So, yesterday was my day off from work. And I decided that it was time for my pal and fellow kick ass cancer survivor Cheryl and I to hang out. So, we went to the bead store so I could buy some clasps, we enjoyed a healthy dinner at Whole Foods of some yummy prepared foods. And while at Whole Foods, I met a fabulous partially bald man. Cheryl who is always in stitches laughing whenever she is with me, was just that- in stitches laughing as I stared at the bald man and exclaimed how much I loved his partially bald head. Now, I know..... I sound dysfunctional as ever right? I mean who really stops men in the store or in public and tells them that their baldness (whether intentional or part of life) is beyond awesome! This man, however was happy to hear about my love for his baldness. Cheryl jumped in just as I was ensuring the man that I wasn't crazy and that it was just something I loved about men and she exclaimed "My friend Rachel is a cancer survivor and she LOVES Bald men, because she was bald too! And she's in the 805 Magazine this month!" No sooner than she said that, did I have my issue of the 805 Living (our local magazine) in my hand and open to my signature article. :) Cheryl was smiling and cheering, and the fabulous bald man was excited as well.
No sooner after we met we started talking about fruit juice and healthy eating, and Cheryl, cute as ever continued to tell the man about my car magnet that expressed my love for the baldies - it was cute. He was sweet, I gave him my business card and told him that we'd love any help that he wanted to offer. He smiled and acknowledged us. So, after we ate dinner at Whole Foods, Cheryl and I returned to her house to hang out and meet with a friend of hers. When we arrived at Cheryl's place and I was walking up the stairs, my favorite glass bottle of peach white tea fell out of my purse and onto the stairs. Cheryl, who knew that I was somewhat struggling to get up the stairs due to the blood clot in my leg wouldn't let me clean up my mess and instead had me sit on her couch as she cleaned it up for me. What a "cute-sickle". I overheard an older man asking her if she needed some help and then a the voice of a young man. I popped up out of my seat on the couch and went to see who she was talking to. As I peered over the stairs, I saw a handsome young man, who looked up at me and smiled. Cheryl, who was downstairs looked at the young man's face and said "This is my friend Rachel and she's a cancer survivor...." So I walked down the stairs to greet the young man and his dad. (As Cheryl told me later, she said that by the look on the young man's face and mine, she thought that a cupid had shot an arrow into both of our hearts.) :) Lol. As I talked to the young man, it turned out that he was a few years younger than me, had gone to my high school and had some stuff in common with me. I gave him my number and suggested that we hang out sometime. He was really nice!! YAY!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Speed Dating? Hmmmm. Sounds like a fun adventure! I'm In!
So, for the past, I dunno maybe ten years I have always heard about speed dating. On the TV, from passerby's, ads, etc. And I have always wondered- could you find a match in 6 minutes or less, and could you really have a mental connection after that short amount of time? The way that I looked at it, was simple... what have I got to loose? Except $20 and an hour of my time. After much thought, and two and a half years of being single, I decided that it was time. Time to steer away from my comfort zone and traditional habit of checking out the personals on craigslist and the online dating sites, and try something new and fun.
So on St Patrick's day, I dove in, and attended a St. Patrick's Luck Mixer. $20 got me in at a local sports bar that I frequented on Tuesday nights for karaoke. The set up for the mixer was simple. The ladies got a green coin, and the men had I think a gold one, and each of our coins had a number on them. We'd sit at a table and talk to 2 guys. And then they would match us with guys with the same coin number as ours, so we would have one on one time. That night, was a ton of fun! I didn't have any matches, but I did meet a new, cool friend- Mary. And I enjoyed some fabulous karaoke and rocked out to my favorite songs for my fellow friends that I met at the mixer. :)
My first official speed dating event, was on a Monday night (04/26/2010) at a local restaurant in Westlake Village- a fancy one too! I had signed up for the speed dating event for 30-45 yr olds and was looking forward to see who I would meet at the event. There ended up being 7 women and 6 men. The ladies sat at our designated table (we had name badges on with a number on it), and we would sit and wait for our date to come to our table. We all had little "cheat sheets" as I call them, where we would write the gentleman's name, the name tag #, details about them and if we felt they were a friend/business match, or a dating match. Every six minutes, the man we were talking to would switch and move on to the next woman, and each of us would have a new man to talk to. That night, I had the chance to get to know 6 eligible bachelors: Steven, Michael, Ramon, Brad, Ray, & Phil. All of the guys had very different personalities. I noticed that these men, asked me questions, which was nice - because I wasn;t the only one asking the questions. I didn;t have a match, but I did get some great new friends and was looking forward to my next event!!
