Hey Jill, I just wanted to take some time to say Thank You And Tara, for Sharlas parents and I, for taking time out of your life to come to the hospital this morning. It really meant alot to all of us And help to be able to talk to you and Tara, also just being able to see Tara, who's made the journey and back again.
Sharla is doing great and getting back to her fiesty self already. Even though she was just out of the operation room no more then five hours ago, already making the nurses and Doctors laugh.
I would also like to say THANK YOU DJ, without your site Sharla just may have gone through with her surgery in Hawaii and probably(more not then probably, as the Doctor that was going to do it refers cases to Dr. Steinberg) not have had the results she had with Dr. Steinberg.
You guys are all a blessing. Please keep up with everything you are doing. Jill, I am going to talk with Sharla once she starts to get stronger and have her write her own story, armed with that and the NYTimes story, Maybe she can have her story picked up in Hawaii.

Thanks again,
Shiloh

Hey Jill, I just want to thank you too, for the many MM'ers you've traveled to Stanford to give support to. I've always believed there is no greater gift you can give someone, than your time. You’re a blessing as a person, and to this website. I’m proud to call you friend!

Mar

Thanks Mar!  But you know, I'm only following your example, my friend.  You are one of the very best parts of this site!

To everyone else:  You're probably wondering who Sharla is, as she hasn't posted on the board.  Sharla made an entry to the guest book back in January.  She is 21, originally from Hawaii, and currently in her senior year of college in Cheney, WA.  She was diagnosed with MM last August, and was told by her doctor that she could wait until the end of the school year to continue "looking into it".  With a couple of gentle suggestions, she started doing her own research and ended up seeking an opinion from Dr. Steinberg at Stanford.  While Dr. S stated that her case wasn't emergent in nature, he recommended surgery sooner rather than later.

Sharla came to Stanford accompanied by her parents, Earl and Sharon, and her boyfriend Shiloh.  Her surgery was today, and as you've read in Shiloh's post, so far, so good!

It was a pleasure spending the day with Sharla's family and getting to know them.  Anyone who has been through surgery as a family member or friend knows that it's not #1 on anyone's list of fun days.  Fun isn't what it's all about though, and it's very important to us to be there for people as they go through the surgery experience.  Wouldn't trade it for anything, you know?

For now, Sharla only needs surgery on one side.  She has a very mild occlusion on the right, so they will keep a close eye on it to see how it develops.  That means she's on the road to recovery, and then hopefully home the second week of April!

Will keep you all posted.  Hugs to my MM family!

Jill      

Hi Jill !!   [smiley=wave.gif]

I have to say that Jill and her family are the most wonderful people that you will ever meet.  I feel like I owe so much to them and can not thank them enough for the support they provided to me and my family during my surgeries.  They are truly a wonderful blessing to those that have to go through MM.  I can only hope that anyone facing surgeries at Stanford will get the pleasure to meet Jill and her family and experience the support that we had.

I have been so fortunate to make friends with them and look forward to the friendship growing over the years.  Heck, we even think of them as family now.  

I'll never forget when I came out of my second surgery and couldn't talk and Campbell (Jill's husband) came in to lift my spirits and read some scripture to me.  I wanted so bad to say thank him and couldn't even get that out.  I just hope that I said thank you with my eyes.  And I still have the wonderful poster that Tara made for me and have it in my bedroom.  

Jill....to you and your family I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.  What you and your family provide is so incredible and I know for a fact that my mom and brother truly are grateful for your time and companionship that you provided to them.  One day, I can only hope that we can do the same for you all and other families going through MM.  You are all a true inspiration to me.  

I look forward to seeing you all in May and just want you all to know that I truly love you guys!  

Big  [smiley=hug.gif] from VA
Michelle

Hey Jill,
You know how we feel.  Oh yeah, Mark asks about his California girl all the time.  How is Tara doing?  You and Campbell should be real proud of her.
                         Ron and Lisa.

I feel I have to add to this one.....while I haven't met Jill "yet"....I feel like I have though as we have been PM for sometime especially with our daughters having similiar names  ;) (Tara and Cara)...all started when Jill said how much Tara looked like Cara when she was little.  And it took off from there....coolest friend anyone could ask for.  And I get goosebumps reading how she was on her way back to Stanford to be with Michelle's mom and brother as Michelle had a setback, I enjoyed reading when she met Mark's family, and kept hearing about other families...she's been awesome about it.  
When I was at the Mayo in Rochester (where Cara had her surgeries)...after the second surgery which went very well and she was ready to leave 5 days later...Dr. Meyers said a 15yr old boy just came in ...and possibly had MM, too...and thought it would be good for me to talk to the parents and them see Cara...how wonderful she looked....but the family was so emotionally upset hearing about it...that I remembered I had printed out this website on several sheets...I gave it to the nurse to give to them when they felt better about it but realize it is scary enough...takes time to digest it all, read about it all ...and just keep positive, have faith and make the best of every day.....I not only have to than Jill for her friendship...there are many others on this website....that I've learned so much from, gained so much strength from, shed tears (sad or happy tears) for, and over and over get goosebumps feeling good that I am simply not alone !!!!   And we ALL LOVE...DJ for what he has done....such a beautiful gift from his heart....this website !!!    Hugs,  CarasMOM

Hi, Jill.   I just wanted to add to the thank you notes.   We really enjoyed meeting you and Tara while we were in Stanford, and appreciate your support so much.   You both have been great :)

Thank you!

O.K. guys, this is getting embarrassing, and I am truly overwhelmed!  Maybe it's time to ask DJ to lock this topic up so it can't be added to any more . . .  

This is so not about me, but rather about YOU!!!!  Campbell, Tara and I are just an extension of the wonderful support found on this site, and I'm grateful that we can be there for even a small number of people during surgery.  If it were up to me, we'd be up at Stanford every single day.  I love supporting others and sharing our experiences, and especially love the friendships that have followed.  Jaimesmom wrote on another thread: the world would be such a better place if we all treated each other the way we do on this site.  Boy, isn't that the truth?  Well, maybe we really can change the world, one person at a time . . .

Love you all,
Jill  

Jill,
Wouldn't that be wonderful!
         Nancy

So, this a little bit late, better late never never right?!?!  I am the infamous Sharla!  Hehe, I just wanted to stop by and thank you personally for all that you have done for me along with my family.  It really means a lot to me, and you have helped me more than you know.  You one of the few that encouraged to seek further information, which eventually helped me make my decision for surgery sooner.  Thank you much for you guidance, support, and prayers.  I am forever grateful!