Once again some extremely sad and devasting news
Dear everyone
We haven't posted a blog for a while and things had been going well until a month or so ago.
Sara became seriously ill 3 weeks ago and was taken to Chch from Twizel by ambulance on Saturday night. A scan on the Sunday showed that the tumour had regrown much larger than it had been previously and very different to a scan 5 weeks earlier that showed the tumour still shrinking and collapsing.
We are all devasted by this news after all the hope of the past few months and are trying to keep our lives together - there is no other treatment possible under the circumstances. We have been home for 10 days now after Sara spent some time in hospital and Chch while her condition was stabilised. Sara is now spending large amounts of the day resting and sleeping and being cared for by us and the local GP, district nurse, the palliative care team in Timaru with advice from the team at CHOC.
We are spending Xmas at home with family and are just taking each day as it comes. Sara is fairly comfortable most of the time now that the drug regime has been sorted and enjoys her awake time with us and the occassional visitor.
We haven't had the energy or inclination to do our usual Xmas letter but have really enjoyed all the ones we have been getting and the many other messages of support. A big thank you to everyone who has been supportive during the last few weeks especially since we have been home with meals and other gifts.
Sara is really looking forward to Xmas Day and she can't wait to open her pile of pressies under the tree! We are treasuring every minute we have with our precious and beautiful Sara Jane who still shines with her beautiful smile, a heart of pink and wonderful sense of humour.
If you would like to visit please ring or text first and keep your visit short for Sara's sake and to allow us the time we need with her as a family in the precious hours when she is up to having some fun and time together.
Arohanui to you all and we wish you all a happy Xmas.
Rob, Sue Sara and Kate (whose been visiting lots from her flat in town)
posted by Rob Young @ 9:00 pm
30 comments
30 Comments:
hello there old souly! once again am the first blogger! (getting good at this). was suprised to see a new blog! it is very sad. will be seeing you next week! with some yum chocolate chip biscuts and chocolate balls! bet you cant wait to christmas hehe don't forget to leave something out for santa!
michaels home, very exciting! think i told you that the other day though, oops! anyway better skidattle, baking a pav for tomomrrow!! will send your exciting daily news flash tonight (befpore santa visits!!) catch you in a few days, look after youself and the family! once again thanks sue for your up to date texts its grreat!
love ya sara , soul mate kate x0oxo
And hope that ma bit of pizza bread was good last night! gunna be eating it next week thats for sure! yumyumyum!
Hey,
Very sorry to hear your news, we all had our fingers crossd in hope for you all. Have an amazing xmas together. we are thinking of you lots.
Lots of love
Ruth, Susan and Shona
Hi Rob, Sue, Kate and Sara,
Thinking of you in this very difficult time.
Have a peaceful Christmasday.
Love
Anne-Marie, Gren, Anthea and Alan-Gleave
Hello everyone,
So sorry to hear your news. You are all always in my thoughts. I hope you have a nice, peaceful Christmas together. I'll be thinking of you.
All my love,
Susan xxxx
Hello Young family, i just wrote something and then the computer stopped working so ill try again!... hope your xmas day went wel, i just got home from a huge family dinner and b4 that lunch-i dont think im going to be able to sleep on such a full stomach!! Hope things are good in beautiful twizel, thinking of you always Sara (whenever i do your gorgeous smile comes to mind!) take care and stay strong. Love tesh xoxo
Hi Sara and family, for a long time I have followed your journey just sitting quietly reading, I got your link right at the start from the Trade Me message boards. I have read your blogs from your wonderful friends and supporters, I have laughed a lot and today I logged in and was so so saddened to see your news. Please know that a complete stranger out here in Cyberland is praying for you and thinking of you often. Sara I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and Santa spoilt you rotten, just smile hun and he will! I hope you are without pain and resting well. To the rest of the Youngs what a wonderful strong family you are, take care of all of you. My thoughts and good wishes heading your way. Marie
All our love and thoughts are with you.
So did that old fat guy in the red suit sqeeeeeeeeze down your chimney? or was it the new slim trim model who's sunsmart as well with the jandals and slip slop slap and the big brim sunhat????
