You'll be happy to know Chelsea and her mother, Trina, have moved into the Ronald McDonald House, which is only a few blocks from St. Jude's, where Chelsea is being treated for her leukemia. Now that they are in a safer environment, Keith has been able to return home to take care of the other two children and go back to work. It's a ten-hour drive to St. Jude's from home, so life will be difficult for the next two years. I haven't spoken to Trina yet, although I will later today, but Keith passes on their gratitude for all your good wishes, prayers, cards and gifts. Either Gene or I will have more information after we talk to Trina at Mickey D's House.

The new address is:

Trina or Chelsea Gosling, Room 29, Ronald McDonald House, 535 Alabama Avenue, Memphis, TN 38105.

For more information, see the earlier thread:

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=002DDT

-- Gene and Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), January 10, 2000

Answers

Gene & OG,

Good morning and thanks for the update! Please let us know if there's anything specific that the family needs now.

Prayers on the way...

Deb

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), January 10, 2000.

Thanks Gene & Old Git! It is heartwarming to see how much this Forum has been able to reach out and help each other. Angel stars for your perseverance on this.

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), January 10, 2000.

God bless 'em...

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), January 10, 2000.

Please let Chelsea & Trina know about lactoferrin, a safe, cheap, natural immune booster that has been used to treat leukemia with great sucess. Regards, Greg

-- Greg Donovan (GregD49@Aol.com), January 11, 2000.

Trina called a little while ago to say a warm thank-you for the food basket, games and cards you've sent. (You know who you are!) Trina, Chelsea and Corrine (the three-year old; the eight-year old is home with Dad) have settled in at the Ronald MacDonald House and find it so much more comfortable than the hotel. There are 50 families at the house and all pitch in on the chores and there are six commercial-type kitchens where residents prepare their own food. St. Jude's gives the families a weekly grocery voucher and the Friends of St. Jude's keep the pantry fully-stocked.

Chelsea misses her cat, Mindy, and can't wait to see her when she goes back home in about a month--but she does miss Dad more! Trina, of course, misses the other half of her family and all the animals and growing things. There is nothing for her to nurture, she says, and she can't buy plants because they will simply have to be taken home when they leave at the end of next month.

Chelsea is lucky to have someone who is considered the world's best leukemia specialist treating her, Dr. Pui. After this initial session, she will have to return to Memphis approximately one month out of every three for treatment (along with Mom and Corinne, of course). Chelsea was lucky too because her family doctor made an early diagnosis and so she has few of the complications of leukemia (organ damage).

Trina is so thankful that the disease was caught very early, that no effort is spared by St. Jude's to help the families, and that Chelsea is taking the chemo with such dignity and good spirits. Understandably, the two girls are bored because there are no animals to take care of and city life is so different to their life on the farm.

Trina stressed she is not asking anyone for anything and so I explained this is all purely selfish to make US feel better, never mind about Chelsea! We feel guilty to be enjoying good health in ourselves and our children and it makes us feel good to send cards and games for Chelsea. Hence, she is doing us a great favor by allowing us to send stuff. In that case, she said, how could she not agree?

What a neat family! Chelsea loves the cards from her Mom's friends, please don't stop sending them.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), January 11, 2000.

To the top for those who missed this posting last night.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), January 12, 2000.

Thanks, OG!

-- T the C (jayles@telusplanet.net), January 12, 2000.

to the top.

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), January 14, 2000.

up again.

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), January 16, 2000.

To the top once again...

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), January 21, 2000.