“Sometimes you need a second chance, because you weren’t quite ready for the first.” – Unknown
Hello.
It’s me.
I was wondering if after all these years you’d like to meet.
Is anyone else obsessed with the new Adele song?!
It’s been a while again. Like a year. I’d really like to get back into posting on a regular basis because I truly do enjoy writing. I’ll do my best. Here’s what’s been going on…….
I’ll bounce around a little bit in this post. Sal and I just returned from a visit to Penn a few hours ago. We saw Dr. DeMichele (my out-of-town oncologist) and Dr. Czerniecki (my breast surgeon and the researcher who heads the clinical trial that saved my life) for 6 month follow-up appointments. Things with me are GREAT! Knock on wood – I very rarely even get a cold and when I do it’s not like the colds that I used to get. They last for about 2 days. I look and feel healthier than I ever have in my entire life. And I’m not just saying that. My weight is healthy, my diet is healthy and I feel strong. I exercise regularly, I lift weights and I’m planning on returning to work on February 8. I’ll still be following up with all of my doctors – and I have a slew of them!- on a regular basis. I see 2 oncologists, a radiation oncologist, a breast surgeon, a plastic surgeon, a cardiologist, an endocrinologist and a family physician. And an eye doctor, a dentist and an OB-GYN! I think that’s it. I’m sorry if I’ve missed anyone! I know – I sound like a train wreck! But, seeing these doctors on a regular basis is so important.
I’ve decided that I’m not going to die for a very long time. As Edie Brickell once said, “You’ve got a lot of living to do.” That was right after she sang about the same girl “shooting up junk in the bathroom” so it’s like comparing apples and oranges, really! I’ve decided that I want to be like Forest Gump. “It was August when Barbara got the cancer.” No, not like that! Forest Gump was one of the coolest movies because of all of his very random accomplishments. I want my life to be like that. So far, we’re on a great track. I have a lot of really cool things that I’m planning on bringing to fruition – a non-profit organization that’s on the rise, a lot of fundraising, books, lectures, CDs, raising 3 great kids and growing old with my husband. Oh, and I’d really like a sandwich or a pizza named after me!
I told you that I was going to jump around a bit and now I’d like to talk about the clinical trial. (Clears throat)……Dr. Czerniecki checks my bloodwork every 6 months. He believes that what he checks is 98% accurate in detecting cancer versus an MRI that is 60some%. He monitors my immune response rate and knows that if the immune response rate drops then the patient is at risk for recurrence. Vaccines are the future of cancer prevention and treatment. And they don’t cause autism for Christ’s sake. I’ll post more about the vaccine in another post. There is a lot of information that I’d like to share.
We are currently amping up for a Thanksgiving visit to see my sister in California. The 5 of us are beyond excited. My Mom and Aunt will be meeting up with us as well. We’re planning on doing all of the touristy things because I don’t know when we’ll get back there. Chase is excited for LegoLand and Jameson and Cameron are excited for Disney Land and the San Diego Zoo. Mom and Dad are excited to relax by the pool…..and invade my sister’s apartment with a family of 5!
We took the kids to Disney World last December and I’m not sure if I’m mentally prepared for another Disney visit so soon. Let me fill you in. Disney is defined by Webster’s as the most magical place on Earth; a judgment free zone. I’m not sure if I speak for parents everywhere but Disney is defined by Sciandra, a mother of an 8, 7 and 3 year old, as a mostly magical place that was created to test a parent’s endurance, patience and will; a place filled with judgment by other parents (and definitely by the 70 year old grandparents who were drug along by their 35 year old kids who can’t manage their own kids); a place where only the strong survive. The watching, the judging – look at the baby, look at the baby: Yes, this kind of judgment. For example, just as we were getting off of the plane and heading towards the magical express (because what isn’t magical in Disney?!) Sal pinched Cameron’s finger in the stroller. By her screams, you’d swear that we had just kidnapped her. The perfect lady in front of us gave us one of those, “my family is so much better than your family grins”. You can picture it, I know you can. We happened to sit right across from the perfect family on the “magical” bus. I grinned back at her when I noticed her 6 year old still sucking a binkie. This is the kind of shit that I’m talking about! By the end of the week, everyone is a bit tired and a little cranky. I found myself ready to kick Mickey Mouse right in the privates for being so damn happy. Still, despite all of this, Disney World really is the most magical, happiest place on the planet and I’m happy that we’re fortunate to be visiting Disney Land in a few weeks!
