Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[laurabelle]

disneylizzy & TigerCheer2009- It's good to see you both! Liz I'm sorry to hear about your mom's neighbor. I'm sure your mom was just trying to protect you. I bet you'll find a special way to honor her memory...
Tiger I hope your mom gets her results soon and that she gets a great report!

Thanks for all your prayers for Lisa and her family. The man who is the point-of-contact for Bill's police precinct told our contact person that Bill is not in any way overwhelmed by visitors. He has been touching base with him and says that Bill feels very comforted by the visitors, and especially from
the sistas. He encouraged us to not be shy about visiting and spoke
of 'the ministry of presence' and how just we being there means the
world to Bill. I hope we can get to visit Lisa again soon. I know that his faith and the prayers of family, friends and those who don't even know Lisa but who are touched by her battle are lifting him up.

GAGWTA!

 

[laurabelle]

By the way, I keep a list of all of you going through tough times right now in my prayer book. I mention each of you out loud by name in our services. I really believe in the power of prayer, and I wanted you to know that I am praying for all of you.

I can't tell you how blessed I am by knowing this...

 

[Pea-n-Me]

GAGWTA!

lizzy, sorry about your friend. My family has done it as well. They mean well. I imagine the funeral services would have been very difficult for you. I'm sure the family will understand - send a nice card.

I realized I don't know how many of you are pet lovers here (other than Shugardrawers ) - stand up and be counted!

I am a huge lover of animals in general but German Shepherd Dogs in particular. I've had six during the course of my lifetime, as long as I can remember. The GSD in my siggie is a one year old named Liesl and is my little velcro buddy. Some of you may remember I lost two of my dogs in the past year which was hard but Liesl - who was my end of treatment present from my family (and named after the oldest daughter in The Sound of Music) - has done a good job of helping me through those tough times and keeping me focused and active since we do training and socialization together and she's a bit of a challenge (what's that saying about God doesn't give us more than we can handle? I guess He knew I needed to stay busy, LOL). She absolutely loves children, though, and with love and patience she's turning into a wonderful dog so we're very happy to have her here, the young bundle of energy that she is.

I've always wanted to work with animals and after last year figured now's the time, so I'm hoping at some point Liesl and I can do therapy work together (my goal is pediatric oncology); if not, search and rescue work is a possibility. When my kids turn 10 in two years we will be a foster family for German Shepherd Rescue. And my manager just tapped me to help initiate a Pet Therapy program at my hospital so that will be something I'm working on this year too. I'll need a bit of pixie dust for all this to happen so if you have any to spare we'll welcome it!!

Without further adeu (?sp) here's a video for you other pet lovers to enjoy. It's a bit of a tearjerker (in a good way ) but it always makes me feel better. Hope you like it!!

http://indigo.org/friends/

 

[laurabelle]

Oh Linda, that video is great! I'm petless at the moment, but that video made me think of my cat Dusty who I got for my 16th birthday. She lived over 20 yrs! I thought of one night as a teen, lying in bed crying over something (probably a guy!) and her nuzzling me and comforting me...I'll never forget that.

I think that you and Liesl would make a great therapeutic team!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Laura, I wrote a big paragraph about Lisa but lost it when I tried to copy and paste something. The bottom line of what I was trying to say, though, was that in my experience of taking care of sick any dying patients - many also very young - usually most have come to terms with dying by the time they're ready to go. I know it's hard for those of us on the outside to understand and accept, but amazingly it really does happen. Thankfully they can be at peace somehow, and although I was devastated reading about Lisa last week, I've been praying that she has come to this peaceful acceptance if God's plan is to take her - though I'm also asking she'll be spared and her family and children can have more time with her. Man, it's so hard to think about. Keep us updated, will you?

 

[laurabelle]

Thanks Linda. I have lost 4 women in my support group to this beast, and I know they all came to have peace with their passing in the end. Lisa has said from the beginning that she's not afraid to die, but she's afraid to leave her kids so young...I think we can all relate to that...

 

[Pea-n-Me]

she's not afraid to die, but she's afraid to leave her kids so young...I think we can all relate to that

 

[MerryPoppins]

That's how I felt when I found out I had breast cancer. I just wasn't sure my kids and my husband could go on without me at that point in time. And Lisa's children are so young.

