Party for Pottebaum - More Thank You's!

Stacy Nelson and Me

Crystal Crowley, Colin Hogan and Megan Misterek
I have known Colin and Megan since elementary school.

Kelly and Jeremy Robson
They just had twin boys in March...
doesn't Kelly look great?!

Kelly Robson and Gretchen Chace
I have known this ladies since Jr. High and we
are still great friends today!

Me, Crystal Crowley and Emily Gardels
Crystal and her husband donated food from their restaurant
HuHot Mongolian Grill and Crystal used her talents decorating the entire place!

One of my best friends Emily Gardels and her boyfriend Nick
flew in from Chicago.  Emily donated A LOT of
the auction items...she works at Macy's in Chicago
so she got some GOOD STUFF!

Gretchen and Jeff Chace...
They just had a baby Boy October 24!
Welcome to the world Jack Andrew =)

Megan Misterek and Mike Livesay

Me and Lori Armiger

 Thank you again for coming out to support us!  We are so fortunate to have such great friends!=)

Chemo 13 & 14 / Thank you Party for Pottebaum

Update on my mom
My mom has been doing very well since her surgery on September 7th.  She got her drains taken out last week which allowed her to take a shower!  She said she was so excited she takes a long one everyday now.  =)  She still has stitches so she can't raise her arms very high, lift heavy objects or drive.  We are hoping the stitches will come out in 2-3 weeks.  She had her second fill for her ta ta's this week.  When this is all said and done we will have two sets of twins in the family for the new year!  My mom and I will both have B cups.  I am excited because I will have bigger ta ta's and my mom is excited because she will have smaller ta ta's!  It is a win win for both us!

She met with Dr. Thome this week and she will not need chemotherapy or radiation but is having an ultrasound on her ovaries.  Because she has a mutation and given her age the chances of getting ovarian cancer are extremely high, 87%!  So the next step for my mom is to have her ovaries removed in the next couple of months.

As for me I have 2 more chemo treatments to go!  Yay!

Last week's treatment (#13) a friend of mine that I met in college took me to my chemo treatment.  Laura Morrow and I enjoyed a couple of spring breaks together in Cancun and Myrtle Beach.  We spent a lot of time together in college and still get together to hang out and catch up.  Ironically, Laura is an accountant and had some very helpful suggestions on getting my Auntie Em's Angels charity launched. 

Me and Laura

Thank you for taking me to chemo, your advice and for the Eileen's cookies!  They were delicious!

My friend Lyndsey stopped out as well and we all had a brainstorming session for Auntie Em's Angels. We narrowed our focus to just helping cancer patients and different ways Auntie Em's Angels could make an impact in their life.  Thank you for your suggestions and input! =) 

I met with a long time friend of mine Alex Wolf who is an attorney at Koley Jessen.  He pointed me in the right direction to help set up Auntie Em's Angels as a non-profit.  I am still brainstorming and hope to have a clear mission statement in the next couple of weeks.  I am praying to have a few corporate sponsors as I have narrowed it down to educating the public on proper nutrition and exercise to prevent cancer, for cancer patients going through treatment and staying healthy after treatment.  My goal is to have everything planned, non-profit paper work complete, sponsers, fundraising events planned and Angels signed up to host birthday parties by the New Year! 

Chemo #14 -- September 29 - Steve my husband took me to my treatment.  It was his birthday so we had a mini celebration with all the nurses and cancer patients that were also getting their chemo treatments.  My friend Lyndsey asked her mother-in-law to bake a cake and was it was delicious!  Cinnamon swirl...YUMMY!  Thank you Karen for making it and thank you Lyndsey for delivering, cutting and serving!  If you need a baker I will post Karen's information if you need a cake for your next birthday party.

The nurses gave Steve this stylish hat and sang
happy birthday to him. Thank you to the nurses
of Midwest Cancer Center for making his birthday
so special.

I think we put a dent in it! 

Thank you to my husband Steve who has been there every step of the way.  He has been so supportive and has taken such good care of me and Olivia.  I could not get through this without him. 
I love you more then words can say...

My side effects from chemo are minimal.  I am tired more then usual and now the knuckles on my hands are red and cracked.  Dr. Thome said this will go away once I stop chemo as it is a common side effect.  Thank goodness I only have two more treatments I can't stand to look at them for much longer!  I have ONE eye lash on my left eye and no eyelashes on my right eye.  I am holding on to the one eyelash as long as I can and hoping my other lashes can catch up to it once I am finished with chemo.  My hair is starting to grow back and I am happy to report it is the same dark brown that I had before. I have one more fill for my ta ta's before I start radiation and I LOVE them so far!  I officially for the first time in my life have ta ta's you can physically see!  Radiation should start around November 1st and treatments are everyday for 5 weeks.  Once that is complete I wait a month and have my final surgery in January.  This will be to take out the expanders in my chest and have them replaced with implants.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel and I am running towards it!  Thank you again to all our family and friends for all your love and support!