We had a lot of exciting things happen this year – mostly all good stuff! We had only 1 trip to the ER, I believe. No, 2 trips to the ER. I’ll fill you in on the episode I like to call, “Tuesday Bloody Tuesday”. Chase, my tough guy, had a little accident at the park after school and put his teeth through his bottom lip. The big man looked pretty bad for a few weeks and did need stitches. He was so brave. He didn’t even cry. Considering I’m prone to passing out with this kind of stuff (ER visit #1 – long story!), I was happy that I didn’t hit the deck when he ran over to me at the park covered in blood. Really. He was. Hence the name taken from U2’s, “Sunday Bloody Sunday”. He didn’t damage his baby teeth and they fell out on their own a few months later. His adult teeth came in and he looks perfect.
Besides my kids and my husband, what I’m most proud of in 2014 and 2015 is Paint Pittston Pink. Thanks to Qiana Lehman, we became a registered 501c3 organization. In 2014, we were able to donate $30,000 directly to breast cancer research at Penn. In 2015, we were able to donate $50,000 to Penn. $80,000 for a brand new organization in 2 years is something that I’m so excited about. We have great things in store for the future and have a fundraising goal of $100,000 for 2016. Qiana and I have a fantastic committee and a great group of volunteers that work with us – Kara, Chris, Lisa, Joleen, Jay, Melissa, Kristina, Cindy, Meredith, Erin and Bob. Qiana has become a great friend and business partner and I don’t know what I would do without her. We compliment each other nicely. We’re planning on doing some really amazing things in collaboration with one another.
There’s nothing more humbling than being recognized by your community. Paint Pittston Pink was the top news story by The Sunday Dispatch in 2014. I was extremely honored and totally taken off guard to be named the 2014 Person of the Year by the same paper. The community’s embrace of our events has been beyond amazing. I think that we’re supported by so many because I’m living proof of Dr. Czerniecki’s successful research. Donors know where their money is being sent. This clinical trial costs $30,000 per patient and we’re so happy to be paying it forward. I hope that one day when my children receive a preventative vaccine they can be proud in knowing that their Mom contributed to the funding of it so that others don’t need to endure chemo, surgery and radiation treatment.
In another post, I’ll attach the links to the newspaper clippings for 2014 and 2015. Some really great stories were written about Paint Pittston Pink.
Listen, you know that we go big or go home! Well, I guess that I needed the full cancer experience. I developed lymphedema in my left arm, mostly in my fingers in the spring, and I’ve been receiving treatment from a physical therapist. What a pain in the ass. Anyone who suffers from a bad case – God bless you. Seriously. The compression wraps can not be hidden and the sleeves are U-G-L-Y. I’m hoping to get the swelling completely under control soon. It’s really not that bad as it’s mostly in my fingers. Sadly, I won’t be wearing any jewelry on my left hand. I’ve moved everything to the right hand in case anyone is wondering what’s up!
So, the title of this post. It’s pretty accurate. I’ve given up a lot of stuff in trade for something that’s more important. I can’t remember the last time I got drunk. I honestly can’t remember. Once in a while I feel like it would be fun to go nuts again! But it’s not good for me. Does this make me a dud? Probably! I don’t smoke, I really try to limit sugar, I eat very little red meat and mostly only organic fruits, vegetables and white meat. BOOORRRING!!!! I have discovered Nutella and Middlesworth Kettle Cooked BBQ chips, however! Truth be told, I still feel as though I’m alive for a reason and I don’t want to blow it. When Dr. Czerniecki emailed me after my very last vaccine 1 year ago, he said that my immune response was back to normal – use it wisely. So that’s what I’m doing.
It’s been too long since I’ve written it…….
LIVESTRONG and God Bless!
“Dear past, thank you for your lessons. Dear future, I’m ready. Dear God, thank you for another chance.” – Unknown