My most recent speed dating event was on Monday 05/17/2010 in Camarillo at a very nice restaurant that I had always referred clients to, but had never been to myself. I was able to convince one of my great friends Brianne to come along with me to join in on the adventure. As Brianne and I sat waiting for the event to start, I noticed a fabulous bald man come in the restaurant. Brianne, saw the look on my face and laughed. She knew that all I was thinking about was this - bald man. :) Lol. This event, was a small one as well, an the age range was 25-34. There were 6 women and 6 men. The guys I met this night included a repeat attendee: Ramon. And 5 other available bachelors including: John, Joel, Tom, Brian & Kurt. All of the men were extremely nice, but I did notice a difference with this group - these guys didn't ask the questions until I asked them what they wanted to know. Hmmmm Interesting! One of the guys in the group was 37 and I was surprised that he didn't ask me more questions. All in all, Brianne and I had a great time talking to the guys and getting to know them and although we didn't have matches, we thoroughly enjoyed the late night snack we had at Carrows as we discussed the evenings' men. :) Brianne and I are looking forward to the next event! Speed Dating.... Here I COME!! :)
So on St Patrick's day, I dove in, and attended a St. Patrick's Luck Mixer. $20 got me in at a local sports bar that I frequented on Tuesday nights for karaoke. The set up for the mixer was simple. The ladies got a green coin, and the men had I think a gold one, and each of our coins had a number on them. We'd sit at a table and talk to 2 guys. And then they would match us with guys with the same coin number as ours, so we would have one on one time. That night, was a ton of fun! I didn't have any matches, but I did meet a new, cool friend- Mary. And I enjoyed some fabulous karaoke and rocked out to my favorite songs for my fellow friends that I met at the mixer. :)
My first official speed dating event, was on a Monday night (04/26/2010) at a local restaurant in Westlake Village- a fancy one too! I had signed up for the speed dating event for 30-45 yr olds and was looking forward to see who I would meet at the event. There ended up being 7 women and 6 men. The ladies sat at our designated table (we had name badges on with a number on it), and we would sit and wait for our date to come to our table. We all had little "cheat sheets" as I call them, where we would write the gentleman's name, the name tag #, details about them and if we felt they were a friend/business match, or a dating match. Every six minutes, the man we were talking to would switch and move on to the next woman, and each of us would have a new man to talk to. That night, I had the chance to get to know 6 eligible bachelors: Steven, Michael, Ramon, Brad, Ray, & Phil. All of the guys had very different personalities. I noticed that these men, asked me questions, which was nice - because I wasn;t the only one asking the questions. I didn;t have a match, but I did get some great new friends and was looking forward to my next event!!
My most recent speed dating event was on Monday 05/17/2010 in Camarillo at a very nice restaurant that I had always referred clients to, but had never been to myself. I was able to convince one of my great friends Brianne to come along with me to join in on the adventure. As Brianne and I sat waiting for the event to start, I noticed a fabulous bald man come in the restaurant. Brianne, saw the look on my face and laughed. She knew that all I was thinking about was this - bald man. :) Lol. This event, was a small one as well, an the age range was 25-34. There were 6 women and 6 men. The guys I met this night included a repeat attendee: Ramon. And 5 other available bachelors including: John, Joel, Tom, Brian & Kurt. All of the men were extremely nice, but I did notice a difference with this group - these guys didn't ask the questions until I asked them what they wanted to know. Hmmmm Interesting! One of the guys in the group was 37 and I was surprised that he didn't ask me more questions. All in all, Brianne and I had a great time talking to the guys and getting to know them and although we didn't have matches, we thoroughly enjoyed the late night snack we had at Carrows as we discussed the evenings' men. :) Brianne and I are looking forward to the next event! Speed Dating.... Here I COME!! :)
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Meeting People Along the Way & Inspiring is THE GOAL!
Ever since I made my first UCAAN t-shirt, I have been wearing it every chance I get! :) Including recently when I attended a Wellness event in Westlake Village with my friend and fellow survivor Sheryl. The event was held at a local business and all in all was a lot of fun. But I had a feeling that I just had to be there, and at that moment I wasn't quite sure why, but I would soon find out. 
