Dear Physicians, Please Won't You Share?

Allow me to somewhat knowingly decipher this article below for you...

In a nutshell, not every physician is a good sharer.  Meaning that, unfortunately, some Moms slacked off and never taught the important "sharing virtue" to their children and some of those children grew up and became doctors.

Current awareness of "end of life care" including hospice, palliative care, supportive care, etc. should FOREMOST be the personal responsibility of EVERY PHYSICIAN to inform EVERY ONE of their patients of and with.  

Patients go to physicians that they trust with their VERY LIVES, thus if there is any information that may even somewhat be beneficial to any patient (regardless of the physicians own personal opinions and experiences) their physician OWES IT TO THEIR PATIENTS LIVES to clearly share these resources!

Countless people, organizations, political groups, advocates, etc. and so on STRUGGLE to come up with additional ways to get End of Life and Palliative Care information to each and every patient, exceedingly high amounts of money and resources are used and spent in order to do so.

Why are all of these efforts to spread End of Life and Palliative Care Awareness necessary to begin with?!!

It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, relaying this information should not be difficult!  All each physician needs to do is personally and notedly hand one of those fliers/books/dvds/resources that they are constantly gifted with to their patients!  That's it!  

Do we really need to pass a law requiring physicians to "share"?

End-of-life care differs by race: study

January 30, 2009

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The way that older adults with advanced cancer live out their last days seems to vary based on race, a US study suggests.

But the reasons for the discrepancies remain unclear, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Alexander K. Smith of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

"Improved understanding," they write, "will hopefully lead to interventions that improve end-of-life care for all patients with advanced cancer."

SOURCE: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, January 2009.

Arend 'Odee''s Update by Wanda Lenderink

THE WORD FOR TODAY...."I AM STILL ALIVE....NOW, YOU KEEP LIVING! "

Posted 2 days ago

AS THE MANY CLOCKS IN OUR HOUSE ,THE CLOCKS THAT ODEE SO FAITHFULLY KEPT WORKING...TICKED AWAY REACHING FOR A NEW YEAR...OUR LOVING ODEE GATHERED US AROUND HIM...THE EYES OF EACH ONE OF US INTENSILY FOCUSED ON THE MAN WE LOVED...OUR HEARTS WERE SO TRANSPARENT ...OF THE NEED FOR MORE TIME..

AS THE TICKING CONTINUED ...WITH COMPASSION ODEE ACKNOWLEDGED THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF NO REMISSION....LESS TIME HE REMINDED US ...WE STILL HAVE HOPE...HOPE FOR A MIRACLE...OUR TIME WAS IN OUR LORDS HANDS ...THE LEUKEMIA WAS NOT THE KEEPER OF THE CLOCKS...HE TOLD US OF HIS LOVE FOR US...HIS NEED FOR MORE TIME WITH US.....THANKING US FOR OUR LOVE...

AS THE TICKING CONTINUED ..HIS VOICE BETRAYED THE SURRENDER OF HIS HEART..."BUT IF GODS SAYS... "IT IS TIME"..THEN I ,MUST LEAVE...I WILL ALWAYS BE IN YOUR HEART...DON'T THINK FOR ONE MINUTE THAT I WILL LEAVE YOU...IN FACT ,I WILL HAVE A BETTER PERSPECTIVE AND I WILL BE RELENTLESS...I WILL NEVER STOP BUGGING YOU ...BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE YOU ALL IN HEAVEN SOMEDAY...I KNOW YOU WILL BE SAD AND THERE WILL BE TEARS..BUT YOU MUST NOT LIVE THAT WAY...LOOK, I'M STILL ALIVE SO YOU MUST KEEP ON LIVING...AND OUR TEARS FLOWED AS THE SECONDS TICKED ON...AND AS ONLY THE MAN WE LOVED COULD DO ..HE POINTED HIS FINGER AT ALL OF US ..."ALRIGHT NOW, NO MORE CRYING"...

AS TIME TICKED ON...A NEW YEAR..WE SPENT OUR TIME ..LOOKING FOR MORE HOPE..WATCHING THE LEUKEMIA INVADE..DESPERATE FOR MORE TIME ..BEGGING GOD ..REMINDING HIM OF YOU PRECIOUS PEOPLE PRAYING ...PRAYING WHEN OUR HEARTS WERE SO WEARY..AS WE MET WITH THE DOCTOR ..WE ASKED HOW MUCH TIME ?..."WEEKS TO SIX MONTHS"...OUR HEARTS ONLY HEARD SIX MONTHS ..MAYBE TIME FOR A NEW TREATMENT ..

