Ski Museum Benefit, McCarthy's and Chest of Hope

Hi All,
It's been a few weeks since I've posted. We've been busy working on staying healthy and also had some exciting nights. Brian Lindner held a "History of Mt. Mansfield Ski Patrol" Benefit for Gary at the Ski Museum in Stowe. We were quite honored by the turn out of friends and Gary's fellow Ski Patrollers that showed up from around the Northeast. Thanks to all who came to this memorable evening. Also, Thanks to the Ski Museum for offering your incredible Ski Museum space for this night. If you haven't stopped by yet to see the museum, put it on your tour list for all ages to enjoy. Thanks again everyone involved. I had tears in my eyes when I saw all the support from the Ski Patrol contingent. You all really stick together!
On this evening Shifterboss had announced that he had started a raffle for a pair of Red Sox tickets to benefit Gary. Also, Gary has offered to raffle off a cedar-lined hope chest that he built many years ago. We're calling it "Gary's chest of Hope"...(okay..don't think into it!). Thank you Shifter for helping with Shrinking Gary's Tumor.
On St. Patrick's Day we brought Gary's Chest of Hope to McCarthy's and sold raffle tickets on the front deck. It was fun to see many old friends and meet new. Thank you Diane and Dan and Lee LaBier for helping with this raffle. Betsy and Wendy were also a blast to have helping with the sales. It was a nice sunny day and we even had a chance to run the puppies on the quiet path during down times throughout the day.
Gary went skiing the Sunday before St. Patrick's day and by Tuesday mid day he was experiencing a nagging headache and felt very fatigued. We had an appointment at the VT Center for Integrative Herbalism on that Tuesday afternoon to discuss Gary's diet and how things have been going. By that evening Gary ate dinner early and went to bed. The next a.m. he still felt horrible and so he stayed home and slept all day. I think this is expected with the 4 week period post radiation/chemo. He slept well on Wednesday night and woke up so refreshed that I was puzzled by the drastic change...but who could complain right? Since then he has had renewed energy. He went skiing yesterday with Rick and Karen who arrived from NY late Friday. We stayed up relatively late last night reminiscing old times and today he and Rick are working on the ventilation system for Gary's studio. Wow! It's like old times!
Ian and Jaynie are enjoying the company of Rick and Karen's teenagers Derrick and Kyle. Kona is having a blast with all of the attention and I am certainly feeling the warmth and positive vibes from the sunshine this wonderful family brought with them.

I'll be on this blog soon with updates on Gary's appointment scheduled for Duke U on April 6th. His MRI scheduled at Fletcher Allen is April 2nd. This will hopefully tell us how the RT and Chemo was received by Gary.

Happy Spring!
ME

After the Ski Museum Event

Still Working

The Shrink Gary's Tumor Team is still working! Our next venture will be April 18th at the VFW in Hyde Park, an authentic Mexican dinner, dancing, raffle, silent auction and general all around good time. Save the date and come join the fun.

We are currently working on soliciting items for the raffle/auction. If anyone has personal contacts at any of our wonderful local bussinesses and would be able to request a donation on our behalf, please contact Jen at jecca88@comcast.net so we can confirm that they have not already been asked. Many hands make light work, but too many cooks spoil the soup. OK, Enough with the bad cliches!

Hope to see you there,
Jen

Compatible Alternatives + Standard Treatment

Gary's treatments are over for now. He gets an MRI on April 2 to find out how the tumor reacted to the standard treatments for the GBM. Along with the standard radiation and temodar for 6 weeks Gary also used quite a few alternative treatments. Thanks to all of our friends and family for giving him tremendous support his mental state continues to be very positive which is the most important ingredient in healing.

Cheryl H's bone marrow broth full of such herbs as astragulus root, shiitake and mietake(sp) mushrooms was eaten twice a day. Nancy S's mushroom extract taken each morning, Rachel Jeans Ultimate Green Drink-daily doses- and Guido's guidance through the Vt Center for Integrative Herbalism in Montpelier where we learned about proper diet while going through the standard treatments for the GBM.

All of these people are or have been students of Rosemary Gladstar a reknowned Herbalist and teacher who lives close to our community. Dr. Roos, a Homeopathic MD on Church Street in Burlington has treated Gary with a remedy since 4 days after his biopsy.

Since Gary's diagnosis so many people have wanted to learn about the diet necessary to help stop the growth and shrink Gary's tumor. Thanks Bunny M for all the soups and books you've brought over at just the right moment when I can't think of another thing to make that actually may be good for Gary. Thanks for the RAW Milk Warren and Tara. Gary used coconut oil on his skin where he was being radiated. The seeds from the pits of apricots were another daily routine until all the local stores ran out. Green Tea, Nettle Tea, Goji and Fresh dark juices. He took daily doses of New Chapter Rhodiola and Tumeric. He also stayed on a high alkaline diet (lots of info on-line).
At this point we'll keep the diet going along with the alternative meds. And of course, keep learning!

We have contacted Dr. Henry Friedman at Duke and plan to take advantage of a break from treatments to go to NC for a consult. The Robert Preston Tisch Tumor Foundation at Duke specializes in treating people with GBM Tumors along with other Tumors. We'll let you know how it goes of course.