As Sheryl & I enjoyed the delicious food and drinks at the event, we spent some time talking to people. Sheryl, who was beyond excited about me being in the local and recent 805 Living magazine in am article called "Voices of Survivors", which included the stories of 4 cancer survivor women who were doing amazing things- and I was one of them!!! :) So, as we sipped our hot tea and talked to one another, I overheard a conversation near me- two women younger than me that were raving about how an $80 a month gym membership wasn't bad at all. I thought to myself at that moment, $80 a month!?!? Sounds like my electricity, gas & internet bills all together. Lol. And for my fellow cancer survivors I know that this is a lot of money for all of us! I looked at Sheryl and said "I can't even afford the $37/month to get a gym membership for myself, let alone an $80 membership." She laughed, because she not only understood what I was talking about, but she also agreed.
Sheryl ended up getting a free sample of a fabulous gluten free cookie at the event and decided that she just had to buy one. As we walked to the front desk, and she asked about the price for the healthy cookie, meanwhile I was talking to the women behind the desk who were all eating the cookies! :) I looked ta them and said "Those cookies are good, but their sodium content is higher than what women can have in a day!" They looked at me shocked, as I continued to tell them that the suggested amount of sodium for women per day was 90mg. And the cookie they were enjoying was 150mg. I told one woman, you can eat half of that and almost reach your daily amount of sodium, her response? She put it down and continued to listen to a story her co-worker was sharing about her brother in law who loved Top Ramen. We all continued to talk and somewhere along the line, I decided to share my new found fame in the 805 Living magazine. I opened to page 67 and showed the women behind the desk. One woman, read the article and began to cry. I wasn't expecting that reaction and when I asked her why, she told me that her 3 year old niece has Leukemia and was getting treated in England, where she lived with her parents. I gave the woman my card and we exchanged information. I told her that I would make a little pink bracelet for her niece, because she is a survivor! :)
As Sheryl and I, with our cookies in hand walked out to the car I looked at Sheryl and said "I have the beading stuff here! I can make it now and get it to her." Sheryl agreed and I sat in my car and made the little bracelet. When I was done, I returned to the woman (Wendy was her name), and told her I had a gift for her. "Close your eyes." I told her, as I placed the newly made survivor hope bracelet into her hand. I had her close her eyes and again and I placed a pink necklace on her (that I made for someone), but it matched the bracelet and I felt that Wendy needed something to help keep her close to her niece. The look on her face when she got the gifts was beyond exceptional, and yes she started to cry again - tears of happiness!! She loved it!! Here is a picture of Wendy & I!
So, If you sport a UCAAN shirt, make sure to take pictures of you helping others! Because UCAAN Make a Difference! Even when you least expect it!
:)
As Sheryl & I enjoyed the delicious food and drinks at the event, we spent some time talking to people. Sheryl, who was beyond excited about me being in the local and recent 805 Living magazine in am article called "Voices of Survivors", which included the stories of 4 cancer survivor women who were doing amazing things- and I was one of them!!! :) So, as we sipped our hot tea and talked to one another, I overheard a conversation near me- two women younger than me that were raving about how an $80 a month gym membership wasn't bad at all. I thought to myself at that moment, $80 a month!?!? Sounds like my electricity, gas & internet bills all together. Lol. And for my fellow cancer survivors I know that this is a lot of money for all of us! I looked at Sheryl and said "I can't even afford the $37/month to get a gym membership for myself, let alone an $80 membership." She laughed, because she not only understood what I was talking about, but she also agreed.
Sheryl ended up getting a free sample of a fabulous gluten free cookie at the event and decided that she just had to buy one. As we walked to the front desk, and she asked about the price for the healthy cookie, meanwhile I was talking to the women behind the desk who were all eating the cookies! :) I looked ta them and said "Those cookies are good, but their sodium content is higher than what women can have in a day!" They looked at me shocked, as I continued to tell them that the suggested amount of sodium for women per day was 90mg. And the cookie they were enjoying was 150mg. I told one woman, you can eat half of that and almost reach your daily amount of sodium, her response? She put it down and continued to listen to a story her co-worker was sharing about her brother in law who loved Top Ramen. We all continued to talk and somewhere along the line, I decided to share my new found fame in the 805 Living magazine. I opened to page 67 and showed the women behind the desk. One woman, read the article and began to cry. I wasn't expecting that reaction and when I asked her why, she told me that her 3 year old niece has Leukemia and was getting treated in England, where she lived with her parents. I gave the woman my card and we exchanged information. I told her that I would make a little pink bracelet for her niece, because she is a survivor! :)
As Sheryl and I, with our cookies in hand walked out to the car I looked at Sheryl and said "I have the beading stuff here! I can make it now and get it to her." Sheryl agreed and I sat in my car and made the little bracelet. When I was done, I returned to the woman (Wendy was her name), and told her I had a gift for her. "Close your eyes." I told her, as I placed the newly made survivor hope bracelet into her hand. I had her close her eyes and again and I placed a pink necklace on her (that I made for someone), but it matched the bracelet and I felt that Wendy needed something to help keep her close to her niece. The look on her face when she got the gifts was beyond exceptional, and yes she started to cry again - tears of happiness!! She loved it!! Here is a picture of Wendy & I!