More pics from Party for Pottebaum!   Thank you for coming out to support us!

Lori Armiger, Laura Morrow and their friend.
Lori started a fun event in Linclon called
Giving Spirits.  Become their friend on Facebook!




Jody and Nate Tate

 

Shannon Schiltz  and Sara Thompson
I have known Sara since kindergarten...ironically she is
now a kindergarten teacher.  She brought her friend
Shannon to the event.  Thank you!

Sherri Harnisch, Leah Buller, Emily Wilson
Leah is my cousin and she went to high school with Sherri
and was in the same sorority as Emily. 

Sherri Harnish, Leah Buller, Kirstin Ricketts, Tammy Braasch
Emily Wilson, Me, Nelly Sagehorn
I also met these lovely ladies through my cousin Leah.
Congrats to Leah, Kirstin and Nelly!  They are all
expecting babies this year!

Brent Sagehorn, Chad Buller, Adam Braasch

Pat Ricketts and Chad Buller

Megan Dannelly and Kendra Hayne
I went to high school with Kendra and met her friend Megan.
I also found out we all live in the same neighborhood!
Hopefully we can get together soon! =)

Nicki and Neal McMahon
Nicki and I met in high school and she recently moved back
to the Omaha area.  She owns Big Frog T-Shirts located
next to the HyVee on 180th and Q.  They were one of the
sponsors for the event!  Thank you so much!

Erica and Patrick Sullivan
Erica and I were on dance team together.  She was so kind to
drive in from Lincoln for the event!  Thank you! =)

Thanks again for all your love and support! xoxo

Chemo #11 & #12 / Thank you Party for Pottebaum / Cure for Cancer?

A CURE FOR CANCER!!! NANOTECHNOLOGY  Check this video out!  They are in the testing stages but at 100% for curing 40 types of cancer.  It starts talking about it 4 minutes and 40 seconds in to the presentation,

Chemo #11 - Thursday, September 8, 2011

My friend Emmy Reilly was so kind to take me to chemo this week.  I met Emmy through my husband Steve.  Steve was roommates with Chris who was best friends with Nolan who married Emmy.  We also get together to watch Husker football!  Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to drive and sit with me for chemo Emmy!  XOXO!

As always my friend Lyndsey stopped out to say hello. =)

Me and Emmy

Saturday, September 10, 2011 - Zoo with the Pottebaum's and Delperdangs.

We spent the day with Steve's parents, his brother Brian's family and his sister Judy's family.  We went back to their hotel to swim and eat dinner.  It was great to see you and catch up!

Cousins!
Back: Lexi and Haley
Front: Will, Olivia, Mya and Taya

Olivia, Mya and Taya looking cool in their shades!

Olivia and Steve throwing food to the fish.

Jessica and Taya
You can see Brian and Mya in the back ground

Chemo #12 - Thursday, September 15, 2011

Deb Bothof took me and Lyndsey Foster dropped me off.  Deb is always stopping by to check up on me and Lyndsey does the same with phone calls and stopping by to see me at all my chemos.  It means the world to me ladies that you would take so much of your time to check up on me.  Love you!

THANK YOU to Todd Glorvick for the generous gift card to HyVee and donation to the American Cancer Society!  Todd and I went to high school and college together.  Now that he lives in Minnesota we meet up in Chicago every year along with a few others to go to a cubs game and catch up. Thanks Todd!  Can't wait to celebrate my recovery next year! =)

Thank you - PARTY for Pottebaum

I met all these wonderful people through my husband Steve.  He met them while he was an athletic trainer for the Husker football team.

Jay Terry, Trevor Svoboda, Doak Ostergard, Chris McQuillan, Al Recker, Steve and Nolan Reilly.

Travis Havlovic, Me and Steve

Julie and Tim Reimer

Denise Havlovic, Michelle Havlovic, Nicole Zitek

Al and Sara Recker, Heather and Jay Terry

Michelle Havlovic, Me, Heather McQuillan, Stacy Nelson

Kevin Havlovic and Travis Havlovic



Lindsay Vodicka and Michelle Havlovick
Lindsay's husband Brent came too...I didn't get his picture =(

Thank you for coming out to support us!  We love you all!

