Reason to Believe

Dear Blogger Family & Friends,

Welcome, welcome, welcome! The Pink Crusader is back to work and greets you with a warm hug and all that is good.

"When you have come to the edge of all light that you know, and you are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, Faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught to fly"

-Patrick Overton

“If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you……” well, you know how it ends. And, while I have been on both the giving and receiving end of this stern remark, sometimes it takes a couple of tries before the truth hits home.

I have been a two-time cancer patient/survivor since 2003 and know all too well the emotional and physical peaks and valleys which one endures over time. I know the first-hand horrors of chemo hell as well as the Utopian state of remission. I have also experienced the after-shock of relapse and paddled like a drowning woman to reach the safety of dry land, just to be detained in chemo hell, yet again.

So, why after all these years of endless testing, multiple surgeries and prolonged treatments, do I continue to let my guard down? I know that my particular form of cancer is not curable. It nips at my heels like a relentless, teething puppy. No matter how fast I walk or how hard I try to stay ahead of it, eventually that puppy is going to devour me in its own time.

Again I ask, so why after all these years do I continue to let my guard down? Or even give a flying fig? Am I some sort of masochist that finds pleasure in being bald or takes delight in playing slice n’dice with my body parts? Of course not! I let my guard down for the same reason most of you do. Given a choice, I choose life. That’s it plain and simple……I choose life. I am not blind to the truth, nor looking away in denial....but more importantly, Faith prompts me to look ahead and keep on going. There's no safety net and no guarantees....yet with faith, I have a reason to believe beyond today.

Like you, I want to live so badly that I choose to overlook all the daily discomforts, mundane irritations and painful procedures in order to maintain a sense of belonging, placement and purpose. I want to stay in the game as long as I can, regardless of the odds and no matter how many times that puppy bites me in the butt. I want to walk upright and find value among the living.....not packing my bags for the last call and final destination. And, if I believe what I am writing, then it is only human that I will let my guard down on occasions and enjoy my days without living in fear of death…...or fear of becoming puppy chow.

PERSONAL NOTE:
Please keep our friend and Rosebuds II member, Susan Robertson in your prayers. She will be undergoing radiostereotic surgery on Tuesday. We extend heartfelt wishes for a full and speedy recovery to Susan and her family.

FYI:
From Cheryl Donlin : I am so excited! Pink Ribbons Project has gotten the go-ahead from KPFT for a second Open Journal show. It will air from noon to 1:00 pm on Tuesday, June 12. The topic will be Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

Our first Open Journal, the Male Breast Cancer Forum, was very well received and I want to thank everyone who listened to the show live, or who went to the KPFT website and listened to or downloaded it. I especially want to thank all those who took the time to fill out a Program Evaluation form on the KPFT website; feedback is a big factor in getting another slot on Open Journal.

So, be sure to tune in on June 12 for another great discussion, hosted by Susan Rafte, executive director of Pink Ribbons Project.

Work. Create. Grow. Give. Cheryl P. Donlin

DAILY REMINDER:
"Fund Free Mammograms"
Go to The Breast Cancer Site at http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/tpc/EEB_0115_BCSm
and help fund free mammograms for the homeless, working-poor, and un-insured women. It costs nothing to you, except one daily click on the pink "Fund Free Mammograms" button. You can even request automatic reminders via e-mail. Please make your free click now, and thanks for your continuing support! The Breast Cancer Site, One Union Square, 600 University Street, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 1-888-811-5271

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark Your Calendars and Save the Dates!

Pink Lemonade Guild Lecture Series Luncheon
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Noon - 1:30pm
Guest Speaker: Beth Irvine, R.N., Author, Nurse, Yoga Instructor
"Five Simple Ways to Create Balance in Everyday Life"
Ouisie's Table, 3939 San Felipe
$25 per guest RSVP by April 13, 2007
713-524-7465 or Loubel@pinkribbons.org

Y-Me.org ShareRing Network
April 18, 2007, 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Topic: “Understanding Lymphedema Treatment”
Speaker: Julia Osborne, P.T., C.M.L.D.T.
Clinic Director
Physiotherapy Associates
Oncology Rehabilitation
Denver, CO
Julia Osborne is a certified lymphedema specialist. She is Clinic Director of Oncology Rehabilitation Physiotherapy Associates in Denver , Co which is one of few facilities in the United States that exclusively treats oncology patients. She has treated oncology patients for over 5 years.

This is a free, monthly one-hour teleconference featuring a breast cancer related presentation by a medical professional followed by a question and answer session. Participants are divided into small groups for discussion, which are moderated by peer counselors. The ShareRing Network teleconferences take place on the third Wednesday of each month, beginning at 7:00 PM Central Time (CT). Questions about this program can be directed to sharering@y-me.org or 1-800-221-2141.

