Roller Coaster

{Liz, Heather, & Paige, Becky & Erin-pretending to pass out-on Tower of Terror}

I heard a writing professor once say that you should avoid cliches...like the plague. Good advice, except when they are applicable. And life has been a bit of a roller coaster for Liz lately. Lots of ups and downs. Figuratively and literally.

Nobody loves Disneyland more than Liz. And nobody loves going there without pesky children to beg for bathroom trips, call for cotton candy, and demand Dumbo more than this parent-of-the-year. Disneyland is best enjoyed by adults and that is exactly what Liz, Paige, Erin, and two very brave sisters-in-law, Becky and Heather did last summer.

It turns out the magic kingdom gives you some sweet perks when you have a grave disease. It was about time this dang cancer thing came in handy! We hit every attraction, multiple times (well, the GOOD ones...no Tiki Room for these veterans thank you very much), ate only the finest of Disney cuisine (including a meal at the exclusive Club 33 where even the loo looked like my grandmother's living room furniture), and lounged in luxury in our fabulous suite at the Grand Californian. It was magical. And I'm fairly certain I can never go back for fear another trip couldn't measure up.

So while we took in every crazy ride we could, Liz now finds herself on her own private roller coaster. The fluid that's been accumulating in her abdomen has been confirmed as cancerous. She has ceased chemotherapy and is seeking ways to feel good enough to spend time with family and friends. Some of the worst side-effects have subsided for the time-being which means she can enjoy a tasty meal and some good conversation...a real blessing. Erin has been hanging out for the week and Paige plans a trip back out in a few days. Hospice will come in soon to make sure she stays comfy and content at home.

Matching Sweatshirt Nerds {we made them}

It's Tough To Be A Bug

Life is a roller coaster. Liz can tell you all about the highs and lows. But there is opposition in all things. We would be bored if it were any different. Like a life without Disneyland.

Tell Me a Story...

Liz reading to a gaggle of grandkids during the 2010 Christmas festivities

A story of a grandma. A mother. A friend. A sister. A cancer fighter. A party planner.

You know her. And you haven't heard her story in a while. That's because she's had an amazing year. A year that is worth documenting. A year filled with family, and friends, and Disneyland, and Hawaii. A year's worth of activities and a lifetime worth of memories. Oh...do I have some stories to tell. And I will tell them. But not today.

Because today is filled with another tale. A tale of a fight. And you need to know how those winds of war are blowing. And Liz needs to know that we all still march behind her.

After an incredible year, Liz has hit a rough patch. She has valiantly endured multiple rounds of various chemotherapies. The cancer retreated...long enough to give her some valuable time doing the things she loves (again...more on that later...). But it's a formidable foe and she again finds herself in the trenches.

This week has been a real battle. Liz has made several recent trips to the ER to mitigate complications of a compromised liver. The most recent scans showed small but ever present tumors in her liver and now excess fluid is building in her abdomen. The resulting side effects are difficult to bear and make everyday activities daunting. Medications and the care of dedicated professionals are moderately helpful....but at its core, this is a solitary war.

Liz, as you probably guessed, is enduring like the warrior she is. Mark is at her side every step of the way like the the attentive partner he is. The family has rallied like the bunch of crazy people we are.

The next step is to definitively determine the cause of all the accumulating fluid. That will hopefully happen later this week. Hospice is an option in the near future to relieve the worst of the symptoms and allow her to remain at home so we all can sit by her side. Helping out. Hanging out. And, of course, telling stories...

Should you wish to contact Liz with your story, notes to her email at lizardhatch@gmail.com are frequently checked and you may send cards and letters to the home address at 2323 Stonebridge Rd. Livermore CA 94550. You can also leave your story here in the comment section....

Liz and Chloe with Santa on the Polar Express, Christmas 2010

And check back here for more stories.