Meghan McKenna

LOVE IS ALL THAT MATTERS

xmla — Sun, 10 May 2015 00:08:36 +0000

You all know that Meghan is a stubborn Taurus, and she is still fighting this disease like a champ; the doctors initially (2 years ago) gave her 3-6 months to live. She has already achieved a MIRACLE!! Meghan continually holds firm on her belief that “love is all that matters!” We all need to take this opportunity to appreciate the quality of life we have, and/or make an effort to improve the quality of the time we spend. The BEST way to spend your time is to be with those you love, including Meghan!! She loves having visitors, but not too many at once, so if you are interested in swinging by the house to see her, just shoot me an email (sallylea@sbcglobal.net), or call the home phone (415) 921-4450.

Please note that emails or phone calls directly to her are usually not returned, due to her sporadic message checking.

On a good day, Meg can be persuaded to go to the park and sit in the sun, go out to eat, get a mani/pedi, or do the floatation tanks at Float Matrix. On other days, she enjoys having visitors come to the house to simply “be” and let her know they care about her. She does not need to be entertained or catered to, just be around people who love her. Oh yeah, she still has a ravenous appetite and welcomes people to bring her food, but it is certainly NOT necessary!

Thank you all so much for all your love and support through this crazy time!

JUNE 2007

xmla — Sun, 10 May 2015 00:08:16 +0000

In early June, her condition worsened; she lost more strength in her arms and legs and began experiencing more difficulty with her balance. She now requires assistance going up or down stairs and sometimes even getting around the house. She had planned to go to Mexico with Sally to celebrate a good friend’s 40th birthday, but because she was feeling so weak, they had to cancel the trip last minute.\r\n

\r\nSince June 10th, Meghan has been back up in San Francisco at the Laurel Street House. Her Aunt Mary Ann is hanging out with her and taking care of her Monday through Wednesday (while Sally works her part-time schedule), and Sally is with her Thursday through Sunday. Some days are better than others. She recently walked down the street to get a pedicure with her Aunt Mary Ann, and is still having weekly lunches at Houston’s with her dad.

MEDICAL STATUS

xmla — Sun, 10 May 2015 00:08:03 +0000

In May, Meg took a few trips down south to visit with family and enjoy the Southern California weather and even saw Ziggy Marley at an outdoor concert (one of her 2007 resolutions). She also made a visit to her doctor in Los Angeles on May 3rd. Unfortunately, he confirmed Meghan’s SF doctor’s opinion by stating that there is nothing more that is medically available to Meghan for her condition. He recommended that she contact Hospice, and simply focus on enjoying the quality of the life she has remaining.

THE HAWAII TRIP

xmla — Sun, 10 May 2015 00:07:39 +0000

After the exhausting 20 treatments at UCSF, Meghan took a trip to Kona, Hawaii with her family in mid-April. This was a spur of the moment trip that Meghan was determined to take and share with those she loves. With the help of her family, she was able to spend 9 beautiful days at a beach house in Kona. She was joined by her partner Sally, her buddy Tracey, her twin brother Sean and his girlfriend Alaina, Meg’s older brother Jackson, his wife Jennifer, their four kids John, Jade, Jordan and Janell, and Meg’s mom and her husband John. Meghan was able to serve as the Maid of Honor for her mother who married her wonderful fiancé, John; this was so special to Meghan, because she is so happy to know that her mother has found someone to share the rest of her life with.

Meghan was extremely tired while in Hawaii, and was only able to leave the house to go to the beach on a few occasions; the radiation treatments really wore her out. That didn’t really matter though, because the house was a paradise – right on the beach with a pool and her whole family there. Meghan WAS able to take a boat trip out to swim with the dolphins. This was an incredibly healing experience for Meghan; the energy from the dolphins was strong, and Meghan felt empowered by the dolphins. It was an unforgettable experience! With, sun, sand, ocean, dolphins and a wedding… what an amazing trip they all had!

After Meghan returned from Hawaii, she was revitalized! She took daily trips down to Chrissy Field to play with her dog Terra, and would have frequent lunches with her dad at their favorite lunch spot, Houston’s.

BACKGROUND

xmla — Sun, 10 May 2015 00:07:19 +0000

Meghan began having some difficulty with her facial muscles (slurred speech) and balance in early March. She was hospitalized at UCLA Medical Center where it was determined that the cancer had spread to her meninges, brain stem and spinal column. She received 20 radiation treatments to those areas at UCSF Medical Center. This treatment was directed at stopping or slowing the progression of the nerve damage/paralysis caused by the cancer.

XANGO 21 DAY CHALLENGE

xmla — Sun, 10 May 2015 00:07:03 +0000

On August 25, 2006, Meghan started the Xango 21 DAY CHALLENGE. The challenge requires Meg to drink one 25 oz. bottle of Xango (mangosteen) juice every day along with 1 gallon of spring water for 21 days in a row. She can eat her normal diet when doing the challenge. There are impressive (full remission) testimonials regarding the 21 Day Challenge’s effects on Stage IV Melanoma. The juice has already started “working,” as Meg reports that she certainly feels it going into her symptomatic areas and “shaking things up.” Thanks to Eleanor and Sally for the cases of Xango juice!\r\n\r\nFUNDRAISER – SEPTEMBER 23, 2006 AT STRAY BAR, SF:\r\nMeghan’s SF friends have pooled together their resources to hold a fundraiser for her at the Stray Bar in Bernal Heights, SF. Karen Opp, who just purchased the bar (and helped Meg buy her first surfboard) is putting a whole lot of energy into making the fundraiser into a fun and successful event! There will be drink specials, awesome raffle prizes, a live D.J. and fun for all

DETAILS:

What: Fundraiser for Meghan’s Healing Journey (to raise money for her alternative healing modalities and for travel required for alternative and traditional therapies)

When: Sept. 23, 2006 – 7:00 p.m.

