Thanks for the Mammories....

I can't believe it is just a few days shy of three months since my mammogram and two months since my first infusion. A lot has happened in three months!  Now as I look back, it is overwhelming to think about all that I went through.  I have found now that the storm has calmed, and I am into a treatment pattern...things have settled down, and the blessings start appearing all around me. I have had 3 of 18 Herceptin infusions. I will have surgery in Febraury. I go to IU Simon Cancer Center once every three weeks for the infusions, as well as, an appointment with my oncologist.  I am fortunate and so thankful to have a long list of friends and family who want to take me. It is two hours of travel and about an hour to get the infusion, so each trip has become a  blessing of time I get to spend with important people in my life.  I have an assortment of sid...

I work for the Tipton County Foundation . A couple of weeks ago, Joe, a Foundation board member, approached me about a fundraiser he was planning. He works for a local car dealership, and they were organizing a car wash to raise money for breast cancer awareness. Joe wanted to give the money to the Women's Fund at the Foundation for me to find a program to put this money to good use. I was so touched that they were doing this, and I was going to be a part of it! So last Saturday, the community pulled together and had one of Dan Young GM Center 's highest profitting car washes. Tragesser Pumpkin Farm brought a truck load of pumpkins to give away to children.  White's Meat Market donated hot dogs and apple cider. But best of all, the Dan Young employees were there dressed in pink and ready to wash vehicles!   Dan Young's owner, Rick Brown cooking the hot dogs Pumpkins The fun part was when DJ, Allan Ja...

Lydia and David       David and Lydia attend a small Catholic school where the students wear uniforms.  Every so often they have a NUT Day (No Uniform Today).  The students donate $2 for a NUT pass which they then give to a charity.        David and Lydia asked their prinicpal if they could have a "Pink NUT Day" for Breast Cancer Awareness.  They gave all the students and teachers pink rubber bracelets.        They gave the money they raised to my doctor's research at the IU Simon Cancer Center. Here are some pictures of these awesome kids!  You can also see their picture on  Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center's Facebook page . Thank you St. John's!!!  

Today, my children gave me a special gift that I am so excited to share.  They asked their soccer teams to "Go Pink" for Breast Cancer Awareness and for me.  I want to share these wonderful pictures of all of these special kids!  I was so moved and proud of these kids...especially so many middle school boys.   My Godson made his own water bottle label. I am so blessed... blessed to have five amazing children and blessed that we have so many caring friends.  I have an infusion this Thursday, so I will not be able to make next weekend's soccer games. Thank you to all of you who made today's games special!!!   My awesome sister-in-law, Brandi and two of my nephews

One of my favorite television shows is Parenthood .   For those of you who might be unfamiliar with the show, it is a wonderful drama which revolves around the three generations of the Braverman family; Zeek and Camille Braverman and their four children and eight grandchildren.  I love how this show touches on so many different issues of being a parent as well as being a son or daughter, a sibling, or even an aunt or uncle.  I feel like most families can probably relate to something going on in the Braverman family. In last week's episode, without any previews' warning, they slipped in breast cancer.  In the last scene, as Christine is getting a mammogram, I knew immediately where they were going with this storyline.  They played Naked As We Came by Iron and Wine  as you watch Christine's reactions as her doctor gives her the bad news, and then as she tells her husband Adam.  I have to say that...

     The story of my Cancer Card begins several weeks ago at a high school football game that our local high school played down at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.  Because we were two small high schools, we had great seats down in the lowest section.  My friend Merilee was there as well, but sitting with the opposing team. Why she was sitting with the opposing team is a long story within itself...so we will skip that part.     Close to half time, Merilee called to see where I was sitting.  After a few minutes of confusing conversation and awkward and embarassing attempts to wave at each other across the stadium, we found that we were sitting directly across from each other on the 40 yard line.  I tell her I will walk over to see her during half time. I joke that I should get walking because it looks like it would take a good 20 minutes to walk over there as Lucas Oil is huge!  Merilee's reply, "There is ...

I lost my dear friend, Karen King, to cancer last night.      Karen was an amazing woman whom I truly admired.  We started with a working relationship that turned into a fun, adventurous friendship. The thing I loved about her was that she was always a bit mysterious. And the more I hung out with her, the more she would share with me.  Fascinating stories that were always humorous and fun.  My friend Abbie said it well for many of us..."Karen, you will live in infamy as the most badass woman I have ever know."  She touched many this way.  When Karen got an idea in her head, look out because she was doing it. She wasn't backing down. She believed that women could do anything and so empowered many of us!       Karen and I share a story together; one that started out very similar in the beginning, but unfortunately had a very different ending. When I went to get my...