This morning on my way to work I passed a green mini van, and a ton of memories came rushing back at me. Not of my childhood (although my parents totally had a green minivan), but of college. Why? Because Jackie!’s car in college was a green minivan with a sliding door. Yeah, it was super sexy. A lot of people would be mortified to have a mini van in college. Not Jackie! She embraced it.
That car was key to our existence. We took it EVERYWHERE. If we wanted to go to the beach, we’d all pile in. To the bars, we’d all pile in. If we wanted to go play a prank on someone, we’d pile in the van. We’d often drive down the streets around school with music blaring and the sliding door wide open. It was a traveling party and everyone was invited.
When Jackie! traded in the green monster after college, she was thrilled. The rest of us were BUMMED! It was the end of an era.
At the same time I was remembering Jackie!’s car, Jackie! was in a meeting with her oncologist to find out what the next steps in her treatment would be, and to hear the pathology results on Turk the Tumor. Dr. McDreamy told Jackie!’s family after surgery that, from looking at the tumor, he thought it was a slow-growing stage 2 glioma.
The pathology report disagreed. The tumor is a more aggressive stage three.
The oncologist recommends immediate chemotherapy and radiation beginning in the next few weeks. She is going to present her treatment ideas to Jackie!’s team of doctors, and the final verdict will come back next week. Then Jackie! has to decide if she wants to do radiation now or hold off, as in her case it can only be done once. She also has to talk to fertility experts about their suggestions for her reproductive future, as chemo and radiation can have adverse effects.
I don’t think I have to say how much this all completely blows. It was a stunning bit of news. Stupid tumor. Stupid cancer. If Turk was a person, I think it would be safe to say we all would have beat the everloving crap out of him. I personally would have broken his nose in at least three places – and you don’t even want to know what I would have done to his crotch.
I know Jackie! isn’t going to let this slow her down. While she isn’t going to embrace this crap diagnosis with the same zest she once had for the green monster, Jackie! has never been the kind of woman to let anything get in the way of her plans. She has big, huge plans, and none of us will be surprised when she accomplishes all of them.
Rebecca says:
oh that’s bad news, sad news. i hope you are all doing okay.
Willow says:
Not the good news everyone was hoping for, in fact it sucks. My thoughts and best wishes are with Jackie and her family – you two are lucky to have friends like each other.
Quart says:
I’m so sorry to hear that, but if I know Jackie! like I think I do she’ll kick the crap out of Turk with a smile on her face the whole time. We’ll be thinking of her.
Kristin says:
I’m so sorry to hear about Jackie!. I’ll keep thinking good thoughts for her. Hugs for you.
Kristins last blog post..Non-Sequitor Sunday
moosh in indy. says:
Don’t even get me started on cancer’s ability to render someone infertile before they ever had the opportunity. Gets me so pissy mad. To have such a thing taken away from you before YOU have a chance to decide. Meh.
I’ll get pissy about that part for Jackie! if she wants to invite me to the pissy party I’ll bring seven layer dip.
Love you Jackie!
moosh in indy.s last blog post..Hot: Day 12-Temper.
Melizzard says:
I’ve been reading this story but it’s hard to comment as one of my best friends from college went through much the same thing about 6 years ago. But I can’t let it go by without passing on what his wife says was one of the most important things they did at this stage… encourage Jackie to have the path slides read by more than just her team. Send them off to Duke or SK or one of the other big specialty places.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and her and hers.
Melizzards last blog post..Summer 2020
Anna Marie says:
When I saw your tweet yesterday I immediately thought of Jackie! and started worrying. I hate this news, but I have no doubt that Jackie! will carry on with the same joie de vivre you have so beautifully described to us. Hugs to both of you.
Anna Maries last blog post..Don’t Look Now
Fiesty Charlie says:
Thinking of Jackie and all those who care about her. My first lover was hit hard by not being able to have kids after treatment. Damn I hate Turk and I have never even met Jackie!
Lots of prayers your way babe and know your love and support make a difference…. truly and sincerely they do.
Fiesty Charlies last blog post..Houston Hates Me….
AMomTwoBoys says:
I’m confident that Jackie! is going to kick Turk’s a*@, regardless of what an aggressive bastard he’s being.
And little Maddie is living proof of the miracles of modern medicine…
GOOOOO JACKIE! You’ve got a team of awesome friends behind you, AND the power of the internet, too! Hang in there!
merlotmom says:
The fight is the thing and it sounds like she’s got it. She’s also got us rooting for her too.
merlotmoms last blog post..Give Me The Grateful Life – Monday
Jennifer says:
I’m so sorry to hear that bad news. She’s going to have to fight a little harder now, but she WILL be able to win!!
