December 2010, Ginger, my non-smoker sister-in-law, then 43, experienced pain and tightness in her chest and was taken to the hospital where they ran some tests and discovered she had nearly a liter of fluid around her heart. They drained it and sent it off to a lab. Results came back that there were cancer cells in the fluid. Further tests revealed she was in stage 4 cancer involving her lymph nodes, bone and lungs. Because Ginger was otherwise very healthy young woman, doctors decided to treat her cancer aggressively.

In the last 18 months Ginger has gone through chemo, radiation and surgery and remarkably no trace of cancer was found at her last scan a couple months ago. Radiation was especially tough on her and it burned a large hole in her esophagus. It was months before she could eat anything at all by mouth. Swallowing saliva alone was extremely painful. The doctors finally put a feeding tube in and the hole was finally healing. Or so they thought. She was cleared to take a much needed vacation so they were down here visiting us last week.

While visiting us she ate both solid foods and liquid through her feeding tube. While she looked tired, she was in good spirits as she always is. The doctors told her once she was eating regular sized meals they'd remove the feeding tube. So that was her goal.

Saturday night, after her, my brother and 10 year old niece got home to Northern Calif., Ginger started experiencing horrible pains in her chest again. She was rushed to the hospital where it was determined she had food in her lung. It seems the hole in her esophagus was not healed after all and was letting food pass directly into her lung. Emergency surgery was done to clear out her lung and now they are trying to figure out what to do about her esophagus. She is currently heavily sedated and on a breathing tube. My brother called me in tears last night, so frightened she will not pull through.

Please send some healing thoughts and prayers our way so Ginger can overcome this new challenge in her life and to give my brother and niece some strength to deal with yet another blow. Thank you.

Jodi-

This is Ginger, niece Sierra and brother Gregg. Taken last Friday.

PegNE

Shirley

Good job KT!

Jodi-

Ron

Sending wishes for her continuing swift recovery!

The first thing she did after she finished breathing therapy was text me with the details of the last few days. She apparently did not know I had spoken with my brother a couple times. She just wanted to make sure I knew what was going on. She's awesome that way. Not sure I'd be so willing to keep everyone in the loop with the last bit of my strength I had.

It's still touch and go but much better news than yesterday. And for that, I'm so grateful.

Jodi-

Sue

Ginger sounds to me like a fiesty little fighter, good for her!

Not sure how much longer she'll be in the hospital as I haven't heard from my brother in a few days. Usually if things get worse, I'm the first one my brother calls so I'm hoping everything is going as expected.

Jodi-

Ging may be at the hospital another week because they still don't have her lung infection under control.

Gosh, I wish I could fly up there to take care of everyone who is hurting in one way or another.

Jodi-

I am so sorry to hear this news, Jodi.

Anne

Thank you for sharing that picture of your brother and family ... doesn't that daughter just sparkle?

How good to hear that Ginger is improving, even though it appears that there is a long road ahead.

Sending many good thoughts and hopes, for them, and your family, and others who love her.

Offering some prayers of behalf of Ginger and for all of you.

Good wishes to all of you through the coming days.

ole joyful

We are going up to see them the in a couple weeks. We traditionally go to Northern Calif where they live (and where DH and I grew up) every year to celebrate our anniversary, which is Sept 15th.

Jodi-