Lost a dear friend to Pancreatic Cancer
PonyExpress8
Posts: 1,670 ✭✭✭
I wanted to share a bit about my long-time college friend, Rich who passed away at the age of 52 in April of Pancreatic Cancer. Along with his story I have contributed a PCGS graded 1899-O Barber Half Dollar graded F-15 (although it has better detail and is in my opinion a VF20) with a value of between $165 - $200 to Jeremy's auction which seemed appropriate.
Sadly, my college friend passed away from Pancreatic Cancer, which he has been fighting bravely for just a bit over a year. As iss often the case he underwent the most aggressive treatment to try and fight back including a Whipple procedure, chemo and radiation. But the cancer had spread as it often does when it is an organ cancer before it is detected.
Rich, along with two other college buddies of mine, Fred and Frost have kept in close touch over the years and for the most part had an annual get together since we graduated from Cal State University, Stanislaus in 1977. Rich is survived by his 17 year-old son, Nic and wife Vicky. Rich and Nic were very close, while Vicky and Rich were true soulmates. Over the past few weeks prior to Rich's passing Nic has been by his dad's bedside doing small yet meaningful comfort things such as shaving his dad when Rich became too weak to do it himself. Nic commented his dad has stood by him all his life, and that he needed to be there and do the same for him.
Rich was a great person and will be sorely missed by us all as well as his family, leaving us all too early at 52. Words are somewhat difficult to describe the loss when a life-long friend departs at a relatively young age.
I can't express enough how great it is that Jeremy has conducted this annual auction event, and how more special it is to me personally this year. I hope each of you as you are able too will participate and support the charity auction.
Here are some images of my contribution for the auction which you can see and bid on through this Sunday.
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You will be missed Rich.
Thank you Jeremy for all the work you have done over the years on your auction!
Glenn
Link to Pancreatic Cancer Research Auction
Sadly, my college friend passed away from Pancreatic Cancer, which he has been fighting bravely for just a bit over a year. As iss often the case he underwent the most aggressive treatment to try and fight back including a Whipple procedure, chemo and radiation. But the cancer had spread as it often does when it is an organ cancer before it is detected.
Rich, along with two other college buddies of mine, Fred and Frost have kept in close touch over the years and for the most part had an annual get together since we graduated from Cal State University, Stanislaus in 1977. Rich is survived by his 17 year-old son, Nic and wife Vicky. Rich and Nic were very close, while Vicky and Rich were true soulmates. Over the past few weeks prior to Rich's passing Nic has been by his dad's bedside doing small yet meaningful comfort things such as shaving his dad when Rich became too weak to do it himself. Nic commented his dad has stood by him all his life, and that he needed to be there and do the same for him.
Rich was a great person and will be sorely missed by us all as well as his family, leaving us all too early at 52. Words are somewhat difficult to describe the loss when a life-long friend departs at a relatively young age.
I can't express enough how great it is that Jeremy has conducted this annual auction event, and how more special it is to me personally this year. I hope each of you as you are able too will participate and support the charity auction.
Here are some images of my contribution for the auction which you can see and bid on through this Sunday.
Text
[/L]
You will be missed Rich.
Thank you Jeremy for all the work you have done over the years on your auction!
Glenn
Link to Pancreatic Cancer Research Auction
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Comments
And yes, Jeremy's good work helps to make a difference.
Lane
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
I will finally put my father to rest tomorrow, he has been on my fireplace since last week.
Full military honors tomorrow. My 13 year old son, his grandson will play taps after the flag is given to my sister and both Army/Navy memorial guards finish their part,
A little prayer if I may:
Lord your father, our Heavenly Father gave us life. I know that our Heavenly Father can take our life at anytime. But again Lord please help us find a cure for this disease. Watching my father suffer through his cancer in the last 14 months seems to be a punishment not a quick departure. Now this young 52 year old friend that is mentioned on this thread and many others that this cancer has taken. I ask with my heart and beliefs. Please Lord!
So again Lord have mercy on anyone that has this disease and let a cure be found sooner than later. Bless all. Amen.
Website-Americana Rare Coin Inc
Website-Americana Rare Coin Inc
What a nice tribute you have made in Rich's name; I'm certain he was very proud to call you his friend.
Dave
Prayers for your friends passing.
Sincerely,
Joe
Add me to the list of those wishing you deepest condolences on your lost friend. I see way too many cases of ductal carcinoma of the pancreas and it is tough to fight. These tumors are so rarely caught early enough to extirpate surgically.
I think the coin contributed for auction is a marvelous way to remember your friend.
Even among us pathologists we see cancer. My 47 year-old pathologist partner, JD, just found out in March that he has high-stage diffuse infiltrating gastric carcinoma that has caused typical thickening of the wall (linitis plastica--water bottle stomach). He has had two -thirds of his stomach removed with chemotherapy and irradiation giving him a 50% chance to make it three years.
Please remember JD in your prayers, too.
Thank you so much for your kind words. When Rich's surgery and treatment started mid-year last year we all had hope, but I did some reading and knew the odds were not good. As you mentioned Dr. Pete in your post, it is just so difficult to catch it early enough as I understand it is for many of the organ cancers.
J.D. will definitely be in my prayers as well.
I am thankful that Jeremy has been doing his charity auction and it provided an opportunity to remember Rich and make a contribution. Rich's charity was also the same, Pancreatic Cancer Research.
Website-Americana Rare Coin Inc
Our family lost one very close friend/neighbor to pancreatic cancer 3 years ago, and I have had the horrible duty of informing 3 dear patients (in 15 years) of their diagnosis. One gentleman lived 6 1/2 years after his diagnosis and surgery (Stage III +nodes, 8 hr Whipple), which is quite the exception. When I gave him his original prognosis, 5% survival at 5 years, he laughed and said, "What, not zero?! I'm that 5%" And never mentioned it again.
Your post is quite moving and I will pray for you and Rich's family.
Peter, prayer said for JD as well.
Sorry I haven't been in touch with both of you in a while.
Don
-Randy Newman
Loosing close friends and family to this cancer with an almost zero survival rate has also affected my family on both sides. As its almost impossible to detect in the earliest stages and the prognosis in the later stages not good - I keep my fingers crossed as well.
My prayers go out to Rich and JD - and to their families.
Thank you, Glenn for being such a strong supporter of Jeremey's auctions.
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Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
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All the best with the auction.
<< <i>My cousin is a remission survivor of PC for better than 3 years now. I hope someday, and how many times do we all repeat the mantra to no avail, that they eradicate this desease from humanity.
All the best with the auction. >>
Cancer is an almost 90% cureable and totally preventable disease. All of these deaths are unnecessary and cancer is big business like war. Killing people for money is how the criminals that run this world do business.
In the 1920's cancer was 1 in 30, now it's 1 in 2!!!! Doctors are now taught that dying from cancer is normal while in some third world countries, cancer death is almost unknown.
The Science and Politics of Cancer A discourse by G. Edward Griffin
Bob Dacy interviews lady cured of 'terminal' cancer after B-17 treatment
My blood boils that people are being murdered and they don't even know it. And bald kids dying from cancer is NOT NORMAL!
Just watch the video and do your research. Quit letting them kill you with cancer!
Rob
<< <i>Thank you everyone for the kind words and thanks Yaha for the prayer. My thoughts and prayers with you as well. >>
My friend, we need more than prayers, we need EDUCATION and critical thinking. Watch the videos I posted above. You should be angry as all get go when you find out the truth, if you are brave enough to engage the truth.
Don't just trust your doctors, do your research please and look at all things with an open mind.
Rob