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Learn, Walk, Run, Roll and … Paint???

Posted in Boston, Cancer, connections, Fundraising, work, tagged Boston, breast cancer, cancer, connections, running, work on June 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »

It occurred to me that there are so many cool things going on that I want to spread the word about, so I created a new widget on the right of your screen called Upcoming Events. I’ll try to keep that as current as possible, and will usually provide a link for more info, too.

Learn: Bright Pink Boston is hosting Breast and Ovarian Health 101 on Tuesday, June 11, 6 p.m. at the Boston Public Library. “Become empowered to be proactive with your breast and ovarian health. This educational workshop could be life saving for you and/or someone you love!” I’m going and it would be great to see friends there!

Walk/Run: Some of our Genzyme Running Team members have teamed with employees from other Cambridge area life sciences companies to organize a 5K to remember those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings, to raise money for the One Fund, and to recognize local police officers for their service. You don’t have to work for a biotech – everyone is welcome! Thursday, June 13, 4 p.m., Genzyme Center, Kendall Square, Cambridge: Cambridge Life Sciences Memorial 5k for The One Fund

Walk/Run/Roll: This Saturday, June 15, 10:30 a.m.at the Massachusetts Hospital School in Canton is the fourth annual Spina Bifida Walk-N-Roll! I’m not sure if I will be able to make it, but please support my cousin Hannah’s team, Hannah’s Banana’s: http://www.walknrollsbagreaterne.org/ng/index.cfm/aa26888/regPages/pledge/HBANANAS97/

Paint: Urban Art Bar Event to Benefit Bright Pink Boston, Wednesday, June 26, 6:30 p.m. “Sip, socialize and paint at the Urban Art Bar and benefit the Boston chapter of Bright Pink!” Really wish I could go to this, but believe I will be away for work. Please go and have a drink for me – and have fun painting. 🙂

Walk with Us!!! I am FINALLY getting organized and really getting our Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk Team (Sunday, September 8, 2013) rolling. Please join our Team Inspire Boston – sponsors are also welcome/needed! I’ll post more about this soon, but no need to wait – sign up or donate here: http://www.jimmyfundwalk.org/2013/teaminspireboston Thank you very much!

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Helping Hands – and Tissues

Posted in Boston, Cancer, Decisions, family, Fundraising, Home, prayer, work, tagged Boston, breast cancer, cancer, chemo, Dana-Farber, decisions, doctors, help, prayer, reality, running, The Jimmy Fund, work on May 21, 2013| 1 Comment »

We live in a genuinely good world. People want to help each other. They care. I truly believe this. What, you don’t agree? Just look around!

I’ve spent the last hour watching the stories of Oklahoma. The caring, courage and strength shown by everyone from those teachers who did all they could to protect the students huddled with them in the bathrooms to the strangers rushing to the sites just to help anyone they could is awe-inspiring. Then The Voice opened with a somber message for Oklahoma, followed by a special tribute performance by Blake Shelton (who is from Oklahoma) and Miranda Lambert, with the words “To help disaster victims, please donate at redcross.org or call 1-800 HELP NOW” across the bottom of the screen.

I have loved ones in Oklahoma, family and friends I immediately worried about as soon as I heard what was happening, so I posted a message on Facebook. Now the site is flooded with pictures, status updates and prayers for all those in Oklahoma – and I know many of those who posted don’t personally know a soul in the state of Oklahoma. But they care.

On my way home tonight I got a call from my oldest Goddaughter. She was bursting with excitement over her day. She is a sophomore in high school and is involved with Best Buddies, a program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They participated in the Special Olympics today and, as if that wasn’t excitement enough, the Franklin Police Department gave them a formal escort back to the school (“Just like celebrities!” she gushed) and then practically the entire school was outside to welcome them back and congratulate the Best Buddies. That’s just nice.

And people don’t just support each other verbally – they open their wallets, too. More than $30 million has been raised so far for One Fund Boston, to help the families of those killed and most seriously injured in the bombings at the Boston Marathon, barely a month ago. $30 million. That’s amazing.

But money can’t buy everything. Dana-Farber recently interviewed me for one of their publications. (This is the blog written based on the full article.) They wanted to know why I agreed to donate tissue. For me, it was a no brainer. Why in the world would I say no? Working for Genzyme, I know the importance of research and clinical trials. I was going to be in surgery anyway, so why not let them take a little more, so hopefully it will lead to improved treatments or even a cure. It won’t hurt me and could help others. Take extra tissue, extra blood, whatever can help!

None of this is unusual. This is every day life. People are genuinely good. They want to help. Don’t let the bad overshadow the good. See the sun through the clouds. Be the change you want to see in the world – lead the way and lend a helping hand (or tissue) when you can. You never know whose life it could someday save: yours, your son’s or your future grandchild’s …

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Missed Spring

Posted in Boston, Cancer, chemotherapy, Discovery, Fundraising, hair, lymphedema, prayer, recovery, work, tagged Boston, breast cancer, cancer, chemo, Dana-Farber, diagnosis, doctors, hair, lymphedema, mastectomy, prayer, reality, reconstruction, side effects, tamoxifen on May 13, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Friday night I attended the Birds and All That Jazz fundraiser at Tara’s Mass Audubon Sanctuary, Oak Knoll, in Attleboro. It was a relaxing evening of music and mingling (and food and wine), all in the name of charity. (What girl doesn’t love a reason to get dressed up – especially when there’s wine and chocolate involved? See pictures below. ) And luckily, it was a beautiful night, with a warm breeze and what I now know were tree frogs (not birds, as I originally thought), providing a natural soundtrack to the event. I was talking with a few people who commented how much of a better turnout the event had this year, when it occurred to me that I didn’t attend in 2012. I looked quizzically at Kevin and asked “Why wasn’t I here last year?” and he gave me one of those knowing, smiling, “Duh, Amy” looks. Oh yea. Because I got cancer. I looked at the woman next to me, shook my head and simply said “It doesn’t matter. But I certainly would’ve rather been here.”

I missed last spring. Completely. I really don’t remember it. In my mind, it jumped from cold February to warm July. My spring was finding the lump, diagnosis, breast cancer 101, Dana-Farber, surgery at Brigham and Women’s, the start of treatment and my grandfather passing away. It was a gut-wrenching, often medicated, blur.

It makes this spring that much more special. I have always loved spring – it’s the time when things come alive and can begin again. And I am so ready to begin again! I had my first official check-up at Dana-Farber with my oncologist and all seems well. It’s a little anticlimactic, as they don’t really do any tests – it’s just making sure you’re not having any symptoms, and if not, assuming all is fine. (Yes, a big leap of faith – something where you really just need to take deep breaths, remain calm and positive, and pray.)

And all is basically fine. I am having a flair-up of lymphedema, and will call to make an appointment with my physical therapist, but in the meantime have been doing the exercises and wearing the glove and sleeve (even though I can’t stand them) most of the time. Otherwise, all seems ok. The side effects of the Tamoxifin have subsided – not many hot flashes any more – and while the chemo side effects of tingling in my hands and feet continue, I’m now trying a B-complex vitamin to see if it will help. And of course I’m tired – but I can hardly blame the cancer or treatment on that, at least not completely. Nothing is limiting my work or other activities and I am very thankful for that!

My hair is growing, and normal life is resuming. I know that I am blessed. And I am going to cherish this spring and take advantage of beginning again…