#463 Blogolicious!

After a 2 1/2 day car ride with an antsy dog in the back and a stir crazy woman next to him, my darling husband pulled into our driveway and were welcomed home with a friendly greeting from  the next door neighbor.  So happy to be out of the car and on land even though the task of unpacking the car loomed large in front of us.  No complaints as we schlepped bag after bag into the house except the underlying question of, "Why did we take so much stuff?"  Next year--note to self--bring half the clothes and lots of laundry detergent.

On another note, after unloading the car and settling in, I went to the computer and low and behold received a lovely note from Nicole at @Healthline.com stating that my blog was Healthline's list of the Best Metastatic Breast Cancer Blogs of 2015". 

 Wow!!! I could give all kinds of responses like there aren't too many blogs out there, or I am one of seventeen--but instead I am going to glow in the limelight for this brief nanosecond and thank them for the acknowledgment.  I don't think I have ever been a top of anything so this gets checked off my bucket list ( well, it really wasn't a bucket list contender but what the heck).  

If you care to check out the highly respected and well written blogs of the MBC gang, go to http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/metastatic-breast-cancer-blogs.  I am number 12 on the list behind some pretty incredible writers.

Thanks for reading #463 of 7777.

#462 The Voice of a Songbird

Two metsters

I thought I'd share the article below written by Heather McManamy's husband, Jeff.  Her book was released on Sunday and if you haven't had a chance to buy one, do it now.  You can find it on Amazon.com.  She was an amazing person and I had the privilege to connect with her on our fight for more funding. Added to her book being available, her friend Megan, wrote and sang a beautiful lullaby for Bri that you do not want to miss. See the details below.

Perspective.
Today was a day of emotions, reflection and perspective at the book signing.
Emotional because I wish Heather was there to see her work come to life. It should have been her there talking with news stations, addressing the gathering before the signing and celebrating with friends and Bri afterwards.
Reflection, looking back at what our life had become after cancer knocked down our once blissful door. I have been asked a lot this week what this book means to me and should mean to others. I finally realized today exactly what this book is. It's guide that Heather left us. A guide to teach us how to live more, laugh harder and love without boundaries, even when faced with the harshest realities. I don't post about Cards for Brianna to sell more books, I post about it in hopes that it touches more lives and maybe even changes a couple along the way.
Perspective, really making ‪#‎everydaymatter‬ and remembering that when our time starts to come to end, the only truly important things in life are the people, the relationships forged and the moments with them that create lasting memories. When we reach that time where the light starts to fade, I don't think we will wish our business card had a more important title, our house was bigger or our car was fancier. I believe we will see the faces of those important to us, feel that joy of knowing you made them happy and remember how special they made you feel.
Seeing all of the special people today that Heather had relationships with was amazing. I know she treasured each and every one of you. When it comes to friends, Heather definitely has the all-star line up. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for taking time out of your day to come. Brianna was beyond thrilled. She actually said tonight that she could have signed a hundred more books. That's pretty big, because she had signed 90 of them already. smile emoticon
On top of an amazing book weekend, our friend, Megan Petersondelivered the final version of "Bri's Lullaby". This song is AMAZING and I hope she is proud of how it turned out. Because we want to find any way we can to support METAvivor.org, the song is available at the following link for you to stream for free and if you decide you want to buy it, half of the purchase price will be donated to them in Heather's name. I hope you enjoy it as much as Bri and I do (you may want to have a couple of tissues close by). Yes, it's that good. http://meganpeterson.bandcamp.com/releases

Here's to living life
- Jeff McManamy

Bri's Lullaby, by Megan Peterson

Bri's Lullaby by Megan Peterson, released 10 April 2016 I don’t know why you had to learn so young How fragile this world is I don’t know what I’m going to miss as you grow Into the woman you’ll be But I…

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MEGANPETERSON.BANDCAMP.COM

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#461 Bikers/Runners--We Need YOU!

Calling all biking/running metsters!  Lesley Glenn and I have joined forces to continue to spread the word on MBC.  She is a California gal who climbs mountains--really big ones--so the two of us put our heads together and decided to show the world that we will not be ignored.  Having metastatic breast cancer will not stop us from living life climbing up mountains or swimming across lakes.

Our plan is to have someone--preferably on the east coast or from the south--to bike or run the same day we are swimming and climbing.  The media will be involved to broadcast our determination to live life to the fullest and bring awareness to this forgotten disease.  Right now we are both healthy enough to tackle this challenge for our mets sisters.

If you know anyone with mets who is a biker or a runner and would love the challenge, please put them in touch with us.  The date is June 28th.  All metsters are invited to join in on part or all of the activities.

1 Cure
1 Day
3 Women

113 women/men will die today from this disease.  We need a cure NOW!

Let's do this!

Thanks for reading #461 of 7777.

#460 Colons and Eating Crow

One tough but smart old bird

Sometimes it is difficult to admit that maybe I was wrong.  Okay, most of the time it is difficult but when it comes to being really wrong I will eat my words, apologize and be forever grateful that my loving husband didn't listen to me.

It began Sunday around 10:30 AM after my morning swim.  Stepping out of the shower I was suddenly doubled over in pain with the thought of, "What the heck?"  I attributed it to the funny way I was standing or some other nonsense I make up to justify an unusual pain.

