Lori VIII
When daughter Kate went down the aisle on my arm in 2012, she married into an abundant clan from Cortland, New York. Owen has six siblings, now scattered to all time zones, but his folks still live in Cortland and exert parental gravity at Christmastime to draw them all home with their spouses and offspring. Given that KayO and infant Jack live down the road from us in Mill Valley, and that we get to raid their fridge almost as often as they raid ours, we concede this one week a year to the Learys and summon Santa on New Years Day instead.
So, at Christmas Lori and Tucker and I head off into the Wild West and tramp around together in Death Valley or the Channel Islands or the Navarro River Valley. This year we booked a beachfront cabin in Samoa (yup, Samoa) California — on the peninsula that defines Eureka’s harbor — but in the event made a last-minute cancellation and stayed home.
Eleven days ago Lori noticed an unwelcome swelling on her neck. Dr.
Chan suMmoned us to San Francisco, palpated the lump, diagnosed it as a tumor, and decided with regret that the chemo wasn’t working.
Fortunately, he is Dr. Chan, so dialed up the radiation team on his cell phone, expressed appreciation for their busy schedule, and told them Lori would be in their clinic within the hour. He also wrote a prescription for a new form of (oral) chemo before we were out the door. Lori started radiation therapy on December 21 so is now getting zapped and poisoned.
We held out hope for our Samoa getaway until the last minute but this new regime has summoned the return of Mr. Barfman. And we still pour in meds to keep the pain at bay. Bless his heart, Tucker assumed Nurse Bill duties, prepared us yummy meals, tidied up unattended piles, and generally gave me a spell of RandR.
Lori somehow remains resilient through this bleeping mess, swallows all the pills which aim to tame the side effects, and wishes with all her heart to have the energy to return calls and accept offers of visits.
The traveling squad returns soon for our days-long Christmas gathering, a week late but who cares.
In church on Sunday I lifted Lori’s name during prayer time and then others in our beloved community lifted their prayer names, too.
Lori. Lori. Lori. Lori.
hutch adventure 2 
Oh how I wish there was something I could do. I guess we all say that. I can tell you that the congregation at St. Andrew has heard me call out Lori’s name in prayer for the past several months. And it will continue.
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Healing prayers are with Lori and the entire family.
Wish there was more we all could do. Love and hugs, Victoria
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Please know that you both are always in my thoughts and prayers 🙏🏼 I’ll share with you the mantra I use daily that perhaps will be one that you find helpful – I borrowed it from a friend who blessed me with it in an email, “may these treatments be highly effective and gently and thoroughly cleanse all of the diseased cells from my (your) body quickly, forever and ever!”🙏🏼 xo Phylis
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Holding both of you in the Light and sending prayers for healing.
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I too continue to pray for you Lori and your beautiful family. I will continue to light candles and send strength and energy as you continue this extremely difficult journey. May 2016 bring health and healing to you. Love, Deborah
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I pray that the Lord shines his healing white light on Lori to eradicate those cancer cells and ease her discomfort. She is loved and so are you Bill…
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It is the litany of our prayers – Lori, Lori and Lori. Oh yes, and Bill, Bill and Bill. We also pray for peace on earth and goodwill. I think digestive peace fits in there, too. And in this season of hope – we join all your friends and family who hope for better days. Love to you both.
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Sending you healing vibes Lori and to your whole family, much love, goodness and hope for a well 2016. xo Leslie
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Dear Bill & Lori.
Praying for you Lori. And thinking about how wonderful Bill is as a medical assistant and nurse!
At Christmas, Lori I was remembering the dancing to “Oh Holy Night” at Plymouth. I miss that church.
I hope you have a wonderful belated Christmas with your whole family! And a very blessed 2016!
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Continuing to say prayers for Lori’s healing and support for all of you. Please if you need help with anything let us know – Kayla and I are willing and able 💜❤️.
