Good news!

Everytime I get on here I know Fort is up in heaven thinking..."Geez, Ang, get off my blog already." Pam decided it was best for her to be mad at me than her so here goes...

There were recently 2 awards given out in Fort's name...

*The Cincinnati Kelts Rugby Club gave out the Melissa "Fort" McLaughlin Spirit Award to Patty Williams.

*Our alma matter Kettering Fairmont High School gave the the Melissa Fortener McLaughlin "B" Positive Spirit Award to Cassie Sant. Cassie is a tremendous basketball player at Fairmont and is being heavily recruited by a number of schools...Notre Dame to name just one! I am sure that was music to the ears of both Donnie and Nick who are huge Fighting Irish fans!



I believe both are to be annually given awards. At Fairmont there will be a plaque put in the Trent Arena and new award winners will be added to it each year.

I know Fort would have been (and is) honored to have these 2 amazing awards given to such deserving people in her honor...her family and, of course, I could not be more proud!

Thanks for tuning in...as news and updates become available you will be the first to know so keep tuning in!

Lots of love,
Ang

Upcoming events....

Just a few things...

Thank you to everyone who has sent donations for the Susan Komen 3-day Walk for the Cure. T-shirts will be shipped this week! The fundraiser at Solar Tan will last until the end of March for anyone who would still like to get a t-shirt.

For those of you that would like to donate directly to the walk here's what you need to do:

Go to www.the3day.org, click on Donate, go to search for a participant and type in Pam Fortener (team name is Fort's Yayas for Tatas), from there you can click on Donate to Pam.

On a side note...when Pam and Melissa were on their way to Atlanta for the walk in 2007 Pam tried to let Melissa know that it was okay if she needed to rest or take breaks...Fort said, "We're gonna finish this race on bloody knuckles if we have to!" Pam says she will finish this next race the same way if she has to. Words to live by...

Also, here is some info on another fundraiser for the walk. Everyone is welcome. Please attend if you can...should be lots of fun!

Fort’s Yaya’s for Tatas*
HELP US GET TO THE
BREAST CANCER 60 mile, 3 DAY WALK ATLANTA,GA October 2009
Sharon Olander Tangeman, Pam Rotert Fortener,
Karyn Tangeman Honigford, Mandi Hoskins Smith
PARTY WITH A PURPOSE…WE ARE WALKING TO honor the courageous battle with breast cancer that we loved Melissa Fortener McLaughlin through…we are also raising $ for research for a cure and for providing mammograms for uninsured women as well as raising awareness of the impact that breast cancer is having on women of all ages throughout our country. Each of us must raise a minimum of $2300 to participate. Please help us! www.the3day.org *our team name will get you to us! *
The party details are:

SATURDAY MAY 16TH 2009
6PM-MIDNIGHT
RED CARPET TAVERN WAYNE AVE. DAYTON OH 45410

There will be special drinks available, we will get a portion of each shrimp dinner sold, we’ll be selling pink beads, jello shots and 50/50 raffle tickets. Buttons and car magnets will also be available for purchase. There will be door prizes and karaoke and lots of fun! Please join us on Saturday May 16th and be a part of our effort to make a difference!
Contact us: 937-470-3147 sharonltangeman@aol.com

Thanks to everyone for continued support, love, thoughfulness and generosity!

Angie and Pam

Fundraiser at Solar Tan

Not sure how many folks are still checking Fort's blog but wanted to post this information for anyone who might still be logging in. One of Pam's old roomies has a daughter (Heather) who runs a tanning salon called Solar Tan on Alex Rd in Miamisburg. She is having a fundraiser in Fort's name during the month of March. All proceeds will go toward Pam's (Fort's Mom) 3-day Susan Komen Walk for the Cure in Atlanta this fall. Its a very nice and clean salon with 18 beds, Mystic Tan and a water massaging bed. If you donate $5 you will receive a pair of pink Eyepodz that hook on to your keys. They even have a cute pink ribbon attached. For $25 you will receive a tshirt (pink for ladies/black for men) that says, "Be positive...it's not just my blood type" and it will show Fort's name and blog address. Spring break and summer are right around the corner so Solar Tan would be a great way to get your bronzing started while also aiding in the fight against breast cancer.

