Jen's Good Health Update!

April 23rd, The Day of Services and Celebrations for Jen

2008-05-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

Jennifer was laid to rest at the Santa Cruz Memorial Cemetery in a lovely spot.

Afterward we went to the beach to have amazing BBQ and vegetable crudite and desserts. Then lots of people got suited up to go on the Paddle Out with Matthew, Grace is here helping him with the flowers to take out.

There were about 40 people who went in the water.

They made a circle, threw flowers and splashed and splashed in celebration of Jen.

Jen's Obituary

2008-05-07T13:21:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Callahan was born on December 13, 1962 in Honolulu and grew up filled with the Aloha spirit on Maui. After high school she moved to Santa Cruz and met the love of her life, Peter, and built a family in Corralitos. Jen found great joy in raising her children, creating an amazing circle of friends and serving the community, always active in school fundraisers and church activities to help those in need. (She was even a soft touch for any wayward pet.) Jen dreamed of a world full of peace, without strife, and lived every day to make it happen. On April 17 Jennifer was taken away from us all too soon but we always find peace in remembering how she made us laugh and brought joy to all of our lives.

Jen is survived by her husband Peter Callahan, and her wonderful children Grace Callahan and Matthew Williamson Callahan, her mother, Jane Thompson, sister Julia Frey, father John Elliott, brothers Jeff, John and Josh Elliott and sister Heather Metcalf and cousin Joel Elliott.

A Rosary service was held Tuesday, April 22, 7pm. Memorial Mass was celebrated Wednesday April 23 10:30am. Following the services on Wednesday, family and friends gathered at Seacliff Beach to honor Jen with a luau.

Last Couple Of Photos

2008-02-09T15:59:00.001-08:00

I forgot I had two other photos to upload to the Yay We Are Done With Chemo! portion of the blog...

Last bag of chemo drugs:

Jen and Renee, one of the three nurses:

All the nurses were very kind, Renee and Kendra and ooooooh dang, I can't remember the third nurse's name -- Kelly? Anyway, they were all super nice. Renee kept accidentally ringing all the emergency bells on each patient's chairside table. We kept laughing about how many angels were getting their wings that day.

Nini/Julia

Jen's Final Chemo is Done! Hooray!

2008-01-30T10:50:00.000-08:00

The day went as usual with the kind nurses and other super nice patients. When Jen was done, the nurses gave her a certificate of completion with nice personal notes from them both. I, of course, had to cry (that's my job in this family) because I was so glad it was all over. And all I ever did was just sit there!

There are a couple more pictures, but the internet and Blogger are slowing me down...they'll get put up later.

So even though Jen's chemo is done, don't stop sending happy thoughts and good wishes her way, they are always always welcome.

More to come!

Julia/Nini

Chemo #5 Done! Happy New Year!

2008-01-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

Tuesday was Chemo #5 which means only one more to go! Jennifer is feeling good and her white counts are excellent and the doctor says there will be no need to do radiation. All good news to start the new year!

Barbara T. came to visit again, eating her guest share of tootsie-pops lolli-pops. (It will be put on her tab.) Matthew and Peter came along as well, Matthew hanging out for most of the time we were there.

Matthew's reward for hanging out was a trip to Maui! He flew out yesterday and is staying with Mom and Jack, golfing, tennising and hopefully surfing.

Here's your intrepid blogger on the phone with afore mentioned Mom:

Now we just need to figure out how to celebrate after the last chemo on the 29th!

Keep sending the love and prayers and happy thoughts, Jen loves them all!

Happy New Year!

Today's quote:
"When you are through changing, you are through." Bruce Barton

More Photos from Jen's Chemo Day

2007-12-19T08:46:00.001-08:00

Yesterday Jen sat next to Claudette, a sweet woman we have seen at each chemo. She goes 5 days in a row, every 3 weeks. This was her last week so we gave her big hugs and hoorays for a cancer free new year!

Grace and Gammo hung out in front after we ate lunch.

Grace is a pretty girl.

Today (at my request) we are going to Carmel to window shop and have a lovely lunch.

Here's today's good health quote:
You can set yourself up to be sick, or you can choose to stay well. -- Wayne Dyer

Chemo #4 Down!

2007-12-18T16:59:00.000-08:00

Today was Jen's Chemo #4--and it went quick, hooray! We had lots of visitors come by, Grace went and got sandwiches and lunch from Severino's again -- YUM! I've been telling everyone that my sister is doing well...but you can judge for yourself:

And either Blogger or is slow or this internet connection is so no more photos at the moment -- check back again later!