ROAD TO RECOVERY DRIVERS NEEDED
Lack of transportation is a major problem for thousands of cancer patients. Many patients need daily or weekly cancer treatment over the course of several months. Many patients do not have a car, are too ill to drive themselves, and/or do not have family or friends may not be able to assume the burden of frequent trips to treatment centers.

Road to Recovery uses volunteer drivers who use their own cars to transport cancer patients and a maximum of one companion to/from cancer treatment. If you have a car and some spare time, you can help someone keep a very important appointment.

•April 20, 2007 – 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. @ American Cancer Society Office, 6301 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77057 RSVP! For additional information about the Road to Recovery program, or to RSVP for one of the trainings,call Damita Hines(713)706-5649

2007 Pink Ribbon Reception
Thursday, April 26, 2007
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Junior League of Houston
1811 Briar Oaks Lane
Free to Affiliate Members
2007 Chair Claudia Brown and
Co-chairs Nicole Barnett and Anne Williams

Relay for Life of Cy Fair College
American Cancer Society Overnight Event
April 27 & 28, 2007, 7:00pm - 7:00am
www.acsevents.org/cyfair for info & registration

Breast Cancer: Its Effect on Spouses & Others
Saturday, April 28, 2007 8:30am - 1:00pm
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Cancer Prevention Bldg, 8th Floor
1155 Hermal Pressler RSVP by April 23 (713)792-8208
The Beth Sanders Moore Young Breast Cancer Survivor's Program
www.mdanderson.org/youngbreastsurvivor
Email: bsmp@mdanderson.org

Susan's Rally
Sunday, April 29
For info: 713-526-2747
www.susanrally.org

Rosebuds Meetings
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
MAY 1 & 15 JUNE 5 & 19

The 2nd Annual Cancer Patient & Caregiver Conference
Friday, May 4, 2007. Registration:9:00am
Program begins at 9:30am-2:30pm.
Dr Michael Keating from MD Anderson will be the keynote speaker.
Location: United Way Building 50 Waugh Drive.
To Register: 713-520-9873 Contact Person: Elizabeth Wilson
www.cancercouseling.info

Relay For Life of Angelina County
American Cancer Society
May 4th & 5th, 2007
Lufkin Middle School

Relay For Life® is a fun-filled overnight event designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer in our community. At the event, we celebrate survivorship and raise money to help the American Cancer Society in its mission to save lives, help those who have been touched by cancer, and empower individuals to fight back.
http://www.acsevents.org/angelina/positivepinkdynamite

Rosebuds II Meetings
(For those who have had or are at high risk
for recurrence and/or metastasis)
2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
MAY 10 & 24 JUNE 14 & 28
www.RosebudsSupport.org

Walk to Empower
3-Mile walk, Sunday, May 13, 2007
MacGregor Park, Houston, Tx 9:00am
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
No Fee Register online at www.y-me.org

The Alice Thomsen Lymphedema Awareness Group of Houston
Meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at the American cancer Society Building,6301 Richmond (between Hillcroft and Fountainview) at 7:00pm. The 2007 dates are May 15th, July 17th, September 18 and November 20th.
For further information call 281-546-6438.

CanCare Survivors Day Luncheon
Date: Thursday, May 31, 2007
For More Info: patwh@cancare.org
As most of you know our Survivors Day Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 31 at the Intercontinental Hotel. Our luncheon event is a wonderful way to honor friends, family and employees who are cancer survivors and the medical communities who treat them. Our keynote speaker is Scott Hamilton, who is considered to be the world's most celebrated figure skater. In addition to being a role model and humanitarian, Mr. Hamilton is also a ten-year testicular cancer survivor.

2007 Komen Survivor Party
August 22, at The Houstonian
Details to be announced in future posts.

"The Faces behind Breast Cancer" Launch Party
Save the date, Sunday August 26, at 1:00 pm.
Details will be announced in future posts.

Living Fully
M.D. Anderson Annual Conference
September 6-8 2007
Marriott Westchase - Houston, Texas
Additional information is not available at this time.

Tour De Pink 2007
Pink Ribbons Project
September 9, 2007
at Prairie View A&M University
www.tourdepink.org
Additional info in future posts.

2007 Breast Health Summit
"SAVE THE DATE" for the 2007 Breast Health Summit to be held on October 18, 2007 at the United Way in Houston. Please pass this information on to others who may be interested. Additional information will be sent out later by both e-mail and postal mail. And of course, if your mailing address has changed, please be sure to forward the updated information to me. I look forward to seeing you in October!
Pat Dames
The Rose-
12700 North Featherwood
Houston, TX 77034
281-464-5150
Fax 281-484-7083
pdames@the-rose.org
www.the-rose.org

"Sharing is Caring"
As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your comments, stories, poems, and events. Posts are updated every Sunday. Please send your written contributions to thepinkcrusader1@aol.com.

This concludes our weekly edition of the Pink Crusader. See you next week!

"You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith."

-Mary Manin Morrissey

Stay strong, stay well, and keep on dancing forever and a day.

Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com