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Posts Tagged ‘breast cancer’

Making Strides Through the Raindrops

Posted in Boston, Cancer, Fundraising, recovery, work, tagged , , , , on October 6, 2013| 2 Comments »

Just found this quote and it couldn’t be more perfect, so just had to add it:

If you only walk on sunny days you’ll never reach your destination.
—  Paulo Coelho

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When I woke up this morning to another gloomy, drizzly Sunday, I wondered if many would turn up to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides for Breast Cancer walk at the DCR Hatch Shell – or if those I was planning to walk with would decide their couch and TV were more inviting than walking five miles in the rain. (I was truly tempted myself…) And surprised I was! I’ve never done this walk before so am not sure how it really compares to normal, but throngs of people – thousands – filled the Esplanade. And among them was the great team I walked with: The Elisa Squad, for my friend Gina’s mom, a 20 year survivor. Gina’s mom and many of their family walked with us, as did work friends Shay and Naama, Shay’s boyfriend and Naama’s mom – also a cancer survivor. And among our group we had three dogs who stole the show every time we passed a cheering spot! Between the company and the cheering crowds, we barely noticed the rain…photo (7)

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Runway… Run Away?

Posted in Boston, Cancer, chemotherapy, family, Fundraising, recovery, work, tagged , , , , , , , on October 4, 2013| 2 Comments »

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Sometimes I do want to run away. Run away from what happened. Run away from hospitals. Run away from doctors. Run away from tamoxifen. Run away from the rocks on my chest. Run away from cancer. Run away from reality. But last night, instead of running away from their challenges, history and loss, more than 30 strong, brave women and men walked – strutted, danced, skipped down – the runway to celebrate life.

Runway for Recovery is an amazing event that I never knew about until some of my Genzyme friends, Liza and Jamie, asked me if I wanted to help out at the event. It’s an incredible benefit for families who have lost mothers to Breast Cancer, that I understand has grown over the last seven years from a small local fashion show in the suburbs to the amazing professional gala at the posh Revere Hotel on Stuart Street in Boston.

I loved just being there – helping people check in, buy raffle tickets, work the silent auction – lots of great busy, distracting stuff. Then the lights went down… and while it was incredibly well done, with lots of upbeat music and huge energy throughout the room, I cried as the words appeared on the screen describing the models – survivors, children, mothers, grandchildren – and then the pictures of them and their loved ones.

Some things are just so close to home. My biggest fear when I was diagnosed was never dying. It was leaving Nick alone. I’ve said so many times how thankful I am for every day God has given me with him, and I didn’t (don’t) want that to end – no matter how much I say sometimes that I’m going to strangle him! So more than anything this evening of celebrating survivors and honoring those we’ve lost reminded me of how incredibly thankful I am that I did that self check that night, caught it early, and still get to be here with Nick, and all my family and friends. Why would I ever run away???

 

Genzyme volunteers ready for the night to begin!

Genzyme volunteers ready for the night to begin!

 

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Almost Tattoo Time

Posted in Cancer, chemotherapy, Decisions, Fundraising, recovery, tagged , , , , , , on October 2, 2013| 3 Comments »

Nope, not those tattoos yet – they come a few months after the implant surgery, which is now (finally!) scheduled for Wednesday, December 11. But Dr. H gave me clearance to get my first real tattoo (I’m not counting the six radiation tattoo dots), so long as it’s at least a month before the surgery. So on October 19, at the Nashua Harley-Davidson Fashion Show and Live Auction Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Benefit, I will get my first tattoo! (See? I told you it will be a fun event! You should come and witness it!)

So now I have less than a month to make the final decision: where??? Last weekend I went and bought little pink ribbon temporary tattoos to try them out. I think I’ve narrowed it down to my ankle – although initially I said I didn’t want it anywhere that others could see it, unless I wanted them to – or the upper left corner of my chest, like just under where a tank top or bra strap starts. Decisions, decisions! I guess I will experiment and see what makes me happy…

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