So, If you sport a UCAAN shirt, make sure to take pictures of you helping others! Because UCAAN Make a Difference! Even when you least expect it!
:)
Monday, April 12, 2010
DVT Adventures - 03/30-04/10/2010
So, a little over a month ago, my doctors decided to put me on birth control - due to the fun fact that I was going through menopause at 29 - as a result of my total body radiation and massive amounts of chemotherapy. So, after a month of being on Ocella (the generic version of Yaz), I noticed on the date of my BIG UCAAN event, that my left leg was getting swollen. On the night of my event, I had excruciating pain in my groin and left side of my leg. I wasn't sure what was going on, but like my stubborn, bull headed-Taurus self, I worked through it, and ignored the sign. By Tuesday 03/30, my entire left leg had swollen up (from my foot to my hip) and I was in even more pain. 
By Tuesday night, I drove myself to a small local hospital - that i was not familiar with- (because the two other hospitals - Los Robles & Ventura County Medical Center) were both packed and told me they could not help me. When I got to the hospital, they admitted me into the ER and took some blood and gave me an ultrasound. I was my usual cheery self - even as I was sitting on a gurney in the middle of the ER, because they had run out of rooms. As I laid on the ultrasound table, the cute lady was giving me my ultrasound and I was cracking jokes the entire time - she was in stitches! When she was finished, I asked her "Did you find something?" and she responded "I can't tell you." Moments later the doctor came to me and told me "You have a DVT, and if it spreads to your lungs it will kill you." I was a little freaked out, because DVT sounded scary and I didn't even know what it was. She quickly told me "Deep Vein Thrombosis - It's a blood clot deep in your leg!" I wasn't quite sure what to think, nor was I sure how I got it. But right away, they admitted me into the hospital and gave me a room. (While in the ER, I met two fabulous EMT students from Ventura College, who were very nice to me, asking questions about my cancer, why I was there, etc. It was nice to talk to people my age, while in the ER. I think it calmed me, because I was nervous about everything going on, while I was unsure of what was wrong with me.
A transporter took me to a room and as I sat in the clean room waiting for the nurse to show up, I wondered if they'd ever give me some pain medication, for the severe pain I was having in my left leg. By the time I got to my room, it was midnight and shortly after my nurse came in. She seemed a little scatter brained, as she pulled a big cart with a computer on it into my room. She looked at me and said "I am here to ask you some questions, many questions - about 100." It took about an hour for the nurse to get through the 100 boring questions, and when she did, I asked again for pain medication - and she disappeared just as fast as she had come in. I was in the hospital (including time in the ER) for 7 hours before anyone gave me medicine for my severe leg pain. Ugh! I was thinking to myself, 'I can't wait to call Dr. P at the COH in the morning and ask him to get me out of this place.' After 2 days there, I was actually in fear of my life, because I noticed the lack of caring and information from the doctors and nurses at this particular hospital. I really thought that if Dr. P hadn't of gotten me transferred out of there, that I would die just from the hospital's neglect! :( Scary!!! The one good thing that happened, was when some friends of mine came to visit me, including Tami L who brought me flowers and snacks and Tam & her mom who brought my mom and I some great In and Out and some beautiful flowers! :) Good thing mom could visit with me often, since I was close enough.
On April Fools day- April 1st,2010 I was transferred by ambulance to The City of Hope. Now, you all know my obsession with bald men, and let me just say that I had another handsome bald man in the back of the ambulance with me, his name was Tom and he was super attentive, funny and really nice. Up front in the driver's seat was Kyle, another handsome EMT.
I remember laying in the back of the ambulance laughing it up with the guys and talking up a storm (once again- we see a pattern right?) I watched as my mom waved to me as I laid in the gurney in the fabulous ambulance. She was smiling, because she knew that I was on the right track. 
When I did get to the City of Hope, I was beyond relived to be there. I knew that things would be better, the moment I got there. The days at the City of Hope are a little blurred to me, because it was awhile ago. But the time was well spent. Not too many people came to visit me because it is a long drive to get there. But I ate some great food and enjoyed the time with friends who did visit from the hospital, like: Randy, Irene, Dr. Chen, Jeff, Heather & my phlebotomist friends. I learned that while on these blood thinners, I have to not eat as much food with Vitamin K in it, I don't have to limit it completely, I just had to limit it a bit and watch my intake. I learned that I would have to get my blood tested every day to make sure that my INR (International Normalized Ratio), which needs to be between 2.5 and 3.5 before they will let me go home, and once I do go home, they want my INR levels to be between 2.0 and 3.0, and will be changing my Coumadin (Warfarin) dosage often until I am at a regular target INR level.
