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Posts Tagged ‘work’

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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Walk, Wedding, Work (in Paris) – Whirlwind!!!

Posted in Boston, Cancer, connections, Fundraising, hair, lymphedema, recovery, work, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on September 17, 2013| Leave a Comment »

I’ve been so bad – totally procrastinating about updating this blog. I hate it when I do that. So much builds up, and then it weighs on me, and I know I’ll forget something… oh well! Deep breath and here are the high (and low) points:

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  • THANK YOU, thank you, thank you to EVERYONE who donated to our Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk! Whether you donated $10 or $150, every single cent helps in the fight against cancer! Together, Heather, Tara, Amanda, Calley and Mia-Claire raised more than $3,400!!! I’m so proud of us – especially the little girls for joining us and being so fabulous and not only walking the 13.1 miles, but even throwing some cartwheels in along the way! And it’s not too late to sponsor our team – please help the girls get to their $100 minimum by sponsoring them here: Team Inspire Boston. Thank you!!!
  • As soon as the walk was done, Tara and I ran (well, not literally – we took the T…) back to my house, I showered, changed and she drove me to my cousin’s wedding. It was so fabulous seeing some of my family who I haven’t seen in so long, but couldn’t help crying as I left because my time with them was too short – but I had to catch a plane…
  • Tara and Ella were the best chauffeurs and cheered me up en route to Logan. The flight was ok (I fell asleep praying as we went through major turbulence, but hey, we landed, so all was good) and my arm faired pretty well. (Damn lymphedema.) I put my compression sleeve on while waiting to board the plane and I could tell by the look in the eyes of the woman sitting across from me that she knew exactly what it was for. She looked so kind and sympathetic, I both appreciated it and wanted to scream. I hate feeling like the girl who had cancer!!! Anyway, after all the walking and the flights there and back, there’s not really much noticeable swelling, and only a little pain, mainly in my hand. I have to get back to doing the massages every day, but I haven’t even been doing that. At least I’ve been wearing the sleeve when running. That’s something, right?

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  • Paris: it was a whirlwind work week. I was disappointed by how dark it was in the mornings, so my visions of waking every morning and running along the Seine quickly vanished out the window. I did get one good, five-mile run/walk in on the last day before my flight. It was great, even if the weather wasn’t that wonderful. The conference was really great, though – especially meeting Sanofi communications people from all over the world and hearing about all the great progress we’re making in the healthcare industry. I’m so proud to work for Genzyme, a company that truly cares about making a difference in people’s lives.

Didn’t I write something a little while ago about slowing down??? Hmmm… don’t think that’s happening any time soon…

 

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