Well, the Trusera Video has made it onto Glamour magazine's website Glamour.com. This is under VITAMIN G: DAILY HEALTH & FITNESS BLOG. The piece is actually called: One Woman's Health Nightmare: "You Have Breast Cancer--But the Doc Can't See You for 2 Weeks." Who knew that this would make its way to a major publication? I am happy to say that the comments are so positive and proactive. So many women that are posting are setting aside their fear and getting a mammogram, or demanding a mammogram at times.
I have a whole new thought for a program to get women in for mammograms that have found lumps. In my mind it is called "Bump for a Lump." I am waiting for my Radiologist to call me back. She was the one who shared with me WHY the wait here is so long.
My dear friend Lu in St. Louis said that there is no wait there at Washington University Medical Center. The wait must get shorter as you get closer to the equator.
Well, this is a problem and I think it will get fixed. Start small and then take over the world. Us lumpy women deserve better.
It makes me hopeful on this day. It makes me feel like one person can make a difference. It makes me feel like I can go to Safeway and not vomit because of the sea of pink. The raffle, the book sale, the check out donations. Thanks for asking but honestly, I've given.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
My Video Debut for Trusera
On September 10th I sat down with journalist Sally Kassab at the home of my friends Jenn & Keith Schorsch, The Founder and Right Hand of Trusera.com (You can choose their roles as they must change on any given day.) They wanted to interview me about my experience with metastatic breast cancer. Sally was a wonderful person and was very well prepared. She asked me many questions that were thought provoking and intense. I did my best. I think the finished product is something that the Trusera team should be proud of. Although a lot of the interview was left on the cutting room floor (or in digi-space) they really touched upon important subjects. What do you do with this diagnosis? Why is the wait so long for a mammogram? What do you tell your kids? How does a family survive? How does one woman affect change?
This is a new program for Trusera.com. They are posting personal stories of real live people on the site. These are not trained actors as you might see on TV commercials. It is called "JustOne" and will propel the "power of been there" to a whole new level. If you haven't checked the site out please do. It is a wonderful, novel way at looking at health care and health challenges that we face. Trying to focus on the "it takes a village" concept instead of the "you gotta go it alone" process that is endemic in health care today.
Take a look at the video to your RIGHT. Let me know what you think. Thankfully, they used a filter that even Katie Couric would be happy with. I look so youthful and exuberant. I look like a woman who has weekly facials and exercises. Sadly, I often forget to remove my makeup at night and exercise for me is walking to the bus stop.
Additionally, many of the personal Thank Yous were left out because there are so many. At the top of my list is my husband Matt. He is my rock and I would not be doing so well if it weren't for him. My girls who keep me going every day, in every way. All of our family and friends. Our colleagues at the Seattle Police Department, the Seattle Police Officer's Guild and Aflac. My sisters at the Northwest Young Survivors Coalition and God. From the bottom of my heart I thank all of you. You rock!
Here is the link to check it out on Trusera:
http://www.trusera.com/health/list_collections/justone-title
This is a new program for Trusera.com. They are posting personal stories of real live people on the site. These are not trained actors as you might see on TV commercials. It is called "JustOne" and will propel the "power of been there" to a whole new level. If you haven't checked the site out please do. It is a wonderful, novel way at looking at health care and health challenges that we face. Trying to focus on the "it takes a village" concept instead of the "you gotta go it alone" process that is endemic in health care today.
Take a look at the video to your RIGHT. Let me know what you think. Thankfully, they used a filter that even Katie Couric would be happy with. I look so youthful and exuberant. I look like a woman who has weekly facials and exercises. Sadly, I often forget to remove my makeup at night and exercise for me is walking to the bus stop.
Additionally, many of the personal Thank Yous were left out because there are so many. At the top of my list is my husband Matt. He is my rock and I would not be doing so well if it weren't for him. My girls who keep me going every day, in every way. All of our family and friends. Our colleagues at the Seattle Police Department, the Seattle Police Officer's Guild and Aflac. My sisters at the Northwest Young Survivors Coalition and God. From the bottom of my heart I thank all of you. You rock!
Here is the link to check it out on Trusera:
http://www.trusera.com/health/list_collections/justone-title
Monday, September 22, 2008
Happy Birthday to me!
Well, here I sit on the eve of my 42nd birthday. Considering my status I guess this is a great accomplishment. It doesn't feel great, in fact, it doesn't feel like much of anything. Don't get me wrong I am not ungrateful. I have two amazing girls that continue to blow my mind with their wisdom and honesty. I am going on 10 1/2 years with the man of my dreams. We have been through so much and yet I am always safe in his arms and happy to be by his side. I truly love these three people unconditionally. They are my heart and my home.
I have unbelievably gracious friends. They are honest and steadfast and funny and always there for me. They never stop giving and propping me up and making me laugh. Everyone should be lucky to have an amazing group of friends.
I have found a group of women who have survived breast cancer and everything that goes with it. They keep me sane and grounded and in the present while this disease tend to steal the present and force us to operate in a false future. The "establishment" tries to make us believe that this "new normal" is a natural place to go after diagnosis. Unfortunately it is not.
I have a medical team that keeps on keeping on and will keep me going for a long, long time. They are indefatigable.
I live in a time where a cure is actually a reality and something that could happen. I have met scientists, lobbyists, physicians and advocates who spend every day working toward a cure. I know they will be successful. I believe that my daughters will not have to deal with breast cancer they same way that I have.
So really upon further assessment what is not to be happy about? I really am a very fortunate woman. Perhaps I just worry that I won't have the breath to blow out all 42of those candles. Maybe the 42 spankings will be too much for my delicate derriere. I guess I am happy to be here, to be celebrating another birthday. I mean '40 is the new 30' and I have experienced a lot during these four decades. I have been through the ringer in the last 14 months. What's another birthday.
In the end I still have the amazing ability to always think of something worse. At any time I can come up with a situation that is way worse that what my family is going through right now. It is a talent that can never be shown off in a talent show. I mean thank God I don't have a colostomy bag. That would suck. Or I could be related to Sarah Palin and that would be worse than the colostomy.
Happy Birthday to me. Things truly are great!
I have unbelievably gracious friends. They are honest and steadfast and funny and always there for me. They never stop giving and propping me up and making me laugh. Everyone should be lucky to have an amazing group of friends.
I have found a group of women who have survived breast cancer and everything that goes with it. They keep me sane and grounded and in the present while this disease tend to steal the present and force us to operate in a false future. The "establishment" tries to make us believe that this "new normal" is a natural place to go after diagnosis. Unfortunately it is not.
I have a medical team that keeps on keeping on and will keep me going for a long, long time. They are indefatigable.
I live in a time where a cure is actually a reality and something that could happen. I have met scientists, lobbyists, physicians and advocates who spend every day working toward a cure. I know they will be successful. I believe that my daughters will not have to deal with breast cancer they same way that I have.
So really upon further assessment what is not to be happy about? I really am a very fortunate woman. Perhaps I just worry that I won't have the breath to blow out all 42of those candles. Maybe the 42 spankings will be too much for my delicate derriere. I guess I am happy to be here, to be celebrating another birthday. I mean '40 is the new 30' and I have experienced a lot during these four decades. I have been through the ringer in the last 14 months. What's another birthday.
In the end I still have the amazing ability to always think of something worse. At any time I can come up with a situation that is way worse that what my family is going through right now. It is a talent that can never be shown off in a talent show. I mean thank God I don't have a colostomy bag. That would suck. Or I could be related to Sarah Palin and that would be worse than the colostomy.
Happy Birthday to me. Things truly are great!
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