Chemo #10 / Thank you-Party for Pottebaum Part 3

Today, my good friend Crystal was going to take me to chemotherapy.  Unfortunately she was unable to come, as her mother Vickie passed away unexpectedly a week ago from today.  Vickie was a wonderful person to be around.  I remember going to their house all the time in high school and always feeling welcome.  Vickie always took the time to sit with us to chit chat about life, school and of course boys!  She always had a smile on her face and laughed all the time.  Please keep Crystal and her family in your prayers to get through this difficult time. 

Vickie Lynn Hayden

Age 58, June 20, 1953- Aug 25, 2011

Omaha. Preceded in death by parents, Frank and Mary Cunningham; and brother, Charles "Butch" Cunningham. Survived by children, Michelle Hayden, Crystal (Brendan) Crowley, Nicholas (Janie) Hayden; 5 grandchildren; and friends.

MEMORIAL GATHERING Tuesday, August 30, 6-8pm at Braman Mortuary, 72nd St. Chapel. Private Inurnment. Memorials can be directed to the American Cancer Society . Visit http://www.bramanmortuary.com/ to leave a condolence.

BRAMAN MORTUARY - 72nd St. Chapel
1702 N. 72nd St. 402-391-2171

My mother was so kind to step in and take me instead.  I can't thank my mother enough for all of her love, compassion and help she has given to me through cancer treatment and my life in general.  I talk to her at least once a day because I value her opinion and advice.  I am not sure what I would do without her which is why I am so sad for Crystal and her family.  She was so close to her mother like me and not to have my mother in my life would leave a huge hole in my heart.  My heart aches for all of them as I know they will miss her so much.

Me and my Mom

Thank you for our new necklaces Heather!

I asked my mom to take a picture of me and Lyndsey....

let's just say she needs a little instruction on how to take pictures.

She had the camera facing the wrong way ...this is me making fun of her =)

Love you Momma!

Me and my friend Lyndsey

She stops by when she is out and about during the week day.

I always look forward to seeing her face every Thursday.

God works in mysterious ways and He takes our loved ones unexpectedly on his terms for a reason.  I do believe that Vickie is smiling and laughing from Heaven and will act as a guardian angel for her family until it is time for them to reunite again.

As for my mother she will start her journey next week.  Her surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, September 7th at 8 a.m. in the morning.  Dr. Reilly the general surgeon will perform a double mastectomy while Dr. Montag will do the reconstruction at Methodist Hospital.  The surgery should take 4-5 hours.  Please pray the surgery is successful in removing the cancer forever and for a speedy recovery.

Love you Mom!

Thank you to my Aunt Vicky (who ironically shares the same birthday and name (Vicki Lynn) as Crystal's mother) for the Chicken Soup for the Soul CD's.  I listen to them whenever I am in my car and I am learning more then ever God has his hand in everything we do.

Thank you to my mother and father's friends.  I have had the wonderful opportunity to get to know you and your children.  You have all been so supportive and constant cheerleaders not only for me but for my mother and our entire family.  Thank you for your friendship and love. =)

My mom, Sister Angie, Barb Panzer

My Uncle Terry, Sister Angie and Dad



 
 Joan and John Allen

Jayne and Bill Westering, John Allen, Me, Alex Wolf and Tom Wolf

 

Emily Westering and Me

Tom Wolf and Betty Bode

Molly Hunter with her newest addition Lainey!

Congratulations to you and Mark!

Nancy and Joe Pawlowski

Pam and Terry Penke

Rosy Conrad and Ron Brown

Jan Brown and Nicole Harrington

Nicole and Ben Harrington

I didn't get a picture of Katy Bode and her mom Deanna Wolf

So I took this pic from her facebook page.  Halloween a year ago.

John Bode and Matt Jetter

John and Katy just added to their family!  Welcome to the world Kate Jane Bode!

Betty Bode, Me and Shannon Butler

Sue Peterson, My mom, Betty Bode

Bruce Bode, Alex and Angela Wolf

Bill and Amy Westering

Tom Wolf, Bob Peterson and Bruce Bode

Carol Long and Nancy Pawlowski

John and Lynn Lohse

Not Pictured:

Linde Ringling

Jerry and Mary Anne Grace

Butch and Carol Long

Rosy and Wally Conrad

Mary Jo and Bill Ellis

Barb and Jim O'Brien

Pam Sloan

Butch and Allyn Harper

Matt and Jen Fehringer

 MORE to COME!