A couple of months ago, I was asked to participate in a promotional video for Imerman Angels, the organization that matches newly diagnosed cancer patients with survivors of the same cancer so that nobody goes through cancer alone. Some of you may know that I have been matched with over forty different fighters since I went into remission. This organization serves such an important role in providing comfort and support to people when they need it most.
Additionally, I was invited to attend their first annual Tuxes and Tees Gala this past weekend where they debuted the promotional video. Doug and I had a wonderful time and I felt like a mini-celebrity!
Click here to see the video. It takes awhile to load and it is about 15 minutes in length. I think you will find it inspiring.
On another note for those of you keeping track, my check-up that was scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed until Wednesday, Oct. 9. I will post my update on the results as usual on or after that date.
Finally, I failed to post anything about the results of the Lung Run this year until now. A huge THANK YOU to all that participated and donated to Team DL - we raised almost $4000 and had a team of fourteen at the event. This kind of support keeps me going and energizes me to continue to advocate for more cancer treatments and support others going through cancer.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Still Standing after Almost 3 Years!
This is just a quick post to share that I had my semi-monthly hospital check-up
today and continue to have a clean bill of health. Today's MRI showed no
changes. My blood work was all in the normal ranges. Dr. Bonomi is pleased and so are we.
A great lead-in to my three year cancerversary on August 20.
A great lead-in to my three year cancerversary on August 20.
Next check up is Oct. 2.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
My StoryCorps Experience
Yesterday, I was at the Chicago Cultural Center in the StoryCorps recording booth to join Janelle, a fellow Imerman Angel cancer survivor, in a recorded conversation about our experiences with cancer and survivorship.
StoryCorps' mission is to provide people of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 45,000 interviews with nearly 90,000 participants. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to share, and is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, and millions listen to their broadcasts on their Listen page and on public radio.
Through Imerman Angels, the organization that matches individuals recently diagnosed with cancer to a survivor with the same diagnosis, StoryCorps has invited survivors to come in and record about 45 minutes of talking with one another and telling our stories.
Janelle is a lovely woman who was only seventeen when she was diagnosed with germ cell ovarian cancer. She is now a healthy 23-year-old who is on the Imerman Angels' professional board for organizing running events to support the organization.
Part of our conversation may or may not be aired on NPR (91.5 on the radio in Chicago), as they feature StoryCorps interviews every Friday on NPR’s Morning Edition. They will notify us if our conversation will be on the air. If so, I will post when that will happen.
You should also be able to find the conversation on the StoryCorps' website under Listen to Stories, once it gets uploaded to the site.
StoryCorps' mission is to provide people of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 45,000 interviews with nearly 90,000 participants. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to share, and is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, and millions listen to their broadcasts on their Listen page and on public radio.
Through Imerman Angels, the organization that matches individuals recently diagnosed with cancer to a survivor with the same diagnosis, StoryCorps has invited survivors to come in and record about 45 minutes of talking with one another and telling our stories.
Janelle is a lovely woman who was only seventeen when she was diagnosed with germ cell ovarian cancer. She is now a healthy 23-year-old who is on the Imerman Angels' professional board for organizing running events to support the organization.
Part of our conversation may or may not be aired on NPR (91.5 on the radio in Chicago), as they feature StoryCorps interviews every Friday on NPR’s Morning Edition. They will notify us if our conversation will be on the air. If so, I will post when that will happen.
You should also be able to find the conversation on the StoryCorps' website under Listen to Stories, once it gets uploaded to the site.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Good results, but sad news
I had my CAT scan and blood work along with a visit with Irene, Dr. B's nurse today and all remains well. That's the good news.
But the good news was eclipsed by some very heartbreaking news. I learned that my dear friend and lung cancer mentor, Marla, died on May 3. She was a ray of light to anyone who knew her. Her eyes danced with life and positivity. When she was down, she would disappear off the grid so you never saw it. I sensed things were going badly because I hadn't heard from her in quite some time. But I wasn't prepared for this. Marla was diagnosed with lung cancer just over a year before I was. She was there for me in the darkest hours. I always adored her, but after my cancer diagnosis, she was my inspiration. This is a real loss for me and for this world. My condolences to her loved ones and friends, of which there are many. She was someone special.