THE LAST THREE DAYS...MORE FAMILY CAME JUST WANTING TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR DAD AND GRANDPA...SISTERS AND BROTHERS CAME ..SOME STILL COMING..AS THE HOURS AND MINUTES TICKED ON...NEW HOPE CAME ...AN APPOINTMENT WITH A RESEARCH SPECIALIST IN CHICAGO ...EVEN A JET MADE AVAILABLE TO FLY HIM DOWN THERE...

AS TIME TICKED ON ..AND IT WAS JUST HIM AND ME...CLOSE TO EACH OTHER ..WE BORE OUR SOULS WE TALKED OF THE MIRACLE THAT GOD HAD PLACED US TOGETHER...WE TALKED OF OUR LOVE...WE WERE SO THANKFUL..BUT ..PLEASE LORD MORE!!!! WE TRIED TO TALK OF THE "IF'S" ...BUT IT WAS SO PAINFUL....WE WOULD FIND OURSELVES STARING AT EACH OTHER ..AS IF IT MIGHT BE OUR LAST LOOK..

NEVER KNOWING THAT AS THE CLOCKS TICKED ON ..ALL OF HEAVEN WAS PREPARING FOR THAT MOMENT...TO US IT CAME AS SURPRISED ...WE THOUGHT WE STILL HAD MORE TIME ....MAYBE HOPE...BUT AS WE GATHERED AROUND HIS BED...HIS BREATHING SO DIFFICULT HIS EYES A PICTURE OF HIS SOUL ...I REMEMBERED HIS WORDS...IF THE TIME COMES ..."YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO LET ME GO "...I BEGGED HIM TO UNDERSTAND...HOW COULD I DO THAT??....LOVINGLY, HE TOLD ME WHEN THAT TIME COMES ...HE WOULD LET ME KNOW...AND ON THAT DAY AS TIME STOOD STILL...HIS EYES TOLD ME IT WAS TIME ..MY LOVE LET HIM GO ... AND THROUGH OUR TEARS ..WE REMEMBERED HIS WORDS ...I'M STILL ALIVE....[IN HEAVEN]...SO KEEP ON LIVING...

PRAY FOR US .....WE KNOW OUR LORD WILL BE WITH US....AND WILL MEND OUR BROKEN HEARTS...BUT ...HOW WE MISS THE MAN WE LOVED....AND THE CLOCKS KEEP ON TICKING ...EVEN THOUGH OUR WORLD HAS STOPPED ...

Please Help Make A Positive Change...For Everyone...For PapAmore...

EVERYONE should be Privy to certain Information, regardless of Internet Access and Skills, Physician Communication Ability, Current Ability to Absorb and/or Hear the Information at that moment, etc.

Is it really okay for ANYONE to tell another human being that due to lack of Medical Options that their life is over and THEN to send them out the door without sharing with them VITAL RESOURCES regarding AVAILABLE?!

Without googling Palliative Care and contacting them on our own, my Dad would not even have had a pain relief prescription, he was dying from AML without even a prescription for relief from the intense pain.

Please Help Make A Positive Change...For PapAmore...

To Receive the BEST Leukemia Treatment, Be Actively Informed and Involved

For PapAmore, whose everyday life actively taught us to always give-back.

Leukemia Resources

Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, Inc Patients, families and health care professionals can benefit from these FREE services by calling 800.747.2820 or email at help@aamds.org.

National Marrow Donor Program

National Cancer Institute

Rare Cancer Alliance - Visit their Cancer Support Forums

Steve Dunn's Cancer Guide
This cancer survivor's site 

Granny Barb And Art's Leukemia Resources
includes links to medical sites, organizations, survivor stories, and much more

Medicine Online Atlas of Acute Leukemia
more technical information on Leukemia, but also includes many photos of different types

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Large resource site has a good sections on leukemia, patient services, volunteering locally, discussion boards, and information on myelodysplastic syndromes.

