Greetings to one and all! Welcome to the Pink Crusader blog spot where we serve-up the best cyber-hugs in town! Glad you stopped by to spend some time with us. Grab a seat, join the gang, and read on ......
"God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest."- J.G. Holland.
At the beginning of each year we shift into a new "cycle"......hopefully not the same old vicious cycle...but rather an opportunity to take what we didn't like about the past year and convert it into something more palatable. Whether we succeed or fail depends on how much of an effort we are willing to make to turn most situations around and get what we want.
Reaching goals can be serious business, one that requires commitment, consistency and flexibility. But don't lose your sense of humor in the process. Laughter, combined with a healthy, realistic and positive approach, will keep you moving forward and help you stay the course. Oh yes, did I mention that patience is a virtue?
And when there's just too many things to juggle, revise as you go along. Be selective and accomplish what you can....don't stress over what you can't do or add pressure on yourself with unrealistic deadlines and expectations. Stay focused, prioritize your choices and step around the distractions.
Above all, don't let the fear of failure sabotage your best plans. We can't always be prepared for bumps in the road or sudden twists and turns. Just remember that you have not failed as long as you don't dwell on the setbacks. Think of these temporary upsets as "character builders," and move on....
Okay my babies...slow and steady wins the race...See you at the finish line!
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SURVIVOR UPDATES:Angie Elliott
January 22, 2008 - Miracle #2
Last Wednesday Colin and I went in for my regular weekly chemo appointment. We stopped by the breast clinic to see the triage nurse on duty to have some stitches removed. I’ve had them on my leg since I was unconscious in the hospital. They were just a couple small ones; I guess they held some tube in place. Why they didn’t use the dissolving kind is beyond me?!
While the nurse went to get supplies to remove the stitches, we got a surprise visit from our doctor. He came in and I immediately popped out of the wheelchair and gave him a huge hug. That was the first time I’d seen him since he was at my bedside in the ICU. Anyway, he had a great big smile on his face. He said, “I want to show you something.”
“Is it the results of the x ray from last week?”
He nods and pulls up on the computer screen in split images a view of the actual x ray on the left side and the transcribed pathology report on the right. He said, “Your lungs are clear.” I’m thinking, “Well, that’s great, no fluid, that’s what we were going for.” Then I see line 2 of the pathology report, NO METASTATIC DISEASE. I immediately, with gaping mouth, point at the computer screen in disbelief.
“Is that right?!”
“Yes, your lungs are clear”, he says.
I start tearing up and with my hands to heaven say, “Thank you God!” I look at my doctor and say, “I guess all those prayers are working. He smiles and says, “I guess so.” I look at Colin and we’re both speechless. I can barely describe the emotion we both felt in that moment.
And that my friends is Miracle #2. Now we’re shooting for Miracles 3 & 4 which would be a clean liver and clear bones, although both clear at the same time would suffice for Miracle # 3, then Miracle # 4 would be STAYING CLEAR! ; )
My next PET scan is on 2/4 which will show the effectiveness of the chemo on the rest of my body. We’ll get the results of the scan the following day.
So it’s been 4 weeks since I got home from the hospital and we’ve had a lot of changes. I’m now able to walk up and down the 48 stairs of our townhouse like a “normal” person. (We’re talking 4 stories here!) My voice is still a whisper. Apparently my vocal cords didn’t like sharing space with tubes and they’re still revolting.
Speaking of revolting, I found out my hair loss may not be fully caused by the chemo. The stress my body went through while in the ICU is probably making things worse. So, (you guessed it) I got my hair cut short. It’s in a bob just below my ears. I thought that might help things and the girls at the salon taught me some tricks and hooked me up with some good products. I thought it might hold on but it still continues to come out every time I wash my hair. This is still very distressing for me. I don’t know if it’s going to get so thin that I just need to shave it all off or not. It makes me very sad.
Okay, enough of that. I still have trouble walking long distances without getting so fatigued that I’m scrambling to find a place to sit down. Because of the voice issues and the mobility issues I will most likely have to do PT and Speech Therapy. The doctor just cleared me for lymphedema therapy to help get the swelling in my right arm down. There will be lots and lots of therapy in the near future. I’m not sure I’m looking forward to it. A necessary evil I suppose.
Colin’s parents came in town a couple weeks ago. It was so great to see them again. They basically blitzed the house. Anything and everything that needed to be done, they did - dusting, cooking, cleaning, and laundry. They helped restore some much needed order to our otherwise disorganized house. (We’re still not done with the renovation project. ) I am so blessed to have such loving, self-sacrificing, exceptionally generous in-laws.
We all went out for dinner the last night they were here. (HUGE!) I made it through the whole leisurely meal without having to leave early to lie down. What a triumph!...well, either that or it was the two sangrias I had. = ) It was the most I’ve felt like myself in a long time.