And did ya leave any haybales out for the reindeer????
big hugs and smiles
to a haybale lover
hope you guys are having some very special moments 2gether. Thinking of you all with love. jacqui, Josh Jory and Jake
Hey Jerry!
sorry i haven't been in contact. stupid cellphones! But i'm borroing someones computer now so i can let you know i still love you! lol. hope you had a good xmas. my bag had my some of pressies in it so i had to have my own little mini xmas when they finally arrived yesterday! so yes i have been skiing in the nude untill now!lol just kidding. was santa good to you? i hope your still using your stocking. (i won't call it your xmas stocking because you can use it now, after xmas. hope your resting up, and not feeling too crappy. I'll send you another postcard tomorrow. have you got my other one yet? i sent it a while ago but everything closes here for like 3 days over xmas icluding postal stuff. willis arrived today, and he manadged not to get lost. miracle! there isn't much snow here, its a bit warm, which i actually like. ( just don't tell any skiers i said that, shhhhhh) I might try txting you again tomorrow and see if my phone has fixed itself. Its because its not one of those awesome as blue brick nokia like ours. good ole 2280 all the way! better go, have to be in bed early! but you guys are prob waking up around nowish! Thats so weird! hehehe i still find it cool!
lots of love to the whole family. i miss you!
caketin! xoxoxo merry christmas! and i will blog you before new year!
Hi Young family
I have been following your journey since the beginning also and was saddened to hear your news however it has been a blessing that you have had all this extra time to spend with each other. Know that another stranger is out here thinking of you all and praying hard that Sara is kept pain free and that this experience holds the family together and makes you all stronger.
Kia Kaha
Hey Sara, hope that Santa was soo good to you.
just my note of news from the maple leaf country. I am blogging again, wish I could really pop by again who know when?? I was soo happy to get to NZ in November.
Wow we are still getting more snow. I think skiing might happen until April of later at this rate.
We all might be in need of some thawing in the NZ sun by then.
Not a day goes by when your voices and smiles don't pop into my head. I see you right now just sitting in your great comfy chair. keep on keeping on and when you can't have a big sleep. be comfy and be strong together take all the time you can and just be.
"the colder my toes tiddly pom, the colder my nose tiddly pom."
I am thinking of you and sending you warm wishes.keep your nose warm.
big hugs and smiles Ruth, and Lothar and Stefan the shadow.
Hi Sue and Rob, Kate and Sarah
Just a little note to you all to say that you are very much in our thoughts here in Timaru too. I wish for you calmness and strength and all the time -the real sense of how many people all around you are supportive and loving. And that this makes a difference.
Please don't hesitate to call on either Ian or me for anything we can help with.
Hey Young family,
just read your latest news after talking to Robyn Massam yesterday. So very sorry to hear Sara is not so well again. What a roller coaster ride. Anyhow, just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you and sending lots of love and hope your way.Will see you all somewhere, sometime no doubt. Glad Santa made it through - should feel like home to him the weather we've had lately! Thinking of you all, Lots of love
Bu
Hello Sara,
It's been so long since i've been home to Twizel, and news tends to be relayed to me rather delayed here in sydney. My life is so heactic. Mum (julie-ann) gave me this web address and i was very saddened to read your news.
I admire your strength, determination and never give up attitude and motto.
I hope that you had a great christmas and new year and that you and your family are spending each precious day happy together.
Thankyou because you have made me realise importance of family and i'm going to stop being a workaholic and make effort to visit mine soon.
you are in my thoughts prayers.
Larissa Lancaster xox
Dear young crew
Our thoughts and big hugs go your way from the gang in Tauranga
Hi Sara and the Young Family, Hope you are having some wonderful fun filled family time together, Hope Santa was good to you Sara and that you are free from pain. You are all so very much in my thoughts. Marie ( the one whom lurks and reads )
Thanks Sue for filling us in via txt the other day...we really appreciated it.we are really sad and pissed off at Sara's news...I suppose I shouldn't have said that but we are!
It is only a year ago since we met you up at the 'sounds and I am thankful that we did as it has changed our outlook a wee bit ...you guys and your attitude to the journey you have had this past year are an inspiration to all you have touched...even perfect strangers on the net!
take care ,thinking of you constantly
Janine,Rob,Sam and Sophie xoxo
P.S. we have a new addition to the family..a rowdy show-off cockatiel called Buddy who loves the Foo Fighters...he sends a loud sqwark to you all too...the fat man in red had a hell of a laugh when he dropped him off!!!