Jaynie comes home from Switzerland and France tonight. She's in NJ right now on a 4 hour layover and I'm wondering why she just told me she still has homework due and she's back to stressing!!! SIGHHHHH
Ian and I will go meet her at the airport and make his ceremonious trip to Best Buy to check out any new games and electronics that may be out.
Gary is sitting here working on the taxes and staying positive;)That's an oxymoron statement isnt it???
I'm off to go for a hike with Kona since it's invitingly warm outside, although miserably muddy. I LOVE MUCK BOOTS!
Thank ALL of you again.
PEACE
MaryEllen

6 weeks of radiation and treatment are over.

3 More Days of Radiation

Hello All. Gary is doing well.
We still haven't got an exact tally from the benefit, but it's roughly around $8,000 that was raised!!! It was such a fun time too! Thanks to everyone for all you have helped us with. Driving, food deliveries, information gathering, help with the kids and well wishes.
These days Gary keeps pretty busy reading and he is almost finished with a 2nd prisma color drawing. The Robert Paul Art Gallery in Stowe actually called the day after the benefit and told Gary that a client of theirs has asked Gary for a commision painting of...surprise surprise A COW!! Ha Ha. Gary doesn't want to resume painting until he fixes the ventilation in the studio. He's concerned more than ever about making sure it's a healthy space to work in.
I signed on to a Braintumor group site recently and have been gathering more information. Gary has a new book given to him by Sunny and Morgain, our neighbors. It's titled Herbal Medicine Healing & Cancer. Thank you!!! It's a great reference that he can use as he is becoming more in tune with proper diet for brain cancer and what works while undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.
I read some of the files on the Brain tumor site that discussed whether combining antioxidants with Chemo and radiation is beneficial. I can see the logic in being concerned with taking supplements that might make the radiation and chemo not do their job, but it sounds like from what I'm reading so far that the antioxidants seem to help the person with the cancer withstand the treatments better while going through the whole process. It also may help the cancer patient..Gary better withstand stronger or longer doses as we go forward.
I fowarded a new article to some friends this a.m. from Feb. 2009 Cancer Monthly that refers to a new study on Scutellaria a Chinese herb and killing brain cancer cells. I sent it to Guido at the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism.
Today Gary and I are off to Burlington to check out a new old truck to replace the one that got totalled when the Tractor Trailer truck rearended me a few weeks ago.
Jaynie is doing well in Geneva. She goes to school with her Pen Pal tomorrow. His family sounds really nice. The first day in Switzerland she said she took 350 pictures. I hope she has time to enjoy the place when she's not busy shooting the place!
Kona is happy to finally have the lampshade off of her head and we've been to the Oxbow several times to run off some pent up energy from the past few weeks of leash jail.
Ian has been keeping busy gaming, and skiing and visiting friends for vacation. He doesn't seem to miss having an older sister around so far.
Gary's parents went home yesterday a.m. They enjoyed spending time with Gary each day. Gary's Dad kept busy in the wood shed while Peg spent time reading up on Gary's new diet.
Have a peaceful Sunday.

History of the Mt Mansfield Ski Patrol

Still Working to Shrink Gary’s Tumor

On March 14th Brian Lindner will be hosting a presentation on the History of the Mount Mansfield Ski Patrol at the Vermont Ski Museum. It will be a one-hour slide presentation covering the history of America's oldest ski patrol. The presentation not only tells the story of how and when the MMSP was first founded but also how this lead directly to the creation of both the National Ski Patrol and World War Two's famous 10th Mountain Division. Doors open at 6 p.m. presentation starts at 7p.m. There will be a $10 minimum charge. Proceeds will benefit the Gary Sudol Trust Fund.

After the Matterhorm!

Thank Everyone who helped and came to the benefit for Gary and our family on Thursday night! We could not get over the turnout. What a community we live in. We hope everyone enjoyed the band and also won one of the many awesome donations that were being raffled and auctioned off. (we still do not have a final $ tally) It took me several hours to walk around the bar stopping and talking to many old and new friends. ON our way to the "horn" Gary was saying that he didn't know how long he would last. We all pretty much know his early early morning routine of waking up and painting and getting the fire going...etc. I also know that he loves seeing his friends so I wasn't to surprised to see that he held up really well. No fatigue or sign of wanting to even sit down. We THANK YOU ALL for once again helping make Gary's cancer days less of a downer and more of a fight to cure himself.
His parents arrived last night and we'll all spend the week sending Jaynie off on her 18th birthday to celebrate in Switzerland with her French Class. Ian won't know what to do with himself! You can be assured he's working hard in his French class so he can also go on a trip of a lifetime in a few years. Jaynie's pen pal family are avid skiers and will be taking her to the Alps while she is there. So EXCITING for her!
Kona, the puppy, spent last weekend being spayed (thank you Dr. Cindy at LVVC in Hyde Park) and now she's wearing a cone on her head for the next 7 days due to ripping out her stiches and becoming infected. It's quite a task keeping a lab puppy entertained on a leash and now with a CONE on her head ARGHHH!!! I can't help laughing at her when she walks through the house bumping into things with her conehead held held high as though this new extremity is not going to take away her dignity. So funny, but so sad.
We welcome visiters and callers any time.
We continue to eat healthy and slowly push the new diet onto our kids who are taking the transition in stride. (NOT)
Talk soon...have a nice weekend.
Peace on Rock out EAT WELL!
ME