Help Sue Fight Cancer

I wanted to share the below with everyone that supported Sue in her fight against breast cancer. This was written by Sue's son, Nelson, on Thanksgiving...

Today I am thankful for for the 31 years I was able to spend with my mother.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to our family. She passed away in peace, with all of her children at home and by her side. I like to think that she is in a better place now.
She was an amazing person who fought through an incredible amount of pain and adversity when most others, put in her shoes, would most certainly give up.
She did it for us, her family.
Too proud to take handouts to support her and her children through hard times as a single mom with minimal education, she put the average entitled American to shame simply by doing the necessary hard work, rid of excuse, knowing that this great country had so much to offer people if they only tried. She knew this because she wasn't so lucky to have the same luxuries where she grew up.
Her three children went on to earn advanced degrees and work in challenging fields as skilled businesspeople, military officers, and far-overqualified moms that have raised amazing children whilst continuing to strive in pharmacological education. Nevertheless, she would destroy every one of us at a game of Words with Friends.
She fought cancer for over a quarter of her life and refused to quit working because she was adamant in keeping the beautiful home she had worked so hard for. To her, this home was a sanctuary where she could rally her all of her children and provide them with meals on special occasions that would rival any chef in this world. She would always stand in the kitchen, in the face of great protest, washing dishes until we all had dug in. She lived to take care of us, even if we didn't need it anymore. But really we did need her, in other ways.
She was a proud citizen of Thailand and although she eventually started the process of pledging her American citizenship in her final months, we had to cancel her last appointment because of her health. In the end it does not matter. She was a better American than most, and the flag I personally flew for her in Operation Enduring Freedom will forever be hers, a citizen of both Thailand and the United States.
I have tried to live my life by her example, and think I have done the best I could thus far. I pledge to be a better man in her memory. She would talk of how proud she was of me but it is not possible to comprehend how proud of her I am.
In my career as a military officer and pilot, I have chosen a life where I am not always able to be home and directly take care of my family. Sometimes it was incredibly challenging to know that while I was off trying to help rid the world of scum and save the good guys, my sisters and wife were back home, saving one of the most important people in my life.
Great commanders, men I gladly put my life on the line for, have given me more time with my family through these hard times than I can ever thank them for. Airmen, my brothers in arms, have been there for me in ways that I cannot fathom. Because of their efforts, I came home from war early and was able to spend my mother's last few weeks and moments in this world by her side, her hand in mine. I can never repay you for this.
Mom, I love you so much, I am incredibly proud of the person you were, and I hope that I can continue to make you proud with the life that I have left in this world. There will not be a day that goes by that I will not think of the kind, caring, selfless, intelligent and courageous warrior that you were. I will miss you always.

Your incredibly proud son,

Nelson

Today we lost one of the most beautiful people to have ever graced this earth. Those who had the chance to meet her were the lucky few to have experienced how very special she was. Thank you to everyone for supporting Sue in her fight against breast cancer... she was lucky to have you all in her life!

I wrote this poem for her to describe the long and difficult battle she fought against this terrible disease.
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The Fight

It's a long road
This path is not for the weary
I cannot give up
There's still a fight left in me

I swing with my left
A small glimmer of hope
Lights up the dark
A breath of relief escapes me

The cancer swings back
Sends me reeling into the night
The light is fading
But I cannot, will not give up

I swing with my right
A piece of myself is taken from me
A small price to pay
For another chance at this life of mine

It swings back again
This time it is not going anywhere
Invading my body
But I will not let it take my soul

I march on ahead
Living life to the fullest, unwavering
Each step forward
Another victory tallied against this disease

Time for another dose
My body, sick from this medicine
A flicker of hope
When they tell me it's working

I want to live
And watch my family grow up
See their smiles
And enjoy all the love and laughter

It is short lived
Another treatment added to the list
What is next?
There is no cure they say

The night is coming
I will not let this disease beat me
It is inevitable
My soul clinging on to that glimmer of hope

It's been a long road
I have reached the end of this path
I cannot give up
There's still a fight left in me

- Alisa Willingham
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Update: Mom had a tough past couple of weeks however things are finally looking up. The last treatment's side effects were really wearing on her and she was very dehydrated. Ilene took her to the ER thanks to the recommendation of her pain specialist's nurse. They ended up admitting her and gave her plenty of fluids and potassium and she's doing much better now. Yesterday she went into visit her oncologist and it sounds like there is another treatment that he's recommending after she clears an echocardiogram. Mom says "I'm going to keep on fighting... I'm not going to let this cancer win over me!" Mom's a fighter... she's tough as nails and is still going strong! A real inspiration.

New treatment for mom today... still going strong! Healing vibes and prayers are welcome!

Mom said no pictures of her today, so this is what else we've got going on. She's been weaker and had some hard days, so I'm taking her home to Prescott with me today. Thanks for all your love!

Sue has been feeling rough this past week. We are thankful that this is her week off from chemo. Alisa and Michael are taking good care of her . Thoughts and prayers are appreciated!

Chemo today... Still smiling!

Another 5 hour day at the hospital today. Sue is feeling good, just sleepy. More excellent news: Sue's tumor count is now down to 11.7! That's lower than it has been in more than a year :).

Treatment today! Please keep Sue in your thoughts.

Update #2
Sue was struggling physically last week, and did not receive chemo last Monday as originally planned. However, she did visit with her doctor today and received a treatment. GREAT news to report-Sue's CEA levels (tumor count) were down from 36 two weeks ago to 19 today!
Sue's new chemo schedule will be two weeks on and one week off.
We are hoping and praying that this treatment continues to work. Your positive thoughts are greatly appreciated :).

Update #1
Race for the Cure yesterday was a success! We had so many friends there to support Sue. We had a wheelchair ready in case she needed it, but Sue was a trooper and walked the whole way.
Ladies and gentlemen, we raised $1,700 to help Sue pay her medical bills!!! I am blown away! To all who donated and participated, I cannot thank you enough. We are so blessed to have such amazing friends and family.