While I was at each hospital, I was put on a regimen - I would get 140mg of Lovenox shots each day, which if I was lucky would be one shot, but most times it ended up being 2 shots (one shot of 100mg, and another with the remaining 40mg). Now, these shots were just as uncomfortable if not more than the shots that I had to give myself when I was on Neupogen 2 years ago (prior to my stem cell transplant), those were 3mg shots, and I gave myself the shots 3 times a day - not too bad!
I did have some fabulous visitors from CSUN that I met at a CSUN cancer survivor dinner that was put together by ACS and Colleges Against Cancer. They all came equip
with red streamers, a bag of playdoh, cookies, a book, puzzles and more! Zack, ended up decorating my room with Melodi & Amanda. My room was decked out with red streamers and the Relay for Life Logo was up on my bathroom door. Totally fun!!!
The nurses that I met at the City of Hope that week were beyond amazing and I loved moments with each and every one of them, even time with my doctors who visited and CNA's. :) Great time with great new friends, and old ones too!
Thanks to everyone for being awesome!!! I love ya all!!!!
I was finally allowed home on 04/10/2010, I was sad because I had missed the Rise 2 Action conference that I was looking forward to attending in Texas, but was glad to be ok and back home! I had my buddy Jeff come and get me that beautiful Saturday morning. He was handsome and so hilarious - sporting my super cool cap and being a goofcall the entire time! Good thing I had my camera phone in hand to take some great pictures of him that really were priceless!!
But, I was finally back in my own bed, in my house and beyond ready to live life..... or something like it. I was put on some restrictions by my doctor - no far drives, no working of any kind (no stress), and to keep my leg up most of the time and walk a little bit, as tolerable - but not over doing it. I already had the weekend planned out, the next day- Sunday- my best bud Holly and I were attending the Gem & Jewelry show in Santa Monica, where she would push me around in my wheelchair. I was looking forward to it. Every moment, would be an adventure and always is........
By Tuesday night, I drove myself to a small local hospital - that i was not familiar with- (because the two other hospitals - Los Robles & Ventura County Medical Center) were both packed and told me they could not help me. When I got to the hospital, they admitted me into the ER and took some blood and gave me an ultrasound. I was my usual cheery self - even as I was sitting on a gurney in the middle of the ER, because they had run out of rooms. As I laid on the ultrasound table, the cute lady was giving me my ultrasound and I was cracking jokes the entire time - she was in stitches! When she was finished, I asked her "Did you find something?" and she responded "I can't tell you." Moments later the doctor came to me and told me "You have a DVT, and if it spreads to your lungs it will kill you." I was a little freaked out, because DVT sounded scary and I didn't even know what it was. She quickly told me "Deep Vein Thrombosis - It's a blood clot deep in your leg!" I wasn't quite sure what to think, nor was I sure how I got it. But right away, they admitted me into the hospital and gave me a room. (While in the ER, I met two fabulous EMT students from Ventura College, who were very nice to me, asking questions about my cancer, why I was there, etc. It was nice to talk to people my age, while in the ER. I think it calmed me, because I was nervous about everything going on, while I was unsure of what was wrong with me. A transporter took me to a room and as I sat in the clean room waiting for the nurse to show up, I wondered if they'd ever give me some pain medication, for the severe pain I was having in my left leg. By the time I got to my room, it was midnight and shortly after my nurse came in. She seemed a little scatter brained, as she pulled a big cart with a computer on it into my room. She looked at me and said "I am here to ask you some questions, many questions - about 100." It took about an hour for the nurse to get through the 100 boring questions, and when she did, I asked again for pain medication - and she disappeared just as fast as she had come in. I was in the hospital (including time in the ER) for 7 hours before anyone gave me medicine for my severe leg pain. Ugh! I was thinking to myself, 'I can't wait to call Dr. P at the COH in the morning and ask him to get me out of this place.' After 2 days there, I was actually in fear of my life, because I noticed the lack of caring and information from the doctors and nurses at this particular hospital. I really thought that if Dr. P hadn't of gotten me transferred out of there, that I would die just from the hospital's neglect! :( Scary!!! The one good thing that happened, was when some friends of mine came to visit me, including Tami L who brought me flowers and snacks and Tam & her mom who brought my mom and I some great In and Out and some beautiful flowers! :) Good thing mom could visit with me often, since I was close enough.