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Listings at DMOZ
directory just for AML and currently has about 20 listings of editor-selected AML leukemia web sites

InnerLife Wellness Center
Important information and links for Optimizing Health, Maximizing Life and Preventing Disease.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society BBS 

Leukemia Cancer News

What to Ask Your Doctor

How to Find Medical Information

To Obtain the Best Treatment Info & Financial Assistance contact us for a FREE INFORMATION PACKET which includes:

Cancer Hospital Locations Clinical Trials Hazardous Jobs/ Products

New Treatment Options Doctors Financial Assistance

Fill out the form below or call 1-800-913-6370.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) offers patients the most sophisticated forms of surgery,radiation therapy and chemotherapy in combination with complementary medicine therapies, includingnutrition therapy, naturopathic medicine, mind-body medicine, and spiritual support. If you or a loved one is exploring cancer treatment options, call 800-268-0786 or click here to chat with an Oncology Information Specialist. Our specialists are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  While I was at CTCA I met patients from other states who said the first doctor they went to for cancer treatment told them there was no hope. But at CTCA, they don’t kill your hopes.

BEST ADVICE...Get a VALID (meaning more than your Oncologist relaying to you that she already shared the file with so and so...) Second Opinion!!!!! (Furthermore, if your Oncologist ever discourages you to get a 'Valid' 2nd opinion...this is a RED FLAG, it's time to find a new doctor.)

The world without our Papa

It's so surreal 

It makes no sense

The world without our Papa

It's so foggy

It lacks all direction

The world without our Papa

It's so overwhelming

It hurts so much

The world without our Papa

It's our worst nightmare

It frightens our souls

The world without our Papa

It's dark

It's ugly

It's senseless

It's sad

The world without our Papa

My Dad and Me

I may not be your flesh and blood

I've obviously not known you the longest

There's things about you I've never known

Our quantity of time isn't strongest

I don't want to "compete" for your love

I never really did

Your love was always endless

It never had a lid

I just want to miss you

I just want to share

The one for whom my heart sang

Whom I always knew would care

So maybe I'm not your "daughter"

Perhaps I'm "only" a "step"

But to us that never mattered

Each memory I have kept

Stored in my heart

Locked with a key

Treasured forever

My Dad and me

Waiting for "Time to Heal All Wounds"

"Papa was ALL of My Happy, 

without Him I'll Always be Sad"

A Celebration of Life for Arend "Odee" Lenderink in Denver, Colorado, 1/19/09

Arend "Odee" Lenderink
Lenderink, Arend "Odee" age 71, of Grand Haven, died Sunday, January 11, 2009.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 19, 2009, at Third Christian Reformed Church in Denver, Colorado.  Please visit www.klaassenfuneralhome.com to sign Odee's on-line guest book and view his full obituary.

I Love You, Now Put THAT In Your Pipe and Smoke It!

I Love You, Now Put THAT In Your Pipe and Smoke It!

These are the words that PapAmore's 4th daughter shared with all of those gathered to celebrate him today...the last words ever spoken to her from her Dad.  

Granted, these words could have been a touch of morphine induced, however at the same time this phrase was most definitely 110% PapAmore.  

It's no wonder this GIANT of a Man was SO VERY LOVED by All...

Until We Meet Again, PapAmore

My Dad, Arend 'Odee' Lenderink, was buried today.  

We gathered today with many loved ones to honor this amazing treasure from above. 

Today we celebrated our Papa, a great man of faith, a most blessed gift that somehow we were honored to be the recipients of...oh how we will always remain in awe-like wonder of "Odee's" earthly dance with God.  

We will never forget the eternally upward direction that he steadfastly blazed a trail for our own lives to follow.

Today was his funeral...and it was beautiful...and he would have been proud.

I smiled today, amidst my tears...and my broken heart momentarily healed and dramatically swelled with such "PapAmore" pride.  

Today PapAmore was so LOVED, so APPRECIATED, so HONORED, so RESPECTED, so ADMIRED and so CHERISHED.

(Almost as much as he surely should have been each and every day of his life...amongst us mere mortals with whom he all too briefly shared this land.)

And as I longingly wished that he too could be there today, to see how much we had listened, had noticed, did believe and forever and always will love...PapAmore...I heard him whisper...he was.

Heartache for Others...Please PRAY for Dan

I (literally) randomly read this online and as a result am on my knees for these people I've never met and whom my only contact with is from a few posts on their blog.

Dan has AML and remission is currently not his, perhaps someone reading this knows of some way to help Dan, it could be...for God works in mysterious ways, let us never forget that, always hope, never stop believing and continue to ACTIVELY pray...