Much love,
Patty
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We hold Lori and Bill and Tucker and Katie in our hearts every day, sending love and prayers and good karma. Whatever works to help them all through this difficult time.
Much love from across the country,
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Continued prayers for Lori and all of you.
Hugs,
Kathleen gray
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Hi Lori and Bill,
Just read the latest. Pretty tough. I thought the photo with your Christmas letter was so typical of your family spirit…all of you with a hat/cap/scarf on your heads…..excluding baby Jack whose head must look like Lori’s. Another phase has begun. Let’s hope it brings some relief!!
Whatever the new year brings, we are with you from afar and hope a miracle will come Lori’s way to support her and the medical team….and the whole wonderful family.
Nice that JR and Carol visited. We received an update from them.
Much love,
Ems
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We chime in with our chants of “Lori” every day; and we send healing wishes to you all as you undertake this difficult battle. With so much love, Tricia and Tom
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Many blessings to all of you. May the alchemy of this event bring soothing perspectives, understanding, clarity, love and healing in ways it is to be, for you all are in the wholeness of amazing grace.
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We never stop thinking about you and your beautiful family. These updates from Bill are so appreciated. At this time and always, we pray for good health and good news for Lori. Many blessings and prayers.
Always with Love, Bob and Esther Berger
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This news truly breaks our heart. Hold on, be strong. We hope you will have some good news by the time we return from visiting family. Thinking of you and sending you hugs and healing prayer.
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Thank you Bill once again for the update. I feel the strain of what has to be very tough business. You both are tremendously courageous, and by the good grace of the Divine Almighty have family who can be loving and present for you both. I lift up Lori in prayer asking that her pain becomes lessened, and that some good days are once again to come as radiation and oral chemo take effect to shrink the tumors. In this we all pray.
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Dear Bill and Lori,
It would be hard to match all the lovely messages from your many wonderful friends, but just know that I continue to keep you both in my heart, and know first hand how much it means that Katie and Tucker stay rallying round. It doesn’t always happen that way. With ever so much love to you both.
Kit
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Lori. Lori. Lori. Lori. God Bless you all. ❤️
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Do think of you both and sending prayers.
Marguerite A. Matthews
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Dear Bill,
We send our prayers & hope & all best wishes. So want to do
more. Please know how much we care! Much love. Mary Tabbachi
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Thanks Bill for keeping us all posted on Lori. Give her my love
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Big hugs to both of you and may Lori feel better soon. Would love to visit again, let me know when it’s a good day and time, last minute OK.
Philippe
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LORI. LORI. LORI. LORI.
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
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Dear Bill & Lori,
We add our blessings …we offer our prayers….we hold you in our hearts.
We echo all of the wonderful sentiments that have been shared.
You and your beautiful family are surrounded with love, light & grace.
Lori, Lori, Lori.
we love you.
Susan & Peter
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Dear Lori and Bill,
Hugo & I were so deeply sorry to read of your renewed trials & suffering, Lori, & we are hoping they will be less onerous every day that you move forward with your new treatment regimen. We think of you both so often, & are sending healing wishes across the miles to you from Santa Fe.
Every Sunday, your name is also heard in our sanctuary here when congregational prayers are invited, Lori, & yours, too, Bill. Your Dr, Chan sounds like a terrific doctor with genuine empathy & awesome skills. May he very soon work the medicinal magic to deliver you from all these evils, help you to fully enjoy your upcoming family gathering, & set you on the straight road to recovery!
Love to you both,
Monica and Hugo
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Love you all. We just keep praying.
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Our love to both of you. Be well…please!
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Surrounding you both with so much love and gratitude for who you are. We’re so grateful for your updates Bill and holding both of you in hearts ..and lifting Lori’s name on Sundays at the Quaker Meeting in Chestnut Hill. Lori…please be well.
Much love,
Kathryn and Pete
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lorilorilorilori. billbillbillbill. I will chant your names to God’s ears. Love and light sending to you both. Big hugs.
