Comments on: Updates on Kelly, Angela… http://www.girlsfromames.com/2009/05/20/updates-on-kelly-angela/ The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and Friendship By Jeffrey Zaslow co-author of The Last Lecture Sat, 22 Oct 2011 18:32:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Barbara http://www.girlsfromames.com/2009/05/20/updates-on-kelly-angela/comment-page-1/#comment-875 Barbara Wed, 25 May 2011 22:17:03 +0000 http://www.girlsfromames.com/?p=319#comment-875 Just finished the book. Wow! Had my first mastectomy when I was 43, just in time for 25th hs reunion. Was clear for 25 yrs and as I prepared for my 50th got the "news" again. Told doc to wait til after reunion. Had surgery both times and no further treatment. Now 7 1/2 yrs away and a healthy old broad, who still works part time. Good luck sisters. Once we get the news we are members together in a club that strenthened me in many ways. God bless all of you 10 girls. I still have 2 of my hs buddies! Aren't we lucky? Just finished the book. Wow! Had my first mastectomy when I was 43, just in time for 25th hs reunion. Was clear for 25 yrs and as I prepared for my 50th got the “news” again. Told doc to wait til after reunion. Had surgery both times and no further treatment. Now 7 1/2 yrs away and a healthy old broad, who still works part time. Good luck sisters. Once we get the news we are members together in a club that strenthened me in many ways. God bless all of you 10 girls. I still have 2 of my hs buddies! Aren’t we lucky?

]]> By: Kim http://www.girlsfromames.com/2009/05/20/updates-on-kelly-angela/comment-page-1/#comment-872 Kim Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:47:38 +0000 http://www.girlsfromames.com/?p=319#comment-872 Hi Ames "Sisters", I have just finished reading "your" book and your experieces have brought back so many wonderful memories of my childhood and my adulthood as I am also one of a special group of women that are very much connected as you all are. We I talk of my group of friends from school to anyone they are completely taken aback by how close we all still are 30+ years after high school. What is ironic about our friendship is that none of us has moved away....not one....maybe in a neighboring town, but that is mear miles apart. I also felt left hanging with what was going on with Angela and Kelly so I was so glad to read that both of you are clearly on the road to recovery and claiming your lives back from this terrible disease we call "cancer". My bests wishes are not only for Kelly and Angela, but for all of you and the special friendship you share. God bless. Hi Ames “Sisters”,

I have just finished reading “your” book and your experieces have brought back so many wonderful memories of my childhood and my adulthood as I am also one of a special group of women that are very much connected as you all are. We I talk of my group of friends from school to anyone they are completely taken aback by how close we all still are 30+ years after high school. What is ironic about our friendship is that none of us has moved away….not one….maybe in a neighboring town, but that is mear miles apart. I also felt left hanging with what was going on with Angela and Kelly so I was so glad to read that both of you are clearly on the road to recovery and claiming your lives back from this terrible disease we call “cancer”. My bests wishes are not only for Kelly and Angela, but for all of you and the special friendship you share. God bless.

]]> By: Vicki http://www.girlsfromames.com/2009/05/20/updates-on-kelly-angela/comment-page-1/#comment-871 Vicki Sat, 29 Jan 2011 07:13:51 +0000 http://www.girlsfromames.com/?p=319#comment-871 Hi Ames' girls, I'm all the way in Sydney, Australia and have just finished reading your book. I enjoyed reading your book and will now pass it on to a friend who will then pass it onto another. I came across your book by chance (and if you have the sense of humour that I think you do, I know you'll enjoy this) in the $2 bin at a local book shop. When I first saw the book I didn't know anything about you, I was in a hurry and decided, well the cover looks appealing and it's only two dollars so I'll buy it. After I realised what an interesting book it was I went back to buy copies for my friends and sister, but they were all sold out. I feel that I know you all, and being of the same age, I can relate to your experiences. I hope you continue with the updates. Thank you so much for sharing your lives with us. Hi Ames’ girls,
I’m all the way in Sydney, Australia and have just finished reading your book. I enjoyed reading your book and will now pass it on to a friend who will then pass it onto another. I came across your book by chance (and if you have the sense of humour that I think you do, I know you’ll enjoy this) in the $2 bin at a local book shop. When I first saw the book I didn’t know anything about you, I was in a hurry and decided, well the cover looks appealing and it’s only two dollars so I’ll buy it. After I realised what an interesting book it was I went back to buy copies for my friends and sister, but they were all sold out.
I feel that I know you all, and being of the same age, I can relate to your experiences. I hope you continue with the updates. Thank you so much for sharing your lives with us.