Posted by: unusualadventure | January 15, 2009

Last week, Dan, Erin & Tanya went to an appointment with the Fred Hutchinson Centre in Seattle where it was recommended strongly by Dr Klimo and VGH that we go for a ‘consultation’. I suppose we went down there expecting to hear of several options and ”trials” that Dan could look at. So, it was a bit of a shock to hear that they felt Dan’s 3 chemo’s not resulting in remission meant that Dan could no longer expect ordinary/standard AML treatments to work and they had nothing for him.

Initially, they told us that Dan was now in the category of looking for a new ‘break-through’ drug - something that hasn’t been tried before…and recommended that Dan go to MD Anderson in Houston, Texas - a facility that leads the US in innovative new trials for Cancer and Leukemia. They advised Dan that he should listen to all the options there, decide who he wanted to work with - and to go for it. Basically - to take a dart and see which Trial it landed on…a little unsettling. However, the more we talked, specifically about Dan’s chromosome abnormalities and the appearing and disappearing of his “Deletion Q5″, the more they became convinced that, at least initially, they would advise VGH that Dan go on a combination course of Mylotarg, Revlimid, and one other drug…basically a more experimental program than VGH was recommending…to hopefully buy some time

It is hard not to feel a sense of urgency, despite how well Dan mostly feels and looks, as his blood counts are not as strong as they used to be….and it’s hard not to be concerned about how quickly the Leukemia is growing. However, that is precisely what Dan is trying to do – not go by tests, but go by how he feels.

God say Papa go bye-bye, Children and Funerals

Helpful Guidance and Support… For Parents For Teachers For All Caring Adults
My co-worker’s seven-year-old son was devastated when his grandfather died. Kyle had been very close to his grandfather, who used to give him plenty of hugs and affectionate little pats on the arm. Kyle said he wanted to go to the visitation at the funeral home. When he got there, he walked right up to the casket without hesitation and patted his grandpa on the arm, just as Grandpa had done to him so many times before.

Children and Funerals

Help for parents facing a death in their family. Reasons and examples to help them decide to involve their child in the process.

Peace4 and PapAmore

I just talked to MaggiesRose and she asked me to tell everyone .....

If you wish to do something to honor Odee, in lieu of flowers, to please donate to the Peace4 the Missing Non Profit fund. He was very proud of everything that has come together here and he would be honored to see Peace4 the Missing grow into something that will truly help the families of the missing and victims of crime.

You can send any donations to:

Peace4 the Missing
121 Lafayette Ave.
Grand Haven, MI 49417

Arend Lenderink

(June 24, 1937 - January 11, 2009) 

Please Continue Reading HERE

How to Locate Leukemia Treatment Centers, Hospitals and Oncologists

Leukemia Treatment Centers and Hospitals

There are several well-known leukemia treatment centers scattered across the United States. Some of them include:

• Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
  Patient Information: (312) 908-5250
• Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  Patient Information: 1-800-865-1125
• UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL
  Patient Information: 1-800-UAB-0933 or (205) 975-8222
  Clinical Trial Information: (205) 934-0337 - Alma Del Grosso
• UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC
  Patient Information: (919) 966-3036
  Clinical Trial Information: (919) 966-4432
• M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
  Patient Information: 1-800-392-1611 or (713) 792-6161 http://www.leukemia-web.org/aml-leukemia-news/leukemia-cancer-news-0129.htm
• For a list of Cancer Doctors/ Oncologists in your area, please contact us at 1-800-923-6376 or use the form below to request information. http://www.leukemia-web.org/ask-the-doctor.htm

The American Cancer Society is happy to address almost any cancer-related topic. If you have any more questions, please call us at 1-800-ACS-2345 at any time, 24 hours a day.

When You Came Over to Tell Me That The Cancer Was Back

I remember every word, you're right, Papa...you truly are right here, in our hearts...

(Papa is in blue)

Now, get over here, let me give you a hug

I don't want you to tell me, Papa

I know, honey, I don't want to have to tell you either, I really thought that it was gone, I did.  Look at me, no look at me, it's going to be alright, I promise.

I know

It okay to cry, your Mom and I cried too.  But, we have to trust, God.

