The Pink Crusader will return next week faster than you can say "Amen" and "Pass the Gravy!" Until then, best wishes for a happy and blessed Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones. May we all continue to celebrate the smorgasbord of blessings in our lives, and acknowledge our gratitude all year long. EAT BIG (guilt-free) and read on....
"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."- William Arthur Ward
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SURVIVOR UPDATES:
Ellen Johnson (per Rosemary Barr)
It is with much sadness that I inform you of the death of Ellen Johnson on
Sunday morning, November 11. Ellen faced breast cancer with great
courage and dignity. She was not able to attend many meetings due to her
health status and difficulty with treatments but many of you probably met
this delightful young woman at the 2006 Holiday Party. If you go to our
website, www.RosebudsSupport.org, click on Photo Album then on 2006
Holiday Party, you will see pictures of Ellen on pages 2, 3 and 4. I have
had the pleasure of knowing Ellen for a few years an all too brief time.
This amazing, loving young lady will be sorely missed by many. Our
sympathy and love go out to her wonderful husband David and her family and
many, many friends. Peace and Blessings, Rosemary
Personal Note: The Pink Crusader joins Rosemary in extending condolences to Ellen's family and husband David during this difficult time. May they keep her wonderful spirit close to their hearts and never let go.
From Angie Elliott:
Hello Family and Friends,
I thought I would pass along an article that the University of Texas Health Systems did on Inflammatory Breast Cancer and the opening of the new clinic. Colin and I were included in the article as well as my doctor and good friend Jenee. To see the full article visit http://www.utsystem.edu/news/features/BreastCancerCenter.htm
Thinking of you all. Lots of Love, Angie
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FYI:
From Josie Sethi:
Pictures from the Faces behind Breast Cancer Launch Party are posted in the November issue of Houston Magazine, out now.
Online Review from November 15th Book Event at The Book Woman, Austin, TX
Written by Author & Survivor, Robin Hunt (Hang on to Me Mary)
http://monodalefarms.blogspot.com/2007/11/faces-behind-breast-cancer.html
Enjoy! - Josie
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From Debbie Schultz:
Deadline for Hope Award Nominations
This year I am encouraging you to nominate someone you know for the HOPE Award.
I want to get the word out to as many as possible. Please think about all the wonderful potential nominees that sit next to you everyday, not to mention those you know through all of your community connections. Feel free to share this e-mail with
anyone interested throughout the United States. Deadline for nominations is November 30.
The Intercultural Cancer Council is currently accepting nominations for the HOPE Award. The HOPE (Helping Other People Endure) Awards are presented to community-based volunteers and organizations in recognition of exceptional service in cancer prevention, cancer control, patient support and survivorship in minority or medically underserved communities. Four awards will be given in the categories of Faith-Based, Individual, Organization, and Survivor.
Awardees will receive $1,000, a plaque and an all-expense paid trip to the Intercultural Cancer Council's 11th Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Underserved and Cancer, at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, D.C., April 3-6, 2008.
This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize the outstanding volunteers who contribute selflessly to your organization. Nominations must be received by 6:00 PM CST, Friday, November 30, 2007. For more information, go to www.iccnetwork.org/symposium, or contact me at LHNguyen@mdanderson.org or
713-745-1284. Thank you for all you do to reduce the burden of cancer in all communities.
Debbie Schultz, M.Ed., CPHQ Assistant Director
Volunteer Services-Anderson Network
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
713-745-9208 Office
dschultz@mdanderson.org
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From Cheryl Donlin:
FACES IN THE CROWD
By FLORI MEEKS, Houston Chronicle Correspondent
Reprinted from Houston Chronicle Online Archives
http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4460938
Since she became a summer volunteer at The Methodist Hospital three years ago, Mingqian "Shelly" Xie has created more than 500 portraits. The Bellaire High School senior has drawn patients, family members and in some cases, final scenes of the dying with their loved ones.
But this year, Xie decided to take her service a step further. She created a series of paintings and a book of her artwork to raise money for breast cancer research at Methodist, 6565 Fannin St.
"I thought there's nothing better than helping patients and making them happy," said Xie, 18. "I know breast cancer is a big killer of women and I wanted to do something to make a difference."
The book, ``Mingqian "Shelly" Xie Art Collection'' ($15, Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House), shows how Xie's art has progressed from early childhood to today.
It starts with scenes from nature and progresses to more complex images. Her work comprises oil and acrylic paintings, along with charcoal and pencil drawings.
One image in the book, a mother holding a baby, is a more recent creation inspired by a patient Xie sketched at Methodist. The woman, who was dying of leukemia at the time, wanted her portrait done with her stillborn baby. Xie agreed to help her.
"That really touched me a lot," said Xie, who learned last month that the mother had passed away. "The volunteer coordinator (at Methodist) told me the portrait I did of them was truly the last picture of them for the family. Now I know it made their last memory, I'm honored."
Xie started volunteering for Methodist the summer after her freshman year of high school. In a way, she said, she was following her parents' example of service to others. Her father and mother, Tong Xin Xie and Shuying Liu, are researchers at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd.
When Mingqian Xie was a child in China, her mother was a pediatrician who worked with leukemia patients. A number of her patients' families struggled to pay their medical bills.
"We have seen families who could barely afford food," Xie said. "We donated anything we had to try to help them."
That's when Xie started thinking of becoming a doctor and trying to find ways to reach out to others.
Xie and her family later would move to Japan when she was 7 years old. They settled in Houston eight years ago. She first used her time at Methodist Hospital to gain exposure to a medical setting.
