New Journey 4
This afternoon we got the good news that Lori’s first course of chemotherapy can begin. The white coat people down in the lab have been scratching their heads over their microscopes for days. It turns out that our Lori’s cancer is both weird and rare, and they had to tag it before they could go after it.
For the past two weeks Lori’s abdominal pain has intensified daily and so have the drugs she swallows daily to combat it. Last week the feelings of nausea also ratcheted up. Her diet diminished to rice and crackers and bananas, none of which stayed down. On Monday she tossed breakfast crawled into bed and slept around the clock. On Tuesday we drove into San Francisco for a meeting with her doctors who looked her over and admitted her to the hospital at California Pacific Medical Center. Nurse Bill was relieved to put her into the hands of actual nurses with IV’s and drip lines and powerful medicines none of which have controlled the upchucking and exhaustion. On Thursday they started sending her nourishment down the drip line so she now has nothing in her tummy to toss but the dizzy/nausea feeling remains as does the pain which Lori now controls with one of those push-button jobs that gives you a dose on demand. She mainly sleeps.
When they admitted her here the idea was to strengthen and stabilize her before whacking her with chemo. Now the idea is to go after this cancer and knock it into remission before it does more harm. Alas the operative word here is remission and not cure. It turns out that recurrent cancers like this one get knocked down by chemotherapy but they don’t die. Their pernicious microscopic seeds endure to grow and fight another round. This has been a painful week for the Hutchinson family in every way. Lori now has chronic cancer. And . . . we are buoyed and strengthened and heartened by all of you.
The mysterious software that enables us to send you these updates also discloses to us how many of you are actually reading them — hundreds. And how many are responding to them — scores. Plus emails. Prayers, good wishes, words of the day, photos, suggestions, recipes. We respond to none of your generous electronic love and support. Nor to the cards which I transport from mailbox to bedside daily. Nor to the flowers. And the food! Today our neighbor Jacque brought soup and had to stick it in the laundry room freezer. No room in the fridge. Offers to mow the lawn, to vacuum the house, to fly in from non-contiguous states, to handle the mail.
It is wonderful. You are wonderful. It is like standing in a river of love. These inadequate words are all we can offer. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Oh, did I mention the cannabis? I am actually keeping track. We are up to eight offers of marijuana brownies tea concentrate infusions or joints. In time . . .
Our families have been wonderful, and especially our children. Any of you who know Tucker and Kate and her husband Owen know just how lucky and blessed we are. We remember the days when we supported them.
hutch adventure 2 
I’m sure you know that we don’t expect responses. This is so heart-wrenching. Makes one question God. Life just isn’t fair. I think back to when you two started this blog and the fabulous journey you both went on earlier this year. What a blessing that was. I send prayers to you both daily. And will continue to do so. I wish I could work miracles!
Love and prayers,
Sally
Sally Hilliard Assistant to the Artistic Director Sonoma Valley Chorale hilliard@vom.com http://www.sonomavalleychorale.org (707)996-5334; cell (707)337-7727
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Dearest Bill and Lori, Rich and I are with you in your pain. We think about you every day and are sending you our thoughts and prayers and love from southeastern Iowa. Flying in and out of Des Moines, we realize we are in Lori country and her smiling, shining, beautiful soul is so present to us. We only hope she can feel half the love that she has given out to so many people. We love you both so much and pray that this phase will be in the past very soon. We really appreciate your missives, Bill. Sending you a big family hug!! Jody and Rich
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Sending comfort and love!
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My heart is with you both, as are my prayers. I am amazed and inspired by you both, and your gift to all of us, this electronic page, where we get to learn what is happening in your upside down world. LOVE is all I send and I do, all the time. XO
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My heart aches for all of you but especially Lori. I hope and pray that this very rough part will soon be over and some miraculous healing will take place soon. Love Gay
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I’m thinking of you both, and Lori I look very forward to seeing those bright red lips of yours smile that big beautiful smile again soon! xo Leslie
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Dear Bill and Laurie,
You are a beautiful writer and to write such sad news is not easy. I am truly sorry that Lori is suffering She is precious and cancer is a beast. I am sending love and healing thoughts, Holly
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Thinking of you both…what a piece of crap. Luckily, you are in one of the best places with some of the best people on the planet. Love you both. Thanks for the updates…please know that all your friends are hovering around in spirit. k
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Thinking of you all and holding you Lori, in my heart
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😍☺️😘😘💐💐🌺🌺🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
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I love you guys and as you know I have experienced something very similar to what is going on with you guys. If I can, please try to watch something on TV funny everyday. Kim and I watched every episode of Third Rock form the Sun and then we went thru every episode of Seinfeld . Please Call if I can do anything including honey do’s around the house. Love Dan
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Sending you loving thoughts and every good wish for both of you as you go through this time in your lives. You are in good hands at CPMC. My brother was there two years ago with a brain aneurism from which he recovered. I was incredibly impressed with the standards of nursing and the compassion showed by everyone who took care of my brother. Love and hugs to both of you.
