Hi Everyone,

I thought I would take a minute to introduce myself, and say hello to my old friends here on OSP. It's been a while since I have been active here, and I have missed all of you. With my time freed up, you'll find me lurking on here more.

As many of you know, I was diagnosed with LMS (a rare type of abdominal cancer) in June of this year. Since then, I have undergone chemotherapy as well as radiation treatments. Both have been unsuccessful, and I have decided to quit treatment. I am currently in Mexico where my parents live for the moment, and am looking into some alternative treatments offered here. God has been amazing to me through this whole process, and I am trusting in His soveriegnty. I do not have a defeated attitude about my illness, and am actully really enjoying the opportunity to evaluate my life and shift my priorities. I've spent so much of my time over the past few years pouring all of my time and energy into my businesses. While obviously we have to support ourselves, please make sure you are spending enough time with family, friends and doing the things that we love. I have misspent so much time in my life, and my greatest regret by far is the lack of time I have spent with my family and friends.

Ok, I really didn't mean to start preaching at ya'll.
Please forgive me. LOL

I look forward to getting to know all the new faces I see here on the board.

It is nice to hear from you. Funny thing was, I was just thinking about you today and wondering how you were doing. I am sorry to hear the treatments haven't worked. I will continue to pray for you.

*Hugs* Girlie! I think about you often, KK and I frequently talk about how amazing you are behind your back. I hope and pray you find a treatment that does work. I think your positive attitude is amazing and I apprieciate your reminder that love is always more important than anything else. You ARE an amazing person and I just know you'll find some kind of cure. You're too darn special not to be here and healthy.

*big huge hugs*

Hi Lori,

I'm new here so I didn't know you from before, but I pray that God's comfort be with you as you bear this illness. A friend of my wife was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer last summer, so we somewhat know what it's like to live with this.

God is good. To whatever extent you find yourself willing to do so, please do keep us posted about your progress.

hi lori! i have our goofy pictures from paris jumping in front of the eiffel tower on my fridge still... was a fun trip I'm sorry to hear your treatment isn't going well... will send positive thoughts your way.


here's a reminder:


man we're dorks.

Lori,

My heart aches for you; this is a very hard thing. But WOW! What a wonderful attitude you have. That is so important.

My sweet husband was recently (November) diagnosed with Lymphoma. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments, and will also have radiation after chemo is done. However, in the meantime we have done a lot of studying on nutrition and how it can help heal the body. So many Drs. do not promote nutrition as a therapy, which I find sad. So, we are pairing the Dr. perscribed treatments with nutrition that is aimed at building a healthy body and fighting disease (though we are not including herbal treatments as they can interfere with chemo). If you have not already run across these books, I would recommend that you have a look at them. They are full of wonderful information: "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" by Patrick Quillin and "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell and Thoms M. Campbell II.

However, ultimately our trust is in God for the future. Prayer is more powerful than any chemo, radiation, or nutritional food. I will pray for you, Lori. Many, MANY blessings on you and your family as you spend precious time together!

I was thinking about you last week. Didn't really get to know you too well before, so I felt weird asking anyone. Prayer is a powerful tool. I'll add you to my list.

Hey you! It's good to hear from you!! I'm sorry to hear you are not doing well but I appreciate the update!
Happy Annv to us! It's been almost 2 years since MC!
We miss you in Mo and NY!

thanks for the inspiration, and for the reminder on what's really important lori. its funny im away from alisha and lillie for the week doing a shoot and i just got off the phone with jason saying to him "its just not worth it to me to be away from my family for a week. i dont care what im getting out of this, thats just too long and im kind of regretting it."

all the best lori and always great hearing from you!

Lori,

It is nice to hear from you again. I really don't even know how to respond to this post, because o the underlying message. But as a former student athlete and a coach for the last 7 years one of my favorite speeches had to come from Jimmy Valvano. Jimmy V is a legendary coach from NC State. A month before Jimmy V left us he gave a speech at the ESPY awards that touched my spirit.

I have devoted my company this year to his quote, "If you laugh, you think, and cry in one day. That's a heck of a day." I use his quote as my email signature and have also have made a resolution to raise money for his foundation. This speech is inspiring and I encourage all to view it. I hope it gives you the inspiration it has given me.
Jimmy V Speech

Lori,
You know I love you girl!
I have said it before and will say it again and again, that you have been one of my favorites from day one.
I am always thinking of you and praying for you.

Much love, strength and blessings always.


I'm sorry to hear about your husband Melanie. Many blessings and well wishes to you and your family too

Lori,

I hope your new & improved treatments will work for you! i will be thinking & praying for you.

You are 110% correct in that we should be spending quality time with all of our loved ones. Life is too short. Enjoy it!

Hugs .

Hi Lori,

Good to hear from you. We're saddened to hear that the treatments haven't worked. Keep your chin up and keep pressing forward. You've always had a fantastic attitude.

You're in our thoughts and prayers.

PEACE.

Thank you so much for sharing this and for sharing your positive attitude. I love reminders of what is truly important in our lives. Good luck!

Lori!!! It's so good to hear from you! And while I'm sorry for what had to bring you there, I'm excited that you're living in Mexico & enjoying the warm weather down there!

Missed you here...don't tell me they don't have internet in mexico.

Lori! Wow! So good to hear from you!
I don't know much to say, except that we love you, and please let us know if there is anything we can do!

So good to hear from you, even if the news isn't all good. We only met briefly in Chattanooga, but I still to this day am impressed with your strength and knowledge. I came home telling my husband how I felt that you are just the type of person that walks in a room and makes an impact. No disease can touch that! I realize that you have days where you just don't feel good, but I'm hoping that you will continue with your positive outlook. It is the key to winning this battle (you know that already!)

My prayers will remain with you and I hope you will join us for more discussions again.

Thank you all so much for your incredibly kind replies. I can't believe I let myself miss out on this place for so long. I have truly missed all of you.

Ashley, I love that picture...and yes, we made absolute fools out of ourselves trying to capture that. Haha, that was such a fun trip.

Melody, KK and I talk about how great you are too! Haha, we'll have to all get together and just have a general we're great dinner. LOL

Melanie, I am so sorry to hear about your husband. I truly understand what you're both going through, please know that you are both in my prayers. I have the book "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" and love it! If you're husband is not doing the dragonslayer shakes, he should start. That has been the single most helpful thing I have tried. Another great book is "The Cure" by Dr. Timothy Brantley.

Alisha and Luke, great to see you guys still on here. I'm so happy that the two of you have found each other! I'll have to head to NY sometime and we'll hang out.

Charles, that is a great speech. Thanks for sharing, I love the quote.

Frank, my man. You know I love you too! You're are one of the kindest most sincere people that I have ever had the privelege of knowing.

Garrett, so great to see all the wonderful things that are happening with you and Joy. You are truly blessed.

Jillian, I'm so glad I had the chance to bum around Paris with you! It was so fun, and I think about your great personality often. I'm so impressed that you've written a book! Wow, I'll have to buy one when I come back to the US.

Nathan, thanks for the kind words. It looks as though you and Amber have been busy as ever. What an amazing business you've grown together.

Ginger, I remember meeting you and thinking what a kind and fun spirit you have about you! We'll have to organize another OSP South so that we can get to know one another better.

Agains, thanks for the words of encouragement and prayers. I truly appreciate each and every one.

Much love, Lori... Much love.

We love you Lori!!! And we've missed you around here. Many are coming your way! And thank you so much for your reminder about making time for family and friends. I've had to step back myself and reevaluate what's important in my life and have been plans for 2008 and getting quite excited about them So hearing these reminders just remind me that I'm doing a good thing right now