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I’m a believer in miracles. Lori’s has been ordered and is on it’s way. It just may take a little longer than we thought. With all our love and prayers, Love, Helen & Bob
PS I don’t know how to work this so it probably won’t go through. Oh well.
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Dearest Lori and Bill, sending you my love and gratitude for you, Tucker and Katie, for your bright shining souls in the truly terrible darkness. Wishing you strength and acceptance of the harsh reality and hope for miracles breaking through. With love from India, Jody
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Lori and Bill,
This is tough stuff Lori. You and Bill are enveloped in deeply felt love and daily prayers from a nationwide community of friends and we all know you are due some good news, a small miracle. I pray for this, we pray for this. Hang in there through the hard days, thinking of you always and sending much love.
Karen
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Dear Lori and Bill – I am sending you love and healing thoughts for recovery from this terrible disease. Miracles do happen and you two deserve a miracle. Love to both of you. Jan
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Lori, Bill, Katie and Tucker,
Oh how wish that I could Fix it! Thinking of the love and warmth in your home, and all that you have done to make this world a better place. We include our love and prayers with the others to create a vessel that sustains you through this difficult time…
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Dear Bill and Lori,
We deeply appreciate your updates on Hutchadventure. Until now we have not responded with a comment because we were engaged with a similar adventure of our own. Marianne had a go-round with doctors and diagnoses. Your messages were sustaining for us as we recalled the kindred struggles of Bill and John (and Lori and Marianne) in the 80’s. Please know that we have continued to lift you both in prayer at Southside worship and in the sanctuary community. La lucha sigue!
Blessings,
John and Marianne
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Lori, Bill, Tucker, and Kate, We think of you all every day and are sending positive thoughts your way. Lots of love and prayers. Euie and Cordy
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And I too, in love and light, lift Lori’s name.
A healing, happy new year to both of you dear hearts.
Bob Rice
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Dear Lori, dear Bill,
Thank you for the nice photo it’s nice to see you with funny hats. Good Spirit.
I like these words:” The way to beat cancer’s ugly side is to overpower it with beauty of hope”.
We keep you in our hearts.
Happy New Year with Hope and Hope.
Bons Baisers
Colette & Andi
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love to you all.
I have reset my intention with my pause bracelet which vibrates each hour – to include: Lori, Lori, Lori and sending healing light and prayers her way.
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Lori and Bill, thinking of you often and sending prayers your way! Much love and positive energy, Franzi
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Thinking of all of you each and every day….just sending lots of love and hope that the universe brings relief from all the monsters starting with mr barfman. Enjoy your holiday and Jacks first Christmas! Much love to you Lori and all the family.
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It was great to see you the other night and I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas a week late! You are in our thoughts and prayers always.
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We are sending love and prayers for a better 2016. Lori, we think of you every day.
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May you be surrounded by love now as you have always inspired all of us Lori.
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Lori and Bill, A new year starts today and with it comes renewed hope for healing. I think about you both every day and visualize the radiation and oral chemo zapping those vile cancer cells and vanquishing them from Lori’s body for good. May 2016 be kind to you and bring you blessings.
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“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”
Psalm 40:1-3 NIV
Oh how I long for your darkness to turn to light. I know the Lord is in this.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. psalm 20:7
But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. Ps 13:5-6
I call out your name , Lori, to the name above all names!!JESUS
May this new year be one that transforms your darkness to light!
I love you, friend!
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Lori and Bill, I want to offer my love and thoughts to you both. I am amazed by your courage and stamina and pray for healing each day. You are in my thoughts and heart. Marcia
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When God was handing out endurance….Lori was first in line.
When devotion surfaced next….Bill stepped right up.
When “caring” was announced, a community of thousands wrestled to the front to show their Hutchinson love.
We all care so much…….because you’re the greatest couple on this planet.
Suzanne
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