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Can’t believe what I’m reading. I am WAY out of the loop having missed your first post. This is not the news I wanted to read today. Is there a more undeserving woman on this planet? No! You know there is an entire community of friends in this town, carrying buckets of love to you both at this crazy time. We care, we honor, we adore, we cherish, we worship dear Lori. If I could bring the Pope back for another quick visit, I would. Love you so much. Suzanne
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Dear Lori and Bill, we are wrapping you up in hugs from the east coast. I so often think of the wonderful dinner at PLP,with you and your family a few months ago. So much love and caring.
Bill, I thank you for summoning up the strength to keep all of us who love you and Lori aware of the latest developments.
Please know you are in our prayers.
Much love, Lyn and Monty
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Cordy and i are thinking of you and send our love and prayers. Let us know if we can do anything.
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Dear Lori,
This is a helluva way to go on a diet!
xxoo ME
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Lori and Bill, I was reminded by Deepak Chopra today as he said, “True happiness is when you’re happy for no reason whatsoever” and it reminded me so much of you, Lori….your smile, your willingness to always try and pay it forward and just some of the fun we have had in our years of friendship! My heart is aching right now for you Lori. The kids and I say nightly prayers for you and please know you are in my heart! love, Ann
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OMG I just read this to Jim and cried all the way through..so sorry. Sending love to both of you!!
Niz & Jim
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Dear Lori, Bill and family. There are no words to land on this page to comfort you all. Many tears are flowing . Knowing your generous spirit, it is so hard to accept that life has given you the biggest challenge yet. If ever there are miracles to be made visible, it will be through this community of love and healing that is holding you every minute. Thank you Bill for keeping us all in the circle.
Margarita and Peadar
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Are you up the street on Buchanan or at another campus?
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Thank you Bill and Lori for sharing this latest news. I pray that anguish and pain disappear for you both, if only for one second. Hang in there. Good ju-ju your way in buckets.
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Dearest Lori, I never thought I’d be grateful to have had ordinary everyday breast cancer. But I am. Bill if you’re half the nurse Tom was, Lori is in good hands. Tom and I are sending every good thought we possess and then some your way. I can’t wait for the day we get another Hutch Adventure, not this one.
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Dear Lori and Bill….you have been on my mind a lot recently. Just wondering how you are getting through this labyrinth of treatment..but I continue to put you in my prayers every night, Lori!
I’m sending hugs to you from Chicago and remembering how we played marbles on the playground at Hanawalt. And do you remember when Kathy Thelen put her tongue on the jungle gym and it got stuck? Oh boy! Good memories!
Love to all your family!!
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My heart is heavy! You are such an incredible communicator Bill even in the midst of grief and suffering!! I’m so thankful for all the love and support and so sorry to be so far away! Hold on to the hope we have in Christ! “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Romans 8:18 ESV
http://bible.com/59/rom.8.18.esv
Karen Stewart
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Lori and Bill, You are in our thoughts and prayers everyday and we are holding you the light of love and faith
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Dear Bill and Lori, I so appreciate your keeping me up to date, but I suddenly realized that Sheri doesn’t have e-mail, so I called her, and of course she knew nothing of all this. So I suggested that I give you Jennifer’s e-mail so that she could get your mailings and keep Sherie up to date. She was so appreciative. Jennifer’s e-mail is jennifer_cross@comcast.net. I will e-mail Jennifer and alert her to the situation. Many thanks and so much love, KIt
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To dear Bill and Lori, I am so very sorry to hear the latest report and hope and pray that the chemo will be effective in getting rid of the cancer and the pain and nausea. We are with you.
With love and compassion xoxox
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Dear Lori and Bill, We are so distressed to hear this most recent update. It’s hard to believe and even harder to accept that Lori is so sick!! You both are so generous, kind and loving, and you have so much support from friend and family. There are better times ahead! You are in our prayers and hearts. Lots of Love, Peter and Maggie
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Dear Bill and Lori…. I have had to read this several times today to take it in. My heart is broken as I hear of the course of this dreadful illness. You have done well, to live each day fully. Your travels taught us all to take time for sunsets…..none of us have a guarantee, and yet we forget. Lori is in good hands, it is time to take a good rest for the next round… She is a fighter, and we have the best of old and new medicine. We add our love to this vessel of carrying friends and family. May it sustaining you in this difficult time.. With love… LOTS OF IT. .. MARTY
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Bill, Lori is so blessed to have you. I know we are all sending her prayers and asking the universe to shower her in healing light. But you need to take care of yourself as well. I know from experience that as a caretaker, you have no choice but to be positive and motivated to get things done. It catches up so please find time for yourself as well… love you both.
