Joyce's Family Picture

This is a Christmas picture of Joyce and her family. A treasure.

Condolences Sent to Joyce's Family

Mom, I will miss you deeply. The presence of your spirit is with every one left behind. Peace and Blessings. John Ameser

Joyce will be deeply missed by all her friends at the Grand Reserve Seniors Community where we were blessed to have her as one of our "family" for the past few years. Beverly Mason & Shandra Jones Grand Reserve Seniors Staff

I remember a lively Thanksgiving dinner in Dallas where we all told hilarious stories and had a great time long into the night. I knew Joyce for a long time, and she was very nice to us. She battled long and hard, she will be greatly missed. Lisa Smith and Johnny Boggs

Joyce was such a Gem! I had only known Joyce for a few months, but was so impressed by her courageous manner.I am proud to say that I belong to the dedicated women of the Joyce's Chemo Caps and will continue this legacy in honour of your lovely mother. She will be sadly missed. Sincerely Jerri Nix

I met Joyce a few years ago when we went to the museums with the Allen Senior Center. I liked her immediately. Since then, I have grown to love her as a dear friend. Little did I know when I met her,how our lives would be linked together. Because of Joyce and her concern for others, we started Joyce's Chemo Caps. I know that God brought us together for that purpose. Her name and her legacy will carry on. Many in the future will be touched by Joyce's love and care. She was a sweet, beautiful lady and we all loved her and still do. My condolences to the family. You are all a part of Joyce's Chemo Cap Project! Jan Goble

I had the great pleasure of spending a few Thanksgivings and Christmases with Joyce. I feel blessed to have known her. Joyce will be greatly missed.
Jerry Secondine

You will be greatly missed by all who had the privelege of knowing you. Rest in peace as you certainly deserve it.
Dale E. LeBeau

Aunt Joyce will be missed. I can recall many stories that my Mother, Muriel, talked about when her and Aunt Joyce grew up. I was in Dallas a few years ago and remember having a great time visiting her and my cousins. She was always very thoughtful. I have three children, Griffin, Serena, and Ryley; she never forgot to send them a card for their birthday. My family sends sympathy to my cousins and their families during this difficult time. Joe Bethle

Joyce Elaine Schmitt February 26, 1933- November 4, 2008

Joyce Elaine Schmitt, age 75, of McKinney, Texas passed away on November 4, 2008. She was born on February 26, 1933, in New Castle, Pennsylvania to Clarence Earl Kennedy and Betty Johnson Kennedy. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.

She is survived by her sons, John Ameser and life partner Michael Magnia of Plano, Texas; Bill Ameser and life partner Scott Turnbull of Fairview, Texas; daughter, Tracie Burton, husband Tom Burton and grandson Zack Burton of Canton, Michigan; sister, Muriel Bethle of New Castle, Pennsylvania and a host of other family and friends.


In August 2007 after losing her hair for a second time to chemotherapy, Joyce felt uncomfortable wearing the chemo caps with thick seams that irritated her scalp and did little to satisfy her sense of style.  So Joyce and three of her devoted friends from the Allen Senior Center -- Jan Goble, Lena Louter and Vivian Denbow -- founded Joyce’s Chemo Cap Project. Using a seamless pattern and with the softest yarn in hand, this small group of ladies so inspired others that groups in five additional states and London, England have begun Joyce’s Chemo Cap Projects. To date they have made over 3,500 caps, all of which are donated free of charge to various hospitals and cancer treatment centers to give to cancer patients who want them.

Joyce tackled her cancer diagnosis with a strength and grace that inspired her family and friends. She loved to travel, loved adventure, but more than anything else, she loved her family.

We will truly miss her.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Joyce’s Chemo Cap Project, 1206 Thoreau Lane, Allen, Texas 75002 and visit www.joyceschemocaps.blogspot.com; or to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, November 8, 2008 in the Chapel at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, with Dan Peeler officiating.

To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com.

Update on Joyce

Joyce has been staying at Bill's house since she was released from the hospital. She was in the hospital for only a few days. She's undergoing treatment now and is in good spirits. Thank you for those who sent cards to her. She was happy to receive them.

Joyce

This is the note we received from Bill regarding the test results for Joyce. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Joyce is such a wonderful person and we love her so much. Our Chemo Cap Project wouldn't have started without Joyce's inspiration to knit and crochet caps for other cancer patient's comfort in their fight against cancer.

