Liz Calling in 9/15

WOW what a week

Mom was in the hosital, sis and I ost our jobd and brother was on vacation. Need I say more? My eyes have been bloodshot for day cause every thought make me cry. I can't imagine loosing mom. Stats say it is coming closer, but she has beat amazing odds so I don't focus on thta even when friends tell me it.

We are rocling for our next fund raiser Over 38 tickets sold so far! Can't wait to meet you all in person! Lets find an end to Lung Cancer! Enjoy a CONCERT FOR $15 (in advance) http://www.lmlcf.org We only have 300 tickets and they are going fast! Here's some pics from... our first annual http://www.lizmartoccilungcancerfoundation.org/fundraiser.html
Thats I have right now

With LOve Dan Hsrt.www.lmlcf.org
and www.danhart.info if you wanna make $


God BLess

Liz Calling in 8/26. Radiation is Done

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Eugene Burns Calling in 8/21

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Julias Burns Calling in 8/21

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Lamont Burns Calling in 8/21

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Liz Calling in 8/11/09 Radiation starts for her neck start in two days.

Liz Calling in 7/27

Liz Calling in after they found a mass on her neck.

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http://www.lmlcf.org stop by and sign the guestbook

WOW WOW WOW

So today my mom, a stage IV lung cancer survivor, went to see her DR, Dr. Bazhenova, to get the result of her recent CT scan, the news has me floating in the clouds. The tumors in mom’s lungs, once the size of lemons are now the size of a pea. Dr Bazhenova said if mom were admitted to the ER right now a typical chest x-ray would not show signs of cancer.

The cancer in her colon is undetectable and the cancer that spread to her breast is also the size of a pea. The cancer that has spread to her liver has grown by about 20% however Dr Bazhenova does not see reason for concern. Surgery is possible but Dr Bazhenova wants to try another drug rather than cutting mom up.

I am so happy and grateful to have my mom for the last year. I know cancer takes people fast, as we have scene with Farrah, however it was what you get each day from the person living with cancer that keeps you going.

To MOMS SUCESSS and ALL OF THOSE DEALING WITH ANY TYPE OF CANCER!!!

Dan Hart

Liz Martocci Calling in 6/22/09

I am so PROUD of MY MOM

I am so grateful and proud that my mom was able to go to sea world with my twin nephews and my sister (their mom) Yes my sister has twins on her bday. They turned 7 today. Honestly I am not sure when The Lung Cancer clock started but it was just over a year ago when mom's DR's told her she had lung cancer it was July 22,08 when we found out it was stage IV. Mom is an AMAZING FIGHTER, keep that in mind if you were recently DX with LC. One Year is a HUGE milestone, and mom has bunches more!

If you read my last post you will know her lung tumors shrunk my 70%. Surround yourself with positive people and positive things happen.

Mom's DR never told her how long she had to live, She (mom's DR) said that was up to her. I hear so often that DR's say you have 6 months to a year to live. When did a med degree make you god?

I am so happy and grateful for every moment I get to see and or talk to my mom. I live in Phx, AZ, and mom lives in San Diego CA, however I make the trip every 3-4 weeks. Something I should have always done, but never had the time or money. Well when you something is important the time and money shows up, even when you are faced with forecloser.

My mom is beating amazing odds, and for that I am so proud. I have never been more proud to be HER son. She is finally living life and enjoying life (minus a few chemo set backs).

If you are newly DX or had some set backs ( my moms tumors grew after her second chemo treatment) don't give up the faith. As the one fighting Lung Cancer Focus on what YOU WANT, what do you want to do? What do you want to see? Even through the pain, know what you want, and you can beat is horrible cancer, we call the silent killer, (for now).
Stand up and make a voice share your story, whether you are dealing with cancer in your body, you are a husband or wife, daughter, son, granddaughter, grandson,friend, a co worker of someone dealing with it on any level. Grasping for your next breath is hard. I have seen first hand my mom do it. Hooked to machines.
But her attitude has changed it all. Maybe its the way it brought our family closer, and for that I am thankful mom has lung cancer. But more than that its the way mom has a new passion to live and give, and make the most of every day. For the first time in my 36 years, I see my mom living for her, and not her kids, or grandkids. Don't get me wrong she treats us like gold. But she treats herself like titanium.
She is not ready to give up the fight, however if she ever is, I will be the first to say how PROUD I am of her. She fought this hard, and her fight is still STRONG.