I will, Papa

I'm not going anywhere and I will have hope up until my very last breath, but I need to know that you and my girls will be alright

I know, we will, I promise, I will make you proud, Papa

Oh, sweetie, I know you will, you already do, every moment of every day, you already do

And, I am still here, and I am going to keep on bugging you, all the time, even IF I am not here on earth, I'm going to keep bugging you, don't you forget that

I expected that you would...and thanks, Papa...I would like that

I don't want to go yet, there is so much here yet that I want to still do.  I want to have a Bible Study yet with Rod and Lou, I want to be there for you and your girls, I want to spend more time with my best friend, I'm not ready yet to leave your Mother.  How I pray that someday you meet someone who will cherish you the way I cherish your Mom, who will treat you and my girls the way you deserve to be treated.

We already have that, Papa, we have you

You silly nut, you know what I mean

I know

If I do go, to heaven, you know what I'm going to do?

Sing really loud?

Well, yea...of course, but I'm also going to right away walk right up to Jack, your Dad and I'm going to say...thank you for sharing your little girls with me...

I love you, Daddy

I love you too, honey, I always will

(then you started in on your "short list" ~ you always took such good care of us all, PapAmore, xox times a google and more)

We Miss Him

PapAmore's Guest Book

Arend Lenderink
(June 24, 1937 - January 11, 2009) 

Happy to Share PapAmore

Heartbreaking Update from Sara Huizenga Lubbers

My thoughts go out to Sara and her family. A few days ago, through her blog Papamore and reprinted here, we got the chance to meet her father and his brave fight with AML. Today, Sara sent the heartbreaking news.

My Daddy died today

So now, I know, that I need to support my Mom and love my family, that is what he would want, to not look back with regret and bitterness

I feel like every inch of my insides have been viciously clawed away, I'm sure we all do, it's all surreal

I'm so glad my Daddy is in heaven and always in my heart

http://zerogossip.com/2009/01/11/heartbreaking-update-from-sara-huizenga-lubbers.aspx?ref=rss

Thanks, Peace4...Papa Loves It, No Doubt

Find more videos like this on Peace4 the Missing

THE WORD FOR TODAY.....FOREVER HEAVEN

THE WORD FOR TODAY.....FOREVER HEAVEN

Posted 5 minutes ago

AT 4:10 TODAY 1-11-09.....THE CLOUDY SKYS PARTED FOR JUST SECONDS....AND ALL OF HEAVENS REJOICED AS OUR DEAR ODEE ENTERED HIS HEAVENLY HOME ......LEAVING BEHIND A FAMILY SEARCHING FOR THE PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING.

CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR US....

Thank You, Seppy...for this Gift

Friday, January 9, 2009

Hope, love, life

It seems like it is never often enough that we get the chance to spread the messages of hope, faith, life, or love. We're so busy living our own lives, taking for granted our own miracles and blessings that we forget that everyday there is a family struggling to face that which but for the grace of God we go.

Earlier this year I was facing serious medical concerns. All initial tests and symptoms pointed to AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia) and when I started the research my heart and stomach hit the floor before my knees could to pray. However, after a month of in and out testing and several doctors later- it was discovered that I have SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, just "Lupus" for short). I will admit that it hasn't been easy, and there are times I find myself struggling more with the anger and hurt of being sick more than the actual symptoms themselves. However- I have never been more humble than I am today.


At the same time that I was facing my diagnosis a friend of mine's father was getting sick. He was eventually tested, and diagnosed with AML, and has struggled through treatment and to keep one step ahead of this disease for the better part of the last year. Recently his Dr. told him that he had lost the battle and that there was nothing else they could do for him.

His doctor obviously didn't know my friend Sara (the patients daughter) or the strength, love, energy, and power that this woman carries with her in her heart. 

Maybe there is nothing else THAT Dr. could do for PapaAmore, but there is so much WE can do for him. Pray. Research. Make calls. Ask questions. Help find resources, studies, treatments. Everyone knows someone who holds the solution to another person's problems, it's all about network. And it's all about getting the word out. To each other, to God.

Do not give up. Believe. Fight. Love.

http://papamore.blogspot.com/

I invite you, no, I beg you to visit Sara's blog, the journey of her father's fight for his life, her fight for his life. So many miracles are already happening, so quickly.. already he has a new Dr., a new medicine, an invitation to the University of Chicago Lukemia center, someone who has offered to fly him.

The wheels are turning, God is listening. Be a part of something great. Even if all you can do is read, and pass the link on to someone else. If you can't help- you know someone who can, you just may not realize it.


There but for the grace of God go I..