Surviving Oesophageal Cancer

Dear Crystal and everyone

It's great to know you are there, a real soure of strength if needs be.  Thank you Liz for the insurance details, hope you have a lovely holiday.  Things pretty good here. Had a lovely evening at Hampton Court watching Simply Red (although Hubby got too cold cos of the chemo) and on beam for the repeat op to put in the markers for the cyberknife on Thursday.

Think of you all here and on the other forums so much

Sue x

Dear Sharon, Kerri, Shelley and Meagan

I am so terribly sorry at your news and words can’t convey properly my feelings for you at this very sad time.  Please accept my heartfelt sympathy and condolences to you Sharon and to your daughters.  It must have been of some comfort to you that you were all there at the end and I’m sure that in the coming days you will find great strength and comfort in each other.

It’s wonderful that the Navy will be paying such tribute to Ben and I know how proud you will be on that day, and as you say, I’m sure Ben would have been hugely delighted in this.

I shall forever remember Ben for his beautiful, sunny nature.  He had the knack to come onto this forum and raise spirits with his optimism and gentle humour.  For that I thank him.  I realised how brave he was when he once called his latter illness ‘one of his little adventures’.  The main thing though was that Ben had great strength of character and was determined always ‘to make hay’.  I think he did didn’t he?

Thank you for thinking of us at this time.  My thought will be with you all over the coming days, especially on Monday 26 July.

Sending you love and my very best wishes.

Crystal

Sharon, Kerri, Shelley, Meagan and nee

I am sorry for the loss of one held so dear, I have much respect for Ben, his optimism was not just a credit to the man but to the ones who loved him, and like all true men of the sea he was always prepared for danger and showed great faith in his comrades and vessel, a faith that was transposed to his family during his time of need; now his extended family are going to honor him for his dedication to the service, and for the gentleman that he was. I too echo Crystal’s sentiments and will be thinking of you all on the 26th.  Below is something I wrote some time ago on my The Demon thread.

Take Care,

Steve

You’re Journey

You fade before my eyes just like a ship leaving port on a still misty morn, the outline fades and I can only imagine your presence beyond the river mouth, slipping far away into the vast waters that shall now separate us. If only the strength of my love could be the anchor that keeps you with me, but I know you have cast away on this journey, which must be undertaken all alone, just as I know it is my destiny to stand upon these shores and mourn you’re leaving. Is it selfish of me not to want to let you go even though the need to end your own suffering is greater than that of mine?

The room it now grows so silent and yet so peaceful and I believe my love you have answered my question so will open the window wide and set you free.

So sorry to hear of Bens passing. I so enjoyed his posts especially about the birthday party last year. What is wonderful is that he had a loving family to support him throughout and now you have each other to share the tears, smiles and memories. A wonderful man never to be forgotten, love leisha xx

well done im so pleased im also new to this site hope this message reaches you i have gone through breast cancer and now in remission my family helped me through but my dad is going through oesophageal cancer early stages but cause of heart attack they dont want to do the op he has to face so going to hospital for test so scared for him as we are very close hopefully after test he has endure they can do something for him he his of strong mind so im hoping he will be ok if they dont operate the cancer will take hold within 2 years so i hope they can give him some treatment so we have more time with him he is such a geat guy  take care

Hi Crystal and Steve and others that remember Ben, my sister is in NZ and found this in the newspaper,  

" Rumble, Bernie, Arther ( BEN) The President, exectutive and members of the Canterbury branch of the RNZN ( Royal New Zealand Navy ) Naval Association would like to acknowledge the passing of their esteemed member and all condolences to Sharon and family."

I miss you Ben, love leisha xxx

Leisha

Thanks for sharing that news with us, I have read your blog and hope very much that ed can get his pain under control soon, I don't blame him for not wanting to go onto that ward but he should not leave it so long that out of desperation he will have little choice, so see if you can get someone to him.

Steve

Hi Leisha

Thanks for sharing this with us.  Ben was such a lovely person, like a bright ray of sunshine. Make Hay Ben, Miss You.

Love Crystal xx

Hi Everyone,

Sorry to hear about Ben, Heaven has gained an interesting person. Have fun up there. My mentor for the Op passed away suddenly too, she contracted Liver cancer as well. A bit of a shock but as her husband says We have to live our gift of life to the full.

I am back from Czech republic,  seems torrential rain storms are following me around. We had trees comming down and roads like rivers, The same in Greece, I am off to callea in Spain next at the begining of Sept, if you want to avoid the area!!!!

Hope everyone is doing OK

Cheers Liz