Mary Austin
Love & Support Page
Mary Austin was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Although shaken to the core with this news, both Mary and Doug are determined to put nothing but positive energy and light into the journey they now face.
The purpose of this page is not only to give updates of Mary's progress as she faces the biggest challenge of her life, but also to provide a means of communication for all of us who care so deeply for this beautiful being.
Stories of healing and healing stories are welcome, and will be posted here. To send your love and support, click the link below. Your comments will be posted here shortly thereafter.
mary@towncrier.com
If you would like to write to Mary and Doug, their address is
P.O. Box 1250
Idyllwild, CA 92549
April 30, 2008
Mary,
I know from my own experience with cancer in 1999-2000 that prayer, keeping positive energy flowing through your life, and the love that surrounds you can heal. Going to your quiet place within your own Soul is the key to knowing when and how your healing will happen.
Watching your body move through its process is an important element in healing the physical illness. Finding your own, personal sense of wellness — however you define it — will give you peace as you work your own miracles.
Nancy Layton
aka "Lebhorcham"
aka "Rachel McMaster"
The Crone
February 21, 2008
Dear Family and Friends,
Today I received terrific news. The doctor told us that the tumor on my pancreas is stabilized AND has diminished by 10%, and the blood markers have gone down over 50% since October. Doug and I are so thrilled and I wanted to share the good news with all of you as soon as possible.
All your prayers, thoughts, treatments and visualizations are working and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. But most of all I thank you for your continuing Love. I am very moved and in just the past 3 weeks I have gradually seen increased energy and a desire to do more.
Since there are so many for whom I do not have emails, but they are equally sending prayers and well wishes, please feel free to pass this on to them as well for me.
God bless you all,
Your very grateful friends from Idyllwild,
Mary and Doug Austin
January 24, 2008
Dearest Mary,
Well my dear friend, you have joined the "60's" club, I will tell you it is a wonderful organization, so enjoy !!
I know you will be with two of your favorite "fella's" relaxing and celebrating your special day. Know that I will be thinking of you and wishing each of you a marvelous time in San Diego. All my love and best wishes for a year blessed with Happy Thoughts, Sweet Memories and continued GOOD RESULTS.
You are always in my Heart and Prayers. God Bless Each of You. Loves, hugs and kisses,
Marci Dobson
January 17, 2008
Dear Friends,
The following is an update on Mary.
Mary and I are at the UCLA Medical Center for three nights and four days this week for Mary's treatments. She is showing progress and is truly looking great. We have a wonderful couple overseeing our home and we hold them in the very highest regard.
Mary, our son Jim and I will celebrate Mary's 60th birthday next week in San Diego. We will spend most of our time relaxing and taking in the sea air. We have a simple itinerary of enjoying Coronado Island, whale watching, dining out and being in the moment. We have several plays to view and will relax at every opportunity. Mary's courage and ability to heal amazes myself, our family and our very loving community.
We feel thrice blessed to live in our little village of Idyllwild. Moreover, we wish to thank the "Town Crier" for providing this forum to update Mary's progress.
With Respect,
Doug Austin
December 17, 2007
Dearest Family and Friends of Idyllwild,
In deepest gratitude I write this letter of appreciation to you for all the cards, gifts, prayers, letters and positive thoughts being bestowed upon me daily to aid in my healing — and especially for the celebration of our lives together at the Rainbow Inn on December 9, 2007.
Thank you Lon and John for opening up your beautiful Inn and your hearts so we could all celebrate our Oneness in this beautiful Spiritual place called Idyllwild. Elaine and Lou Bacher, thank you for everything you did in putting together this most memorable afternoon. And, thanks to all the bands, musicians and dear John King for organizing the music and sound equipment. Doug and I sincerely appreciate all of your efforts.
Also, thank you for your most generous donations to the Idyllwild School's smARTS program. With almost $3,000.00 and 50-plus books donated, you assure the continuation of art and music and enhanced literacy opportunities for our Idyllwild School.
Everyone's energy and spirits have had a very definite impact on my life and my body and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Again, Doug and I wish to thank you for everything you do for us and our beautiful town.
May you have a very "Blessed" holiday season. With abundant love and God's grace, your friends,
Mary and Doug Austin
December 10, 2007
Mary Helene Austin is my only sibling and very dear to me.
I can always count on Mary to tell it to me straight, what’s going on. For example, she recently bought me a little chrome rocket ship for personal hair trimming. It had gotten just too disgusting. You get the picture.
