How wonderful! Thanks so much for extending the invitation to cyber friends.

Sent by Katie | 6:58 PM ET | 09-11-2008

Eyder,

Please consider making it a podcast so those of us who can't listen live can hear it at a later time.

Thanks!

Sent by Bruce | 7:02 PM ET | 09-11-2008

I'll be there, Laurie!

Sent by Mary | 7:15 PM ET | 09-11-2008

Please, please, please post it online afterward so we can hear it later. (Or put it on his podcast). I won't be able to listen in live.

Thank you for including the My Cancer community in this very personal thing - the remembrance of a friend. For all that we have lost someone, it is so much harder for those who knew him in person, pre-cancer, and had insights into the rest of his existence.

Sent by Liz L. | 8:02 PM ET | 09-11-2008

I am so glad you are writing, Laurie. Leroy was large in so many ways - size, humor. Quite a presence, he was. Our son, Andrew, who died last May was so different - very quiet. He was an introvert. I am so sad that I won't share any more times with him. He was distant emotionally from his Dad and me. I guess that is the way it is when they grow up and live on their own. He was a good fellow - just preferred his own company.

It was good to read the comments from the doctors who treated Leroy. Thank you so much for sharing this with all your readers.

This Sunday I am going to start a grief lecture series offered by a nearby church. A R.N. and a psychologist offer these sessions twice a year. I think it is very good of them and will be helpful. Perhaps at some point you, too, might want to do this. I am sad you no longer have Leroy with you. I will not say trite things - death is so hard to see and so permanent.

I wish I could talk to my son. I have conversations with him in my head. Life is so cruel sometimes.

Sent by maureen | 8:25 PM ET | 09-11-2008

What a fantastic idea! No only will this help us heal with his loss, but also I think it will do you a world of good being around so many people who love and miss him and everyone telling great loving and funny stories about him. Thank you for including us in this celebration.

Sent by Susan Saoui | 8:32 PM ET | 09-11-2008

Thank you for thinking of us, Laurie!

Sept. 14 is my dad's birthday. He will be 74, has metastasized cancer, and will be hiking in Ireland!

Sent by M Wms | 8:33 PM ET | 09-11-2008

Leroy's saga brought tears to my face and courage to my soul. Let his words of truth be an inspiration to those battling the disease of cancer. Mr. Sievers' voice shall resinate in those hospital corridors long after the whispers have quieted. Thank you for sharing, Leroy.

Sent by Ileen (eye-leen) Davisson (Day-ve-sen) | 9:36 PM ET | 09-11-2008

Thank you.
Not a day goes by that I do not think of you and Leroy. I will surely tune in from Nashville!

Sent by Robin Smith | 9:45 PM ET | 09-11-2008

What a wonderful way to allow all of us to pay tribute to a man that is more than a size 13....look what he started and think of the thousands that he has helped through this site, myself included. I hope to be a part of it! Much love!

Sent by Laurie Hirth | 10:11 PM ET | 09-11-2008

Laurie,

What a wonderful idea! I hope to be online live if I can, if not I really appreciate your posting it. Will be good for the heart to hear all about Leroy in celebration of who he was.

Sent by cindee | 10:38 PM ET | 09-11-2008

Thank you Thank you Thank you for letting us be a part of this.Hope I can figure out how to work everthing so I can be a part of it.

Thank you sharing this with all of us.

Sent by Janice Dunn from Troy AL | 10:56 PM ET | 09-11-2008

Laurie,
Keep living in the moment. Enjoy the stories shared and let the tears flow when they need to. Let your friends and family embrace you.
love, Jennifer in CA

Sent by Jennifer in CA | 12:17 AM ET | 09-12-2008

How lovely you are to include us, Laurie. (Thank you to Eyder, too.) I will so look forward to hearing the voices in the gathering, although I'm grateful for the recorded version ~ We'll be in Montana for the weekend, to see an old childhood friend who has just begun chemo treatments for Hodgkin's at age 55.