]]> By: Kris http://www.girlsfromames.com/2009/05/20/updates-on-kelly-angela/comment-page-1/#comment-392 Kris Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:00:53 +0000 http://www.girlsfromames.com/?p=319#comment-392 My mom sent me this book after my high school girlfriends and I got together for what we hope to be an annual event. The fact that we too grew up in Iowa in the 80s, we had so many of the same memories and life experiences, it amazed me. I had to put the book down a few times to 'get myself together', but it is such a wonderful way to remind us all the power and need of our girl friends. Thank you for sharing your lives with the world. I hope you are each blessed for your courage to expose your lives! My mom sent me this book after my high school girlfriends and I got together for what we hope to be an annual event. The fact that we too grew up in Iowa in the 80s, we had so many of the same memories and life experiences, it amazed me. I had to put the book down a few times to ‘get myself together’, but it is such a wonderful way to remind us all the power and need of our girl friends. Thank you for sharing your lives with the world. I hope you are each blessed for your courage to expose your lives!

]]> By: karin http://www.girlsfromames.com/2009/05/20/updates-on-kelly-angela/comment-page-1/#comment-332 karin Sat, 03 Jul 2010 06:19:36 +0000 http://www.girlsfromames.com/?p=319#comment-332 Wow ladies (and Mr. Zaslow) what a story. No, actually non-fiction that begins in the fertile, rich soil of Iowa and grows verdently..........sprouting at college, disseminating to different US cities, marrying (pollinating, or not) and procreating (or not.) You miraculous "Girls" grow with all life's challenges and triumphs. And I really think those challenges and triumphs are both the BIG things AND the not-so-big-things. I am a changed person for reading this book/testimony. Truthfully, I thought it would be a light-weight read. Not so! This is profound fodder. 'Friendship fluff stuff' that really knives to the marrow of our collective, holistic female existance. Pretty primordial. You Ames chicks are XX-gene heroines. What amazing, special people you are individually, and as a beautiful, dynamic, evolving group. Disclaimer: I was reading along blissfully and somewhat naively wondering how the heck breast cancer (or any cancer? Given your Ames Project proximity.....AND don't even tell me what happens with the soccer complex that Marylin's dad fought againest) had bypassed ya'll. DUMB ME then got Kelly and Angela's diagnosis. I was diagnosed December 4 of 2008 with a very aggressive stage 3 form of breast cancer. Now, with your book, I have re-cried my bald head, crappy chemo, my bilateral radical mastectomy, breast infections that resulted from said-opted-for-bilateral-mastectomy, radiation that burned the living crap out of my poor "new boobs". ETC. ETC. Now those stupid new boobs have to be re-constructed. But as I am sure Kelly and Angela would agree...it is nothing compared to the alternate picture. I am living and will be here to yell at my grandkids......Oh, I forgot, we won't/can't yell at grandkids. Maybe at our deaf husbands? hee. Angela and Kelly are super warriors in the talks and experiences of breast cancer.....and Karla is in another stratosphere with Christie. (We moms can handle ANYTHING, but when %#*@!^ happens to our kids...watch the ^$#@&*! out! Karla, you go beyond words... Bruce and Ben and Jackie too, of-course!) But all the Ames girls have been through EVERYTHING (good and bad, solo and collectively)............I am jealous and impressed by the fortitude and flexibily of your friendship ties. Rock-star- (Rod Stewart? Bruce?)kudos to ALL OF YOU. AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A SYNERGISTIC WHOLE. OK one bitchy mean-girl question...........no alcoholism? (SMILE! I knew you were all better than my pathetic-frustrated-housewife-mother-of-four self. Ok, won't go there....I am Jenny's sort-of-neighbor in Northern Va. I am a tad (wee-tad) younger at now age 45 than ya'll.......and I finally kicked wine as my cancer crutch 4 1/2 months ago. Thanks for this "real-life story" that has helped me tremendously. You inspire more than you know. I think I can do anything now. I have wonderful friends that I now savor and relish more than ever. XOXOXOX to you all. Your gift and example(s) live on in spades. Karin Wow ladies (and Mr. Zaslow) what a story. No, actually non-fiction that begins in the fertile, rich soil of Iowa and grows verdently……….sprouting at college, disseminating to different US cities, marrying (pollinating, or not) and procreating (or not.) You miraculous “Girls” grow with all life’s challenges and triumphs. And I really think those challenges and triumphs are both the BIG things AND the not-so-big-things.

