Pink Ribbons Galore!

Boyoboyoboy, does my kid have fabulous friends! Take a look at some of the lover-ly and thoughtful things she's received! And we've concluded that if a gal MUST have breast cancer, October is certainly the month to have surgery. A plethora of pink-ribbon items bedeck the many stores about!

Hence:

Good friends at the LDS Conference Center where Gretchen volunteers and gives guided tours on Thursday evenings by the name of Denny and Francine Beecher sent her this wonderful hand-made quilt. Hard to tell from the photo, but the pink side is all pink ribbons with words like love, play, smile, peace, faith, etc throughout the spaces between the ribbons. We just cried when we opened the box.


The matching bracelets are from our great friend in Oregon, Chris Low. They're matching promise bracelets -- one for me, one for the Gretch..


And would you believe a Halloween costume??? It's a handmade super-hero cape! Gretchen's good friends in her old ward, Pat Ogden, and Carri Hulet came by today. Gretchen's new name: "Super Gretch!"


Your continued prayers, cards, thoughtful meals, treats, and fun fun gifts are greatly appreciated by all of us in this household!

(I apologize for including the photo of Miss Polly, the newest member of our family. She was a gift to me from Birthday Claus last week. She's adorable. Alan stuck his "I voted" sticker on her forehead. Non-dog lovers, please ignore this one!)

2nd Surgery is a GO

Hi all,
I just had a very good discussion/visit with my radiation oncologist, Dr. Gaffney, and after talking with him, have made the decision to go ahead with the second excision on Monday, Nov. 3rd. After reciting statistics and studies about the efficacy of doing a second surgery when the surgeon knows exactly where to target the surgery, in addition to my young age and positive margins, it only makes sense to do everything possible to make sure that we get every cancer cell out.

The program will be as follows:
1) Nov 3rd, second excision
2) Chemotherapy which will take approx 24 weeks to complete (though this could change as I haven't yet met with Dr. Buys, who will be my medical oncologist.) I hope to start this approx. 3 weeks post-op.
3) Begin/Continue expansion via the tissue expanders throughout Chemo treatment.
4) After expansion is complete, radiation therapy for 5 weeks, every day. M-F for 10 mins each day.
5) Reconstruction surgeries....

So, though this isn't my favorite news to share, I think it is the wisest choice to make given that my goal is to live another 50 years at least---without seeing another cancer cell ever :)

As for the family fast, if you would like to participate, we will hold it on this coming Sunday, Nov 2. As I have already made the decision to go ahead with the surgery, the purpose will be focused on a successful surgery and quick recovery.

Continued thanks for all your support and love, your strength is my strength. Love, gf

The Good, The Bad and The Confusing

Hi all,
Today is the day that we have all been waiting for as to further news on a treatment plan. I can best summarize it into the three categories: the Good, the Bad and the Confusing.

The Good--I saw my surgeon on Monday afternoon, and he said that the incisions look great and that I am healing really well. Additionally, I am feeling better and stronger each day, and am approaching real person-hood again.

The Bad--On the same day, he also informed me that he thought I would need to have further surgery on the right side, as the margins were bad. What that means is that when they remove a tumor, they like to have a 2 millimeter margin of healthy, non-cancerous tissue on the margins of the tumor, which insures that they got it all. When the path repport came back with my results however, it showed that they had less than a 1 mm margin, as the tumor was so large. His suggestion therefore, was to do a second surgery to take more tissue/skin from the right breast. I refrained from mentioning this on Monday, as he wanted to see what the cancer board had to say about it as well. He also promised to represent my wish to not have to have radiation if at all possible to the board, which he did. I figured once I got the definitive recommendations today, I would post the results.


The Confusing-- After talking with the surgeon, Dr. Nelson this morning following the board meeting, he said that everyone agreed that I needed radiation, and that they thought I should have surgery as well. When I questioned him about whether or not I could get away with just radiation and skip the surgery or whether the radiation would be less if I were to do surgery in addition, he wasn't able to answer me. He said I needed to talk to the radiation oncologist, Dr. Gaffney, to get those specific questions answered. After spending a fair amount of time on the phone trying to convince his assistant to have him just talk to me on the phone about it (after all, he was in the board meeting that morning and familiar with my case) she was successful in her gatekeeping role in refusing my request to chat with him on the phone for the consultation, and I ended up making an apt. with him for Tuesday morning. In addition, I am trying to schedule with the medical oncologist, Dr. Buys, and am having a little struggle with her schedule.

