Monday, October 28, 2013

Sam LiBassi

Many of you know Sam LiBassi, but for those who don't, here's an introduction.  Although his family lives here in Cleveland, he moved to Chicago where he worked as an engineer for Parker Hannifin.  Sam was battling Ewing's Sarcoma; his relapse resulted in a BMT two weeks before mine.  Sam passed away last Thursday (24th) night, at the age of 25.  
My family has known him for the last 12 years and we are very sad to loose him, though we are so grateful he is not in pain anymore.  He was a very kind and caring individual, who made an impact in the lives of all that he met, and he will be greatly missed.  Please keep his family and wife Betty in your prayers. 
This beautiful obituary gives a brief overview of his life.
http://symondsfuneralhome.com/samuel-wymer-libassi/

The funeral and burial are being held in Chicago tomorrow and Wednesday.  On Saturday, there will be a memorial service for him in Cleveland.  Here is the information:

Please support him by wearing green in his honor.
Contribute to Imerman Angels in lieu of flowerswww.imermanangels.org

Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Viewing 4-9 pm at:
Seguin & Symonds Funeral Home
858 Sheridan Road
Highwood, IL 60040
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Funeral 10 am
Cemetery - Ascension (after funeral)
Lunch after Cemetery
All at:
Lake County Baptist Church
1550 W. Yorkhouse Road
Waukegan, IL
847-623-7600

Saturday November 2, 2013
Memorial Service Cleveland
Receiving starts at 1:00 pm
Memorial Service starts at 2:01 pm; approximately one hour in length
Receiving friends to continue after Service until 5:00 pm
at:
Cleveland Baptist Church
4431 Tiedeman Road
Brooklyn, OH
Christina, Sam, Betty
Both girls shaved their heads to support him



Sam with all his siblings at his wedding ~ September 2013
(Christina, Paul, Sam, Elizabeth)

Sam and Betty's Engagement Picture ~ Christmas 2012
All of us kids with Sam, in September 2012

Dad, John and Sam ~ July 2012

Thursday, October 17, 2013

More fun stuff from the PICU!

Here are just a few other moments in the PICU...but this first picture is in oncology.  For those of you who have entered the oncology ward, there are colored handprints all along the walls.  Those are the handprints of those who have completed their journey, and are done as they leave the ward.  I really looked forward to putting my handprint up there one day, but because I was discharged from Seidman Cancer Center, I never got the opportunity.  After my PICU stay and my one night in oncology, I signed my print as a signal that my cancer journey is over! Mine is the bright purple one directly above my head!! 

With Lisa in PICU

Poster (by Rachel) and a birthday card from coworkers

With April! 


Live Long and Prosper!

While I was in the PICU, I spent some time with Michelle, the lovely art therapist at Rainbow.  We were able to do a lot of fun things together...one of which was making plaster cast.

First we are mixing plaster in a bucket...


All set to make a mold!

Waiting for the mold to harden

Now we're pouring the plaster!

To be added one of these days...A picture of the final product!!
Thank you Michelle! 

Hello All!

I haven't blogged in a while because life has been rather busy, but I wanted to give everyone a quick update on what's been happening! I am back in school and greatly enjoying it.  I do get pretty tired, and the work is intense, but I wouldn't be anywhere else.  My professors are wonderful, and very gracious when it comes to accommodating my oncology (and pulmonology, and endocrinology, and all the others...) appointments.
I was also able to join the UA Symphony Orchestra, as a violinist, and I'm really enjoying it! Music played such a therapeutic role in both my cancers, and I'm so blessed to be able to be involved again. I'm also excited to be playing with my first orchestra ever!
I've also enjoyed being with all my wonderful friends again, and enjoying all the new friends I've made.  From going to events and getting free stuff, to helping each other with physics homework, to playing in the orchestra, to trying to figure out calculus problems at 10:30 p.m., to planning service events, to encouraging and teasing each other...I'm so glad to be back with all of them!
So far (medically) my counts seem to be doing alright.  However, since I'm just finishing up the final medications from my pneumonitis situation, my October counts will be the accurate set we can go by.  I just had a CT of my lungs today, and next week I'll be getting a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) and seeing my pulmonologist again.

Thank you for your continued prayers!