I am a long-time 'lurker' here and have posted a few times. I wanted to let you all know how much I appreciate the knowledge, encouragement, and advice shared on this board.
My sweet Heather passed away on Saturday, Nov. 9 at the young age of 33. She was a beautiful redhead, we were married in July 2012, and she was given the stage IV diagnosis 6 weeks later. She was most recently on the Merck PD-1 trial and scheduled to go in for her 12-week scans yesterday at Vanderbilt. Obviously the treatment didn't work on her, and I just think she was too far along for it to help her very much. Though she had met the inclusion criteria to get in, her little body was weak and just slowly gave out. We didn't expect to lose her anytime soon, but I am comforted that I was holding her, at home, and she was not in pain.
She had been in treatment since October 2012 and had mets in the abdomen, liver, spleen, bone, and brain. The abdominal/pelvic tumors were causing a lot of pain and digestive problems, but we got the pain under control for her last couple of days with stronger meds. I am so proud of her, she never complained or got angry with her situation, even while doing IL-2, IPI, SRS, carbo-taxol, whole brain radiation, and finally anti-PD-1. She loved the Lord, and I'm comforted knowing that she has a new body in heaven and no longer suffering.
A month before she passed, she helped raise over $22,000 for melanoma research and awareness. She wanted to be healed so badly so she could devote her life to helping and encouraging others facing a grim diagnosis. I think she had 600 people at her memorial service this week and equally as many at the visitation. My heart goes out to all who are fighting this awful disease and their family & caregivers.
Bless you all,
Steve
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