If you are recently DX with LC, fight with all you have, enjoy life, its ok to cry, its better to laugh, regardless you just need to live.

My mom does not have internet skills so I am pretty certain she will never read this. But I want to close with I am the PROUDEST SON ON THE PLANET!!!!

The road has been long and hard, but it was just over a year ago when she was told she needed a CT scan, they found something.

They Found ALOT, but the one thing they found, that no one was looking for was a WILL TO LIVE!!!

Mom I hope someday you read this!

I love you!

Dan
http://www.lmlcf.org

To realize (The origin of this letter is unknownP

To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby.

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:

LOSE ONE.

Liz Calling In 5/19 Great News!

Did you See Farrah's Story Tonight?

Hello Everyone and Thank you for your Support,

If you saw the Farrah special tonight you have an idea of what cancer does to a person. Cancer affects the patient as a person, I often wonder what must go through their mind as they lay their head on their pillow each night. For me personally the Farrah special gave me a new perspective on what those dealing with any kind of cancer must feel. I only know it from a sons perspective. Farrah shed new light for me, and for that I thank her for her courage.

You see I only know it as a son. My mom is fighting, and fighting hard, stage IV lung cancer. It has been almost a year since she has started on her courageous fight. Next week will make the "X-ray" saying she needed more testing. It was not until July when she found out her stage, stage IV, the second to the last stage of cancer.

I want to share something with you that you may already know. In honor of my mom we started a foundation to help those that get that "X-Ray" get the tests they need as fast as possible. We NEED your help. We recent;y became a 501c3, thus you donations are tax free. I understand how tight money is, However if everyone donated just $1 and forwarded this email to everyone they know will be able to help those dealing with this horrible disease
Join us with a dollar or two. http://LizMartocciLungCancerFoundation.org

A Friend of The Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation talks.

Click the heart to play and grab a tissue!

Please stop by www.lmlcf.org to donate. We are a 501c3

Laura Hart Calling in 4/30/2009

Laura Hart Calling in 4/30/2009

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Radiation is Over, Chemo Starts Again

Liz Martocci 4/27/09

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Living with Lung Cancer, A Real Voice

Living with Lung Cancer, A Real Voice

Karen Peyser

Living with Lung Cancer through a Patients Eyes

Lately – late at night I awake – not startled by anything – just my mind going back to places that used to be safe and secure for me. Remembering how stress free my life had been (even though my job was very stressful) somehow I was able to turn it off when I got into bed and I would sleep like a baby. Those days are gone – forever.

I have a new life – it began on October 9th, 2007 when I received a call (which went into my voice mail) from my Primary Care Physician telling me that she “had left her afternoon open for me to come over and discuss the results of my CT scan” – which – by the way – I had to force them to approve. I was home by then – getting off the bus from a normal day at work. I knew – in that very second what the “discussion” would be. She was going to tell me I had Lung Cancer. Something I had known in my gut for a while – but had to really face in order to go and take that CT scan. I could have remained amongst the “worried well” – you know – people who know in their heart that something is wrong – or at least could be- and make a choice to ignore the nagging pull of their gut feeling. I tried that. It did not work. So I faced my worst fear – took the CT and had my worst nightmare realized in Technicolor. I was sitting on a bench across the street from my apartment building – a beautiful area in Bay Ridge Brooklyn – along the water with tree lined parks – a place where I have sat many times for hours alone, with a book, with my dog or a good friend But this day I was alone and I was sitting with my world spinning and crashing around me. My Dr. called me back - and I told her what I had – she said “yes” – she referred me to a Pulmonologist at NYU and the flood gates opened. So what do you do when you know you are sick – very sick – and could die? I called my sister – MY ROCK – and we cried together. She called my parents – I think- I don’t remember. I don’t really remember much of the first month once I was dx’d. Lots of tests, lots of blood work, lots of panic attacks and a lot of crying. I had more than my fair share of pity-party’s – but when the dust had settled somewhat, and I had a “plan” I went into auto-drive and did what I needed to do. When you have “things to do” you don’t have time to think – you just go thru the motions. I remember telling my sister that sometimes it felt like someone else was taking all these tests – sort of like an “outer-body” experience. But I knew It was me – of course I did. Lung Cancer – OMG – did I do this to myself? Who do I blame – who do I direct this massive anger I feel at? Myself? The tobacco company’s? God? No surely NOT GOD! Of that much I was clear. But the rest – well – it took a long time to come to terms with what I had done to myself – and to realize that I was not to blame.

