Hello to all Trisha's fans and friends out there from her sister, Mary --

We've been up-front that I sometimes help Trisha get her blog entry out, and sometimes I've in fact been the out-and-out ghost-writer with her as final editor! Well, here I am out in the open telling you I'm writing this one!

We want to keep you all informed about Trisha, and she just is not up to penning blog entries right now. So here's the latest on our dear Trishie.

She's been back from Hawaii for about 10 days or so, and did really have a good time. Our brother John reports that they all found it very relaxing to just sit and watch the beautiful ocean a lot of the time, since Trisha got more tired in the second half of the trip. But they did get out to the beach and the museum, too...

Now Trisha's back in Oakland and the current medical deal is to have Avastin infusions (new chemotherapy for her), on top of her high-dose steroids. We will see what the Avastin does.

The darn steroids have completely knocked out her leg muscles, so she can't get out of a chair by herself. Please come over and help her up!

Trisha's attitude has amazed us all the whole time, even now -- I can feel it all the way out here in New York where I live! But it's true she's kinda bummed by the weak legs, and also the challenge she has sometimes to finish long sentences. But she's still kind of ok with everything, too, it's amazing....

The whole family thanks all of you reading this for all your thoughts and prayers, cards and letters. They are good and Trisha benefits from them! Keep them coming!

Love, Mary

Dear Friends,

Hello from Trisha. I did have a great time in Hawaii with John and Nancy and my friend Leah Reitz! So nice to get away!

The darn steroids make my legs weak enough that I didn't get to go jogging on the beach every morning at sunrise or climb up Diamond Head on a hike, but they keep my head from exploding, so it's a pretty good trade-off!

I did get a good little bit of gentle walking in, supplemented by riding in the wheelchair, and enjoyed beaches, towns, restaurants and a museum... Also, it was really relaxing and a great change of pace to just sit on the lanai and watch the surfers, windsurfers and sailboats go by on the beautiful water in front of us.

I still have a pretty great attitude about this tumor, (my sister Mary reminds me of this...) and a good deal of acceptance, but lemme tell ya, it's no picnic! All your blog comments, cards, thoughts, prayers, visualizations and stuff are really sweet and they help!

Keep 'em coming!

Love, Trisha

Hello, friends! Trisha here! Listen, don't panic, I'm still with us! I will admit I'm not so up on answering my phone and emails these days.... The truth is that these mega-steroids I'm on are creating kind of a challenge... They make my legs weak, so it's been a little harder tearing around town on outings and such. It does bum me out, but I've still got a pretty darn positive attitude, I'd say!

My dear brother John and his wife Nancy are giving me a really wonderful cheer-up present! Tomorrow we leave for 8 days in Hawaii! Oh, boy! Fun in the sun! Well, with my big cover-up hat on... In other news, my platelet count is right where they want it, and I threw off a cold last week in just a few days, which can sometimes be a challenge for people who have been having the treatments I've been having... The picture is from right before the surgery, way back in late July.

Keep those cards and letters and coming!
Love, Trisha
p.s. if this sounds more like my sister Mary's writing style, ok, I admit, she wrote it! But I approved it!