Hey Seattlites! Yo, read this pretty please. It's about Andy.

[tavalon]

As you may know, Andy Stephenson is back in town (Seattle for those of you who didn't know he lived here). He's recovering from his surgery and will be starting the rest of his treatment very soon. He needs to get his strength back and be as healthy as possible to go into the next phase.

So, here's what I'd like to coordinate - a helping circle, like the ones I used to be a part of when I was a kid. I can say a lot of awful things about Southern Baptists but one thing about them is stellar, their ability to rally around their sick.

Right now, Andy needs healthy, organic food to get him to the healthiest place possible as he goes into the next phase. I just spoke with him to find out what his preferences are and he said, "Fruits and vegetables". I will add that they should be organic as organic has a better nutritional value and doesn't have the pesticide load that non-organic does. Surprisingly, he doesn't have any dietary restrictions but he is trying not to eat foods that are too fatty.

I would like to see us get him about 4-5 different one dish meals a week. This will probably have to be adjusted as he begins chemo. Also, if you aren't a cook but would like to help, gift cards from Whole Foods, PCC or Trader Joes would be great or just sending over some organic fruits and vegetables would be great.

Please PM me and let me know what you can do and I'll get back to you with details. I will be coordinating getting the stuff to him through him or Termite.

[merh]

1. Wish I could help, but I am too far away.

I send positive energies and well wishes and love! :hug:

:loveya: And I thank you so much tavalon! :hug:

This is really a neat idea! :think:

[Mr.Green93]

2. Would it help

to send money or supplies?

[tavalon]

3. For now,

the money thing could be a sticky wicket but what sort of supplies were you thinking of?

Do you live near a Whole Foods? A gift card from there would rock because then they could get organic produce.

[merh]

4. Let's nominate & keep this thread kicked!

:kick:

I'll spread it around too. :thumbsup:

[merh]

14. kick

:kick:

[medeak]

5. he needs a juicer

My mom beat cancer with carrot and celery juice.

[merh]

6. Back up there!

:kick:

[mopinko]

7. cookies?

i make awesome cookies, some of them even healthy. i have a people's market here. not a meal, but it will make the trip from chicago.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Hi, tavalon...There is a Whole Foods near me, and I could easily

send a gift card...Why don't you PM me, and we'll arrange the details? I'm in SoCal, so the USPS will need to be involved...but that's OK by me!

:applause:

:yourock: Nominated and kicked!

:kick:

[NoSheep]

9. I live on the east coast in NC, my friend has an organic farm

and they have an CSA (community sustained agriculture) I honestly don't think he can help for several reasons. Bad year so far and it's quite a long way to Seattle to even try to send the blemished veggies that he usually can afford to share with friends. But....do you have anything like that around you? Most farms have stuff that they don't sell that is perfectly good to eat. If you tell me where your area is I will be happy to do some searching on the net and even do an email and help make connections if need be. Let me know.

[theplutsnw]

10. Don't put any liquor in whatever you make

I put some (very little) liquor on the fruit salad I made for a little get together we had for Andy and he could not eat it because of the pancreatic enzymes he is taking. I have never felt like more of a schmuck. I would love to help. I only live about 2 miles from Andy.

AP in Seattle

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. Hi there, theplutsnw!

WELCOME TO DU! You are going to fit right in, I can see that! Andy needs all the help we can give him, and there you are, helping out...Good for you!

Enjoy your stay; this little town is very addictive, IMHO!

:hi: :kick:

[merh]

17. Welcome to DU theplutsnw!

:hi: Be careful, this place is very addicting.

Thanks for helping Andy. :hug:

[glitch]

11. We have a place here that delivers organic fruit and veg to your home

http://www.newrootsorganics.com/ If Andy signs up I imagine other people could contribute payments.

edit: here in Seattle

[tavalon]

18. Good idea

I'll look into it! Thanks.

