MissisTook
gemmag's Cancer Blog
October 23, 2008
| Update on Gemma | Views: 933 |
This was originally posted on celeni’s blog and I (Jill) thought I should repost here.
This is Gemma’s Aunt Kathleen. Gemma returned early from her trip to see Zac because she was feeling so ill. She went into the hospital on Monday to have the calcium flushed; returned home yesterday. Mostly sleeping. Home care nurses are setting up IV to keep her hydrated and administer the anti-hypoglycemia medication.
Her mom told me this afternoon that she knows Gemma’s blog friends are wondering what’s going on, which is the only reason I decided to comment here. Right now, Gemma is too ill to sit at the computer.
Carmen 
Michael Cox 
crystalala 
Thanks for your support -
Aunt Kathleen here again – I made a typo in my previous post. Gemma will be getting medication to control the hypoCALCEMIA, not GLYCEMIA. Her tumor type leaches calcium from her bones and then throws it out into the bloodstream. This causes fatigue, nausea, fuzzy thinking, and potential heart and other organ damage. Keeping hydrated helps flush the calcium from the body, but when you are nauseated it’s hard to stay hydrated. We are praying the IV and meds keep the calcium problem minimized, and Gemma will begin feeling stronger.
I am not a religious person, but I do know miracles happen. If anyone ever deserved one, it is Gemma. She has been an amazing person ever since she was born. First of all, her mom was afraid she’d never have children after trying for years. Gemma was a sweet placid baby. As a child that sweetness continued, and she was always smiling and laughing. A little shy, but so intelligent once you got her talking. I can honestly say I don’t think she ever brought her Mom a moment’s worry until this ordeal. When she was 5 she was a flower girl (along with her sister Julia and cousin Andrea) at my daughter’s wedding. I have several pictures, and you can just tell what an angel she is. I may ask my techie son-in-law to help me upload one of the pictures for you to see.
Gemma is what we call an “old soul”. She has a strength and wisdom that is extremely rare for someone her age.
I am holding out hope that she will get stronger and be able to participate in a trial at NCI in Bethesda. They are trying some amazing techniques and testing some new meds for recurrent ovarian cancer. Please send all your thoughts towards that direction.
When I last saw Gemma in August, she was well enough to go out for dinner on a number of occasions – when she is feeling good, she loves to eat, especially Mexican. We had a lot of fun laughing at the antics of Theodore and my 2 grandkids. Gemma has an infectious giggle and we all get caught up when she finds something funny.
Anyway, this is a love post about my very special niece. I live in southern Virginia so see her rarely. Her Mom, Nancy, is my baby sister, and is one of the strongest women I know. Her life hasn’t been a bed of roses, but she remains optomistic.
I know this is long and rambling, but I also know many of you love Gemma and want to hear about her.
Until she is well enough to post again, I’ll try to keep you updated. I’ll just post on her latest blog. Thank you all for your support.
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for the update on Gemma. Our prayers are with you and her and your family. I pray for her complete healing—a miracle healing and I have seen many of them. One friend who had liver cancer and everyone was sure he was going to die, including him & me, in August 1998. You know what, he is still alive and feeling good.
Miracles do happen. I think I asked before did she think about a 2nd opinion since her oncologist doesn’t seem to think he can help her. Maybe he cant, but maybe someone else can!
We pray that she gets strong enough to go on that clinical study—it just might work and we’d like to see her become a cancer survivor very much. She is so young that she can bounce back with the right cancer treatment. So sorry she is suffering so many side effects; mine pale in comparison to hers. Many blessings.
Love, hugs and prayers,
sweete2 better known as Ethel Craven-Sweet
I will be praying for our young beautiful Gemma
love soledad
I will pray for Gemma to get well soon! She is such a strong girl! can’t wait to here from you Gemma..lots of love your way!
Hi Aunt Kathleen,
No one has touched me as much as Gemma has on this website. I pray for her every night and have asked God to spare this beautiful soul and bring us a miracle. Thank you for updating us. I think of her everyday and was starting to worry. Gemma stay strong.
Love
Kathleen
Kathy, Nancy, and of course Gemma,
I too am praying for Gemma to receive a miracle. She, herself, is a miracle as evidenced by her postings. She has been so strong and dear. I think we have all recognized that she is an “old soul”. What an amazing individual. Gemma, we love you and care about you deeply. A clinical trial would be a blessing indeed. I will pray that you are able to participate. You have a wonderful family. Thank you Kathleen for sharing so much. It didn’t ramble at all. I am sure it helps you to be able to share with all of us low wonderful your niece is. much love, Gaile
Hi all, this is Darcie, Zac’s Mom. I wanted you all to know that our precious, sweet Gemma went home to be with Jesus this morning (10/25/08). Please keep Nancy, Julia & Zac in your prayers. Gemma was truely a “gem”, she is God’s gem – beautiful and with a huge heart. Now she is pain free and seeing Jesus face to face. And dancing with Him! Gemma, we anxiously await the day we will see you again…for now, so long and we will see you again! We love you – you have been a gift from God that has touched many lives.
Although someone else posted the sad news of Gemma’s passing, her mom Nancy asked me to post a message from her family. We are of course heartbroken, but thankful Gemma slept away peacefully. She was able to listen to Zac on the phone Friday night, and her mom said she was smiling and her little heart was beating fast while he talked to her.
This blog and all of you were such an important part of her life. You allowed her to vent, and then encouraged her. You appreciated her unique way of expressing herself, her poetry, her hopes and dreams. She loved so many of you and we know you felt the same.
Even though Gemma lost her battle, she would want you to stay encouraged. Her type of cancer was very rare so there is not a whole lot known about how to treat it. But we are winning the war on this dread disease on many fronts. A cure is in sight.
One of Gemma’s wishes was to contribute to the expense of this blog. Her mom will be honoring that wish.
Gemma touched so many lives positively; that was her destiny on earth. She will not be forgotten.
If any of you would like to communicate with her mom, Nancy’s e-mail address is Kermit58@gmail.com.
She won’t be checking her e-mail for the next week or so, but I know that words of comfort would be welcome.
Again, thank you so much for all your support over the past two years. You are a wonderful community.
Love from Aunt Kathleen