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Dear Bill, thank you so much for keeping us all in touch via this blog. It saves us from going out of our minds with worry not knowing what’s going on, and afraid to ask. I’m so sorry Lori is suffering and I’m praying the chemo works quickly and is so on target she will be in remission soon. Tears flowed reading this. Stay strong and keep hope alive! All my love to you and Lori.
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Bloody hell…it sucks…excusez le mot! Hang in there all of you.
Lots of positive thoughts going across the atlantic….
Love Ems
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As always my thoughts and prayers are with you. I am told that the Brownies today are so much better than the ones I have many years ago. Barbara
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Karen and I are praying for God’s peace.
You guys are special!
Bob
Bob Stewart Connections
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Hey, Bill and Lori,
We’re on the sidelines cheering for a breakthrough so that Lori can get into remission! Thanks for including us in your “tribe” of fellow well-wishers. Let’s all pull for the chemo to nock that weird cancer back enough so that dear Lori can eat and keep down some sustenance.
All the best from the Thayers,
R & L
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To dear Bill and Lori, I am so very sorry to hear the latest report and hope and pray that the chemo will be effective in getting rid of the cancer and the pain and nausea. We are with you.
With love and compassion xoxox Sandra and Stuart
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I am one of all the church family praying for you…..Blessings….blessings….blessings on you both. Lori and Bill….
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ALL of us are keeping you in our prayers, thoughts and conversations. We surround you with our hugs and hugs and hugs.
Alan
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Billies
I am in Bodrum Turkey as I read this update.
Sending you international love
, prayers and hugs
Peter and Barbara
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Dear Bill and Lori,
Writing from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
On Friday night we had a first ever lighting of the Shabbat candles on Friday evening.
When we came to the prayer time I called out Lori’s name.
May the goodness that is within you both manifest itself for strength, pushing back this cancer, way back.
Much love,
Alan
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Dear Bill and Lori,
We certainly don’t expect any response. That you have the courage and energy to do your blog is more than impressive by itself.
I’ve been holding you in the light as hard as I can, sending all good vibes from here in Amsterdam. I’ll keep sending them and maybe one of them will take hold.
I’m sure you know I am available to help in any way I can – with your house, your business, anything. Let me know and I’ll be there.
Glen
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Hola Bill y Lori, estamos muy pendientes de sus noticias. Les mandamos todo nuestro cariño.
Agradeciendo todo ese esfuerzo que hacen para la salud de Lori, agradecemos nos compartan los avances.
Mirna Perla
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Love and prayers your way Bill. We have been through this and understand how difficult this is. Friends, family and neighbor support is so important and it looks like you are getting it in all directions. Big Hugs from the Coles’
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It is no surprise that Lori and yourself should be recipient of so many people’s love and concern. What goes around, comes around. As hard as it is to read these missives, know, as has been expressed by many, how grateful we are to be kept current on Lori’s condition. Having said this, and having been through this with my son, I know that you may get to a point where you are exhausted with “sharing”. We will understand this also.
Well, it appears that you have enough food, cannabis and helper bees. If there is any way I and/or Marsha can ease your load, please let us know. In the meantime we will continue to send good thoughts, love, energy and prayers in both of your directions.
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Dear Lori and Bill,
I echo the thoughts of so many who have written before me; not fair, no one “deserves” this less than Lori,
your courage is a wonder. My love and prayers join the legions who are keeping you in their hearts.
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Dear Lori and Bill,
Your strength sharing with all of us is amazing. We once hosted a benefit for a children’s charity, a precious little girl colored a crayon self-portrait of herself to me with the words “Living in Faith not Fear.” Her wisdom, far beyond her years remind me of your incredible courage. My family’s prayers are with you!
Dean Lehr
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Looking forward to hearing that Lori is feeling better and that her cancer is in remission. And that she can help you devour all that great food. I’m here at ISPA, it is empty without you, Lori. We all send light, juju, upside down cakes, and LOVE to you. xoxoxo
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Bill – your grief must be unbelievable. Shireen and I love you and Lori very much. Blessing, healing, comfort, and peace to your whole clan.
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Love you both, we keep sending the Prayers and love your way-Hugs Emma
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Lori, give me a call if you need someone to commiserate about missing ISPA with you! Sending you much love and strength! xxxooo, J
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