Thank you again for your generous, loving spirit, Laurie, and for inviting us to be a part of this very special occasion. May it be all that you and Leroy wish, and more .... I know it will be!

Love, Kim Forester

Sent by Kim Forester | 1:15 AM ET | 09-12-2008

I will not be able to listen but will read if posted on here. Thank you for sharing such a personal journey with us, Laurie.

Sent by Deb from Michigan | 5:58 AM ET | 09-12-2008

Thank you for sharing this with us.

Sent by dorothy in oregon | 6:45 AM ET | 09-12-2008

Thank you for the "invitation"...it is a wonderful way to honour a great man.
Prayers,
Wanda Amorose

Sent by Wanda Amorose | 7:04 AM ET | 09-12-2008

Thank you Laurie..........still lifting

Sent by sasha | 7:40 AM ET | 09-12-2008

Thanks, Eyder!!

and sending love to you today Laurie...Linda

Sent by Linda Lee | 8:16 AM ET | 09-12-2008

Thank you Laurie, thank you so much. You are so generous to share this with us.
Namaste.

Sent by Susan | 8:50 AM ET | 09-12-2008

Thank-you Laurie, for being the wonderful and caring person you are. Your cyber family is here for you and as always, lifting.

Sent by Teresa in WV | 9:56 AM ET | 09-12-2008

Isn't technology wonderful? Think about it. 10 years ago we were nowhere near this. Now almost everyone has a computer, internet and a cell phone. We can all meet in one place, in real time and have conversations and celebrations!

Having said that...I, unfortunately will be out of town, golfing with my brothers. It is an annual pilgrimage we do. Our tee time is at 1:20 EST. But I also hear the weather might be bad and I will have my laptop with me.

I love you Laurie...just keep on pluggin' away. It does get easier.

Sent by Michael (Lifegiver Survivor) Chicago | 10:19 AM ET | 09-12-2008

In honor of Leroy~

"I am incapable of conceiving infinity, and yet I do not accept finity. I want this adventure that is the context of my life to go on without end." ~ Simon deBeauvoir

Sent by Kim Forester | 1:00 PM ET | 09-12-2008

Thank you for allowing us to pay our respects and be included in this celebration of a wonderful life! We so appreciate it.

Sent by Karen | 1:44 PM ET | 09-12-2008

Thanks for including us and a podcast would be nice too, if possible.

Sent by julie | 1:51 PM ET | 09-12-2008

What a wonderful way to give tribute. God bless and keep you all

Sent by Lucy Groh from Alaska | 1:52 PM ET | 09-12-2008

This is great!!!! I hope to be there. On Sunday, I am taking part as a Team Survivor member in the Danskin Triahlon. It is my first and my tribute to all of us with this disease. Thank you for the invite. With care..live, love life and lift us all.

Sent by anne lumberger | 3:33 PM ET | 09-12-2008

Thank you Laurie for thinking of us and inviting us. I look forward to being there.

Sent by Tina from Alton, IL | 4:08 PM ET | 09-12-2008

Laurie:

I'm so grateful that you are still writing on the blog and sharing your difficult journey with all of us. I read it every day although I don't always post. We just went to a memorial party for a friend who passed unexectedly. You and all of Leroy's friends and family are in my thoughts.

Sent by Kathy G | 4:49 PM ET | 09-12-2008

Anne - not sure if you are doing the one in NJ, but I hope it a great day at Sandy Hook!

Sent by Liz L. | 5:43 PM ET | 09-12-2008

Dear Laurie,
I will be teaching this weekend so will betied up. My thoughts will be with all of you.

I just got back from a 3 day stint in NYC and last evening, 9/11/08, we walked down to Ground Zero after going to the feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy. The Towers of Light were visible and I found myself quietly praying for all affected by 9/11--so many, in so many ways.

I know Sunday will be hard but I hope you all will really be able to celebrate Leroy's life. I never knew him but both of you have become a part of my life through this blog.

Take good care!