Bad things happen to good people. So there I was – looking on-line – finding all the misinformation one could possibly find and having massive panic attacks – but I found a web site that saved my sanity – and helped me gain some sense of what I was dealing with – and most importantly that I WAS NOT ALONE! The Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) web site was the first place to ground me – and I was – and remain – a loyal member of that community – but then one day – stumbling along the internet after I had completed my surgery and my chemo treatments (another long story of it’s own) I found the Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation – a foundation that was fighting for Lung Cancer patients who could not pay their medical bills. The LMLCF is a place where we (LC patients) could turn to for help – and direction. While I am still fortunate to have my job and my health benefits – in a flash that could be gone – and with a “pre-existing condition” I could be in huge trouble. I know that if I ever needed help I have a place to go. Whew! But still the stigma of LC prevails – we need more – we need money for research and development of “markers” that can tell patients they are at risk for LC. We need people to discard the “stigma” that smokers inevitably have and help us help ourselves. Lung Cancer kills more people than all other cancers combined annually – 20% of which are never-or-non smokers. We need help. I need help to stay healthy. The more we educate the public the more we will be seen and no longer remain invisible and stigmatized into the shadows (or smoke). We all need to fight and be heard. I am just one person – but I am willing and ready to stand beside anyone who will fight with me.

Karen Peyser

15 Months Cancer Free and counting!

Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation Announces Tax Exempt Status as Official 501 C3 Organization

The Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation is dedicated to helping those affected and dealing with lung cancer.

Phoenix, AZ— We are pleased to announce that the Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation is now an approved 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charity under US tax law. The IRS grants this coveted status upon organizations who meet specific legal requirements and operate under strict conditions with the goal of providing a public benefit. 501(c)3 status makes the Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation exempt from paying federal taxes and allows any donations to be a tax deduction for the donor. This status is also a requirement by all foundations and government agencies when applying for grants. We started the process in July of 2008 when the Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation was formally organized as a public charity non-profit corporation. After many forms and paperwork, legal fees, government fees, and a lot of effort we were able to surpass this milestone and be granted exempt status.

President Dan Hart was excited about the organization getting the news. “We are pleased to say our dream is finally coming true now that we are tax exempt. We look forward to making a difference in the lives of those faced with lung cancer.” Many people find out that they may have lung cancer through a chest x-ray. Often a CT scan and biopsy are requested to confirm. “Our goal is to help those people without insurance get the tests and treatments they need as quickly as possible” says Hart. One only needs to search the phrase “lung cancer” on the internet to find hundreds of heart-wrenching articles and stories relating to the struggles of those faced with lung cancer and their families.

The Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation had some bold goals in mind as they set to launch this foundation in July 2008. Lung cancer is the NUMBER ONE cancer killer in American men and women of all ethnicities. In 2008, more than 215,000 American men and women will be newly diagnosed with lung cancer. Tragically, approximately 162,000 people will lose their lives to the disease. Lung cancer kills more people in the United States every year than breast, colon, and prostate cancer combined. While lung cancer takes the lives of more people each year it is the most underfunded.

Since our beginning, we have witnessed, first hand, the hopeless need for support in living expenses, doctor referrals, and genuine love. We have devoted ourselves to addressing these issues and are dedicated to helping people living with lung cancer overcome these issues. “We want to help comfort people in the one of the most difficult situation anyone can be faced with” says Hart

Every 2 minutes, worldwide, someone is diagnosed with lung cancer. “We want to help those people and change the statistics” says Hart.

The Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation began on July 9, 2008 with one purpose in mind to help those faced with this horrible disease, living without insurance, find and receive the medical treatment they so deserve. Often the middle class hard working are often the ones that can not get the help and support needed during such a tough time. The Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation is here to help those faced with the challenges of the “system” while offering support, resources and compassion. For more information about the Liz Martocci Lung Cancer Foundation or to make a tax deductible donation please visit http://www.LizMartocciLungCancerFoundation.org