"But when I started meeting people, it felt great," she said. "It felt so much better than winning an award for an art competition."
She would draw a mother with a newborn baby one day, then sketch a pediatric cancer patient the next.
"It's a mix of everyday," Xie said. "Some things are happy and some are not. Some people are lonely and they want to talk more, so I draw more slowly."
Last April, Xie won a Mayor's Volunteer Houston Award for her services. It affirmed the feeling that she was really making a difference.
"I was thinking I haven't done enough to help the people," she said.
Xie's parents are very pleased with her efforts.
"I'm very proud of what Shelly did and I'm very happy she was able to accomplish this, with the limited time she had with her school work," Liu said through Xie's translation. "I'd like to thank Methodist Hospital for giving her this chance."
Xie intends to study medicine after graduating high school and someday to possibly work with the United Nations to help underprivileged mothers and children.
"No matter where I go I know I'll continue my community service there and incorporate my art into my service," she said.
Copies of her book, ``Mingqian "Shelly" Xie Art Collection'', can be purchased by sending e-mail correspondence to shellsbook@yahoo.com.
Copyright Notice: All materials in this archive are copyrighted by Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division, Hearst Newspapers Partnership, L.P., or its news and feature syndicates and wire services.
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From Y-Me Advocacy:
Legislative Updates
Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (DOD BCRP)
Great news! On November 8, 2007 the Senate and House approved $138 million in fiscal year 2008 for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (DOD BCRP) and both houses passed the bill. This is $10.5 million more than the fiscal year 2007 amount of $127.5 million and a magnificent victory for the breast cancer community. The bill will now be sent to the President for his signature. For more information on the DOD BCRP, visit: http://cdmrp.army.mil/bcrp/
The Breast Cancer Research Stamp
On October 30, the House passed House Bill 1236, which allows the U.S. Postal Service to continue issuing the breast cancer stamp until 2011. This bill would reauthorize the 55-cent stamp for first class mail, with 14 cents of each stamp going to breast cancer research. On November 1, the Senate referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Reprinted from the Y-Me Online Newsletter. © 2007 Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. All rights reserved.
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DAILY REMINDER #1:
"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
NOTE: This November, help fund 500 MAMMOGRAMS for U.S. women and we'll donate an ultrasound machine to McCord Hospital in South Africa.
In operation since 1909, McCord Hospital is striving to meet the projected health needs of an increasingly "westernized" urban and predominantly African population. There is an increasing need for healthcare services that will provide for earlier detection and treatment. Equipment such as an ultrasound unit which can be used for screening and diagnostic purposes for breast and uterine masses, and for cardiac echocardiography, will greatly help in providing better services for these patients. Click now! Please keep clicking... Please click daily!
DAILY REMINDER #2:
Help eliminate Breast Cancer with a daily click at
http://breastcancer.care2.com/ebc-about.html
You'll be one of the first people to participate in the largest virtual mountain climb in the world! With every click, (or "step") you generate a donation to
eliminate the environmental causes of breast cancer--for free. Sponsors pay for your click and fund The Breast Cancer Fund's programs focusing on environmental links to breast cancer. It only takes a second! The Breast Cancer Fund is the leading national organization focused on identifying – and advocating for the elimination of – the environmental and preventable causes of the disease. For more details on the organization’s work, visit www.breastcancerfund.org
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UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark Your Calendars and Save the Dates!
ROSEBUDS MEETING
November 20, 5:45 - 7:30 pm
Breast Cancer Support Group Meeting
The Rose, 3400 Bissonnet.
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
Future Meetings: December 18, 2007
www.RosebudsSupport.org
Note: There will be no Rosebuds meeting on December 4 inasmuch as
the annual Holiday Party will be at the home of Janet Covington on
December 4, 2007 We look forward to seeing you!
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. 2007. Next scheduled meeting is November 20th.
ROSEBUDS II MEETING
November 29th, 5:45 - 7:30 pm
Breast Cancer Support Group Meeting
For those who have had or are at high risk for recurrence
and/or metastasis, 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month
The Rose, 3400 Bissonnet.
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
Future Meetings: November 29*, December 13 & 27,
Note: *Rosebuds II meeting will be on the 29th of November
since the 22nd of November is Thanksgiving
KNOCKOUT ROSES
A support group for women diagnosed under 40
2nd Monday of each month, @ 5:45
December 10
The Rose, 3400 Bissonnet.
Contact Amy Rigsby, Technical Director of The Rose
713-660-6675.
JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL HOLIDAY TEA!
Sat. December 15th & Sat. December 22nd
at Serenitea Tea Room and Gift Shop.
13889 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX
Share the joy of the holiday season over a cup of steaming hot wassail and spiced pecans along with a delicate assortment of finger sandwiches; gingerbread with honey nut cream cheese, egg salad with watercress, spinach and pimento stack-up, ham and pear with walnuts, and the classic cucumber sandwich.
You will also enjoy classic English scones with a twist, chocolate chips and orange. And for dessert try the mini traditional rum fruitcake, chocolate-dipped shortbread biscuits and grapes.
A pot of tea...your choice from the Tea Selections menu. Plus, a special gift for everyone...compliments of Serenitea!
By Reservation Only. Phone: 281-491-4588
Cost is $30 per person + Tax and Gratuity
www.SereniteaTeaRoom.com
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"SHARING is CARING"
As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your comments, stories, poems, events and photographs! Posts are updated each week. Please send your written contributions to thepinkcrusader1@aol.com.
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"Do not get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time."-Galatians 6:9
Until next week stay strong, stay well and keep on dancing your way through the holiday season!
Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com
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