Thanksgiving with Crystal

My name is Trish. I am Crystal's cousin. Actually we are more than cousins. Crystal is more like a sister and a best friend wrapped up into one. She left me behind, sad and brokenhearted, in California 9 years 4 months ago (I won't bore you with the days, minutes and seconds). We don't get to see each other that often but we keep in close contact on the phone and over snapfish. When the phone rings at 6 am a smile overcomes my face because I know it's my girl. She knows I get up early so she never hesitates to call me on her commute to work. I ALWAYS look forward to these calls!!

She called me last Monday to tell me about the cancer. I never imagined how one phone call could change my life. I sat in California feeling so far away and absolutely powerless. Within hours of finding out of her prognosis, I booked a flight to Colorado. All I knew is that I needed to hug my girl. By the next day the crowd of people who also felt the need to hug Crystal had grown: Miguel, Crystal's Dad/Cindy, Crystal's Sister/Michael, Crystal's Brother/Alex Crystal's Brother/Arturo and Vivina, My mom and dad and Crystal's Aunt & Uncle/Art, my brother and Crystal's Cousin/Scotty, Crystal's Cousin/Gilbert my husband and Crystal's Cousin in law and I were on our way to Denver. Since Crystal's mom, Alma, has been here for several months caring for Rylee, we would all be together with Crystal, Jason, Gaven, Aiden and Rylee. There was a total of 15 of us!! I couldn't think of a better way to spend Thanksgiving!!

Usually we feast and overindulge on Thanksgiving. Oh boy, did we feast!! As a matter of fact, we feasted for four days straight. Remember the movie Soul Food, we had Mexican Soul Food. Comfort food, like chicken enchiladas, tacos, beans and rice. We had it all. We also had another special occasion. It was Crystal's mom, Alma's Birthday on Saturday. My mom came up with a great idea to make Tamales for her. You all know that making Tamales for Christmas is a HUGE Mexican tradition. It is no different for our family. The tamales turned our fabulous, they were so delicious. Over two days we finished every last one of them.

Crystal's brother made a birthday cake for Alma, but something went wrong. The cake didn't cook right. It was actually concave. This was the source of lots and lots of laughter throughout the day. Even little Aiden said "What happened?" We tried to make Michael feel better by telling him that it must have been the altitude!?!?! In the end the cake tasted just fine, it was made with lots of love and that is all that matters!!

We had such a wonderful weekend. We reminisced about old times, we laughed and we cried but most of all we relished this unforeseen opportunity to be together. Except for going to church, we locked ourselves up in Casa LaGrange and simply enjoyed each others company.

I am THANKFUL for this long Thanksgiving weekend!!

I guess it doesn't need to be said that I am a Chatty Cathy or to personalize it a Talking Trish!! I always have alot to say. My grammar and my spelling may not be the best but I love to write. I still have so many stories to share. I plan on sharing them all (ok, maybe not the ones from our single days...hahaha). I own a Scrapbook Store in California. Crystal has asked me to create scrapbooks for her children. I plan on posting lots of photos and scrapbook pages too. Please make sure to email Dee at deesoicher@msn and/or ellenmcv@comcast.net with all your stories so I can include them in the scrapbooks that we create for Crystal.

Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Trish

By the way, Crystal goes for her second Chemo treatment tomorrow and another round of radiation. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers!!

We give thanks today...

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

~Melody Beattie

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

The journey begins...

Crystal has started the treatment program to fight her cancer. She will be doing chemo and radiation together for the next six weeks to see how her body responds. Mondays she has both treatments together and Tuesday through Friday she does radiation by itself. Crystal is an oncology nurse at Kaiser where she is being treated. So although she is familiar with her surroundings, it is something very different being on the other side. She is so fortunate to work with an amazing group of doctors and nurses who love her very much. Along with the very powerful medicine comes great caring from her friends and co-workers.

Whatever your religious beliefs, we ask for your continued prayers at this time. Please pray for Dr. Azar and the amazing staff at Kaiser Oncology, for Crystal and her family, and for the team of caregivers that are ready and waiting to do their part.

It feels like a sprint right now but we need to get in shape for a marathon. Crystal ran one a few years ago and I know that it requires amazing strength and determination. She has them both. We are all ready to run along with her. I hope you will join us.

A Note From Jason LaGrange

Dear Family and Friends:

As you may or may not know Crystal was diagnosed with an aggressive rare type of Cancer located in and around the Cervix. Unfortunately, since Crystal is HPV negative and completed annual Pap tests the problem wasn't diagnosed until it reached stage 3.5 - 4 with the primary tumor growing to a length of 8cm. We will continue to explore all options, but this is a fast moving disease that is not curative. This is difficult to say and it may sound like we are giving up, but that is not the case. We are going to fight this disease and expect good things to happen.

Radiation and Chemotherapy will start on December 1st and we are confident that new combinations of therapy and or surgery (not to mention the support of the entire Kaiser Oncology staff) will reduce the size and slow the growth so Crystal can enjoy time with Rylee, Aiden, Gaven, family, and friends.

No one knows for sure, but we were told to expect a couple of years depending on how she reacts to the upcoming 6-8 week treatment. After that she must balance future treatments and quality of life. With a little luck, your support, and prayers we are going for her 40th birthday (about 6 years from today). We can do it.

We appreciate all of your support, thoughts, prayers, and our door will remain open. Crystal wants to make sure you know it is ok to visit and call anytime.

Her only request - no flowers.

Crystal, Jason, Gaven, Aiden, Rylee

6584 S Quantock Ct
Aurora, CO 80016