A few folks who aren't living in town have asked if they can still donate. You can make a check out to Susan Komen Walk for the Cure and it can be sent to me along with your t-shirt size and address. My address is:
Angie Warner
PO Box 482
Wilberforce OH 45384

If you have any questions, please email me at awarner24@yahoo.com. Thanks in advance for your love, time and support.
Angie

Fort's Photos

Here are a few pictures that Fort took on her camera in the past few weeks. Thought you might enjoy them...

Melissa "Fort" passed away peacefully early Saturday morning January 3, 2009, two days before her 31st birthday at Hospice. She was surrounded by her family and friends. Her husband, mom and dad would like to thank all of you who have been faithful readers of her blog. She so looked forward to getting her blog updated - especially the last few weeks. Her last post was two days before Christmas, and she was HOME. She said it was the best Christmas ever. She was home until December 29, when she returned to Hospice because her pain was increasing and her breathing was worsening. They kept her comfortable, and we kept Drew around to keep her spirits up. She never gave up hope that she would get better, and kept up her sense of humor until the end.
You can read her original blog @ www.fortscancersux1.blogspot.com
B POSITIVE is a continuation of her original blog.
We are researching the possibility of having her blog published. We will update the progress in a future post.

With much appreciation, Fort's mom

FIVE DAYS HOME FROM HOSPICE AND COUNTING!!!

Well, its been five days since my return and I think I can comfortably say that things are slowly getting better. While the couch and tree at Hospice made for a nice backgound for a family picture, they all came out a little fuzzy and I was excited about the new wig so we had mom''s co-worker Missy bring her mom Linda out to take some new family portraits and they turned out great. Definitely a fun assortment! Mere, Nick & Drew:

Im lovin' the Argyle!


Ladies in red:


Mom & Dad:

J-Mac, Dad, Drew, Nick, Me, Mom, Mom, Mere.

Me & J-Mac:

Visitors come over for a little Mama Mia Action...

So, this was pretty funny...we wanted to watch a "chick flick" when Mere, Ang & Trace were coming over Sunday night and we've been kicking the idea of picking up Mama Mia. Earlier that day Kelly B (I know its different now but remember? Newer, friendlier, no last names blogs?) Anyhoo, Kelly and her mom BRING ME MAMA MIA!!!! Crazy!! So that worked out. That was not an exciting story at ALL, but Kelly has been requesting more driver frustration stories and since I havent driven in a month....well....Im graspin' for straws here.

I dont know if Im holding a box of kleenex in my shirt or WHAT HERE. Really I have no clue. (Mere, Ang, Me, Trace)

Nick was actually supposed to be in this picture but he was embarassed to be connected in anyway to this movie. He headed upstairs to watch football.

Earlier that day, I took my VERY FIRST road trip outside of my bed to Tar-Jay and it was WONDERFUL! We wanted to get the wheelchair and the oxygen cannulas tested out because I anticipate more of these little roadtrips coming up in the future. It was a just a little bit frustrating for it being the first time, thats all. The Oxygen tank was kind of pressing into my back at first so we had to run out to the car and get a blanket but that helped to remedy that problem fairly quickly.

Here were my chauffers:

We didnt stay too terribly long since I only had like 2 hours on my tank. Im pretty pumped about what I got for mom and dad. Often times thats because it benefits me as well....and the whole family....I wont lie. They ARE going to love it though

Old leftover pics from Hospice!

Here were a few shots that never made it on the any of the old Hospice posts...or maybe they did, I dont think they did though. Im slowly coming out of the fog. Bear with me.

Drew wanted in on the wig action too!

Me & my Godfather, Mike:

Howard & Drew - I dont know if Ive ever given Howard any props on this blog before, but he has always been my "Uncle-that-really-wasnt" who is one of the most amazing people Ive ever known. He's kind and has racked up crazy volunteering hours at Hospice for many years. He's a veteran with an impressive sinking ship story. He's amazing. There's nobody like him.