On April Fools day- April 1st,2010 I was transferred by ambulance to The City of Hope. Now, you all know my obsession with bald men, and let me just say that I had another handsome bald man in the back of the ambulance with me, his name was Tom and he was super attentive, funny and really nice. Up front in the driver's seat was Kyle, another handsome EMT.
I remember laying in the back of the ambulance laughing it up with the guys and talking up a storm (once again- we see a pattern right?) I watched as my mom waved to me as I laid in the gurney in the fabulous ambulance. She was smiling, because she knew that I was on the right track. 
When I did get to the City of Hope, I was beyond relived to be there. I knew that things would be better, the moment I got there. The days at the City of Hope are a little blurred to me, because it was awhile ago. But the time was well spent. Not too many people came to visit me because it is a long drive to get there. But I ate some great food and enjoyed the time with friends who did visit from the hospital, like: Randy, Irene, Dr. Chen, Jeff, Heather & my phlebotomist friends. I learned that while on these blood thinners, I have to not eat as much food with Vitamin K in it, I don't have to limit it completely, I just had to limit it a bit and watch my intake. I learned that I would have to get my blood tested every day to make sure that my INR (International Normalized Ratio), which needs to be between 2.5 and 3.5 before they will let me go home, and once I do go home, they want my INR levels to be between 2.0 and 3.0, and will be changing my Coumadin (Warfarin) dosage often until I am at a regular target INR level.
While I was at each hospital, I was put on a regimen - I would get 140mg of Lovenox shots each day, which if I was lucky would be one shot, but most times it ended up being 2 shots (one shot of 100mg, and another with the remaining 40mg). Now, these shots were just as uncomfortable if not more than the shots that I had to give myself when I was on Neupogen 2 years ago (prior to my stem cell transplant), those were 3mg shots, and I gave myself the shots 3 times a day - not too bad!
I did have some fabulous visitors from CSUN that I met at a CSUN cancer survivor dinner that was put together by ACS and Colleges Against Cancer. They all came equip
with red streamers, a bag of playdoh, cookies, a book, puzzles and more! Zack, ended up decorating my room with Melodi & Amanda. My room was decked out with red streamers and the Relay for Life Logo was up on my bathroom door. Totally fun!!!
The nurses that I met at the City of Hope that week were beyond amazing and I loved moments with each and every one of them, even time with my doctors who visited and CNA's. :) Great time with great new friends, and old ones too!
Thanks to everyone for being awesome!!! I love ya all!!!! I was finally allowed home on 04/10/2010, I was sad because I had missed the Rise 2 Action conference that I was looking forward to attending in Texas, but was glad to be ok and back home! I had my buddy Jeff come and get me that beautiful Saturday morning. He was handsome and so hilarious - sporting my super cool cap and being a goofcall the entire time! Good thing I had my camera phone in hand to take some great pictures of him that really were priceless!!
But, I was finally back in my own bed, in my house and beyond ready to live life..... or something like it. I was put on some restrictions by my doctor - no far drives, no working of any kind (no stress), and to keep my leg up most of the time and walk a little bit, as tolerable - but not over doing it. I already had the weekend planned out, the next day- Sunday- my best bud Holly and I were attending the Gem & Jewelry show in Santa Monica, where she would push me around in my wheelchair. I was looking forward to it. Every moment, would be an adventure and always is........
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Journey of Change
After a cancer diagnosis, we feel like we've lost our identity, at least I felt that way the first day - when I was diagnosed with Leukemia. I didn't think to myself, what happens next? I didn't wonder how my life was about to change, instead I went with the flow, did what I had to do to survive and beat the cancer! Now, 2 years later and cancer free, I still think about my experience and how it has changed my life. I cannot go back to the way it was - my perfect immune system and the fact that I rarely ever got sick, my amazing job, the friends I knew, my awesome and unbelievable amounts of energy, the path I was on had disappeared and in it's place - a new path was being built. The more years that pass me by, the more and more I realize that my life is new, this road in front of me doesn't look at all how I had imagined it would be, and the stepping stones on my path through life have all changed. No more dreams of being a teacher, no more beading and clay times and business dreams with Shoshie, no more pretty green Toyota Camry with the sunroof screwed on, no more careless dating, no more adventures with bad boy types, no more adventures living in the Antelope Valley.
