Laurel can really use our help right now

[Lisa Heft]

Hello, my loving community.

Just yesterday our colleague and sister, Laurel Doersam, found out that she
had a melon-sized tumor on her left ovary and a lot of fluid in her pelvis,
and also a pocket of fluid in her right lung.

Many of you know Laurel for her thoughtful and loving words on the OSlist,
and some of you met her in Vancouver last month, as she and Chris Corrigan
(hi, Chris, I know she's checked in with you, dear) co-hosted our OSonOS
there.

She will be having surgery on Monday if all goes well with scheduling.  It
could be a benign fibroid tumor, or it could be something more.

She is really scared, as you can imagine.  And when she lays down she is
short of breath, because of the fluid in her lungs.  So that is freaking her
out, of course.

The good thing is that she works in and with a hospital, and that her
medical bills are covered.  Not only that, but she'll get the best rooms and
such because she is on staff, which means more comfort and privacy and
larger rooms for her and all those who are there to support her.  The
doctors she is working with and heads of various parts of the hospital are
her schoolmates from her time at Royal Roads University, so they are all
working to make things happen immediately and they are all looking after her
and her family.

During surgery the doctors will remove the tumor, plus her ovaries, plus
part of her bowel (for further investigation of whether it is affecting the
bowel).  When they are in there they will see what is happening and what
more they may have to do, and they will be able to know more about whether
this is just a fibroid tumor or something more extensive.

She is 'would have - could have - should have'-ing with herself a bit,
regarding whether she should have sensed or things she could have been more
proactive about.  But mostly she is giving herself a lot of love and just
'being' with what is happening now, and forgiving herself for whatever she
could or could not have known.  She is very much relying on her faith in
'whatever happens happens' and letting go, and she gets much strength from
that.  She feels this is for a reason and she'll learn from this and she is
keeping open and receptive, messy and thoughtful, crying and breathing,
taking each moment as it comes, loving herself and knowing that she is
loved.

Her whole family is gathering at the house, and it turns out her / her
family's closest friends are also their lawyer and their financial advisor.
So last night they all held a learning circle to find out what they know and
what they need to know.  Their thought is to plan for the worst and believe
that the best will happen.  During the circle they burned some of the
tobacco that Chris Corrigan gave to Laurel in the closing circle at OSonOS,
to send their prayers up.  They also passed the medicine bag full of the
remaining tobacco around for each to hold as they spoke in the circle.

Because they have been wanting to, because they want to provide more
security for the three kids, because all of their family are gathered from
far and wide, and because now is a good time to celebrate life, Rick and
Laurel have decided to get married, in Open Space, tomorrow, Sunday.  The
ceremony will be held in the Japanese gardens of Royal Roads University
tomorrow.  Daughters Chelsea and Jessica are planning the event.  Lots of
love and tears and laughter, and all of our thoughts, will be with them.

Tonight, as so many are gathered as well at the house, Laurel and several of
their friends will celebrate their birthdays.  Usually Laurel and her
friends with nearby birthdays (Laurel's is on the 29th) have a mass birthday
party.  I think because they are really frightened about what surgery will
find and because they are all having a hard weekend of waiting, they have
chosen to have that party this evening.

I asked her what she needed from us, and we both affirmed that she knows she
is surrounded by our love.  I asked if it was okay to send out the word to
you all, and she said she could really use your thoughts and energy and
support.

So I am sending up the prayer flag.

They will not be able to access email, so please fax any messages you may
have to their good friends Janet and Paul (250 744-1697).

There is every possibility that this will be a benign fibroid, and that the
fluid in her lungs is a corresponding response to that certain kind of
fibroid.  That gives them hope.  So in the least she will have a
hysterectomy and they'll drain that pocket of fluid and she'll need a lot of
healing time.  At the most, we'll find out as they find out, during this
next week.  I'll be keeping in touch with them and I'll let you know what I
hear as it all unfolds.

Thank you, as always, for your amazingness, and Ms. Laurel thanks you from
the bottom of her heart.


Lisa
--
L i s a    H e f t
Consultant, facilitator, educator
Experiential learning and Open Space Technology

2325 Oregon
Berkeley, California
94705-1106 USA
(+01) 510 548-8449
www.openspaceworld.com

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