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."

Kidney Stone Surgery Today!

Just a reminder to everyone that Mom is having surgery today at Bromen Hospital in Bloomington for her kidney stones. Hopefully this surgery will be successful and the doc can blast them all away!

Will update you in the coming week or two on whether or not it works this time!

Thanks,

Melissa

CT Scan News...

Well the test results are in...

Cancer is back and has spread alot more than it was prior to her birthday parties. She has several spots on her abdomen and liver, as well as 2 large spots--one on her liver and one to the left of her belly button. We will meet with a doctor next Friday to see how treatment will change and where we will go from here.

Until then--we have a surgery that she will undertake on Friday for kidney stones.

Thank you for all of your prayers over the last week. Please keep them coming over the next couple weeks...they are working even though some days its hard to believe.

Thank you again,

Melissa

Copies of Moms Slideshow

If you are interested in having a copy of the slideshow I created for my mom's 50th birthday, please let me know. The slideshow is the same as the one I showed at the 2 parties; however, I have added some additional pictures and the pictures from both parties.

I am currently in the process of making copies so please email, call or text me and let me know if you would like one and how many you would like.

Melissa Hammond
hammr04@yahoo.com
309-657-2340

Thanks,

Melissa

Update

Found out today mom's last surgery for her kidney stones didn't go as well as the first so she will have another one in January, so keep prayin for my momma...its because of all of your prayers that I get to spend another Christmas with this miracle of a woman who keeps proving doctors wrong. :)

Thanks, Melissa

PLEASE GIVE ME FEEDBACK!

I am considering starting a group on Facebook about mom and starting a "new blog" there updating you on her progress and other fun things that go on in her/our lives. However, I understand that some people do not have Facebook so I am wanting to take a "poll" on how many people would like me to start one on Facebook and how many people would like me to just continue here. My reasoning for this is that I am on Facebook much more than I seem to check this site and Facebook is much easier for people to communicate with each other. In addition, it is much easier for me to add large quantities of pictures and videos.

PLEASE leave comments or email me at hammr04@yahoo.com and let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Melissa

Thank You

I would just like to say thanks to all of you. I am constantly getting messages and comments sent to my phone and my facebook account thanking me for providing updates to all of you about my mom through this blog. I hope to start posting once or twice a week again even if they are small posts. Some may just be pictures or stories of things that have happened lately...others may be medical updates. But MY GOAL is to post more often...I want to show you my appreciation for caring so much about my mom and her health and the well-being of our family. We love you all and hope to always keep in touch!

Thanks,

Melissa

Sooo sorry for the wait...

So what can i say?!? Things have been CRAZY around our house lately with us all moving. Between me moving in with my cousins in Groveland, Josh moving in with one of his friends' families in Pekin, and my mom and Nichole moving to Bloomington this coming Saturday, we have had our hands full. Not only are we all moving out...we are trying to get the old house ready to sell. This has been ALOT of work...seeing as how the house is as old as Peoria! But anyways...we have had fun painting...right Mom?!?! :) Especially the "gray" wall! hahaha. I LOVE YOU MOM! Two lessons learned that day: 1. Listen to your mom. 2. Don't buy cheap paint!

Well anyways...I know what you are all anxiously waiting to hear (if you havent already)...the news from moms doctors appointment today on whether or not her new chemo treatment has been working, right? Well...I got the BEST phone call of my life today when I was babysitting. And guess who was on the other line....

You guessed it! Mom! She called to say that the chemo was working and that several of the small spots are gone and that the big spot on her liver is shrinking! WHAT MORE COULD WE ASK FOR RIGHT NOW?!?!! WHAT A HUGE RELIEF! PRAISE GOD! :)

"With God, ALL things are POSSIBLE"

"Miracles can happen when you BELIEVE"

Now...although we got WONDERFUL news today...ill update you a little bit on what life HAS been like over the past few weeks and month or so....