Mary appreciates “coolness” and sophistication but wears her honesty and integrity on her sleeve. You probably know that about her, along with her enthusiasm for people. These are very endearing qualities.
We were born in a humble part of rural, southwestern Michigan, not far across the line from South Bend. Our father worked as a factory tool crib attendant while our mother doted on us at home, a house trailer with add-ons.
Thanks to Dad’s wanderlust we got to travel widely as children, including two extended stays in Mexico.
Mary’s interests growing up included domestic crafts projects, horses, Native Americans and biology, if I remember correctly.
Her long involvement in music included teaching herself piano on the family player piano in suburban Chicago. When we didn’t have a piano on the fryer ranch in San Diego County, she took up guitar. She got into the violin after she was given one by a Cherokee Indian chief, a friend of the family.
Mary is a devoted family person who has always worked hard. She developed a strong business sense working in a wide variety of offices, including a savings and loan, dental office, doctor’s office, escrow office, securities brokerage, law office and dairying empire.
Now she and teammate Doug can be immersed in the things they truly want to do.
Proud Mary, keep on boinin’.
Love, Win
November 30, 2007, 8:32 a.m.
An Update on Mary Austin,
Dear All,
Mary has had a blessing-laden yet challenging time since I last wrote. After each chemotherapy treatment Mary is required to wear a portable chemotherapy pump for two days or until it beeps. Mary wanted to play at our Church two Sundays ago which she had prepared for several weeks. Yet no beep from her pump, so with encouragement from several including her dear friend and fellow performer Kathy the show went on. Mary playing the piano and Kathy playing her beautiful flute, moreover, no one knew that there was an issue.
On Wednesday last due to a scheduling opportunity and pending holiday dear Mary had her complete chemotherapy session and surgery on the same day. This was general surgery so there was an hour and a half of prep and we both spoke to several Doctors. U.C.L.A. is so very professional and kind. We wanted to postpone this operation but the wisdom to provide time to heal before Mary's next chemotherapy treatment was sound and compelling. The surgery was to implant a portable-cath in her chest wall for future chemotherapy sessions. The following day at Mary's insistence we went to a beautiful Thanksgiving Day dinner at the Sycamore Inn in Rancho Cucamonga. My Brother, Sister-in-law, Mary's Brother and Mother were all there. The Thanksgiving repast was excellent only eclipsed by the great service. We spoke of only funny and silly things. The day before we had had enough serious.
The Saturday and Sunday before her last U.C.L.A visit, Mary and three hundred other "Red Hat" ladies went to San Diego for a rendezvous. I have never seen so much beautiful "Red" in my life. Mary's spirits soared and the laughter and fun-laden event was just what the Doctor's ordered. The Idyllwild "Red Hat Sisterhood" provided Mary every kindness and courtesy, moreover, they do love her so very much.
We are on our way to U.C.L.A. next week and look forward to exploring Westwood and the nine theatres and two performing arts centers all within two miles of our lodging.
In closing we thank the people of our enchanted village of Idyllwild for their love and support and the gift of living here.
We remind you of that we have dear Ron Daigh in our prayers everyday. U.C.L.A is twice-blessed to have two of Idyllwild's best representatives at there facility. It appears that this little village of Idyllwild is the home of very strong and courage-laden individuals. Thank you.
Doug Austin
November 28, 2007, 6 p.m.
My Dear Mary & Doug,
This past year, I have been blessed with two wonderful friends who have come into my life and will remain there forever.
Never have I felt such love and friendship as I have with you.
Your spirit, your enthusiam, your love for the arts and literacy programs have profoundly touched many souls.
Please know that you are both in my thoughts and my prayers constantly and whatever you need, I will be there.
All my love & friendship,
Lisa Furugen
November 28, 2007, 12:35 p.m.
Dear Mary and Doug,
Letting you know we are thinking of you. We are here for you.
Love,
Sheila and Julia Zacker
November 25, 2007, 10:28 p.m.
Hi, Mary and Doug,
As you know, you both have been in my thoughts for weeks now. There is so much positive energy powering your recovery, Mary. My mom used to do the PacMan game in her mind, and those unhealthy cells were gobbled up in no time. You are in a fantastic place for your treatments, and I know that so much of all of our healing is connected with our positive mental attitude and energy. (A good backrub doesn't hurt, either. I'm sure there is someone sitting right next to you, right, Doug?)
