You are loved ~ Send refrigerator magnet

I told you about my friend fighting leukemia here: http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=170014

We are starting a refrigerator magnet campaign to show her how much she is loved. We are mailing refrigerator magnets that represent our state and/or country to her with a note that says "You are loved".

If you're interested, please PM me and I'll get you the address information. We're sending them anonymously so that she doesn't use her remaining strength to send Thank You notes. But, if you want to sign them, that's up to you.

Cool, I have a bunch of magnets from local pet-related businesses I picked up at the New England Pet Expo ...

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Originally Posted by Karen

Cool, I have a bunch of magnets from local pet-related businesses I picked up at the New England Pet Expo ...

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Perfect! She will love them. She's been volunteering at her shelter for many, many years. Anything pet related (especially cats) will cheer her up.

The magnet I sent her was in the shape of a totem pole. :D

That is such a neat idea! I will send you an email and I will find a special magnet from Pennsylvania to send her. What a nice idea.

What a wonderful idea! What a thoughtful, kind, caring friend you are.

I will be happy to send her a magnet. Maybe more than one? I will PM you.

All the best to you and her both,
Pat (and cats)

I found a good Michigan magnet that shows both Midland and Ann Arbor. And I have a graphic one that says Ann Arbor at the bottom and has a cute picture of a dog (or a lamb?) on it.

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Originally Posted by phesina

I found a good Michigan magnet that shows both Midland and Ann Arbor. And I have a graphic one that says Ann Arbor at the bottom and has a cute picture of a dog (or a lamb?) on it.

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She'll love it! Thanks so much. She's doing okay. Holding her own. Fighting with everything she has to get into remission.

I got a lovely Thank you note from her, so I know she got mine! Lisa, you can tell her I am a friend of yours - she asked if I was a friend of "Lisa or Sandy!" And her note had a bunny on the front! ;)

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Originally Posted by Karen

I got a lovely Thank you note from her, so I know she got mine! Lisa, you can tell her I am a friend of yours - she asked if I was a friend of "Lisa or Sandy!" And her note had a bunny on the front! ;)

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Karen ~ She's getting quite a few (see below). She's added them to her "Encouragement Board". I just wish the prognosis was better.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...agnetboard.jpg

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Originally Posted by kuhio98

Karen ~ She's getting quite a few (see below). She's added them to her "Encouragement Board". I just wish the prognosis was better.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...agnetboard.jpg

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How lovely :) I see the ones I got her! I, too, got a thank-you card from her that actually was so beautiful it made me cry. What a lovely woman she is. I'm hoping for a miracle! :love:

I'll stop at the tollway oasis shop on my way home from work, because they usually have a good stock of Illinois gifts.

Rhoda has continued to receive encouragement magnets. Some of them from the wonderful angels her at Pet Talk. Thane you all so much.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...gnetboard2.jpg

(I went ahead and mentioned her name, since she's written it on the board.)

Lisa i posted her two magnets today, so hope they arrive safely.

Thank you Carole. She's going to be thrilled to receive them from so far away.

Rhoda received good news yesterday. She is on a new medicine (Neulasta) and it seems to be working. From Rhoda (FYI - she's been craving fresh fruit/citrus but wasn't allowed on her old medicine.):

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My white blood cell count has gone up to 6.1 For the first time since diagnosis it is within normal range. Last week, as you recall, my wbc's were only 800.

My hemoglobin is 9.6, the same as last week.

My red blood cells stayed the same at 3.1.

My ANC number which tells how neutropenic I am is the highest ever at 4.1. I am in the normal range. The first thing I did was to go out and purchase one apple and one orange. I'm going to eat both of them tonight.

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I love her board. I hope God decides to let her stay a lot longer than the doctors predicted.

what wonderful news Lisa, i pray and hope with all my being, she will get through this ,thanks for letting us know.:):)

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Originally Posted by dukedogsmom

I love her board. I hope God decides to let her stay a lot longer than the doctors predicted.

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Rhoda is loving proving the doctor's wrong. She's still fighting and her goal is to live until the results are announced in March for the new Shelter Challenge http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=170014

Here's an update I received a yesterday.

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Chemotherapy has been stopped permanently. It was taking my white blood cells to the danger level. I will be kept alive now with periodic blood transfusions. Platelets are a risk according to the oncologist. And eventually blood transfusions will affect my liver and spleen. I was only supposed to live for three to four months and it has now been over four months. I am truly blessed and the power of prayer is evident each day of my life.

Currently, I don't feel as though I'm dying. My bones hurt a lot and the muscles in my arms and shoulders seem to be affected by something but the doctor doesn't know what, and I am quite tired. Other than that, I feel pretty darned upbeat and I'm going to stay this way as long as I'm conscious to the best of my ability.

