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MESSAGE BOARD Archive December 2003

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Monday, December 29, 2003 -- 19:28:00 (EST)
Name: Hoetker Family -- Email: nhoetker@mac.com
Location: Champaign, IL USA

Hi all!

Just dropping you a line to let you know that even though we don't write often we think of you all the time and check the website daily for updates. Andrew and Nicole ask after Simon and we're all hoping for continued good outcomes in the new year.

Missing you,
Nancy, Glenn, Andrew & Nicole

Monday, December 29, 2003 -- 03:09:41 (EST)
Name: Betsy -- Email: sundholm@umich.edu
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Hello Mary!
Out of the blue you popped into my head, and I decided to check in on the website to see how things are going. I see you've moved! I read much, but not all, of the "What's Happening" archives from the last few months. I'm amazed by your family's strength and especially by Simon's maturity. One other thing stood out--your recounting of the surgery last July. It was insightful and touching. I'm not joking--you should submit that story to some magazines! I hope that everything goes very well for Simon in upcoming months. I'm considering a trip to Utah for Spring Break, to volunteer at an Animal Sanctuary in Kanab called "Best Friends." If I am able to make that happen, and if it's anywhere near you, perhaps we can meet for coffee and I can help out your family for a few hours. Happy Holidays!

Sunday, December 28, 2003 -- 16:48:17 (EST)
Name: Deborah Dobson Kage -- Email: kage@icw.com
Location: slc, ut

Hey Simon-I talked to your parents in church today and wanted them and you to check out this website-www.iatclinic.com. It comes highly recommended.
Also I have some good lotion for your dry skin if you'd like to give it a try. My number is 322-0634. Sending lots of good wishes-hope you're enjoying the snow. bye, Deborah

Wednesday, December 24, 2003 -- 10:17:47 (EST)
Name: Gerda Faulhammer -- Email: kurt.faulhammer@aon.at
Location: Vienna, Austria

Lieber Simon, liebe Familie Vodosek-Craig!
Heute am Heiligen Abend haben wir uns sämtliche Fortschritts-Bilder von Simon angesehen und freuen uns, dass es aufwärts geht! Von Irmgard (Deiner Omi) haben wir erfahren, dass Dir das Schule-Gehen Spaß macht. So viele Kinder gibt es gar nicht, die das auch so empfinden. Vielen ist sie eher eine Last. Mach weiter so, Du lieber Groß-Grpß-Cousin-Neffe - oder was immer Du zu mir bist!
Auf alle Fälle wünschen wir Dir hier aus Wien erst einmal ein schönes Weihnachtsfest und für das kommende Jahr, dass alle Deine Wünsche in Erfüllung gehen mögen. Diese Wünsche gelten natürlich auch für Dein Schwesterchen und Deine Eltern.
Alles Gute für Euch alle von Tante Gerda und Onkel Kurti aus Wien!

Monday, December 22, 2003 -- 14:20:52 (EST)
Name: The Burger Family
Location: Ithaca, NY

Hi Guys,
Just wanted to get a note off to let you know we're still here with you sending positive vibes, prayers, and general healthy thoughts your way. We're dealing with flu symptoms as I write this, so our holiday cards may be non-existent this year. Wishing you all the best!
much love,
Liza, Mike, Jolan and Jenna

Sunday, December 21, 2003 -- 20:32:17 (EST)
Name: Kris Hopkins -- Email: khopkins@mail.colgate.edu
Location: Clinton, NY

I'm so sorry to hear about that flu thing! Yuck. But perhaps you had your 4-5 days of it and now will be done for all the rest of the flu season -- let's hope so!

We're knocking on wood right and left at our house -- so far we've avoided pretty much every bug that's made its way through the school system. Frankly, if we can just get through Christmas intact, I'd even take a few sniffles after that -- but it's no fun to be sick *during* the holidays, so we're trying really hard to avoid that (taking our multi-vitamins, guzzling orange juice by the gallon, sucking extra vitamin-C lozenges, drinking lots of water -- anything we can think of to keep the bugs at bay! ;-).

Hope you have a super holiday season, with just enough snow to call it a White Chritmas, but not so much that travel gets tricky.

And we'll hope that in the New Year there will be some good treatment options and new information to take advantage of!