Hi Sara, and family,
Hmm the more it snows, yes we are thinking of you as it snows more and more. Skiing wow skiing!!!!!
We are wondering if we will grow skis on our feet to get around here in the north.
Hugs and more snowy greetings from us with warm hearts
Ruth and Lothar plus the dog Tuchodi.
hello there! i now have two! hope you are having good sleeps and eating yummies, look after yourself and thanks for texting sue!
catch ya, love soul mate kate
Sara
You are a bright star. I can't find the words to express what i am feeling since your mum emailed me back. You always stood out to me. You were sweet kind and could crack up the entire room. You have something so rare and special that made people sit up and take notice of you.
I got out my photos of the crucible the other day and just sat looking at them.
I hope you are as comfortable as they can make you. My prayers are with you.
to Sue and rob.
I hope that you are able to make the most of every precious moment. Both my thought and prayers are with you
Hi Sara, just popping in to see how things are. Hope you are safe, warm, comfortable and when you are up to it sharing that beautiful smile I have often looked at in your photos on here. I also hope that you are free from any discomfort and resting well. I know that you will be secure and safe and surrounded by love, it shows on your whole blog time and time again, from your whanau, friends and all those whom have had the pleasure of your company. My hugs thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Marie ( A lurker of your site, and cyber stranger whom wishes you well! )
Dear Sara,
Sharing time with you tonight was special. Sad,but very special. You were sleepy, but we know you were listening 'cos we saw that little smile when we mentioned Richie McCaw! (And yes, I admit to it - I took 3 pebbles from your driveway on the way out,in case he'd walked on them).
Sara, we want you to know that you have knocked our sox off. What is happening now is so bloody unfair, and I wish I had the right words.
Our rowing times and school times and family times with you will be re-lived over and over,always with a smile. Hey,did you know that you are the most HUGGIEST person I have ever met? I grew up in a family who don't 'do' hugs, so at first I didn't know how to cope with your out-of-the-blue, random, laughing, sad/happy/whatever the reason bear-hugs!! Thanks for helping me move on from there, and i really miss those hugs.
As we left your house tonight, from the end of the drive we saw the amazing sight of Comet McNaught, hanging low in the sky over Lake Ruataniwha, with a star-bright tail that is apparently 15 million kilometres long.
That's nothing, compared to the awesome shining star that you are, and will be forever.
Here's the big hug we couldn't give you tonight......
Rob, Sue, & Kate - Sara could not be in a better place, the love and gentle peacefulness in your house can be felt from the first step inside the door.
Heaps of love fron Val and Wayne.
Thank you Val for those beautiful words and update for those of us far away but with our thoughts constantly returning to Mackenzie Drive in the Mackenzie Basin.
Sara's love has united us all.
Val, thank you for sharing your time with Sara. Very precious and connecting.
All our love and gentle hugs
Anne, Bob, Hayden and Bridie
Heya sara cous!
just on way to bed, hope you had a good day today!! better than cleaning poos out of the pool (oh to be a lifeguard!) starting at 6am so better chop chop! thinking of tou always lotsa love soul mate kate xox
just checking in to send you our love...take care
Janine xoxo
Back to the white world of Canada and it seems so far from the green warmth and lushness of New Zealand.
We bring home special memories of our time spent with Sara, Kate, Sue and Rob. Thanks so very much for sharing your special time with us.
Our hearts are with you, now and always. Sara, Kate, Sue and Rob your your love surrounds us all. It is brighter and warmer than any comet could ever be. Thank You.
I have been reading your blog site everyday not knowing what to say or contribute to what has already been said. You are in my thoughts every day and every night. Take comfort in knowing that the arms of all your friends and relatives are embracing you with love and will be with you every step of the way.
Love always,
Susan xxxx
Hi, I too come in and read your site most days Sara, just browse your pics and each and everyone has you with a beautiful smile, I have not had the privelege of meeting you or your family, but just wanted you to know that I think of you often and hope that you are resting well and comfortable. Big cyber hugs to you and your tremendous family! Marie
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