NEW TSHIRT ORDER!

Hey guys! I have decided to make another "Brenda's Believers" t-shirt order. (These are the shirts that people were wearing at her 50th birthday and her benefit at the Fieldhouse.)

The shirts are purple with white text and can be purchased for $10 each and are available in all sizes. (Youth S-L and Adult S-4XL) Pictures of the front, back, and sleeve of the shirt have been posted (above).

If you are interested in purchasing a shirt in support of my mom--please let me know the size(s) and how many you would like. May 31st will be the LAST day that I will accept orders!

**Checks should be made payable to Melissa Hammond and can be sent to:

Melissa Hammond
2630 W. Willow Lake Dr. #512
Peoria, IL 61614

Thank you again for all of your prayers and support for my mom since her cancer diagnosis three years ago. We would have never made it through without all of your help. My family and I could never express how much it has been appreciated.

Melissa

P.S. Originally Josh sent out a message to everyone, but we would appreciate if you would contact myself regarding your order. I can be contacted through Facebook, my email (hammr04@yahoo.com), or by phone (309-657-2340). Thanks again! :)

Update 4/20

For those of you who were Facebook creeping on me already today :) --you know that our trip today didn’t start out well due to the fact that I wasn’t feeling well. (P.S. Im feeling better now) However, we still made it to Chicago on time and we got in and out pretty quickly again this week. Although it is frustrating to drive 6-7 hours to spend 20-30 min at the cancer center, it’s also nice to get the trip over with.

This past week or so has been a rough one for Mom. She has had ZERO energy, no appetite, a lot of pain, and lost 5 pounds this week. (Knowing that I’m “dieting” and running now, Im jealous that she lost weight without doing “anything” but I would rather diet and run everyday than go thru what she is. Shes a trooper!) Mom also found a new “spot” this week in/under her bellybutton when she got bored and was playing with herself. haha That sounds bad! She was playing with her bellybutton. I guess since she is in so much pain she couldn’t reach any further. Hahahahahaha She said it! NOT ME! :) I LOVE YOU MOM!

Anyways, this coming week is going to be a very busy one for our family and myself. Between mowing our GINORMOUS yard at the house that’s for sale, working all weekend, going to STL on Sunday with a friend, my birthday on Monday, Chicago trip on Tuesday, Mom’s surgery on Wednesday, Josh’s show next Thursday and Friday and working all weekend again—I shouldn’t have much time to spare.

P.S. If anyone wants to send me birthday cards with any and/or your favorite recipes, feel free to do so! :) I love mail/cards and my new favorite hobby is cooking so it seems like a perfect gift! :)

Melissa Hammond
2630 W. Willow Lake #512
Peoria, IL 61614

I have also tried to start adding pictures and videos to the group page every once in a while so feel free to check them out every once in a while. Thanks again for all of your continued thoughts and prayers. Each one of them is appreciated!

Love,

Melissa

"For with God, NOTHING shall be impossible"

So today is a very special day for my family...

As many of you already know, we are holding a benefit for my mom tonight at the Fieldhouse Bar & Grill in Peoria to help my mom with medical and travel expenses. However, that is NOT the reason today is such an important day to me and my family.

Today marks my mom surviving 3 years with pancreatic cancer! For those of you who know anything about pancreatic cancer, you understand how much of a miracle this is.

**75% of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first 12 months of prognosis and less than 5% survive longer than 5 years**

She is an amazing fighter and has kicked cancer in the butt these past 3 years! And for those of you who know her well enough, you know shes not leaving us anytime soon! :)

My family owes a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who have continued to pray for her during the last 3 years. We never could have made it through this without you! However, more importantly we owe ALL OF OUR THANKS TO GOD! Without Him, she would not be with us today. He has worked many miracles for her over the past 3 years and we know He has many more to come!

I am looking forward to and hope to see many of you tonight!

WEAR YOUR PURPLE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF MY MOMMA's AWESOME FIGHT AGAINST CANCER!

Love you all,

Melissa

Benefit for Brenda Hammond

Benefit for Brenda Hammond

On February 23, 2007 Brenda was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. As a three year survivor, she is still fighting and undergoing experimental treatments in Chicago. A benefit is being held to assist with medical and travel expenses as she continues her fight.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010
6:00 – 9:00 pm
The Fieldhouse Bar & Grill in Campustown

1200 W. Main St. behind Starbucks

494-9600

**10% of dine-in and carry out sales during the benefit will be donated**

Contact Melissa Hammond at 657-2340 or Molly Hughes at 397-6107 with any questions or more information

Update from Chicago....

First off, thank you for all of your prayers for safe travels. We made it! It took a while (especially when mom drove for a half hour...aka 5 miles...haha). It took us about 5 and a half hours to get here. Once we arrived, I took about an hour nap in the Jeep in the parking deck and froze to death since mom wouldn't let me keep the heat on. :)

We headed into the Cancer Research Center around 730 to get her registered and signed in. Her treatment was supposed to start at 8...but that did NOT happen. They did give us our own private room because of our lovely treacherous trip up and even brought me in an extra reclining chair so I could sleep. :) Love the nurses here.

Her drip finally showed up around 10:30 which lasts 2 hours. Towards the end of the 2 hours Mom got up to go to the bathroom and when she came back, thats when things started heading downhill. She had extremely SEVERE back pains that moved around to her abdomen and up to her chest to her neck and down her arms to her wrists. She said it felt like she was being squeezed to death and suffocating. She experienced shortness of breath and has a bad rash covering her arms and legs. They called the doctors over from the hospital and they gave her EKGs and did some other tests--all which tested okay. However, due to the new unknown side effects she is experiencing, doctors have decided to admit her to the hospital for the night to keep an eye on her and keep her quiet and drugged up. ;)

I will update you on if I get to stay with her or if they are kickin me out for the night and on any new news we receive.

PLEASE KEEP PRAYING!

Thanks,

Melissa

Quick Update!

Hey everybody! Just wanted to send you all a quick message with the new update...

Guess who got accepted to the University of Chicago for a clinical study?!?!

Okay...you guessed it! MY MOMMA!!!!

Basically what this means is that she will start a new type of treatment in Chicago. Yay! Our lovely adventure starts TODAY! I will be leaving in about 5 minutes to go pick her up and head up to Chicago. Today will be mostly informational and some pre-testing to let us know what will take place over the next several weeks. (After I get this information, I will inform you all.)

However, keeping in mind our last "little" adventures to Chicago (and the fact that she has progressively gotten "worse")...I am going to ask for some help! :)

Anyone who is willing to donate gas masks (for myself), diapers size SM/MED (for my mother), or gas cards to pay for these awesome trips every week...just let me know! It would be much appreciated.

By the way...you all think I am kidding but Im NOT...you try losing control of your body to cancer and not having anywhere to go! I dont wanna have to clean that up (or smell it)! hahaha. I LOVE YOU MOM...but not that much! :)

Thank you all for your prayers and continue to pray for safe travels today as we are expecting a snowy drive. :/

Thanks,

Melissa

Latest News...

Well...mom went to the doctor today to discuss last weeks results and unfortunately there was no good news today. The chemo which she has been undergoing (the strongest for pancreatic cancer at this point in time) has stopped working; therefore, the doctors are stopping her treatments here.

The outlook is not good; however, she will meet again Feb. 16 with her cancer doctor to see if she can be placed in another clinical study in Chicago. Our last attempt in Chicago was unsuccessful, but we can always hope. :)

Thank you again for all of your prayers,

Melissa

"No matter how dark the situation seems, God has a plan."

"True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control."