[fortyfeetunder]

12. Post on the WA bulletin board?

Post there, you'll hear from more local folks that way.

[tavalon]

19. Already there

I posted it in the lounge as well, because I've noticed that many of us in Washington don't look at the local forum as often as we should.

[bettyellen]

13. Andy should not be having nothing processed, salt, fatty meats....

or most cheese since it's made with salt. protein is difficult for him to process, but dairy and beans are much better than meats.
A little birdie who was his nutrition coach clued me in on this.
Fresh fruits and veggies, especially pineapple and payaya are very good, something about the enzymes that his body is lacking now.
thanks for doing this tavalon, you're a good egg. :hug:

[tavalon]

20. Thanks

When I talked to Andy earlier, he said he could eat anything. I'm a nurse but I don't work in any field even close to what he's dealing with (L/D is my field. 15 years!), still it seemed to me with what was removed, he should have some constraints. This makes sense to me.

[bettyellen]

23. your welcome. i'm glad he's concentrating on the fruits and veggies

lot's of that is good for him.
another thing is not to add any supplements outside an ordinary multii-vitamin. they have him taking something to replace the enzymes he is lacking now, but the hospital recomends staying any from additional herbal of vitamin supplements (like an amino booster added to a smooothie like they do at Jamba Juice or echineaca, etc).
he can do a decent amout of fat as long as it's fairly pure and digestible: olive oil , butter (unsalted), yogurt, (not processed) cheese w/ LOW salt. Any added salt should be natural sea salt and kept to a minimum. he has had serious water retention, and that could start again and make chemo more dangerous. but we do want him to keep his weight as much as possible as it's most likely the chemo will have an adverse effect on his appetite.

[EFerrari]

16. Great idea! kick!

:grouphug:

[In_The_Wind]

21. please let me know which local purveyors you want to use

I'll be happy to place an order to be shipped to them.

Joani

[merh]

22. kick

:kick:

[bettyellen]

24. Andy ! Put the salt shaker down, dammit!

a pinch of sea salt here and there, but no Morton's okay?
:hug:

[merh]

25. Hey ya bettyellen!

:hi: Good to see ya! :hug:

Yeah Andy, no salt, have some watermelon!




AND NO SALT on your watermelon either! :hug:

[tavalon]

26. That is

the prettiest watermelon I've ever seen.

[merh]

29. Can you imagine taking the time to carve that?

:shrug: I can't wait to finish slicing one, they smell so good I have to eat pieces out of every slice I cut. :crazy:

[bettyellen]

27. wow that's beautiful! hello to you too, dear merh

hope all is good in your neck of the woods. :hug:

[merh]

28. Thanks for the hug!

I wish I could claim that watermelon as mine, just a great google image.

I do make some nice watermelon balls, it was a treat to get to use the melon baller as kids. I had to have one in my kitchen :rofl:

All is good in my neck of the woods, thanks for asking. :hug:


HEY ANDY, NO SALT on that watermelon either! :loveya:

[bettyellen]

31. anytime, merh!

[bettyellen]

30. Dietary Guidelines from The American Cancer Society

from JH's website:
http://pathology2.jhu.edu/pancreas/nutrition.cfm

American Cancer Society Guidelines
There is scientific evidence on many issues regarding nutrition and cancer. But there are also many gaps and inconsistencies in the scientific evidence on the effects of nutrition after cancer diagnosis. The American Cancer Society's Guidelines on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer Prevention should be regarded as a basis for a healthy diet.

1. Choose most of the foods you eat from plant sources.
Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
Eat other foods from plant sources, such as breads, cereals, grain products, rice, pasta, or beans several times a day.
2. Limit your intake of high fat foods, particularly from animal sources.
Choose foods low in fat.
Limit consumption of meats, especially high-fat meats.
3. Be physically active--achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Be at least moderately active for 30 minutes or more on most days of the week
Stay within your healthy weight range
4. Limit alcoholic beverages, if you drink at all