We met with both of her oncologists and a pain management doctor yesterday to get the results from her latest MRI, and whether or not her biopsy several weeks ago came back as HER2 negative or positive.

There is good news and bad news.
The bad news.
The biopsy did come back HER2 positive which means the breast cancer has changed and become more aggressive. The drug she was taking that controlled the amount of estrogen she produces will not work when the cancer has changed to this form. This is why it has spread into other areas of the bone and will need to be treated with two types of chemo and radiation. The chemo drugs they will be using are Herceptin and Navelbine. Herceptin will be given during while she is receiving radiation, Navelbine cannot so we will wait until the radiation is complete.

The good news.

They admitted mom into St Paul Hospital yesterday afternoon so that she can get some stronger pain meds and relieve the pain in her lower back/pelvic area. Now that we know the pain is definitely coming from the cancer and not a muscular issue, she can get ahead of the pain curve, come home and be on meds that will treat the pain and not make her out of it in the head like she has been the past week or so. After about a week of radiation. she should see about a 75% reduction in the pain with hopes of pain free in two weeks.


Joyce is out of the hospital and is staying at Bill's house.

Note from Bill regarding Joyce

As some of you know, Mom tested anemic and had a blood transfusion on Sept. 25th and has slowly recovered from a month or two of total exhaustion and basically feeling like crap. She is really unbelievable considering she felt that bad, and she still endured a week of six different doctor appointments, some of the days running 8 hrs straight and more tests than you could imagine.

Mom had biopsies on September 30th on one area of the scalp and one lesion under each arm. We met with Dr. Schiller, her oncologist, on Monday to receive the results. All three areas were positive for breast cancer, which was not unexpected since the dermatologist suspected they would come back as such. Apparently in about 25% of breast cancer patients the lesions Mom has can appear on the outside of the skin. These areas include under the arms, the chest area, and the pelvis and, more rarely, on the scalp.

Now we are waiting to see if these areas come back as hormone positive, which is what her previous breast cancer has been. If it does come back hormone positive, she will switch from her current cancer-fighting drug, “Tomoxafin,” to a stronger drug in the same class; if it does not come back positive, she will, once again, undergo chemo. Please everyone say a prayer that it’s hormone positive.

Yesterday they took x-rays of her lower back to find out what is causing the pain she has in this area and her thighs. Today a complete bone scan is being performed to check for any other spread of the cancer.

We will be meeting Dr. Schiller on Monday the 13th to review the scans and, if the results are back by then, find out what the biopsies showed.

Note received from Bill, Joyce's son

First I want to thank you and everyone who is and was involved in setting up the blog, outstanding job!
As some of you know Joyce ( my mother) hasn't been feeling very well over the past month or two. We received a call from her oncologist at U.T. Southwestern on 9/25 letting us know her blood counts were very low and she would need to come in for a blood transfusion (2 pints) the next day. Because the effects chemo has on red blood cells, It's not at all unusual to need a transfusions to raise the cell count back up. Normally this would have been caught a month sooner but because of some mix ups at the lab, her low blood count was overlooked and she and I are relieved. We saw many doctors last week for various things, some cancer related and others just routine. One of those was to a dermatologist to look at two small liaisons that have developed under her arms (one under each), and while we were there had them check the red spot on her head. They feel these all maybe from the breast cancer and after we get conformation from the results this week she will need to have the liaisons removed, the spot on the head will be treated with radiation. I had no idea breast cancer could appear on the outside of the skin but my sister Tracie said her oncologist told her to " always look for anything unusual appearing on the skin especially under the arms or pelvic area" this apparently is where breast cancer can show up. I'll keep everyone posted. I also dropped off 25 caps at U.T. after noticing they were down to 4. Keep em coming gang! Bill

Bill Ameser ABR GRI www.homesoftexas.com"D" Magazine Best RealtorWilliam Davis Realty

Joyce

Joyce is feeling pretty perky lately. We tease her and tell her that she's getting bossy. We love it though because it shows that she's able to take a more active part in our project. She's going to be our PR person for sending out cards, printing and mailings. Oh, and she's trying to learn how to crochet!! Now that's really an accomplishement!!