Colin started back to work and it’s been a little hard being alone in the house. I’m still struggling to be independent. It’s very hard when just going down the stairs to the kitchen to fix something to eat is exhausting. And there’s still no hopping in the car to run errands. My reflexes are still too slow both physically and mentally. The sooner I get my strength back the better. I have been
fighting a lot of fatigue.
My long time friend from St. Louis, Suzanne came down for the weekend. She’s an OT and an Ergonomic Specialist, so amongst our fun catching up she helped me with some daily exercises that I think will help a lot until I get into regular PT.
So as you can see there are still several reasons to keep the prayers and positive energy flowing. A big “THANK YOU” to all of you who have taken time to bring dinners, send gift cards to restaurants and donate to the Angie Fund at Wachovia Bank. Those of you that brought food, please don’t hesitate to let us know if you need your containers back. Evening meals are something we still need, especially with Colin back at work. In addition, if any of you are available during the day to drive, transportation is another need. I have a number of different therapists I need to see and as I mentioned earlier, I’m still unable to drive.
Our friend Cindy is coordinating both these needs (and any others that will come up) through the Lotsa Helping Hands website. If you are willing to help out with either of these needs please email her at cindy@cindywingo.com
Until next time…
Live In The Moment,
Angie
http://www.carepage.com/ The page name is AngieElliottsCarePage
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Stephanie Zerger
Congratulations to Stephanie on celebrating her second anniversary of survivorship! This is only the beginning of bigger and better things to come!
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Jackie Gilbreath
Thoughts and prayers to Jackie as she prepares for surgery on January 28th. We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing her smiling face at future Rosebud meetings and upcoming book events.
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FYIFrom Cheryl P. Donlin:
Josie,
A good patient is an informed patient, and hopeful news is always welcome, so thought you might be interested in this short announcement from a recent issue of the Chronicle. Incidentally, AstraZeneca is also a supporter of Tour de Pink, the annual fundraising bike ride sponsored by Pink Ribbons Project to raise funds for breast cancer education and awareness. (For those who like to mark their calendars early, Tour de Pink 2008 is scheduled for Sunday, September 7!)
Work. Create. Grow. Give.
Cheryl
HEALTH - Lynn Cook
M. D. Anderson drug firm team up
The Univeristy of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is working with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to conduct research on neuropathic pain stemming from Chemotherapy.
Peripheral nerve dysfunction, such as tingling and numbness and, in some cases, extreme pain, can limit how large a dose of chemotherapy a cancer patient can receive.
The agreement is a new phase of an alliance Anderson and AstraZeneca struck in 2005 to collaborate on cancer therapy in the hopes of speeding new drugs and therapies to market.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5487413.html
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From Victoria Silva, founder of Feminine Living:
Be aware that FORGIVENESS is a huge energy to work on during your time of
purification and inner change. When you hold on to anger, resentment and
hurt... you block the flow for a better and more positive life for yourself.
I believe so much in the power of FORGIVENESS... that I hold a FORGIVENESS CEREMONY every February. Look for all the details in February on my website www.feminineliving.com . Rena Leverance L.M.T, will also be available at the FORGIVENESS ceremony with mini massage to help with your release and healing! For details and RSVP, visit: http://www.feminineliving.com/ or call 713.849.3535
FORGIVENESS CEREMONY
A RITE OF PASSAGE
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 9TH
7:00 PM to 9:30 PM
AT VICTORIA'S HEALING ROOM
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From Jane Weiner, Hope Stone, Inc.
Join us this week as Bumni puts you through the paces of West African Dance. Her energetic form and teaching will be sure to warm you up inside and out! And the following week the amazing Jo Yost Ulrich teaches the amazing Yamuna Body Rolling...a perfect class to help us teach ourselves to relax and revitalize. These two ladies are master teachers in their form and Hope Center is pleased to be able to offer you these classes!!!
January 26 WEST AFRICAN DANCE
February 2 YAMUNA BODY ROLLING
February 9 BELLY DANCE
February 16 PILATES
February 23 INTRO TO MODERN DANCE
March 1 CAPOEIRA MARTIAL ARTS
Cost is $100 for the remainder of the series, $18 drop in, class cards can be used as well! Aloha! Call now to register-713.526.1907 ext. 1
Note: We still have 2 (two) more scholarships open for our Teen Arts program (meets Tuesday & Thursday after school) Call the office or e-mail us if interested...and 1 (one) scholarship available for our children's Capoeira class Monday @ 4 p.m. An artist is a terrible thing to waste!!!!