Thanks for all the visits and love and prayers, Jen loves and appreciates it.

More soon!

Nini

Happy Birthday Jennifer!

2007-12-13T07:31:00.000-08:00

(Jen with fabulous new hair style and her beautiful birthday wreath.)

Have a wonderful day and a brilliant new year full of health and love and joy and laughter, one of many many years to come!

Love,

Nini

This Just In -- RE: Wigs

2007-12-03T18:02:00.000-08:00

Jennifer has some fierce competition in the wig department. Whew boy. I just can't tell who looks more natural, the cats or Jennifer....tough call.

See even more wigged cats at my favorite site or go to the source: Kitty Wigs!

Halfway There!

2007-11-27T20:21:00.000-08:00

Nini here, reporting live from Corralitos (well, it's a live report as I'm typing, not as you are reading...).

Today was Jen's third chemo treatment which means she's halfway done with the chemo! Hooray! Grace brought lunch from Severino's (OMG those fries are good) and we sat outside and visited. Lori stopped by with a cute blanket for Jen's new bedroom decor. Then Gammo/Mom/Jane called to say hi (that's her there on the phone...see?)

More good thoughts:
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Which Twin Has The Toni?

2007-11-21T08:33:00.000-08:00

Ha! Thank goodness Jen has more style than to try to emulate these lovely ladies.

Which Woman Has A Wig? Pretty hard to tell.....

Here's a great quote from Buddha:
“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Nini, reporting from LA)

Photos!

2007-11-08T19:58:00.001-08:00

Here's Jen talking on the phone to Mom on Maui while getting treatment:

And Grace and I ran an errand in her NEW CAR! Nice car Grace!

Then it was game night and we played Scene It -- Disney Version! (Jen and I knew some of the "vintage" related questions...)

Chemo #2 Down!

2007-11-08T09:39:00.000-08:00

Nini here, happy to report that Jen's chemo #2 went very well yesterday. Barbara Thompson came by to visit again, as did Earleen. We all had a great visit and Barbara brought a bunch of leftover candy and pushed it on everyone! All the other chemo patients liked it though. Thanks for coming Barbara and Earleen! Grace came by with yummy lunch from Severino's Grill where she works. Jen and Grace and I ate lunch outside on the picnic table (handy portable IV poles...) and then went back in for another hour or so.

I took a bunch of pictures, but Blogger is having photo uploading issues, so please check back in later to see photos from the treatment and other fun stuff.

I saw this quote today and thougt it was a good one:
"There is one consolation in being sick...the possibility that you may recover to a better state than you were ever in before."
— Henry David Thoreau

Jen is always grateful for your wonderful prayers, positive thoughts, smiles and fun emails.

More soon!

Nini

First Chemo Down!

2007-10-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

Jen had Chemo #1 out of 6 on Wednesday and as promised, was on a steroid high for two days and was able to enjoy the Homecoming Parade in Aptos, Matthew being one of the Kings on the Homecoming Court. Here he is with Hannah Grantz looking fine in the Thunderbird! (Thanks for driving, Lori Hoover!)

Here is Jen in the process of getting well:

The nurses in the Chemo room at the Doctor's Office were terrific, positive, nice, helpful, smiley and full of candy. One of the nurses is a cancer survivor herself, so you know what she's talking about comes from experience. Many visitors came by including Barbara Thompson, Grace Callahan, Peter Callahan (who made the room laugh with a few funny stories) and cancer secretary, Julia (Nini) Frey. There is a lot of commaradarie in the chemo room as some patients come in for just a short treatment and others stay for hours. All seem in good spirits and are happy to help you with anything you need, like, where are the good drinks (the sodas and waters and juices in the mini fridge) and what's normal on all the equipment.

As predicted, Friday morning, Jennifer awoke with aches and pains and some fatigue -- again, all normal, though quite annoying. She was not going to miss Matthew doing his Senoir Homecoming Skit. Matthew rocked the house!

Chemo treatment #2 is November 7.

Jen says thanks for all the positive messages and prayers, she loves them. Keep them coming! Jen is very grateful for all the support she has in her life. Keep it coming and please feel free to comment on this site as much as you like. Emails are always welcome too!

More soon...

The Plan in Gammo's words...

