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not just surviving but thriving

A look back at 2011

At the beginning of 2011, I was bald, scarred, nursing a nasty radiation burn, and not ready to spend any energy on an end of year analysis of my introduction to life with cancer. My life has changed a bit since then. For starters, I…

Advocacy

Get Hitched Give Hope

What happens when you take a few good friends Add some bedazzled furnishings A little finery, and a little wine And a few cameras? Well, for starters, you end up with some fun pictures… . But more importantly, this event raised money for some pretty…

Cancer

In Living Pink 2011 – Young Survival Coalition

It sounds cliche to say that women who have faced down a life-threatening diagnosis really know how to embrace life. It is cliche. It’s not even always true. But my girls? My friends? They know how to party. Friday night we celebrated and raised…

Cancer

Harmony Hill

I’ve spent the past two days working on a couple projects that have had me knee deep in photographs from the Young Survival Coalition. That’s had me a little emotional, to say the least: memories, faces, friends… One of those projects a presentation on our…

Cancer

On the radio

.This is the story of how I became an on air radio personality. Ok, it’s not. I’m not. It’s not even about me. This is a story about Debbie Cantwell, and the non-profit organization she started on her kitchen table, all by herself, to help…

Cancer

Thank You

If you haven’t already heard, we have some pretty awesome news: I just completed my treatment for breast cancer! I am so ready to get on with my life, but first I want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who helped…

Cancer

It’s Not the Same

Yesterday I spent the day manning the door at a wine-tasting representing 16 different local wineries. Every year, this event chooses a different charity to which the proceeds are donated. This year, the beneficiary was the Seattle affiliate of the Young Survival Coalition, which supports pre-menopausal women…

Cancer

My Chemo Buddy

My favorite chemo buddy, Gem, accompanied me to my Herceptin infusion on Friday. We also brought along a horse (of course), and some coloring materials. I made several attempts at taking a picture of us together where I didn’t look stoned or have my eyes…

Cancer

Three-Year-Old Beats Breast Cancer, Causes Me to Think

I spend a lot of time thinking about this diagnosis and how to manage the fear, particularly in reference to my daughter. How do I teach her to live her life at full speed, while still teaching her to take care. I don’t want to teach her to be fearful; I don’t want her to live a life of timidity and fear. On the other hand, I don’t want her to be dismissive of danger. Where do you find that balance?

Cancer

Scarred

My attitude towards these scars is changing. Each scar tells a story, and since I’m still kicking, each scar represents a challenge I overcame. I’m learning to accept them as a kind of private little merit badge.