The fact was, that my priorities had changed in a HUGE way, my goals and passions had shifted, and the once clear, but broken path that I was traveling on had become a colorful bridge of amazing options and chances. Things started happening in my life, and chances became more and more clear and apparent to me. Before all this, I had been the introvert, the girl who stayed with her little circle of friends, and who would have conflicts with everyone else, I wasn't an A+ student, instead I was more of a C, C- student, I was terrified to speak in public and would rather take the F on a project than have to subject myself to speaking in front of the class, I had lots of dreams and desires of where I wanted to go in my life, but as I have said before - I lacked the focus to stay on track...... That was me then. And I had turned into this passionate young woman with big goals and dreams of inspiring others to fight cancer, to spread hope to all I had met, to speak out and share my journey and my battle against cancer with others who had never experienced it and who may never experience it in their lifetime. I became this woman that I never imagined I would be - the woman who would fight for a cause, for a dream and wouldn't stop for any reason. I am passionate about spreading the word, about sharing my journey, about creating an organization that connects cancer survivors with fellow survivors and their families and friends, an organization that fights to make one another strong, to spread Hope, Passion, Inspiration, and Love to those who need it to stay strong. With this journey, and the start of my public speaking, it was all brought to me through my journey with cancer. It was meant to be, and I wouldn't change it for the world.
The truth is, I have changed as a person as a whole. I stopped dating just to date and realized that I needed a man as strong willed and passionate as myself - someone intelligent, funny, with a passion for life and love, with a passion to help others, with goals and drive to do the things that make him happiest. I was done looking for the bad boy types that lacked dreams and inspiration, and I was on to some cool and fabulous adventures with some awesome geeky guys. I have had some time to think about what I want to do with my organization, and what drives me....... Having had cancer, the experience itself drives me to do amazing things. I just won't stop......
Change is scary, it brings NEW possibilities, it brings different ideas and suggestions, it brings eye opening visions and sights, it brings so much and at times it's hard to even fathom everything, every option, every alternative. But this is my journey, and I will enjoy every moment as it comes. Whether it be in dating, in life, at the City of Hope, at Cancer Survivor events, at UCAAN events, in the supermarket, anywhere and everywhere I travel..... I will take in the experience and share what I have learned. This is a Journey Worth Living! And Gosh darn it, I'm Loving Every Minute of IT!!!!! The question is, are you?
The fact was, that my priorities had changed in a HUGE way, my goals and passions had shifted, and the once clear, but broken path that I was traveling on had become a colorful bridge of amazing options and chances. Things started happening in my life, and chances became more and more clear and apparent to me. Before all this, I had been the introvert, the girl who stayed with her little circle of friends, and who would have conflicts with everyone else, I wasn't an A+ student, instead I was more of a C, C- student, I was terrified to speak in public and would rather take the F on a project than have to subject myself to speaking in front of the class, I had lots of dreams and desires of where I wanted to go in my life, but as I have said before - I lacked the focus to stay on track...... That was me then. And I had turned into this passionate young woman with big goals and dreams of inspiring others to fight cancer, to spread hope to all I had met, to speak out and share my journey and my battle against cancer with others who had never experienced it and who may never experience it in their lifetime. I became this woman that I never imagined I would be - the woman who would fight for a cause, for a dream and wouldn't stop for any reason. I am passionate about spreading the word, about sharing my journey, about creating an organization that connects cancer survivors with fellow survivors and their families and friends, an organization that fights to make one another strong, to spread Hope, Passion, Inspiration, and Love to those who need it to stay strong. With this journey, and the start of my public speaking, it was all brought to me through my journey with cancer. It was meant to be, and I wouldn't change it for the world.
The truth is, I have changed as a person as a whole. I stopped dating just to date and realized that I needed a man as strong willed and passionate as myself - someone intelligent, funny, with a passion for life and love, with a passion to help others, with goals and drive to do the things that make him happiest. I was done looking for the bad boy types that lacked dreams and inspiration, and I was on to some cool and fabulous adventures with some awesome geeky guys. I have had some time to think about what I want to do with my organization, and what drives me....... Having had cancer, the experience itself drives me to do amazing things. I just won't stop......
Change is scary, it brings NEW possibilities, it brings different ideas and suggestions, it brings eye opening visions and sights, it brings so much and at times it's hard to even fathom everything, every option, every alternative. But this is my journey, and I will enjoy every moment as it comes. Whether it be in dating, in life, at the City of Hope, at Cancer Survivor events, at UCAAN events, in the supermarket, anywhere and everywhere I travel..... I will take in the experience and share what I have learned. This is a Journey Worth Living! And Gosh darn it, I'm Loving Every Minute of IT!!!!! The question is, are you?