But the good news was eclipsed by some very heartbreaking news. I learned that my dear friend and lung cancer mentor, Marla, died on May 3. She was a ray of light to anyone who knew her. Her eyes danced with life and positivity. When she was down, she would disappear off the grid so you never saw it. I sensed things were going badly because I hadn't heard from her in quite some time. But I wasn't prepared for this. Marla was diagnosed with lung cancer just over a year before I was. She was there for me in the darkest hours. I always adored her, but after my cancer diagnosis, she was my inspiration. This is a real loss for me and for this world. My condolences to her loved ones and friends, of which there are many. She was someone special.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Finally...a Perfectly Normal EEG!
I received the results today from the EEG I took this past Tuesday. For the first time since I had the initial EEG - when they were still figuring out what was wrong with me - the results for this latest EEG were finally normal! Yippee! That was the last hurdle to normal functioning and health.
I will still have to be on the anti-seizure medications, but the dosage will be reduced and hopefully someday I will eventually be able to get off of them entirely.
What a great way to kick off the Memorial Day weekend!
I will still have to be on the anti-seizure medications, but the dosage will be reduced and hopefully someday I will eventually be able to get off of them entirely.
What a great way to kick off the Memorial Day weekend!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Brain Still Working...
Yesterday, I had my six-month check up with the neurologist. She was pleased to see my latest MRI results and that there are no changes - only scarring. She is even considering reducing my dosage on anti-seizure medication - I didn't even have to ask her this time! :) It has been 2.75 years since I've had any seizure activity (and even then, it was only the one incident).
I will need to have another EEG first to ensure that there are no erratic brain waves still occurring. If the EEG looks pretty normal, then I'll be able to reduce the meds. I'm crossing my fingers!
I will need to have another EEG first to ensure that there are no erratic brain waves still occurring. If the EEG looks pretty normal, then I'll be able to reduce the meds. I'm crossing my fingers!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Milestones, Celebrations and Advocacy
April has already brought a lot of good things my way. Today I had my visit with Dr. Bonomi along with an MRI and blood work. Everything is normal once again. Hooray!
April 7th marked the two-year anniversary since I first learned I was cancer-free. Hip. Hip. Hooray!
With the help of my wonderful coach/partner/husband, I completed the 8k (about 5 miles) Shamrock Shuffle without stopping and with only minor stiffness and soreness afterwards. This race has particular importance to Doug and me because we've done it for so many years, and two years ago we ran together in celebration of the fresh news that my cancer was gone. But last year, it was a real slog to cross the finish line. Since then, I haven't been running this distance much as I feel it more than I used to - both during the run and afterward for a few days. I was really worried about whether I could get through the whole run, but I did. Didn't break any speed records, but was slightly faster than last year. I'll take it. Hazzah!
I recently learned that WEGO, a cancer advocacy organization, has posted another video with me and three other lung cancer survivors entitled "Taking Control of Your Treatment." If you want to see it, here is the link. (It is the second video on the web page.) This is the fifth video WEGO has posted on their website that includes me with other survivors. Yippee!
Finally, my website, www.QuickTipsforManagingCancer.com, has had almost 500 visitors from a variety of countries and over 600 page reads since I first published it in late January - and I haven't started to heavily promote it yet to the cancer community. Whoopi!
April 7th marked the two-year anniversary since I first learned I was cancer-free. Hip. Hip. Hooray!
With the help of my wonderful coach/partner/husband, I completed the 8k (about 5 miles) Shamrock Shuffle without stopping and with only minor stiffness and soreness afterwards. This race has particular importance to Doug and me because we've done it for so many years, and two years ago we ran together in celebration of the fresh news that my cancer was gone. But last year, it was a real slog to cross the finish line. Since then, I haven't been running this distance much as I feel it more than I used to - both during the run and afterward for a few days. I was really worried about whether I could get through the whole run, but I did. Didn't break any speed records, but was slightly faster than last year. I'll take it. Hazzah!
I recently learned that WEGO, a cancer advocacy organization, has posted another video with me and three other lung cancer survivors entitled "Taking Control of Your Treatment." If you want to see it, here is the link. (It is the second video on the web page.) This is the fifth video WEGO has posted on their website that includes me with other survivors. Yippee!
Finally, my website, www.QuickTipsforManagingCancer.com, has had almost 500 visitors from a variety of countries and over 600 page reads since I first published it in late January - and I haven't started to heavily promote it yet to the cancer community. Whoopi!
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