I feel that I am receiving so many blessings here on earth these past few months that when I do die there won't be anything left for me in Heaven. I cannot explain it - why I feel this way - but I'm blessed beyond words. I don't know what to say anymore. Thank you's aren't enough. I am unable to express my heart. And you have been such a big part of this. Your picture is still on my dining room wall, along with Susan Boyle's and everyone who comes into my home wants to know who you are, because on the printout of your picture I have written "Lisa - A Very Special Lady".

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Tell her we are all pulling for her, some of us like proving doctors wrong! Why, my very existence - and Lady's Human's too - was once thought impossible, according to mother's docs, and here we are!

I felt a big lump in my throat and tears welling up in my eyes just reading that, she is right LISA you are one very special lady for sure, i hope with all my heart Rhoda can stay on earth for a lot longer and beat her illness, she also sounds a wonderful person,do you know if she got the fridge magnets ?hoping so.

Bless her and all her loved ones,hoping with all my heart she is doing better and can recover from this.:love::love:

Such good news! That last paragraph made me tear up, as well. I'm so glad that she's feeling such blessings and peace with her illness. I don't know if I'd be able to do that. I hope she can keep proving the doctors wrong.

I'm still thinking of Rhoda, and hoping that she still fighting!

I'm sorry but I didn't pay attention to this earlier. Can I still send some?

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Originally Posted by slick

I'm sorry but I didn't pay attention to this earlier. Can I still send some?

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That's what I'd love to know too!! I bet she would love a Belgian magnet:)
If yes, please send me her address :)

Your prayer and magnets are working! Rhoda went to see her Oncologist yesterday.....

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He said I don't have to see him for another three months. I said, "you think I'll still be here." He said, "you are strong woman. I do think you will be based on what has transpired so far."

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In addition, the shelter where she volunteers has arranged for the author of Homer's Odyssey http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...omer-s-Odyssey and her husband to attend their annual Ties and Tails fundraiser in October.

If I missed anyone wanting to send her a fridge magnet, please let me know.

that is fantastic news, i am so happy to read this, my thoughts and prayers are with you Rhonda,all the best for a speedy recovery...:love::love:

I sent Rhoda a Valentine's card last month and then a St. Patrick's Day card this month. Last week she sent me back a lovely Winnie the Pooh Thank-You card with the most beautiful messages, both printed on the card and the one she'd written inside.

God bless her! And thank you, Lisa, for the updates.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:,
Pat and cats

Rhoda was given 6 weeks when she was diagnosed. She has fought for 10 months.

She is surrounded by her loving family and the doctor gives her a day or 2 at the most. She is on morphine and having trouble breathing.

Thank you to all who sent her magnets and encouragement.

I'm attaching a silly photo of Rhoda. She went out and bought this hat when she lost her hair from chemo. :DAttachment 54310

Love and God's peace and blessings to Rhoda,

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

She will be in our prayers. And tell her I love her hat!

(((((hugs))))

She fought so hard and well - and this is so sad.

I hope her spirits have been good. She left a legacy of hope and help for animals that is priceless.

Peace to Rhoda and her family.:love:

Our dear, sweet, precious Rhoda Palmateer passed away at 9:30 EST tonight.

Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Oh Lisa how heartbreaking for all who knew and loved her, so sad, a very brave person who fought a hard battle, may she rest in peace, my heartfelt sympathy to her family and friends at this very sad time.

Rest in peace, dear lady!

Monica (one of Rhoda's daughters) and I have stayed in touch. She's still reeling from the loss of her mother and reports that, so far, it doesn't seem to get easier but harder every day. But, there are bright spots every now and then.

Somewhere in this thread, I may have mentioned that Gwen Cooper http://www.gwencooper.com/ author of Homer's Odyssey, met with Rhoda before she passed away. Gwen was to be a guest speaker at the shelter's annual Ties and Tails event in October. When it became obvious that Rhoda would not be with us in October, Gwen flew to Michigan to meet Rhoda.

Gwen has a new book out. The title is "Love Saves the Day". I haven't ordered it yet, but Gwen has stayed in touch with Rhoda's friends and family and let us know that she included Rhoda in her acknowledgements: "Rhoda Palmateer, in loving memory. Rhoda's love saved the day for many hundreds of cats and kittens who otherwise would have languished on the streets or died in shelters. Your extraordinary heart will always be missed."


Precious Rhoda, I miss you so much. I know you're taking care of kitties on the other side, but I'm selfish and want you here. Keeping your family and my thoughts and prayers.