A couple weeks ago, Mom started having lots of pain in her feet and has not been able to be walking. (Well at least, she isnt SUPPOSED TO BE WALKING!) However, my mother is stubborn and does what she wants and theres no stopping her. :) Anyways, she had Stage 2 Hand and Foot Syndrome. It was causing her extreme pain, so no standing or walking and the skin on her feet turned really red. In addition, they chose not to give her chemo today because of her skin still peeling on her hands. So for the last 2 weeks or so, she has not been receiving any chemo. However, she still manages to spend about 20 out of the 24 hours in her bed in her room either sleeping or laying there watching movies. haha. Apparently she has been watching some good ones...she gets excited about telling us about them all the time! :) For the other 4 hours of the day, she is usually cooking food, doing laundry, working on something in the house, or FACEBOOK CREEPING! hahah. BUSTED MOM! :) Her new fun is getting on facebook and "creeping" on peoples' profiles. :) Its funny.

But anyways....other than the hand and foot pain, and the constant stomach pain and nausea feeling...there isnt much NEW added pain or side effects. Other than one thing...and hopefully I dont get smacked for this. hahaha! Her baldness. :) The woman has always had really fine hair but now the chemo is causing her to lose some more and shes got some bald spots. I must say that its quite entertaining watching her try to fix her hair up to cover them. ;) JUST KIDDING MOM! I LOVE YOU! AND YOUR BALD SPOTS! :)

Well its getting late and I could probably go on for hours so I'll be back tomorrow or Friday to update you on how the walk went and add some pictures because I dont think I have done that yet. :)

Goodnight all!

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS AND CONCERNS! WE LOVE YOU ALL!

Coming soon...

UPDATE COMING SOON! Sorry...we have been busy. :/

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM!

You are the most amazing woman in the world...I don't know how you do it BUT YOU DO. Being a single mom of 3 kids (especially us three) is hard enough, but to have to work and fight terminal cancer at the same time is just unbelievable. Thanks for everything that you have ever done and continue to do for me, Josh, and Nichole. We all love you tons and look forward to having you around for many more years so KEEP FIGHTIN! Happy Mother's Day Mom! :)

Update:

Today has been kind of a quiet day around the house. I was planning on treating the family to lunch for Mother's Day but Josh was passsssed out, so I took mom and Nichole to Avantis for lunch. Mom, Nichole, and I were going to go see a movie but she came home after lunch and ended up falling asleep since she was exhausted and not feeling well. :/ **She has been trying to sell everything in the house since we are moving so the garage sales have been quite the strain on her body.** So instead of Mom coming to the movie with us...me and Nichole and a friend of mine went to the movie.

However, Mom still wants her steak dinner I promised her for Mother's Day, so I will be treating all of us kids and our lovely mother to a steak dinner some night this week. :)


Well time to go for now...I think I hear my dinner burning in the oven. OOOOOPS!

Picture of What the Shirt Will Look Like

These are pictures of the prints which will be on the front and back of the shirts. The shirts are purple with white text and can be purchased for $10 each and are available in all sizes...Youth and Adult.

^^This is the back of the shirt ^^


^^This is the front of the shirt^^
The heart at the top right corner is what will be on the left sleeve.

RELAY FOR LIFE

Here is the link to my mom's Relay for Life page....

Please sign up to be a part of our team and walk with us in June! I will be making shirts for my mom's team for you to purchase if you are interested.

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=15080&team_id=499110

THANK YOU!

I just want to say thank you to whoever sent me the birthday card and gift to me for my birthday tomorrow. It was DEFINITELY the BEST gift I have ever received in my entire life and I am extremely thankful for it. It will mean sooo much to me for sooo many years to come. I wish that I knew who you were so that I could thank you personally. You will NEVER know how much it meant to me!

THANK YOU AGAIN! :)

Surgery Update.

Her surgery went well...everything is okay. They implanted the port and we go to the cancer doctor tomorrow for a treatment...at least we think. She is doing well. Sleeping TONS and very sore.