Mere, Drew, Me, half of Alisa's face & Vivi:

Santa & the Elves visited Drew. We werent expecting them so unfortunately we werent prepared with some some super cute outfit, but he did pretty well considering!

REFELCTIONS ON FIVE DAYS POST-HOSPICE:I will bullet point below some of my reflections on life post-Hospice. Im not promising insight, only honesty.

• Hospice nurses are a rare breed. They take their jobs personally and each bring their own unique quality to the task at hand. There's nothing they havent seen and make sure that you know that and are comfortable at all times.


• Since Ive been home I have FOURTEEN medications that I have to take throughout the day. 6a, 9a,12p, 530p, 9p (I think) I have my cell phone timer set but it seems as though mom has reset hers so that she can slide in 7 minutes earlier. At 5:57am half the family storm troopers the living room to make sure I take my two 6am pills. (at least I think theres 2 at 6a)


• Visitors in socks, you will shock me. Ang spent the night the other night and woke up at 4am to find that my cannula had slid out of my nose. (Not good) she bends over and gives me a whammy of a shock to the face. She didnt slap me, she just gently poked me right up the middle to try and push up the cannula.


• Visitors in general, watch out for my oxygen tubing. Everyone trips over it, especially dad. He left for work the other day and almost fell on top of me, no joke.


• My friend Kelly from OU came to visit me today with her little boys. She asked me if I was scared. I told her that in all honesty, I wasn't. I really want to get better and get back to work. Thats it. Im still trying to sort out all the emotions and fear is not breaking in thank Goodness.


• Mom happened to be sitting there when she asked that question (Or something similar) and she said that it was scary when I was taken to the ICU when my HR went through the roof. She said it was quite scary when they had to give me two shots that stopped my heart. It was one of those "DUH" moments. I completely forgot about that night. I completely forgot there were 60 people that showed up that night. I do remember them giving me two shots that made my heart stop but I dont remember much. I remember it hurt like hell and people were actually coming in to watch. One of the nurses actually looked at me and was all, "Yeah, we dont get to see this very often" like she was excited to see it! Wha?


• Hospice has set my parents living room up into a pretty sweet little bedroom for me. Ive got a nice reclining bed smack in the middle of the room with a rolling table, not too shabby!


• Im reallly trying to do as much as I can by myself but I am getting a lot of help physically and entertainment-wise. Ive been yet to be denied the smallest task and between my brother and Angie, there are no movies I have yet to see.


• One little perk of Hospice services would have to be the Massage Therapy - WHAT? YES! Massage Therapy! I have some serious back issues that could use some deep tissue massage and some knots pressed out in the worse way.


• I also had my first appointment with a physical therapist last night, which basically turned into a one hour long Health Q&A of questions Ive been answering and could answer in my sleep...Allergies....Surgeries.....General Health questions..... Didn't we get all this information in the last five years? Doesn't the entire tri-state area know my health history? But that was her job so she had to do it so I cant blame her for that! I think we both agreed that the next time she comes, I just need a few of those little bands and some worksheets with exercizes I can do to strengthen my quads. Im having a really hard time getting up off the toilet because I have no leg muscles!


• I can do something I NEVER thought Id be able to do...CROSS MY LEGS TWICE! you know, cross them over one knee, and then tuck my foot under my ankle. THANKS MUSCULAR ATROPY! Unfortunately my legs dont look fit, they just look wobbly and dry, but Im working on it.


• John and I have gotten some amazing contributions in the last few weeks....the AD at Kettering Middle School dropped off $300 from the wrestling squad who just completed their winter fundraiser chose to give us their money - apparently there are a number of wrestlers who also played football for Coach Fortener (my dad) and knew I was heading into Hospice and suggested they make the donation. I know my dad was really touched by the gesture.

I think thats about all I can contribute to this post today. Hopefully as the days pass, Ill start feeling better, maybe dedicate

Here are some pics from today - Kelly with her kiddies visit, and later, a visit from my rugby teammate Netti en route to Ottowa - OHIO!

Tomorrow Ill be heading off to Hospice in the morning for another transfusion. WHOOPIDIDO!

Everyone have a great Christmas eve. If I get some good transfusion stories/pictures, Ill be sure to post. Doubtful though!