Sent by Betsey in Albany | 6:01 PM ET | 09-12-2008

Bless you, Laurie and NPR - what a gift to us! Just thinking of being able to listen to those who knew Leroy best brings tears to my eyes. I hope that NPR will be able to archive the chat along with the audio celebration.

Lifting and living,

Sent by Sheara | 6:06 PM ET | 09-12-2008

Dear Laurie,

How wonderful of you to include all of us - thank you!

Still...

...lifting!

Sent by Janice J. , Los Angeles | 7:36 PM ET | 09-12-2008

Thank you for allowing us to share in celebrating Leroy's Life.What an Honor.

Sent by Allecia | 8:10 PM ET | 09-12-2008

Hi Laurie -
Say - I was thinking about you earlier and linked you with a wonder-full album by Rosanne Cash entitled "Black Cadillac". Excellent mourning tunes.
Peace
Tally

Sent by Tally | 2:44 AM ET | 09-13-2008

Thank you for letting us share in this. We're still here to keep lifting up!

Sent by GFC | 10:28 AM ET | 09-13-2008

Thank you Laurie for making it possible for this celebration of Leroy's life to be shared with this part of his family! I am still grieving his death and cry rarely anymore but this brings tears each time I read about him. I know this is extremely sad for you. He truly understood the trauma that Stage 4 advanced cancer brings and the havoc that it causes, along with many of our cancer family. You have to live in this storm to truly understand.

Love to all,
Betty Lewis

Sent by Betty Lewis | 11:28 AM ET | 09-13-2008

I'm so devastated to here of Leroy's passing. I just read the news today.

As a fellow cancer patient, he gave me strength to fight and try to live a normal life. He gave me hope that there will be a cure someday. He gave me wisdom in the things he learned and passed on to us all. He motivated me to write and blog about my story in an effort to educate and entertain others.

For a man I never met I feel such great loss. I haven't been to his sight for almost a month. Why did it take me so long to hear the news? Well..I was so caught up in trying to be normal, I forgot I was a cancer patient for awhile. Then, when reality came to bite me once again, I came to find solace in Leroy's writings, only to find out he has passed. I am so very sad. I have always had such great respect for him.

Blessing to his family and friends. I will truly miss this man.

Peace
Brian Walin
http://beyondtheglassdoor.blogspot.com/

Sent by Brian Walin | 11:39 AM ET | 09-13-2008

This is wonderful. And thanks especially for posting an archived version since that time is already booked for me.....

Laurie, thinking of you and hoping it is lifting still....

Sent by N.R. | 7:58 AM ET | 09-14-2008

While driving on August 16 I, as always, had on NPR. When I heard that Leroy had passed away, I stopped in the middle of the parking lot and just cried. We followed his struggle since the beginning of his blog. My husband has been battling malignant melanoma since 2000 and we have travelled many of the same paths. Our peace and love go out to you, Laurie.

Sent by Laurie Bailie | 10:38 AM ET | 09-14-2008

Thank you for sharing this event. I hope Leroy is wearing that puka shell necklace!

Sent by Dorothy - Los Angeles | 7:21 PM ET | 09-14-2008

That was a beautiful memorial to Leroy. Thank you for sharing the audio with all of us who became attached to him through his blog. We'll miss him.

Sent by N.R. | 7:56 PM ET | 09-14-2008

Thank you for continuing to keep Leroy's blog friends informed. I didn't know anything about Leroy Sievers until I started reading his blog, but I felt I came to know him as one of the good guys, someone I'd be proud to call a friend. I think he touched so many people with his attitude and courage. If I face cancer, remembering his fight will give me strength. Suggestion--please make a book of all his daily comments. You could elaborate about the circumstances, but I think this would be a tremendous comfort to cancer patients to share Leroy's thoughts. Maybe not for all, since cancer did win, but I think only a person who has walked in the cancer "shoes" (or a close loved one) could possible know the feelings. Laurie, I feel your loss, and I hope Leroy's support group can be there to lift you up as well. Leroy was a big man in many ways, and he will live on in many hearts.

Sent by Diane Lucas (Greenville, SC) | 11:18 AM ET | 09-16-2008