2007-09-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

Hi all, Jennifer had a great visit with oncologist Dr. Alexander this morning and the plan is this: she's to get a CAT scan sometime soon and blood work and then report back to Dr. Alexander. He is going to consult with Dr. Lilya (the surgeon) about hormone therapy options but he feels at this point they will proceed with chemo once every three weeks for 6 sessions and then see where they are. The main side effect will be hair loss. Nausea will be eliminated with a shot of some other new medicine. Starting date for this will be soon but not exact yet.

And she should resume immediately everything that she wants to do. Exercise is an excellent idea altho Jen pointed out to one of the doctors that when she and her friend Sheri started a walking routine several months ago, Sheri ruined her feet and Jen got cancer - so perhaps they want to rethink the walking thing. Maybe swimming.

Grace has decided we will all sport Paris Hilton wigs for the duration - not just Jen - altho I don't think Peter and Matthew will be up for that.

I am continuing to hold Jennifer in my heart as being in perfect health. And every one of you and your support are sustaining all of us and speeding Jennifer to a full recovery. I am so grateful.

With love, Jane

The Plan

2007-09-28T15:48:00.000-07:00

Here is the plan. In the next my mom will have some more blood work done, another CAT scan, and some various other tests....then but she will start Chemo...just the regular chemo stuff..6 sessions every 3 weeks for a total of 18 weeks...her hair is expected to fall out....so for those of you that wanna, go ahead a shave those noggins! haha! just kidding, but matty will be shaving his head, and probably my dad too...so as of right now all looks good and well and routine....so there ya go!

Staples Out

2007-09-06T07:18:00.000-07:00

Nothing much is new yet.....my mom is doing awesome, they took her staples out yesterday.....pretty snazzy.....thank you all once more for everything!

Just Hangin out...

2007-09-01T17:51:00.000-07:00

Nini is here today visiting which is a lot of fun, we are all hanging out, my mom is still doing awesome, her staples are to be removed next this coming friday, and there is going to be a meeting with the doctor on wed. for a check up and to start the attack plan...we have been eating lots of great food, thank you all for that, and for lori for setting up our meals for us, and for the continuous flowers, they are all lovely.....thanks so much.

Finally Home!

2007-08-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

My mom is home now finally!! yay!! thank you all for all of the beautiful flowers! they are all wonderful....we have been getting many offers for dinners for us, and Lori Madden has volunteered to take care of scheduling that for us, so if you are interested please call her (Lori Madden) @ 768-1177.....thank you for all of the excellent comments...my mom is doing good....thanks!

tuesday!

2007-08-28T20:47:00.000-07:00

my mom is on solid foods now!!! i have been spending the nights with her on a silly couch, all of her tubes have been removed....she is walking a lot, and eating regular foods again, and she has been in the computer, i figured out what was wrong with the comments things so hopefully it should work now.....thanks all.....All is well....

From the beginging...

2007-08-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

Last tuesday my mom had an ultra sound done on her lower abdomen where they noticed a "mass"....We spent that evening in the ER at dominican, where she had a CAT scan and blood work, they couldn't determine what the mass was but they noticed that it was causing pressure on her kidneys. This was the reason for surgery friday morning, to relieve the pressure of the kidneys....6 1/2 hours later the doctor came out to inform us that it was cancer and they didn't know what kind, but that they had successfully removed it all (there was a lot of it).....and now that we know that it is uteran cancer we can start our plan of attack, the outlook is positive and she is doing well.....

Prognosis

2007-08-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

Jen's doctor came in just now with the very positive news re her condition. While it was Stage III uterine cancer, they feel confident that they got it all. In a month or so when Jen is healed from the surgery, they will begin chemotherapy to make sure any cancer cells that might be floating around after the surgery are wiped out. And then there should be a long healthy life ahead of her.

We are all feeling great relief and positive that all will be well.
Thank you for your continued supports and such....All is Well.....

Grace

August 27, 2007

2007-08-27T14:15:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

My mom is doing great! She is in the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Gatos, and hopefully will be coming home soon...please feel free to leave comments and messages for her, I will check them and tell her what everyone has said. She is walking and moving around now, we have been watching animal planet for the last day and a half now, there hasn't been any new news yet for us or anyone....when we get the news I will post it for everyone, if you have questions just post them and we will answer them......Thank you everyone for the support, and flowers, and gifts, and love, we really appreciate it all!

-Grace-