Shiva and Donations...

The Schneider family has asked to share the following information:
Shiva will be observed in the Schneider home this week, at 103 Riverside Drive. The times are as follows:

Monday -- 12:00pm to 8:00pm--minyan at 7:30pm
Tuesday -- 12:00pm to 8:00pm--minyan at 7:00pm
Wednesday and Thursday -- 4:00pm to 8:00pm--minyan at 7:00pm

For those wishing to make a contribution to honor Rick's memory, the family has asked that donations be made to:

MSKCC Brain Tumor Center
C/o Katie Kotkins
633 Third Avenue
28th Floor
NYC 10017
Phone 646 227 2762
Fax 646 227 3535

Anyone wishing to send food, please email bergneramy@aol.com

Funeral Information

Sunday, April 5th
2:30 pm
Riverside Memorial Chapel
180 West 76th Street
Corner of Amsterdam Ave

Graveside ceremony following service will be at Union Fields Cemetery.

Shiva details will follow along with food and donation information.

April 2, 2010

I have dreaded knowing that I would have to send this note sometime soon but with great sadness, the time has come.  After a 2 yr battle, Rick lost his courageous fight tonight.  Truly, there was no one else that I have ever met quite like him.  Watching Tami and Rick work together to fight this terrible fight has been an inspiration. But, I am as sure as I am about anything that he has found peace and grace.  I have no doubt that Rick's spirit is on some amazing adventure.

Plans to celebrate Rick's life are in the works and will be published shortly. But for now, please think about the fun memories that you have of Rick.  Each one of you, in your own unique way, meant a great deal to him-especially because you mean so much to all of Rick's family.  Your support of Tami, Brady and Casey during this difficult time has meant the world to them.

Updates on shiva will also be posted shortly.

xo,

Kim

Update

At this time, Rick is still at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital.  We are hoping to keep him there for as long as possible.  The facilities, staff, and care cannot be matched and they are doing everything in their power to make him comfortable.  

We will not be taking Rick home since there is no way to care for him adequately at the house.  The hospital has become our second home and we have been able to spend quality time with Rick there. In fact, we had a fabulous Seder at the hospital on Monday.

We are limiting visitors at this time.

We thank all our dear friends and family for your continuous support and prayers.  We will get through these hard times knowing that you are here with us.

With love,
Tami, Brady and Casey

The Holidays are here .....

Halloween 2009 continued in typical Schneider fashion. This year's theme was Dr. Seuss! Bumpy was "The Cat in the Hat". Brady and Casey were "Thing 1" & "Thing 2". Although the weather wasn't very nice, the evening was a still a "treat"!!

November has been a bit more challenging for Rick. His latest scan showed some very small growth activity so they are back to the drawing board to find a new course of treatment which will again stabilize the tumor activity. Tami has spoken with many experts across the country and this past Friday, she and Rick took a trip to Washington DC to meet with Dr. Fine at the NIH to discuss clinical trial participation. There are a number of options to choose amongst and, if the first one doesn't work, there are still other options to try. One constant is that Rick will continue with Avastin, for now. For the chemotherapy agent, they are choosing between a different dosage schedule of Temodar or starting on BCNU.

While not the news they are used to getting from Rick's scans - through all this, Rick continues to have an amazing 'Positive Mental Attitude'! The incredible support of his friends and family has made this "rough spot" so much more bearable. The Schneiders are looking forward to hosting their family in New York for Thanksgiving, as always, and they will be spending the holidays at the The Atlantis in the Bahamas. If anyone would like to join them, please let them know!

Summers' Over, Schools' In and Rick Gets an A+ Again!!

It's almost Fall in New York, the weather is starting to change and kids are back to school. Everyone is feeling the typical "re entry" blues wishing it was end of June again...But not the Schneiders (well, maybe just a little)!  On Tuesday, Rick went for a follow up scan and his results were awesome!!  His scans continue to be stable and all is well.

After a rainy visiting day in Maine, Tami, Brady, Rick and Bump headed back to Nantucket for some R & R.  In August when Casey was done with camp, he and Rick spent a night at Takajo for Father Son Weekend.  A good time was had by all and getting home to NY for the Bears game as well as their comfy beds couldn't come soon enough for the Schneider boys.  

Back to Nantucket for the last weeks of summer - what could be bad.  Even 2 hurricanes couldn't stop the Schneider's from having fun.  Whether it was back at the helm of "The Dude" or enjoying ice cream at the famous Juice Bar, Rick continues to amaze us all.

The fall will be busy with interviews for schools, the Jewish Holidays and of course FOOTBALL!!  Next scan in a couple of weeks - til then, Happy New Year and be well!! 

Rainy June Doesn't Stop Rick!!

On Tuesday, Rick and Tami came back to NY from Nantucket to meet with their new doctor - Dr Lisa DeAngelis. Dr DeAngelis is the Chair of Neurology at Sloan-Kettering and will be taking care of Rick from now on since their previous doctor moved to Switzerland. The scan they did on tuesday continues to show no tumor activity and be exactly what everyone was hoping for!! Dr DeAngelis is pleased with how well Rick is doing and, at some point could see stopping the Temodar and/ or Avastin. Tami questioned the doctor about other things

(eg supplements, fish oils, etc) that Rick could try but she felt " Rick looks amazing, why change a thing?"

For now, Rick's treatments will continue as they have been and the next update will be in September.

Tami and Rick are off to Maine this weekend to pick Brady up from camp and then they will visit Casey next weekend at Takajo. From there it is back to ACK and the Gorgeous Gal.

Have a great rest of the summer and if anyone is in Nantucket stop by and visit with the Schneiders!!