Charles Dickens is echoing all over my classroom walls. Students are beginning to get the essense of his need for social reform, and the avenues he took to get his message heard. The students loved it when I told them how little he charged for copies of Scrooge's tale. We are reading the play form tomorrow, and I have the "Alistair" version of the drama for them as a treat on the poster and essay due date, which is this Friday, November 30. If you're up to seeing a few posters or hearing a few essays, let me know . I'll be there in a heartbeat! I'll even come in costume!
John and I love you both.
Patty Carratello
November 24, 2007, 9:12 a.m.
Mary,
You both are the light and soul of our, as Doug calls it, Thrice blessed community. Two of those blessings are Mary and Doug. With some experience in receiving bad medical news and journeying on to health, I am here for you.
Much love,
Marshall
November 22, 2007, 2:34 p.m.
Dearest Mary and Doug,
Today we give thanks for the special people that have touched our lives, you both have done just that in your continued love and support to me. It has been two years since my sweet Bill left us. He too had pancreatic cancer. Sadly he could not get treatment but I am so glad to know that the doctors feel very confident in your progress. My prayers are filled with "hope and encouragement" for you my Dear Friend Mary and for your family. Never give up, remain strong, think positive and enjoy every minute of every day. Always remember the words "I love you" and embrace the hugs, I miss those the most. I will always cherish the many good memories we have shared, especially our 5th Anniversary, when we renewed our vows. I love and miss you both and always keep you close to my heart.
God Bless you Both,
Marci Dobson
November 19, 2007, 7:21 p.m.
Dear Mary, and Doug as well, for we cannot think of one of you without the other,
Thank you for the vibrant energy you have brought to our village. We know you through your generous work for the school and of course, that is tied in with the creative gifts of your talents as exemplified in the Dickens Festival. Your good cheer is contagious. May the joy you have brought to so many, return to you a thousand-fold .
Love,
Ron Perry
Doris Lombard
November 19, 2007, 5:32 p.m.
Hello, Dear Mary!
How was your weekend in San Diego with the Red Hatters?? We love you and want you to know that our thoughts are constantly with you and Doug.
Looking forward to an update.
Love,
Pete and Suzy
November 17, 2007, 10:08 p.m.
Dear Doug and Mary,
Ron and I are sending our positive thoughts your way. We applaud your wisdom that you have chosen UCLA as the venue for your medical treatments. As you are probably aware, Ron and I are in a similar situation, and Ron is doing FABULOUS thanks to the efforts of the UCLA staff. (Ron is enrolled in a clinical trial). It’s been 5 months since Ron’s diagnosis and surgeries, and he feels and looks wonderful. We are enjoying life to the fullest, making each and every day count, and I’m sure you are, too.
If you haven’t already discovered, the Tiverton House across from the medical center is a fantastic place to stay, if you don’t have accommodations. It’s our “home away from home” every month when we are at UCLA for appointments. Run by UCLA, the Tiverton House caters to patients and their families. The accommodations are relaxing and calming, great breakfast, coffee/tea anytime, internet, and classical music piped through the lobby.
Please feel free to call us anytime if you need any resources regarding cancer treatment and support, or if you would like to just talk. We have found comfort and strength talking with others going through this, and since you know us well, we are here for you anytime.
Much love to both of you.
Sandii Castleberry Daigh
Ron Daigh
714-290-1553 cell
951-659-6132-home
Sandii1@sbcglobal.net
November 16, 2007
Mary and Doug,
Anything we can do to help PLEASE call me at 675-0715. I would love to gift you with some Foot Reflexology sessions. We are here for you and love you. PLEASE know that.
Sheila and Julia Zacker
Nov. 15, 2007, 10:52 a.m.
An update on dear Mary from Doug:
Mary is responding well to her treatments. The Doctors and very Gifted Staff at the UCLA Medical Center are without equal.
We are wonder-found by the kindness and caring we have received in every quarter of this our twice blessed mountain hamlet. Idyllwild in itself is a healing state of mind.
At the encouragement of Mary's Husband, her Physician and her devoted & cheerfully-laden "Red Hat" Sisterhood, Mary will visit San Diego for a "Red Hat" rendezvous this weekend. She has looked forward to this event for many months. Making an effort to keep everything as normal as possible, this event is for Mary. I assure you the "Red Hat" Sisterhood could bring a smile to the face of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Moreover, lest we forget "That a Merry Heart Doth Good Like a Medicine and A Broken Spirit Doth Dryth the Bones."
We are then on our way to UCLA for several days and Thanksgiving with her Mother & Brother.
In an effort of one hundred years we would be unable to thank our town for their inspiration.
Doug Austin
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