Lots of warm, healthy wishes wafting over the winds to *all* of you! Love,

Kris, Rob, Emily, Danny, and Laura

Friday, December 19, 2003 -- 17:35:52 (EST)
Name: Marta, Paul & Sam -- Email: manildi@millercanfield.com
Location: Ann Arbor,

Merry Christmas to All! We were sorry to read about your bouts with the nasty flu. It sounds like the possibilities for Simon's treatment are serious and pose difficult choices, as well as hope. We imagine that Simon feels the love and care that go into these decisions (even when he's not thinking about it) as a kind of hammock, holding him up and rocking him and taking care of him. And we hope that all the more far-away thoughts and wishes such, which can't be touched but which are real, help too. We send ours to you during this holiday season, and always.

Best,
Marta, Paul & Sam

Friday, December 19, 2003 -- 07:22:10 (EST)
Name: Laura Taylor -- Email: ljtaylor@umich.edu

Dear Mary,
Wishing you and yours a bright and happy holiday season. Your in my thoughts and prayers! Still doing ceremony for Simon and the rest of your family. Laura

Friday, December 19, 2003 -- 04:33:14 (EST)
Name: Lee Williams

Hope the flu is gone and that the holidays will be a good time. Going to Logan's sing at Friends School this afternoon and a carol singing party this evening with Lucy's family too. Think of you often and wishing good things for you. Love, Lee

Thursday, December 18, 2003 -- 16:45:29 (EST)
Name: Lawrie, Curt, Madi and Lexi
Location: Seattle, WA

Hi Simon and Miriam,
We love you guys and miss you and we hope you have lots of fun for the holidays. A wish for the holidays "Be gone Cancer. . . be gone for good!"

Mary and Marcus,
We love and miss you too. We are struck by all that you know and by all that you research and learn about Simon's cancer, treatments, implications, effects etc. --all the choices (or lack of choices)and decision making you are faced with every step of the way. We can't really imagine what that is like --we just imagine it to be hard. Please know that we are with you in spirit as you face and figure out what the next steps/plans are for the moment, day, week, month, future.

love you guys,

Lawrie, Curt, Madi and Lexi

Wednesday, December 17, 2003 -- 08:14:51 (EST)
Name: Gari Stein

Hello everybody, hoping the flu bug has flown far away from you home by now. I just returned from NYC visiting my son and enjoying walks in the snow. Soon my new CD's will be done and I send them off to you. I am wishing you all a happy-healthy-peaceful holiday season and a brilliant new year. As always I am holding you in my thoughts and prayers. Much love and hugs, Gari

Wednesday, December 17, 2003 -- 08:13:20 (EST)
Name: Gari Stein

Hello everybody, hoping the flu has gone bye-bye for good. I just got back from NYC visiting my son and enjoying walks in the snow. My new CD's will be done soon and I will send them off to you. I am thinking of you always and wishing you a happy-healthy-peaceful holiday season and brilliant new year. I miss you and and hold you in my prayers always. Much love and hugs, Gari

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 -- 21:01:40 (EST)
Name: Code_Blue_Dreamchaser -- Email: las071@yahoo.com

Hey buddy. Just wanted to let you know that I was thinking about you. I hope that you get well enough to enjoy Christmas. Lots of hugs.

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 -- 11:10:02 (EST)
Name: Emma Mason -- Email: emason139@oberlin.net
Location: Oberlin, Oh USA

Dear Vodosek Family,
We continue to hold you and Simon in our prayers. We wish you a happy holiday season and a New Year filled with new therapies and much improved health for Simon. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers daily!

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 -- 10:11:23 (EST)
Name: Rebecca Cross -- Email: rebecc37cross@hotmail.com
Location: Oberlin, OH

Hi Simon!

We're sending you hopes for higher platelets AND our complete sympathy for your family flu problems. Emma, Schuyler & Randy all had it last week. (I got to be their nurse!) I wonder if you guys watched as many videos as we did ?;- )

Schuyler's gamma is visiting through Christmas; I think she plans on seeing your Gran while she's here. We sure missed you around Thanksgiving (thanks for the lovely card), and wish we could see you at Christmas. Something's just missing when you guys aren't around to enjoy the early snowfall with us. Have you been sledding, snowball fighting, or snowfort building? The kids & I took a long walk the other night and enjoyed all the Christmas lights and the quiet magic of the snow. Emma and I even made snow angels. (Schuyler was much more interested in using our backs for snowball target practice!)

Are your stockings hung? And how big is your Christmas tree this year? We couldn't decide WHERE to put ours, so we're planning on getting two smaller trees. Hmm. I wonder if that means Ems & Schuyler will be expecting more presents!

We send you all lots of love, hugs and Christmas cheer!

toodle-oo,

Rebecca & crew

Thursday, December 11, 2003 -- 19:27:17 (EST)
Name: Chanda & Jake -- Email: courtneychanda@yahoo.com
Location: Charlotte, NC US of A

Stopping by and checking in. Hoping you all are well.