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Moving on, and Moving Up! Go With Your Dreams!!
As I have learned over the past 3 years, people have very different ways of dealing with cancer. For me, I embrace it and run with it. Recently, on a somewhat routine trip to the City of Hope with my friend Holly, we stopped to grab a bite at a local fast food joint. As we sat there chatting up a storm, which was our usual thing, a handsome bald cop walked in. My mouth dropped, as Holly knew that I had a thing for bald men. As the cop was leaving, I said to him "I love your bald head!" He turned towards me and smiled, and i responded with my little splurge of why "I had cancer, and ever since, I love em baldies!" He pulled up a chair and sat with us at the table and talked with us. He told us how he had 3 fellow officers whose wives all were diagnosed with cancer, or as he phrased it "The C Word". He was so sweet and so gung-ho about helping us promote the event within his police department. So cute! :) Awwww... So, Mister handsome police officer leaves the place and I notice his car is still there after a few minutes. Sure enough he walks back into the restaurant with check in hand and writes out a check. I'd like a ticket please. He says as he hands the check to me. How sweet!!! It's amazing people like him, that brighten my day - he didn't know me, but yet he wrote a check there on the spot to attend the event. Oops! Now you all will know about my bald cop friend. Lol.
So, as I was saying...... Surviving cancer is one thing. Thriving after cancer is a whole other thing. As I am approaching my 2 year stem cell transplant reunion on April 30th, I am looking at all that I have accomplished over this short amount of time. I went from being deathly ill to remission to a relapse and a stem cell transplant, all the while doing some public speaking here and there and working on starting my cancer organization UCAAN. This is where your dreams come into play. You have a choice, as far as what you'd want to do with your life, after this experience - would you like to continue on the path you've been on, or would you choose the road less traveled and decide to do something more, something different, maybe even something you've never even expected yourself to do?! I think it's best to follow your dreams. Cancer can and will change your life. Sometimes it's for the better, and it may take you some time to realize this - but all in all, it's your experience, your journey and your life. "Life's what you make it!" What will you do with yours?
So, as I was saying...... Surviving cancer is one thing. Thriving after cancer is a whole other thing. As I am approaching my 2 year stem cell transplant reunion on April 30th, I am looking at all that I have accomplished over this short amount of time. I went from being deathly ill to remission to a relapse and a stem cell transplant, all the while doing some public speaking here and there and working on starting my cancer organization UCAAN. This is where your dreams come into play. You have a choice, as far as what you'd want to do with your life, after this experience - would you like to continue on the path you've been on, or would you choose the road less traveled and decide to do something more, something different, maybe even something you've never even expected yourself to do?! I think it's best to follow your dreams. Cancer can and will change your life. Sometimes it's for the better, and it may take you some time to realize this - but all in all, it's your experience, your journey and your life. "Life's what you make it!" What will you do with yours?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Welcome 2 "The Ultimate Cancer Experience"
Not that the start of my cancer organization, United Cancer Advocacy Action Network isn't exciting enough, but I was recently invited to speak at a local high school in my area. My brother's old high school in fact!
It's public speaking and helping people that really gets me really enthusiastic! The ultimate feeling that you are providing hope to those that need it, or those that may need it in the future is exhilarating! So, I am currently working on the dvd that I will show, while I speak with pictures and music that show my entire cancer experience thus far. The pictures that entail what I have been through, and how much cancer has changed my life in an amazing way.
My suggestion to those of you reading this is to keep in mind - if you've beaten cancer, or known someone who has, or even someone who lost their battle.... we only have this one life to live to we should really LIVE it! Find out how you can help others, through volunteering, or starting a foundation, or speaking publicly. Whatever you decide, follow your heart, do what makes you feel incredible and share your experience! Tell your tale of your Ultimate Cancer Experience!!
It's public speaking and helping people that really gets me really enthusiastic! The ultimate feeling that you are providing hope to those that need it, or those that may need it in the future is exhilarating! So, I am currently working on the dvd that I will show, while I speak with pictures and music that show my entire cancer experience thus far. The pictures that entail what I have been through, and how much cancer has changed my life in an amazing way.
My suggestion to those of you reading this is to keep in mind - if you've beaten cancer, or known someone who has, or even someone who lost their battle.... we only have this one life to live to we should really LIVE it! Find out how you can help others, through volunteering, or starting a foundation, or speaking publicly. Whatever you decide, follow your heart, do what makes you feel incredible and share your experience! Tell your tale of your Ultimate Cancer Experience!!
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