I am a changed person for reading this book/testimony. Truthfully, I thought it would be a light-weight read. Not so! This is profound fodder. ‘Friendship fluff stuff’ that really knives to the marrow of our collective, holistic female existance. Pretty primordial.

You Ames chicks are XX-gene heroines. What amazing, special people you are individually, and as a beautiful, dynamic, evolving group.

Disclaimer: I was reading along blissfully and somewhat naively wondering how the heck breast cancer (or any cancer? Given your Ames Project proximity…..AND don’t even tell me what happens with the soccer complex that Marylin’s dad fought againest) had bypassed ya’ll. DUMB ME then got Kelly and Angela’s diagnosis. I was diagnosed December 4 of 2008 with a very aggressive stage 3 form of breast cancer. Now, with your book, I have re-cried my bald head, crappy chemo, my bilateral radical mastectomy, breast infections that resulted from said-opted-for-bilateral-mastectomy, radiation that burned the living crap out of my poor “new boobs”. ETC. ETC. Now those stupid new boobs have to be re-constructed. But as I am sure Kelly and Angela would agree…it is nothing compared to the alternate picture. I am living and will be here to yell at my grandkids……Oh, I forgot, we won’t/can’t yell at grandkids. Maybe at our deaf husbands? hee.

Angela and Kelly are super warriors in the talks and experiences of breast cancer…..and Karla is in another stratosphere with Christie. (We moms can handle ANYTHING, but when %#*@!^ happens to our kids…watch the ^$#@&*! out! Karla, you go beyond words… Bruce and Ben and Jackie too, of-course!) But all the Ames girls have been through EVERYTHING (good and bad, solo and collectively)…………I am jealous and impressed by the fortitude and flexibily of your friendship ties. Rock-star- (Rod Stewart? Bruce?)kudos to ALL OF YOU. AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A SYNERGISTIC WHOLE.

OK one bitchy mean-girl question………..no alcoholism? (SMILE! I knew you were all better than my pathetic-frustrated-housewife-mother-of-four self. Ok, won’t go there….I am Jenny’s sort-of-neighbor in Northern Va.

I am a tad (wee-tad) younger at now age 45 than ya’ll…….and I finally kicked wine as my cancer crutch 4 1/2 months ago.

Thanks for this “real-life story” that has helped me tremendously. You inspire more than you know. I think I can do anything now. I have wonderful friends that I now savor and relish more than ever.

XOXOXOX to you all. Your gift and example(s) live on in spades.

Karin

]]> By: Autumn Parker http://www.girlsfromames.com/2009/05/20/updates-on-kelly-angela/comment-page-1/#comment-293 Autumn Parker Sat, 12 Jun 2010 21:53:23 +0000 http://www.girlsfromames.com/?p=319#comment-293 I'm thanking God right now, because it really is wonderful that you guys are healthy-ish again. I'm so sorry for everything; you have all my sympathy and a lot of my love (though I'm thirteen, so I honestly can't say I can empathize). A shout out to all of you girls: I want to be like you. You're all so strong, and you cope so well with tragedy. I want to be as strong as you all are. I came across the book because of financial problems; my mom has been taking surveys to raise up extra money, and one of the surveys was that she read this book and write a review. Her name is Roxanna Parker and she was involved in a near-fatal car accident in 04 (I think. I haven't kept track of the year), so it's no surprise she doesn't make much money. I haven't read her review, but she gave me the book right after she was done with it, with the mere instructions to "read it". I did. And I'm extremely glad for that, because your stories have inspired me in a way I didn't think possible. Yesterday as I was reading it I sat and thought about what I would do if I had any form of cancer. These thoughts were based off Christie; the way she handled it so beautifully made me think of how I'd react to cancer. I conjured up a scenario in my head in which I had cancer that was in my legs. A doctor would have said to me, "You have two options. Amputate your legs and live, or don't amputate and most likely die." Mom would have cried and dad would have, too. Ethan (older brother) most likely would have broken down as well. I would have cried and thought long and hard, and I like to think I'd have decided to lose my legs. I value life more than ever, in part due to reading your story. Yes, an unlikely scenario, but it put things into perspective. I sincerely thank you for sharing your wonderful stories with us; it greatly helped me and no doubt countless others. <3 I’m thanking God right now, because it really is wonderful that you guys are healthy-ish again. I’m so sorry for everything; you have all my sympathy and a lot of my love (though I’m thirteen, so I honestly can’t say I can empathize). A shout out to all of you girls: I want to be like you. You’re all so strong, and you cope so well with tragedy. I want to be as strong as you all are.