All this to say, I feel like I have talked with more people, but that I have not really gotten more information. I hope though, that after meeting with Dr. Gaffney, I will have enough data to make an informed decision. My approach to this entire process has been to be as agressive as I need to be so that I never see another cancer cell in my body again. Dr. Nelson described having surgery and radiation as having a belt and suspenders too. So, if that means that I need more surgery, then I will do that. On the other hand, when you are a surgeon, you are a hammer and every case looks like a giant nail, so I think to get a more complete picture, I must first talk with Dr. Gaffney. However, I have a surgery date for Monday, Nov 3rd at Huntsman for this second excision if I decide to go that route.

So, it looks like we continue to wait again, at least until Tuesday for the information that I need. At that point, I hope to have all the possible data I can gather, and those added to prayer and fasting will be how I make the decision. We will be holding a family fast, and would invite any of you who would like to participate in that to do so. I will post more on the timing and purpose of fasting as we determine a good date.

Thanks to you all for your love, your prayers, your good thoughts, your calls, your cards, your flowers, your food, your service and your interest in my well-being. You cannot know how much I rely on you, and thank God everyday for your support. My heart is indeed full of gratitude for you. Much love to you all. gf

The Last Rose of Summer . . .

. . . not the the GIRL, Silly People, the FLOWER!

Our patient was able to get up and out to Walmart yesterday! She splurged on a mani-n-pedicure. (Notice the cute pink ribbon on four of her nails!)

Gretchen walks every day (sometimes twice) to the end of our street, Sandalwood, and makes a point of smelling and admiring the most incredibly fragrant very last rose of summer. The bush is in the front yard of the "other" Petersens' (even spelled the same) on our street. Have you seen it, fellow Sandalwoodites? Go take a sniff! She even attempted one of her famous jumping pictures (that's a fake jump, of course. Laurie, we'd love to know the variety of that rose.)

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part II of our visit to her surgeon on Monday. She's waiting for a phone call in the ayem and then we'll post the latest news.

Take care,
Linda the Mom
sixfootredhead@gmail.com

Monday Ayem

Our patient is making slow but sure progress . . .

Friday night good buddy Aaron came and we followed our weekly tradition of soup and the Amazing Race. We four have been big fans for the past several seasons. We just record the show and watch it during the week when Aaron is available. (Any fans out there? Do you like siblings Nick and Starr this season?)

Unfortunately, Saturday was a down day for the Gretch. In bed all day, not even rising to shower. She did venture forth to the back yard where Alan was planting a new batch of perrenials to say hello and cheer him on, however.

But yesterday!

Gretchen was determined to attend church, so I got her dressed and off we went to her own church in Draper, twenty minutes away, rather than ours, just down the street. She felt at home there, but she lasted only about 45 minutes. So we came home and she had a nice long nap.

Last evening brought a very special event: Friends Matt and Summer Beecher came and brought supper! Yum! If I can get their recipe for Harvest Stew with Dumplings, I'll post it here. It was absolutely fabulous, topped off with their pumpkin cookies with chocolate chips. Even MORE fabulous, however, was the caring and beautiful spirit they brought into our home. I almost tied them to the sofa -- so reluctant were we to let them out the door when the time came.

Gretchen is using her left arm for many things. She can now raise it to shoulder level. She's surprised to find herself a fairly good "south paw" and eats left-handed. She can't shower and dress herself yet, but she gets herself to a rising position on her own about half the time.

Her right arm -- a lot of the tissue from the armpit gone and still healing -- is still pretty much glued to her side.

Her beautiful hair is strictly at our mercy. (Alan blow-dried it once when we were in a pinch for time -- hilarious "do" that day!) I never complain about her very particular way of drying and styling it -- all those products to keep it shiny and wavy! The last time I styled my daughter's hair it was in puppy-tails at the age of three. I know it won't be long before it's all gone. But only for a season . . .

Has she told you what her plans are when/if her hair begins to fall out? After the first strand lets go, it's off to the barber to shave her head. And no wigs, she tells me! She plans to go "au natural" except for scarves and hats to keep her head warm. She may get lucky and receive the kind of chemo that lets her keep her hair. Stay tuned . . . you'll be the first to know!

We're off to her surgeon this afternoon for her first check-up. I'll let you know what he has to say.

Meanwhile, please know we're feeling your prayers and good thoughts. This very special young woman always has a serene smile on her face and good and positive things to say to us and about others. (No different than she's always been!)