Where: Stray Bar SF – 309 Courtland Street, SF

Who: Friends/supporters of Meg

RIO CALIENTE – MEXICO:

Meghan has planned an 11-day healing retreat for September 10-21 at Rio Caliente near Guadalajara, Mexico. She plans to meditate, do yoga, hike, receive massages and other healing treatments and soak in the mineral springs (which are heated by the nearby volcano). She will hopefully be “blogging” all of her friends to tell them about her healing at RC. Thanks to Dr. Hart, Dr. Keller, Sally and Misako for making this trip possible!

NO SUGAR REGIMENT:

Meghan, after completing the 21 Day Xango Challenge, will begin a very strict NO SUGAR regiment. This protocol was designed by Angelica Austin from Los Angeles, who specializes in cancer nutrition and rehabilitation. This means no sugar, no fruit, no anything with any amount of sugar in it. Basically, she will be eating a whole LOT of veggies, nuts and legumes. The purpose of this strict diet is to change Meghan’s body to an alkaline state; cancer cannot live in an alkaline atmosphere, but it thrives in an acidic body (which is the result of sugar consumption). Meghan will need all of her friends’ support in helping her stay on track with this! To lend her support, Meg’s partner Sally (a known sugar addict) is going to do the regiment as well. Now that’s LOVE!

Some of the GREAT things that Meghan has discovered during this journey.

They are really all just different versions of LOVE: (1) Terra – Meg’s best friend and snuggly little Miniature Pincer that she rescued on a trip to visit family in LA; (2) Surfing – It is Meg’s new “love,” and she is quite the shredder out in the water; (3) Family – This difficult time has brought Meg and her family (most of who are in LA) MUCH closer together; (4) Self – Meg has learned that the most important thing for everyone is to LOVE YOURSELF! She knows that her true healing source will come from within herself!

Meg’s new favorite pastime.

This summer, with the help of some wonderful friends, Meghan took up SURFING!!! She instantly fell in love with the sport. She had surfed a few times while on vacation with Sally in Hawaii, Mexico and Costa Rica, but she is now officially ADDICTED! She was doing about three weekly dawn patrol surf sessions earlier this summer, but her healers told her she needs to be mindful of her body, and get rest when she needs it. She has now been resting more, but she still gets out in the chilly Pacific for a session every week or two.

MEG’S 2006 “RESOLUTIONS”:

JOHN OF GOD: She went to see John of God in Brazil in February, which was probably the most profound element of her healing process to date. Thanks to her cousin Jason for donating the 80,000 airline miles to get there! She is planning another trip for October or November to see John of God.

SKYDIVING: She did it!! She jumped from 14,000 feet with some of her good friends (Sally, Kristine, Bill and Tina). She did not hesitate for one second in taking that leap of faith. There is nothing this girl can’t do!

HALF-MARATHON: Due to instructions from John of God, Meghan has not been able to train for this event in the first half of the year, but she is hoping for an opportunity to run 13.1 miles later this year.

LIVE HAPPY AND HEALTHY THROUGH 2006: She is doing it so far with a vengeance!! With all of your help and support, she will be making the same resolution for 2007!!

THE MEDICAL STUFF

xmla — Sun, 10 May 2015 00:06:33 +0000

The medical status of her disease as of July 2006 is that she has two new tumors in her brain, and the melanoma in her body is spreading faster than doctors recently thought. She has found palpable “lumps” in her breast, thigh, neck, chin, cheek and wrist. Her oncologist, Dr. Garrett Smith, prescribed another round of chemo in July, and wants Meg to undergo another Gamma Knife radiation surgery (this will be her 3rd), which is scheduled for August 28, 2006. If Meghan’s brain “remains stable” for four weeks after the surgery, she is headed to Los Angeles to participate in a new Melanoma antibody trial, which has had some promising results. If the brain does not “remain stable,” Meg will not qualify for the study, but she will seek further alternative healing from John of God in Brazil (she will go to see him again even if she get’s into the trial).

HOW MEGHAN FEELS NOW

xmla — Sat, 09 May 2015 23:09:19 +0000

Meghan she stills feels good, and you could never tell she had this disease by looking at her. She still has that sparkle in her eye and that irresistible smile. Check out some of the new cute pictures in the Gallery section of this site. Meghan will admit that she has been feeling more tired over the course of the last couple of months, but she believes this is simply her body’s way of telling her that she needs to “slow down” and be more in the moment.

There have been many up’s and down’s in Meghan’s healing. The results from the medical community are discouraging, but all of the support she receives from the alternative healing community and her friends keeps her positive and focused. She continues with her Reiki healing, her nutritional supplements, chiropractic care, acupuncture and seeks the inspiration to get back to her very healthy all organic diet and daily meditation practice. This is where friends can lend support.