Thursday, December 11, 2003 -- 14:51:04 (EST)
Name: Helen Standing -- Email: helen.standing@dial.pipex.com
Location: West Sussex, West Sussex England

Hi, My daughter Katie was diagnosed with leukaemia in feb 2001 and completed treatment this year. She was diagnosed with ITP also in Jun 2002. If you want any more information get in touch. In a nutshell we continued with cancer treatment ignoring the platelet count only basing the dosage on the neutrophile count. We have a good consultant who is an oncologist and a haematologist so we were lucky. Every child is different, however I would be more than happy to discuss things with you. Our consultant kept saying that he had never had a case of cancer and ITP before but perhaps we can help you

Yours sincerely

Helen Standing
PS I dont look at E-mail every day so if you reply I appologise for keeping you waiiting

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 -- 15:29:42 (EST)
Name: Gloria
Location: , Indiana

Hello to all of you. While checking the ITP site I happened on your post about Simon. My son who is now 26 was diagnosed with ITP at age 18. Thank God he does not have cancer, but we have been through some rough times, though he is now a college graduate and doing beautifully. We lived for 10 years in Brighton, Mi. and our children were at Mott's more times than we care to remember for various things! We spent a lot of time in Ann Arbor also; in fact our son was born there. Hopefully Simon will go into remission and eventually recover. He is an adorable child (I checked out the pictures). We wish God's blessings on Simon and your family.

Tuesday, December 09, 2003 -- 15:35:46 (EST)
Name: Jamie Hine -- Email: jhine@umich.edu
Location: ann arbor, michigan usa

Hi Simon from Ann Arbor! Carla and I miss both you and Miriam very much. We thought of you the other day when we walked by the art museum and climbed on the outdoor sculpture. It's not as fun without you. I am too tall to hide and too big to climb. We do not have any snow yet but we are hoping that you will send us some from Utah! Say hello to your sister and know that we love you very much! Get well soon : )

Monday, December 08, 2003 -- 19:08:56 (EST)
Name: Kyla Boyse -- Email: kylaboyse@comcast.net
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Hi Simon, Miriam, Mary and Markus!

We want to let you know we are keeping track of you on your website, and you remain in our thoughts and prayers every day. Simon, Victor wants to tell you that he was a Charizard for Halloween. I think Charizards are a kind of dragon. He had flashing red lights on his tail to look like fire. Do you still like Pokemon? Victor is saving up to buy the Rock Garden deck. We miss you guys!

Much Love, from Kyla, Scott, Victor and Alita

Monday, December 08, 2003 -- 16:16:50 (EST)
Name: amy -- Email: asheon@umich.edu
Location: ann arbor, mi

Mary, Markus, Simon and Miriam--
I'm voting for door number three--spontaneous remission that's not exactly spontaneous but results from the energy generated by the collective good wishes from your many friends and loved ones....and perhaps continued action from the many treatments you've undertaken. Wishing all well...

Saturday, December 06, 2003 -- 19:33:12 (EST)
Name: scott
Location: West Jordan, Utah United States of America

Good luck Simon. Your father is one of my professors. Cancer is difficult to overcome, my father has been battling it for a year. I hope you get well soon.

sincerely
Scott

Thursday, December 04, 2003 -- 10:48:24 (EST)
Name: Gari Stein

Hello everyone, sounds like you had a great thanksgiving...me too...had my whole family with lots of little ones...and cooked and cooked and cooked...I wonder what christmas will be like in Utah....sending you mylove always and always including you in my prayers...big hugs to all. G

Wednesday, December 03, 2003 -- 00:27:07 (EST)
Name: Sally
Location: Seattle,

Hi all! We missed you in Oberlin over Thanksgiving and lots of people asked about you. You have so many folks wishing you well, sending love, good thoughts, hopes and prayers. I saw your grandparents and Aunt Julie. Sounds like you had a good time in Salt Lake City for Thanksgiving. Hope you're feeling well this week. Lots of love, Sally

Monday, December 01, 2003 -- 01:12:03 (EST)
Name: Lee Gilbert -- Email: gilbertly@aol.com
Location: Columbus, OH USA

Hi Simon,

I am an old friend of your mom's and your Aunt Julie. I saw your Aunt over the weekend and she told me quite a bit about you.

I wanted to let you know that I'm out here praying for you, and your family. Please tell your mom that Lee Gilbert sends her love, hopes and prayers.

Monday, December 01, 2003 -- 01:11:58 (EST)
Name: Lee Gilbert -- Email: gilbertly@aol.com
Location: Columbus, OH USA