Love and much gratitude to you all,
Linda the Mom

Postponed

I got a call from the Dr's office today with some dissapointing news...the cancer board decided not to meet today because there are so many of them out on vacation...it is fall break time around here for schools, so that may be the reason. Anyway, that means information on a treatment plan will be delayed for another week. Though this is somewhat annoying, it doesn't affect my schedule, as they would wait the 3-4 weeks post surgery anyway until I am healed up enough to start treatment. I did ask if I could request Dr. Sondra Buys as my oncologist, and she said that it would be no problem. So that is some nice news...she has been recommended to me by a handful of people as a wonderful dr. I will keep you all posted as I know. Today bodes well as another good day. Thanks to you all for your wonderful prayers and good thoughts. Love to you all. gf

Tumor Board Meets Today . . .

. . . we'll have results of their decision on how to treat our patient late this ayem. Will post results before bedtime . . . thank you ALL for your concerns . . .

Linda the Mom

Well, We Always Suspected That Gretchen Fegel Was a Druggie, Didn't We?

My step-son Andrew, who's a physician, told us years ago: "All drugs are poison with a few good side effects." I think about that often -- and he's right!

I would be happy to report that all is well and our patient is making steady progress. Actually, all IS well -- it's just that we wish she could be pain-FREE in the process! We'll eventually get this drug-thingie figured out. We suspect there's a long drug road ahead with chemo and all . . .

Monday my cousin in Alpine came and dropped off a marvelous bag of goodies which we were reveling in when, toward the end, Gretchie-Poo suddenly had to depart for bed. She tires instantly and regrettably. We hope dear cousin Julianne wasn't offended!

Yesterday was a day of pain trial. She's now at that point where the pain is reducing on its own, but the "big guns" are still needed and the question is, just how many? Too many give her headache, nausea, and dizziness. Too few mean big pain. For the first time yesterday she skipped a daily shower but she insisted on taking two walks -- morning and early afternoon. No visitors yesterday and that was good. She seems to alternate between vim-and-vigor days and just-let-me-lie-here-and-grit-my-teeth days. Poor girl.

Yesterday late afternoon and on in to the evening we three sat in the living room listening to the audio-book, Peter and the Star Catchers. Are you familiar with it? It's three volumes -- the prequel to Peter Pan -- how he actually BECAME the Peter Pan we all love. The patient and I always manage to doze from time to time as we listen to books, and have to keep backing up to keep up with the story. Patient Alan, who's a night owl, not an early bird like we two, has heard the entire Disk Four of Volume Two several times now. After the fourth re-wind, he finally got disgusted and went downstairs to watch the news! Gretchen wanted no supper and just lay on the sofa with a bowl handy because she felt so nauseated. She finally opted for cream of mushroom soup and beddie-bye at ten. (With some important details of Peter's first visit to London missing.)

We're expecting a visit from another Alpine cousin today and she's looking forward to showering -- we promise! -- and a good breakfast. We agreed during our early ayem drug visit (see? I told you she deals -- with her mother no less!) that we need to post a few pictures to make this blog more interesting. We need to choose some subjects: Walking? Maybe. Smelling her lovely flowers? Yes! Opening get-well cards? Fun! Showering? No! Downing those drugs? Probably not. Scars? DEFINITELY not! Modeling her new pink ribbon outfit? FER SHURE!

Stand by for pix! (My knowledge of getting pictures from the camera to the blog would be taking the photo, holding the camera in front of the monitor and smashing it in, hoping the photo and the blog site will collide somewhere in cyber-space. I'm sure there's a more technical and successful process. Be assured that "Techie Princess" will set me straight long before I destroy this monitor!)

Gretchen feels bad that she has go keep her phone off most of the time so she can rest. She absolutely LOVES talking to all you wonderful well-wishers. She's so thrilled that so many care. Last evening she tried to return some calls, but the nausea took over and she gave up. I'm sure today will be a better day and she'll return all the calls she's received in the past couple of days. Don't give up on her!

My apologies to my darling dodder for posting this prior to her editing it. She says she likes to edit because I tend to be a little dramatic.

Wherever do you suppose she gets such outlandish opinions?

With my love and great appreciation to you all. You obviously care for this young woman very much,
Linda

PS -- Gretchen has a supply of thank-you notes she intends to write and mail. She especially loves Sid's "lemon crack", Mary's wonderful cabin photos, Julianne and Auntie Jewel's amazing goodies, and Celeste's stylish hat to wear during her future "bald days" (I must admit I shed a few tears when I saw that one.) Oh, and all the flowers! (Eric, your little pinkies arrived and are thriving.) You will receive the notes -- just not immediately . . .