"Forget about it," I said, "and let's go out to brunch at my favorite cafe place in town."  After two bites of my much anticipated out of this world plate of the finest French Toast, I had had enough and watched (in slight dismay) as Rob finishing off my delicacy.

Fast forward an hour later as I am sitting on the couch at home in a fetal position feeling I was again experiencing  the worst part of childbirth pain when Rob announced that we are going to the ER--now.

"Oh no, dear", mumbled the tough old bird (me), "let's see if it gets better by tomorrow.  Delay the trip and I promise I will go in but not a minute sooner."

Eating crow today

Leap ahead a few more minutes (in excruciating pain) and we are on our way to the ER without me grumbling too much about waiting my official time--24 hours--before succumbing to a trip to see a doctor.  At one point in my younger years I'm sure my mother said, "If it still hurts tomorrow, I'll take you in."

After seven hours, a CT scan and lots of drugs, the doctor announces a diagnosis--diverticulitis--the colon has rather poopie polyps (I swear that's what she said).  Thankful that it hadn't burst or exploded or whatever the next step might have been, the doctor casually mentioned that it was a good thing I came in when I did and didn't wait 24 hours.  That hurt almost as much as the gut wrenching pain caused by my disgusting colon and its bacteria filled polyps. Fortunately Rob did not say the customary, "I told you so", but I thought I detected a satisfied grin creeping up on his face. The fact is  he was right and I could have been dead wrong; well, not completely dead but miserable with a possible surgery and major complications if we had used my time frame.

As I said before I hate it when I am wrong but will definitely let this one go.  A lesson learned that my life saving husband may not have a medical degree but his ability to google a malady--he discovered a wide range of possibilities--and then convinced me to head to the emergency room shows that I am not the only tough old bird in the house.

Now back to my chicken broth liquid diet that makes me gag and may possibly do me in anyway.

Thanks for reading #460 of 7777.

#459 Running for Our Lives

Runner's World

Holy Toledo! What a woman!  Carol Chaoui, in her words, "values each day and doesn't get caught up in nonsense".  But that isn't what makes her so extraordinary.  What is heroic about her is after getting THAT phone call she grabbed her running shoes and showed cancer who is boss.

It's not my kind of running or jogging--working up a sweat for a 5k.   It's running marathons with not one, but two stage iv diagnoses--thyroid cancer and metastatic breast cancer.  A double double whammy.

Pick yourself up and keep going--a lesson for all of us. Thanks for this, Carol.  We are all cheering from the sidelines and if it gets us off our duffs and get physical, you've done your job.

Read more about this phenomenal woman in Runner's World.

Thanks for reading # 459 of 7777.

#458 Helloooo! Anyone Out There?

Metup

Perusing the internet, there are a multitude of resources and support groups for women and men living with MBC. They often are a closed group who are compassionate listeners and offer free advice on anything including side effects from your drug to an electronic shoulder to cry on when needed.

The groups are unique with contents ranging from a strong belief in their faiths to being downright pissed off and doing something about this on their own.  This last group of women/men has appealed to me with their rattling of cages and making noise to get heard.

Metup is my shining star for getting things done and moving people in the right direction with two powerful leaders at the helm and a bountiful of backers pushing them on.  Jennie Grimes, one of the cofounders, is at the NBCC convention this week to rally our cry and ask/demand answers to why we are not counted and acknowledged.  I applaud her efforts and support what she is doing for the rest of us living day to day with this disease.

Please take the time to read Metup's demands asking for more and support us by writing to these organizations with questions about the status of stage iv and what they can do to help us.  Joining our hands together will make us more powerful and we need your hands to clasp with ours to get through one more day/month/year.

Go to Metup Demands NBCC Do More.  Time is not on our side so act now to see how you can help.

Thanks for reading # 458 not 7777.

#457 Rainbows and All That

Do you see it?

Her simple but sincere question made me pause for a moment.  "How do you keep going, I mean, isn't it daunting to deal with every day?" I muttered some response about staying optimistic because it beats the whiny downtrodden grouch I could easily become.

In reality, those dark moments swirling in my head can surface out of nowhere. It's like a tornado-- unexpected flashes of havoc that leaves me dodging the flying debris that seems to penetrate my entire being.  Why, what if, when, how????...those words and visions of what's to come scares the *&^&^% out of me and renders me towards a dark funk while I cover my head as the storm cloud passes through.

And then...

Our hike yesterday (Hike for Hope benefitting the City of Hope Hospital in California).

Joining the crowd of super supporters and being presented with a glorious rainbow stretching across the canyon brightened the skies and spirits for all of us. The swirling darkness of the tornado slowly slipped away as thoughts of better things to come raised its comforting head.  There will soon be a baby to be loved and the highly anticipated wedding to celebrate. The thought that life is too short to huddle in the basement of emotions waiting for the passing of the storm clears my head.

I suppose there will always be a momentary pause in this now cancer laden life and then I must remember to move on and look for the rainbow.

To keep those rainbow moments coming--go to www.onewomanmanylakes.org and donate to METAvivor or ACS.

Thanks for listening and reading # 457 of 7777.