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From Donna Fong:
This is a great website if you are interested in purchasing pink ribbon items for yourself. I have used them several times in the past and am pleased with the service and the confidentiality of credit card purchases
http://shop.thebreastcancersite.com/store/category.do?siteId=224&categoryId=470&origin=EEG_0121_C_470_m
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From American Cancer Society-Houston Metro Office:
2008 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Contact Ashley White, Community Manager-Distinguished Events
at 714-706-5645 Ashley.white@cancer.org
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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
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 http://www.breastcancerfund.org/
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UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark Your Calendars and Save the Dates!HOPE STONE, INC.
SATURDAY SAMPLER SERIES
Hit the winter blues and blahs with our new sampler series!!!! Hope Center offers a lovely sampling of classes for you to try out during the next few Saturdays....a great way to try a new movement class.....experience a novel way to move and care for your body....to be in the community with other awesome Hope Center students, and gosh darn it, to HAVE FUN. Our teachers are the best of the best!!!!!
February 2 YAMUNA BODY ROLLING
February 9 BELLY DANCE
February 16 PILATES
February 23 INTRO TO MODERN DANCE
March 1 CAPOEIRA MARTIAL ARTS
Cost is $110 for the entire series, $18 drop in
Call now to register-713.526.1907 ext. 1
http://www.hopestoneinc.org/
PINK RIBBONS PROJECT FUND RAISER
St. Thomas High School vs. Westside High School, 6 P.M., Saturday, February 2, 2008, St. Thomas High School - Hotze Field (in Granger Stadium), 4500 Memorial Drive Cost = $5.00
Proceeds from the day will benefit Pink Ribbons Project, in motion against breast cancer, and St. Thomas High School Rugby.
ROSEBUDS MEETING
February 5th, 5:45 - 7:30 pm
Breast Cancer Support Group Meeting
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
The Rose, 3400 Bissonnet
Future Meetings: FEBRUARY 19**, MARCH 4 &18
** The Rosebuds 17th Birthday Party
KNOCKOUT ROSES
A support group for women diagnosed under 40.
2nd Monday of each month, at 5:45 pm, February 11th, 2008.
The Rose, 3400 Bissonnet.
Contact Amy Rigsby, Technical Director of The Rose, 713-660-6675.
SOS SURVIVOR MEETING
Held the second Tuesday of each month for those living in Fort Bend County.
February 12, 2008, La Madeline, Sugar Land.
Details TBA
FACES BEHIND BREAST CANCER BOOK EVENT
Thursday, Feb 14th, 11:00am - 3:30 pm
Appearances Breast Care Boutique
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Mays Clinic
2nd Floor
Houston, TX
Come and meet the author and participants from the book!
ROSEBUDS II MEETING
February 14, 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.
Future Meetings: FEBRUARY 28, MARCH 13 & 27
FACES BEHIND BREAST CANCER BOOK EVENT
Save the Date! Valentine's Day Tea Party
Hosted by KnockOut Roses
Sunday, February 17th, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Randall's Community Resource Center
The Rose Medical Plaza
12700 North Featherwood
Houston, TX 77034
Meet the author and participants from the book.
BYOTC (Bring Your Own Tea Cup)
RSVP with Amy Rigsby at 713-254-1399
arigsby@the-rose.org , by Thursday, Feb. 14th
ROSEBUDS ANNUAL BIRTHDAY PARTY
6:00 p.m - Tuesday, February 19, 2008
At our annual birthday party we recognize those who have attained a 5 year,10 year, 15 year, etc. anniversary of diagnosis/treatment during the past year. If you are one of these people, please advise Donna Fong. 713-681-7716 or donnafong5948@yahoo.com Refreshments will be provided.
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). Please join us on March 18, 2008 at 7 pm. Hope to see you then, Cynthia Gdula.
Y-ME NATIONAL BREAST CANCER ORGANIZATION
Houston Walk to Empower, Non-Competitive 3-mile Walk
Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13, 2007
Check-In Begins: 7:30 a.m. Walk Begins: 9:00 a.m.
Sam Houston Park, Houston, Texas
During the past 15 years, Y-ME’s Mother’s Day Events have raised more than $26 million to help ensure that no one faces breast cancer alone. In 2006, $6 million was raised. Please join us this year -- you’ll be proud to know that your support will help Y-ME continue providing its essential programs and services to people and their loved ones touched by breast cancer.
For more details: http://houstonwalk.y-me.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MDE_HTX_homepage
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"SHARING is CARING"
As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your contributions, comments, stories, poems, events and photographs! Posts are updated each week. Please send your written contributions to
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com
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"Men are made stronger on realization that the helping hand they need is at the end of their own arm." -Sidney J. Phillips
Until next week stay strong, stay well and keep on dancing with a little extra effort and a lot of determination!
Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com
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