Alan Petersen -- Drug Dealer!

Saturday was a hilarious day -- well, "hilarious" only if you're NOT Alan Petersen!

So, just WHERE is our patient's mother's BRAIN these days? We took that trip to the plastic surgeon Friday, as Gretchen noted on her last blog. For out-of-staters, the U of U hospital is an hour away from us here in Cedar Hills in GOOD traffic. And yes, I DID know her "big guns" -- oxycodone (cousin to oxycontin, the popular street drug) was very very low. About four left on Friday.

Did I think to take the pill bottle with us?

Did I think to ask the plastic doc to refill the low scrip?

Or did I walk to the surgery clinic down the way and ask her surgeon for a refill?

No-o-o-o-e-e-e-e-. . .

So Friday, when we were done with the doc, she was in a great deal of pain so she asked him for a scrip for TWO "oxies" to get her home. Alan took the scrip to the pharmacy in the hospital -- waiting in line while I got the patient a Sprite for her upset tummy (too many bumps and curves on the ride up). When he presented the scrip, the pharmacist said they didn't carry the dosage the doc ordered so Alan had to go back to the plastics clinic, sign back in, wait for him between pts, and get a new scrip for the correct dosage. Then after waiting in line at the pharmacy AGAIN, there was another snafu! The doc had scratched out the dosage and written in the new one -- a no-no! This time the pharmacist himself came out of his cage and marched down to the doc and got it corrected!

Meanwhile mom 'n' kid are sitting in the waiting room (so aptly named), Sprite bottle long empty and Gretchen really hurting by now. Alan appeared and she gulped her two new precious oxies and we made the trip home with that bed and her special pillow looking mighty inviting.

But that's not all.

No-o-o-o-e-e-e-e . . .

Saturday ayem I showed up in the wee hours at her bedside for her early morning "fix" and looked at the four remaining oxies and realized what a slug I was for not asking for a big refill while we were at the hospital the day before. You see, because oxycodone has such a huge street value, and it's a narcotic, it can only be handwritten and handcarried by the patient (or family member) directly to the pharmacist. No exceptions. I called the hospital surgical resident on call (it was Saturday after all) and begged for an exception. Couldn't he just call it to say, another DOCTOR -- mine, for instance (or his partner on call) -- and have HIM write the scrip? No, he could call it only to an urgent care center and that would involve a trip for Gretchen to Orem and a big fee not covered by her insurance.

Darn!

So off faithful, good step-dad Alan went for the two-hour round trip to the hospital -- TWO days in a row now -- to see the resident and p/u the scrip.

But is that the end of the story?

No-o-o-o-e-e-e-e-. . .

Alan finally got home to our local pharmacy and dropped off the Rx. He then called me and asked if he should pay for it (rather pricey) or should he charge it to an accout somehow? I'd forgotten to give him Gretchen's medical charge cards! Dummy me -- AGAIN! I told him to come home and I'd go back with the cards later and pick up the drugs. Meanwhile, our favorite patient has taken her last "big gun" and clearly will need relief when she wakes up from her afternoon nap. Alan came home, saw that I was involved with some project or other, and volunteered to go back himself. What a dear! I gave him the cards and off he went.

End of story? Hardly!

When he got back to the pharmacy and tried to pick up the pills, the pharmacist called out from the back -- "Sorry sir, the doc forgot to write the date on the scrip -- you'll have to go back to the hospital and get him to write the date in!"

Alan was incredulous, of course. The pharmacy assistant at the window, however, was sympathetic. She whispered out of the side of her mouth, "Just take the darned thing, write the date in yourself and take it to another pharmacy. You can't bring it back here unless you wait two hours because 'Dr Pete' over there will know you wrote it in yourself."

So off our hero went to Walgreen's ten miles away, filling in the date himself, for still ANOTHER wait in line and

viola!

A FILLED prescription! . . .

Home JUST in time for the waking princess/patient to have her much-needed relief from pain. And just who did she have to thank for the relief only a narcotic could bring?

Her forgetful, mush-brained mother?

Hardly!

It was the knight on the white horse in the white hat who saved the day!

Hooray! Kisses and kudos to our drug-dealing hero!

