “degenerative disc disease of his neck and back,” Lincoln, a former church board member, contends the fall exacerbated the pre-existing condition and has caused him “severe and permanent” injuries. As a result of the fall, Lincoln, a recording engineer, claims that he is no longer able to care for his disabled daughter. Lincoln alleges that Lakewind and its pastors were “negligent in not supervising the catchers to be sure that they stood behind the person being prayed for…should they have a dizzying, fainting, or falling in the spirit as had occurred on many occasions before.” Lincoln’s lawyer, J.D. Lee, told TSG that the church’s insurer, Zurich of North America, rejected an insurance claim, asserting that Lincoln should have realized that no catchers were situated behind him. [The Smoking Gun]

B’Man: OK, when I was involved with these style churches, I was always amazed at how God was able to protect these droppers from head injuries. Then, one night after a service where a friend fell and lashed about on the ground for 20 minutes after being “prayed” for, we talked outside and he told me how his neck was hurting after being prayed for.

He didn’t sue, but it sure showed me a few things about God’s lack of protection during prayers.