Pepperdine MFA Screenwriting

Often when one overcomes cancer, one closely examines their life, and life in general. After examining mine, this is how I plan to move forward:



Three years ago, there were nights where I wasn't sure if I would make it to the next day. Today, thanks to my doctors, and the prayers of family and friends, I look forward to my future.

There is always hope.

love,
Christine

Pepperdine

Pepperdine University will host marrow drives April 15th, 17th and 18th, in an effort to find a donor match for beloved alumnus Robert Corrales. This PSA was created in an effort to promote the drives on campus. It's my story, but I hope someday Robert will be able to share the same miracle with our community. Please help us spread the word!

A word from Larry David

FOX – KCOP Channel 13

Here is the FOX - KCOP Channel 13 News Segment:



Thanks again to all who came to share in the moment!

Blessings,
Christine

CW - KTLA 5 News Segment

Here is the CW – KTLA Ch 5 News Segment regarding the Marrow Transplant Reunion at City of Hope, April 25, 2008.



love,
Christine

KABC Channel 7 News

Family is still in town, otherwise I would write more but here is the link to the ABC News Story by Denise Dador who covered the momentous event on Friday.



Blessings,
Christine

This Woman's Work

This is a personal thing that I don't think I've ever shared with anyone really. After hearing this Kate Bush song over the weekend, I came across the video on youtube. I feel enough years have gone by and enough has happened, (not just in my world but in the worlds of my friends and family) to warrant a posting. The video is a bit dated, but in the words of the song, the message is still the same.

Listening to this song helped me through the loss of my brother Francis Rex. To this day it continues to remind me that life is finite, thus cherish the moments and the people in your life... before it is too late.

love,
Christine

Merry Christmas

Last Christmas I was sick and stuck in a hospital room. This Christmas I am walking in the New York holiday magic and singing along to carols in Rockefeller Center. I'm counting my blessings.


Here's my dorky gift: An attempt to identify the musicians in "Do They Know It's Christmas?" I've always loved this song.




I don’t recognize EVERYONE but this is what i do know (or at least i think i know):

0:05 Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats)
0:10 John Taylor (DuranDuran)
0:12 Sting (The Police)
0:15-Paul Young
0:31-Boy George (Culture Club)
0:46 Phil Collins (Genesis)
0:48 George Michael (Wham)
0:59 Simon LeBon (DuranDuran)
1:09 Sting and Simon LeBon
1:14 Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
1:30 Bono (U2)
1:40 Paul Weller (The Jam, Style Council)
1:46 Midge Ure (Ultravox) at sound board
1:47 Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet) with John Taylor
1:56 Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17) In black
2:05 Midge Ure second from right
2:12 Marilyn in foreground with Glenn Gregory
2:28 Bananarama
2:29 Kool and the Gang
2:30 Jody Watley (Shalamar)
2:37 Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
3:26 Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
3:31 Marilyn
3:32 Jon Moss (Culture Club)
3:36 Nick Rhodes (DuranDuran)
3:37 Andy Taylor (DuranDuran


Happy Holidays!

Much Love,
Christine

Celebrating Health

The other day I fulfilled another one of my wishes. As most of you
know, while I was in the hospital, I started a list of wishes and
things I wanted to do after transplant. It gave me something to
look forward to, to aim for and dream about. It also helped me to
believe that I would indeed survive and do all those things one day.
Some wishes were simple, like "Walk along the beach at sunset".
Others were more ambitious, as in "Visit all the major cities in the
world".

This weekend I fulfilled a simple wish. A couple friends and I went
to a festival in the park. An Afro-Cuban band drummed and
trumpeted from the stage. The wish fulfilled: To dance barefoot in
the grass. I felt so free and alive; with the sun piercing through the
tree branches above me and the branches themselves shuddering
to the boom beat of all the drums. I laughed as I let the hipsway
and the swirl overtake me. It felt so good, I actually started to cry.

To be outside in the fresh air dancing under the trees, without
having to worry about blood counts and statistics and scans…
that is freedom.

Save the date: To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the
transplant, my first BMT birthday, as well as my real Birthday
(which I had to postpone), I plan to have a party on a Saturday in
mid to late July. It’s going to be an 80s PROM.

The cheesy theme: “Forever Young: Reclaim the Dream”.

The uglier the prom dress the better. Ruffled shirts and blue
tuxedos strongly encouraged. Taffeta and poof sleeves welcomed.
I’m still trying to find a venue so if anyone has any suggestions
please let me know.

And just to get you guys TOTALLY PSYCHED ...




Dreaming of spiral perms and penny loafers,
Christine

Nine month transplant anniversary

Can you believe it has been 9 months since the Bone Marrow Transplant? Happy Anniversary! My, how time flies when you're alive…

Well, my health has slipped back just a wee bit. I overdid it AGAIN, this time by doing absolutely nothing at all… literally relaxing out by the pool at the Beverly-Wilshire. It turns out I'm not supposed to be basking out in the sun and soaking in Jacuzzis just yet. What should have been a rejuvenating spa day triggered Graft vs. Host, so now I'm hit with complications, which at this point aren't life threatening but a sucky reminder that it's going to take some time to fully recover.

One thing I got is something called "peripheral neuropathy". Basically my skin is numb... yes, numb. I can't even feel my clothes. Very freaky. I've actually had moments where I answered the door and panicked and thought," Oh my God, I'm naked!" But looked down to see that I was actually clad in three layers of clothing.

Related to this is a need to nip a problem before it gets any worse. April (Friday the) 13th, I will have surgery to take care of some digestive track issues. Again, not life threatening but the surgeon said I will probably be bedridden for up to a week, hopped up on Quaaludes. Good times. It is outpatient surgery, so I'm seeking help in someone who can drive me to City of Hope at like, 5 in the morning, hang out in Duarte all day and then drive my anesthetized badonkadonk back home in the afternoon.

I guess you can say that my new marrow/stem cells are still in training. If you want to get an actual microscopic view of one my Chinese donor cells inside my body, click HERE.

On a serious note, if I could ask everyone to take just a second right now and send a little prayer up for my friend Robin. She is going through a rough and uncertain time and spent her 30th Birthday in the hospital yesterday. Let's send some good thoughts her way. Robin's Website.

hugs,
Christine

From Barak - Video Links to CBS TV News stories

Did you miss Christine on CBS?

The story was called "Culver City Woman Gets Marrow Transplant."

CBS 2 and KCAL 9 are sister-stations so it ran on both channels Sunday night. Click HERE to watch the video.

http://www.cbs2.com/video/?id=28919@kcbs.dayport.com

Also attached is the previous story link for "Culver City Woman Needs
Bone Marrow To Live." Click HERE to watch.


Barak R

A New Version of the PSA - Swabs!

HERE is the new, improved version of the PSA!
No more finger pricks! It's all about the mouth swabs now!

Christine on ABC-Nightline! See Video Here

I had the honor of being interviewed by Jon Donvan at ABC Nightline. Here is the piece that aired Thursday, June 22, 2006.

KCAL9 / CBS2

In case you missed the news segment last night, you can watch the video at:

http://cbs2.com/video/?id=18782@kcbs.dayport.com

hugs,
Christine

The PSA is online! Watch VIDEO here!

Hi all,

We finally got the 5-minute personal PSA video up on the savechristine.com website. Thank you to Kurt, John, Stephanie and David for doing such a phenomenal job.

There is also a 30 second and 60 second PSA available if anyone needs a copy on DVD... Thanks to Andre and Beebe for doing all the hard work on another moving piece!

much love,
Christine