Progress

Just a short note, I hit a milestone today, which is one week post-surgery: I got the two drains which were draining my wounds taken out from under my arms. I visited with the plastic surgeon who, after looking over the numbers we have been dilligently recording on the output, and he proclaimed that they were ready to come out...yeah...this will make showering much easier :)

Two trips to SLC in two days has been a little taxing, so I will look forward to staying home for the next couple of days at least :) I still love seeing dear friends and family though, so if you are in the neighborhood, please feel free to stop on by.

The next bit of news will come on Thursday after the cancer board meets to determine, based on my final path report, the best course of treatment (I am going to try to weasel out of any radiation suggestions...though I will aquiesce if they really push) at which time I will be setting up appointments with oncologists.

All my love to you all, the prayers and good thoughts and positive energy are really working! I feel very upbeat, and am grateful that the path report was what it was, as it could have been SO much worse. Love, gf

Thursday afternoon -- this is Mom checking in and updating . . .

. . . wow, what a day!

We three started the day with a trip to SL to the church office building. Gretchen's friend, Aaron, was able to arrange a mtg with Elder Denis Neuenschwander of the Seventy. He was her mission president in Hungary and a big fan of hers. He paid her mother the highest compliment a missionary mom can receive -- "Gretchen was the hardest working and greatest missionary I've ever worked with -- and I've worked with a LOT of missionaries -- hard-working and not-so-hard-working." Yes!

Elder N's wife passed away last year of breast cancer, so the disease and its victims are near and dear to her heart. He tried to get to see her in the hospital Sunday but we'd already left. They had a sweet, tearful reunion and he left all four of us (Aaron too) with some amazing words of counsel and hope.

The second big event of the day: the pathology results.

Hm-m-m-m -- about what we expected. The tumor was "multi-centric" throughout. That means there were several tumors about .2- 6 cm in size. The borders were indistinct which means it was a good thing she chose mastectomy over lumpectomy. Dr. Nelson removed 17 nodes and there were two with tumor. In the out-dated way of staging CA, this is a Stage II CA. In the updated way of staging breast cancer she's a T3-N1. The "T" stands for tumor, the "N" stands for node.

And here's a bit of surprise: The left breast was semi-involved. They call it a "busy breast." That means there were calcifications and "suspicious activities" (trying to picture how that ol' flesh could sneak out at night and party on its own!) Dr. Nelson said it was a great choice to have bilateral removal.

Our patient, if she were writing this, would tell you she's doing great and healing well and life is just fun, fun, FUN! (You know Gretchen.) In reality, as her nurse, I see her in a lot of pain, certainly helped by drugs, but struggling. Physically, but not emotionally. Elder N referred to her optimistic character often and said it would see her through this huge challenge.

What's next?

Chemo/hormone and possibly (darn!) radiation therapy. No word on that until she meets with the oncologist and that won't be until she heals from the surgery itself. No appt yet -- we'll keep you updated. Tomorrow is her appt with the plastic surgeon. Dr Agarwal will check the expanders and I HOPE remove the drains, tho I doubt it. A lot of drainage going on still.

Gretchen is just whelmed-over with your emails, both personal and to this blog. Your cards, flowers, notes and phone calls -- plus your prayers -- are keeping her (and us!) afloat. Don't stop!

She'll survive this new enemy and make it her friend -- just like she's done several times in the past. All her physical setbacks had better watch out! Once again, God (and Gretchen Fegel) is in charge here! I just know she'll come out smelling like a rose and healthier than ever.

My thanks and love to you all,
Lindy-Lou

Home and feeling good!

Dearest friends and family,
It has been so heartening to read your kind and dear comments, receive your lovely gifts and cards, and hear your loving voices on the phone. I can't tell you how much your communication to me has meant, and how far it goes in progressing my healing!

I have just woken up for my second day at home, and all is going well. I am thankful for pain drugs and a mother who is always available--even in the early morning to adminster them to me :) I am walking around without much trouble, and have been able to shower, all of which make life nice. They said that I should be feeling pretty well in 2-3 weeks, and at this rate, I would concur with the professionals.

As for what's next...I have an apt. with the plastic surgeon on Friday, as he is the one who is caring for the immediate healing, and will continue to meet with him as we progress down the reconstruction path. The remaining potentially scary bit of news that we are awaiting is the final pathology report, which we hope to get towards the end of the week. This will determine the stage that the cancer was at and consequently which treatments we need to do next. My dearest hope and prayer at this point is that there are no metastasis anywhere in my body, and that the cancer only made it to the lymph nodes, which they have already removed. If you would like to be specific in your prayers, I would love some help with this request. I will let you know as soon as I know what the outcome is.