Jennifers last blog post..The Story of Pickle PART TWO
nanette says:
That sucks.
I’ll continue to send lots of happy and healthy vibes!
nanettes last blog post..A baby shower, m’Kay?
Becky says:
I will punch Turk in his ugly assed face.
Hugs to Jackie. She’s a trouper, that’s for DAMN certain.
trish says:
I’m sorry to hear the news. I’ll say a prayer for your friend..
Christy W says:
Her minivan was legandary. Remeber when she unlocked, got in and drove off with someone else’s minivan after studying in the library?!
Jackie will get through this! I hate turk.
Amy says:
I am so sorry to hear this…..this sucks! But Jackie! will fight this tooth and nail and WILL accomplish all that she wishes to!!! I am thinking of her and all who know and love her!
Kristabella says:
That sucks! But Jackie! is clearly a fighter and has a positive attitude and that can only help!
We’re all sending her good thoughts and praying she pulls through this!
Kristabellas last blog post..How My Mind Works
ali says:
stupid fucking cancer.
that’s really all i have to say about that.
GRR.
gin says:
Wishing Jacki! had her green mini-van there to whisk her away from all that cancer.
gins last blog post..I’ll regret this later
Maria says:
It’s so hard to comprehend how things like this can happen. My heart goes out to you, to Jackie, to her family. I have faith that she can do this, but there’s no doubt that it sucks pretty freakin hard.
Marias last blog post..This just in: Pot is Not Funny. Unless white people are involved.
mandy says:
Well said, AMomTwoBoys.
Goooooo Jackie! We are all here with you.
anymommy says:
I know she will. This news sucks…thinking of you both.
anymommys last blog post..Tummy Mommy
Punk Rock Dad says:
Thoughts and Prayers are still with Jackie! and the rest of her family (read: friends). Still following this close or as close as I can from the far off Euro-Hell I am currenty touring. Would have sent you an email but cannot access my accounts keep the news coming. F&%K Turk!
Punk Rock Dads last blog post..Fatherhood Annuled…No Longer the Savior of my Own Blood
Punk Rock Dad says:
OOOPPPs on my above comment I put the wrong website in….ordinarily this wouldnt be a big deal but I am wayyyy cooler than that other guy.
Punk Rock Dads last blog post..The Fifth Passport
Andrea's Sweet Life says:
I rocked the mini van too, only mine was white. I loved and loathed it at the same time.
Consider Turk’s balls thoroughly annihilated, if only in my mind. Keep on keepin’ on, Jackie!
preTzel says:
H –
Miracles happen everyday. I think Jackie! will come through this fine and like a trooper. She has so many loved ones surrounding her and giving her positive energy (which is a bonus when fighting cancer) and those of us in the blogosphere that keep her in our thoughts and prayers.
Take care of *you* so that you can continue to be there for her.
Keep all of you in my thoughts,
preTzel
Lori says:
I’m so sorry for your friend. One of my good friends was just diagnosed with breast cancer that is already in both breasts and her lymph nodes and she’s around our age too. Cancer definitely sucks. I’ll be praying for Jackie!
Loris last blog post..I *Heart* the USA
Loralee says:
I feel like a bunghole that I am so late here (I am a little lost without my reader) but I want to say how sorry I am.
CANCER SUCKS.
You will all be in my thoughts.
Loralees last blog post..Sideblog: Enter to give someone special a $20,000 THANK YOU!
Kelliqua says:
I’ll kick that cancer’s ass! My personal Jackie! is my gal Shan. She drove a 1970-something Brady Bunch, green with wood-paneling, station wagon (in the late 80’s) and was the most brazen of all. I’d kill for her.Now I love Jackie! just as much.
Most positive of energy is wished for Jackie!
P.S. Can we do anything?
pgoodness says:
dammit. are all of these freaking tumors the same or what? piss me off. Jackie! kick this stupid thing’s ass and get on with your awesome self!
pgoodnesss last blog post..Getting Things Done Redux
Anissa@Hope4Peyton says:
Jackie! is in our prayers, it is more than any person should endure. I will also encourage you to encourage Jackie! to just have another team of oncologists go over the information and just confirm. Keep being the amazing friend you are, that love will sustain her when her own spirits fail, trust me, I know THAT.
Anissa@Hope4Peytons last blog post..Stuff They Don’t Put In Parenting Books, Part 326
kateanon says:
Cancer bites my ass – and I’m sorry she has this news. My thoughts and prayers are headed her way
Z says:
That’s bad news, but I am confident that the amazing Jackie! will persevere and do wonderfully… Down with Turk! Kill that bugger!