I came across the book because of financial problems; my mom has been taking surveys to raise up extra money, and one of the surveys was that she read this book and write a review. Her name is Roxanna Parker and she was involved in a near-fatal car accident in 04 (I think. I haven’t kept track of the year), so it’s no surprise she doesn’t make much money.

I haven’t read her review, but she gave me the book right after she was done with it, with the mere instructions to “read it”. I did. And I’m extremely glad for that, because your stories have inspired me in a way I didn’t think possible.

Yesterday as I was reading it I sat and thought about what I would do if I had any form of cancer. These thoughts were based off Christie; the way she handled it so beautifully made me think of how I’d react to cancer. I conjured up a scenario in my head in which I had cancer that was in my legs. A doctor would have said to me, “You have two options. Amputate your legs and live, or don’t amputate and most likely die.” Mom would have cried and dad would have, too. Ethan (older brother) most likely would have broken down as well.

I would have cried and thought long and hard, and I like to think I’d have decided to lose my legs. I value life more than ever, in part due to reading your story.

Yes, an unlikely scenario, but it put things into perspective. I sincerely thank you for sharing your wonderful stories with us; it greatly helped me and no doubt countless others.

<3

]]> By: Rita See http://www.girlsfromames.com/2009/05/20/updates-on-kelly-angela/comment-page-1/#comment-228 Rita See Wed, 05 May 2010 02:40:32 +0000 http://www.girlsfromames.com/?p=319#comment-228 What a beautiful read. My daughter just gave me this book for Mother's Day. It made me realize how precious my female friends are. You are all in my thoughts and prayers! What a beautiful read. My daughter just gave me this book for Mother’s Day. It made me realize how precious my female friends are. You are all in my thoughts and prayers!

]]> By: Carol A Sullivan http://www.girlsfromames.com/2009/05/20/updates-on-kelly-angela/comment-page-1/#comment-201 Carol A Sullivan Mon, 05 Apr 2010 01:16:03 +0000 http://www.girlsfromames.com/?p=319#comment-201 I loved the book! I have 4 girls-ages 51 49 47-45 and I understand how you would want to write this book for your children. I have been a member of the WINNERS for 25 years and this year (2010)we lost a valued member-Joan-who died from cancer. WINNERS is an acronymn for Women In Need of Nonsense,Estrogen,Relaxation and Shoes. Between us we had 28 children and it all started at the beach. We had such a good time at the beach, when the weather turned cold, we came inside and started our club. I loved your parents and I can relate to their age group. I am now 72 and our little group hasn't stopped but we are mourning our beautiful Joan. I loved the book! I have 4 girls-ages 51 49 47-45 and I understand how you would want to write this book for your children.
I have been a member of the WINNERS for 25 years and this year (2010)we lost a valued member-Joan-who died from cancer. WINNERS is an acronymn for Women In Need of Nonsense,Estrogen,Relaxation and Shoes.
Between us we had 28 children and it all started at the beach. We had such a good time at the beach, when the weather turned cold, we came inside and started our club. I loved your parents and I can relate to their age group. I am now 72 and our little group hasn’t stopped but we are mourning our beautiful Joan.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.girlsfromames.com/2009/05/20/updates-on-kelly-angela/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Lisa Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:49:40 +0000 http://www.girlsfromames.com/?p=319#comment-79 Please give us an update on the girls!! Will there be a part two with updates??? Please give us an update on the girls!! Will there be a part two with updates???

]]> By: pat gilson http://www.girlsfromames.com/2009/05/20/updates-on-kelly-angela/comment-page-1/#comment-71 pat gilson Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:01:42 +0000 http://www.girlsfromames.com/?p=319#comment-71 I received this book for Christmas and could not put down, I have told everyone that I know what a great loving book, I do not have any long time friends and this was such a warm story.Thank you for the updates keep them coming. I received this book for Christmas and could not put down, I have told everyone that I know what a great loving book, I do not have any long time friends and this was such a warm story.Thank you for the updates keep them coming.

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