Deb Crowe Schlosser Beats Cancer

Deep thoughts with Deb Crowe

From Chapter 4 to Stage 4

Lots has happened in the last few weeks. Seems that my upset tummy was way more than an upset tummy. I’m back in TX & spent the last 3 days at MD Anderson hospital. Before I left St Thomas, I was able to get a CT scan of my chest, abdomen & pelvis that showed some concerning stuff, so I booked a ticket, flew up Sunday where Stacy picked me up from the airport & we went directly to the MD Anderson Acute Care unit.

They did more tests & confirmed that the cancer, who shall now be known as Cornelius, had spread throughout my stomach lining & is covering part of my intestines. This has caused my abdomen to fill with a fluid called ascites – they drained 3.5 liters or 7lbs out of me this past Monday. I go again tomorrow for another draining. Cornelius wasn’t satisfied with that & has shown up in my bones: ribs, spine & pelvis. Plus there’s a tumor/lump on the upper right side of my back. Technically I’m now Stage 4 & was told this is incurable/terminal. Thanks a lot, Cornelius!

And my tummy issues have just steadily gotten worse – so much so that I can barely eat. Because of not eating, I’m incredibly weak & tired – just going to the bathroom wipes me out & I can feel my heart pounding. My tummy is constantly yelling at me & just won’t calm down. I am not sleeping well. I’m just a mess.

While in the hospital, as is common, I had nurses & Dr’s coming into my room at all hours, all day. Stacy stayed by my side too, which was incredibly comforting. But this news has been so overwhelming, and being the introvert I am, I was more than overwhelmed. Once I got to Stacy’s guest room yesterday, I just let myself sink into silence. I need it right now. Just softness & quiet.

I’ve received so many texts & calls from you all – I feel incredibly loved & cared for. That blanket of love that I continue to wrap myself in. Thank you so very much. I need this too. But I’m just not able to respond yet. I hope you all can understand. My life looks a lot different than it did just last week and I need to absorb all of this. Please bear with me.

And more than ever I need your prayers & meditations, if you have any to spare. I need a miracle, really. If nothing else, that my tummy will calm down & quit yelling at me.

For now, I’ll be here at Stacy’s. Steve is flying up next week. Peanut will be taken care of back on St Thomas. Probably more news to come, but let this suffice for now.

I love you all. Truly & immensely.

11 responses to “From Chapter 4 to Stage 4”

  1. dependablewolf743d91d01c Avatar
    dependablewolf743d91d01c

    Love and prayers.

    Cousin Johnny

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  2. MaryCLeslie Avatar
    MaryCLeslie

    I love you always

    Like

  3. delectablydolphin3d22a4ec3d Avatar
    delectablydolphin3d22a4ec3d

    Deb,Your words are so full of wisdom. Cornelius is your roommate but you have your spirit intact. You are teaching all of us how to live with a Cornelius

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  4. creativelyb41d188806 Avatar
    creativelyb41d188806

    No words Deb. Just a heart full of love and awareness of how much you mean to me.

    Like

  5. joywasson Avatar
    joywasson

    Deb — I will be praying for you every day and every time you come to mind. I pray you feel God’s presence and His peace. Lots of love to you! — Joy

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  6. flourishingcollective Avatar

    II am so sorry, Deb! You are beautiful and amazing human.

    Tracy Braden, MS, LPC 503-702-0601

    “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” Goethe

    NOTICE OF E-MAIL PRIVACY, CONFIDENTIALITY & RISK: In compliance with the Health Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA rule 104-91) this message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure. If the reader of this electronic message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, please note that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error or it was forwarded to you without permission, please forward this message back to the sender at the email address above, delete this message from all mailboxes and any other electronic storage medium and destroy all copies. Thank you.

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  7. creativelyteenage61780629ab Avatar
    creativelyteenage61780629ab

    LOVE LoVe LOvE LOVEDebOn Jul 23, 2026,

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  8. splashing Avatar
    splashing

    I named my cancer too. Mine was “Horace”, from the rabid stinking feral cheese in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld book, “The Wee Free Men”. And then I needle-felted him, so that I had an excuse to stab him as many times as he stabbed me.

    I think of you all the time — I like to envision a small cloud of fireflies of beneficence circling you every time you cross my mind.

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  9. Minty McFresh Avatar
    Minty McFresh

    Oh Okra…I love you so much and wish I was there holding your hand.
    Cornelius can f$&k right off.

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  10. Sumarie Avatar
    Sumarie

    Oh Deb, you are an amazing woman. I will continue to pray for you everyday. Sending much love and hugs to you. 🩷🩷🩷

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  11. crowncrispye5ff6708dd Avatar
    crowncrispye5ff6708dd

    I can hardly see my keyboard to respond… You have been an angel to so many, so I’m sending mine right now to protect you and fight for you. I hope you feel their presence and intense love for you, as I have many times over the years. If anyone can pull off this miracle, God knows you can. I’m sending the full force of my love and. prayers your way…

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