I have loved your visits and calls, I am sleeping sometimes during the day, but am up and about on walks around the house, and today will venture beyond the backyard. If any of you would like to come and walk about with me, you are more than welcome. My mother and Alan continue to care for me here in their lovely home, and I said a sad goodbye to my dad who is headed home to MI this morning, what a blessing to have had him here throughout the diagnosis, waiting, and surgery phases.

I can't emphasize enough how you have all lifted and supported me...I have felt a strength that I know is from your petitioning to God on my behalf...He has heard your prayers and is answering them every minute. A mere thank you is so inadequate, but it is all I can say to you, please know that it is said with every heart-felt muscle I have. I love you all! gf

Out of Surgery

Gretchen is healing, and welcomes visitors. She let me add this post since she is unable to use her arms at this time. The surgery went well. However a tumor was found in the lymph nodes. Further treatment is to be determined including possible chemotherapy and radiation. She will meet with her oncologist in one week.

Gretchen’s positive attitude is reflective of her deep faith in Christ in whose hands she has placed herself. I was surprised to discover that Gretchen loves visitors, even this close to the surgery. She has a little Bluetooth earpiece, and can accept your calls if whomever is in the room can press the “call accept” button. She says not to worry about waking her, as her caregivers (her Dad when I was there) are taking the calls if she’s sleeping.
She is grateful for all of our prayers, and says our faith is making a difference.
She is scheduled to go home to Alpine tomorrow, but she will miss the super galactic chair/bed that she’s presently enjoying, helping with the effort to get out of bed.

Knowing that everyone wants to know what they can do, I offered a bunch of possibilities, of which she welcomed any and all. A few ideas: Foot rubs, manicures, pedicures, (especially with nail decals. If anyone can find a breast cancer decal, that would rock!) CD music, books on CD, reading books to her; but more than anything, just the connection and support of friends.
You might also be interested to know that she has no dietary restrictions. But she is focused on eating healthily, and wants to learn about a diet that is most supportive of healing cancer.

Gretchen asked me to remind all of us women to get a mammogram. One in eight women get breast cancer; and the highest percentage come to those without a family history of breast cancer.

I know I speak for all in that we love you Gretchen and are pouring out our hearts and faith for you.

The Countdown

Those of you who are viewing this are mostly likely aware of my recent breast cancer diagnosis; I have been diagnosed with two different types, Invasive Lobular Carcinoma and Ductile In-Situ Carcinoma.

While a tumor was found only on the right side, I am electing surgery for both sides, as my particular type is often found bilaterally, and I have decided to be aggressive in preventing this from recurring. Surgery is scheduled for this Friday, Oct 3rd at the University of Utah/Huntsman Cancer Center. I will have two surgeons initally, Dr. Ed Nelson, general surgeon and Dr. Ray Agarwal, plastic surgeon. I will go in early and start with a nuclear med dye to be used during surgery to determine lymph node involvement, and then wait a few hours while it drains into my lymph system. I will then be taken into surgery in the early afternoon. During surgery, they will test lymph nodes and will be able to determine stage and grade of the cancer. This information will determine what type of treatment I will need to go through post surgery, radiation and/or chemo. Following surgery i will be in the hospital for two days, with a release on either Sunday or Monday. I will then continue recuperating at my mom's house in Cedar Hills.

As the day draws neigh, I find myself more and more sober about possible outcomes, but though it is scary and sad I continue to feel peaceful to my core. I have received so many wonderful calls, emails, cards, flowers, and plants from so many dear and loved ones. Prayers, fasting and temple attendence in my behalf have occured, and all of these efforts have made a wonderful difference in how I and others in my family have felt...truly prayer is powerful and such a kinetic force, it preserves me and lifts my spirits from day to day and hour to hour. I expect it to continue to do so in the coming days and months.

I love to hear from you and will update this blog as I get more info. For those of you who have enquired, following are my address and my mom's as well as our phone numbers. My apologies to those to whom I may have given a bad address for my mom, the correct one follows:

Linda and Alan Petersen
4119 W. Sandalwood Dr
Cedar Hills, UT 84062
801-796-7525

Gretchen Fegel
14914 Ox Cart Lane
Draper, UT 84020
214-893-3435

Love to you all, and eternal thanks for your love, concern and prayers. gf