Hello, Dear TOTV friends; I am writing to ask a favor which is sort of for myself, since it will make me happy because of making my daughter happy, but it is mainly a favor for her; I hope you'll bear with me as I explain. For the past 5 weeks I've been camped in the hospital with my 28 year old daughter, Sarah Meghan Steinberg (she goes by her middle name, Meghan). We had first taken her to Chicago for surgery on her thought-to-be benign spinal tumor; but it was found to be leukemic cells, related to her history of leukemia for which she underwent a stem cell transplant from her brother five years ago, and which had been in complete remission for 5 years until now; so, all of us, including the surgeon, were blindsided.
We were looking to the right and life came at us from the left, as sometimes happens.
Then back in Louisville (where she lives) in the hospital here, they found leukemic cells in her spinal fluid; thankfully, her blood and bone marrow, though, are still normal and so this is all very strange and rare, say the doctors. She is now going through chemo and we are expecting all good to come, although future treatment course remains to be determined as we go along; right now she is very sick from the chemo and I am by her side. Bone marrow and blood are still clear of leukemia; it was found in her spinal tumor and in her spinal fluid, only.
She will beat it. Her middle name came from the heroine, Meghan, of the book and miniseries from the 1980s, 'The Thornbirds', who had such resolve, grit, and courage; and, as it turned out, we see as Meghan has gone through this illness starting 5 years ago, that we chose the right name for her. She has always shown such contempt and fearlessness for leukemia; with the attitude of 'is that all you've got?' So, how can we be anything but strong, also?
It is unknown when I will be back in my beloved TV home other than possibly for short stays to see my wonderful hubby, Doug, who is also traveling back and forth between here and TV to see us.
Now, for the favor I am asking: If any of you want to do something that would make Meghan very, very happy, it would be for any of you who are on Facebook to
become a Facebook 'friend' of her non-profit foundation - called 'Meghan's Mountain', which provides direct patient support to adult and pediatric cancer patients - at '
I support Meghans Mountain ' (that is the name of the Facebook page - just put that phrase, 'I support Meghan's Mountain', in the search box on Facebook and the link for the page should come up, and then you can click on the link to become a 'Friend' -and, of course,
there is no cost to do this).
[Meghan started her foundation after her original illness with leukemia in 2005, and 'Meghan's Mountain' provides holiday gifts and parties in cancer wards, washer/dryers for families in cancer units, money for indigent patients for transportation to/from treatment, exercise equipment for patients in cancer wards, summer camp designed especially for children with cancer, etc. - the 'extras' that there is often no regular funding for, but which make such a difference to patients and their families. Also, as a part of her foundation work, Meghan takes calls to go to hospitals to visit newly diagnosed cancer patients, especially teens and young adults, to encourage them with her own story, to help them believe that they, too, can get well again. Meghan has put so much effort into this foundation, and this year alone, largely through a fundraiser 'roast' of former U of L basketball coach, Denny Crum, who is a dear friend of Meghan's and is a member of the board of directors of 'Meghan's Mountain', has raised nearly $150,000 for direct patient support.]
Meghan is wanting to see her foundation's Facebook page membership go to over 1000, and it is almost there; and that would make her very, very happy and would give her a huge emotional lift which she could use right now. I'd love to see her membership go way up, and thought the power of you on TOTV might be the way to help that happen. (Her website related to her foundation is
www.meghansmountain.com) If you become a 'friend' on her foundation's Facebook page, it would be great if you could also leave a brief message wishing her well on her foundation's 'wall'.
Thanks in advance to any of you who can help Meghan reach this goal. Freeda