I'm an animal lover! That video was great. Right now I have two bichons named Holly and Sasha, an outside mutt named Buddy (he's a cross between a chow and a spaniel so we call him a spow), and a black cat named Cricket or his nickname EK for Evil Kitty. We also have an aquarium. I think watching fish is relaxing and it give EK a kitty tv to watch. Sometimes I think animals can be more comforting than humans. They seem to understand the way we feel. They are there unconditionally.

Linda, I have a soft spot in my heart for German Shepherds too. My grandpa was a vet and he had all sorts of animals around. He trained his white GS to walk a tightrope. We have photos of him walking tightropes across the Royal Gorge! He was very talented and was later sold to the circus. They are such affectionate dogs. But personally I'm partial to lap dogs like bichons or poodles.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

By the way, I keep a list of all of you going through tough times right now in my prayer book. I mention each of you out loud by name in our services. I really believe in the power of prayer, and I wanted you to know that I am praying for all of you.

I can't tell you how blessed I am by knowing this...

Well it has been on my To Do list to post a report and pictures of my Relay for Life that we did back in June. Seeing this I think I should get off my butt and post the pictures of the luminaries since you were all very much with me in spirit that night. An entire football field perimeter was lit with rows of luminary bags, quite a sight to behold (and one which I unfortunately, wasn't able to capture too well on camera - but you get the idea).

My team and I spent a lot of time searching through the thousands of luminary bags for the Dis Breast Cancer Survivors bag, LOL. Funny, I was turning in some $$ at the cashier's tent and looked down and there it was! Later, when they were putting them on the field, we searched and searched and couldn't find it. We happened to walk over to a group of people who were filling the bags with sand and candles and what was on the top of the pile but our bag!! I'd say these were probably God Winks now that we know what those are. Here are the pictures, hope you can see the names. (I listed those of you here in June - sorry I missed the new members here).

As for the rest of the Relay, it was wonderful. Our team was great, we had a Red Sox theme and sold hot dogs and sausages just like at Fenway. I was moved by the support my friends and family showed me.

My cousin and I went to eat at the Survivor's Reception and as I sat down I looked behind me and who was there but my social worker from my support center (the one who helped me through my roughest days during treatment) and the tears just started to flow. Just as I was drying my face I looked over the flowers on the table and who was there but two women who had gotten me a medal from Medjugore last year when I gave up another medal to someone who needed it more than I at the time. Again, water works (and perhaps a God Wink?) but after that I was fine, even during the Survivor's walk.

I guess I got caught up in the "fun" of planning our team and the evening but when I saw these people who meant so much to me during my illness as well as the love of my friends and family there that night, it was emotional and meaningful indeed. We camped overnight and had a blast seeing people walking around in their bathrobes and slippers, grown men in Halloween costumes, Red White and Blue and Mardi Gras get ups, etc... for the fun hourly themes. We did most of them as well and of the eight kids in our group, seven were still up and walking the track at 1am they were having so much fun!! Can't wait for next year! Our 48 Relay teams collected close to $100, 000 so we were very pleased with the outcome.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

YAY!!! I just noticed that snappy, NHAnn and myself also just got the Survivor tags too!!

Cool!! I saw them going on just now!! I had one but didn't post because I was sad to see Ann and snappy didn't have them ... but when I looked again they were there!!

Thank you Tag Fairies!! I hope they see to it to put the GAGWTA tag on NHAnn too since she did dream it up!!

ETA: LOL, I see she got it!! Happy to see our Tag Fairies are a very resourceful and thorough bunch!!

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

Well it has been on my To Do list to post a report and pictures of my Relay for Life that we did back in June. Seeing this I think I should get off my butt and post the pictures of the luminaries since you were all very much with me in spirit that night.

Oh wow Linda, those photos are just wonderful. I know next to nothing about Relay for Life, being in Scotland. Now I understand a little more. It was great to see so many names I now recognise on the luminary (did I get that word right?). I will be showing my mum the photos, and I know she will be truly touched by the gesture.

Thank you so much for all you have done, and continue to do.

GAGTWA

Louise

 

[MerryPoppins]

I got a survivor tag too! Thank you tag fairy!

The pictures of the luminaries are beautiful. Thanks for remembering us. That is really special.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Oops, sorry Merry - I noticed you got one too!! I'm terrible with names and sometimes I get you and Minnie confused...

 

[MerryPoppins]

That's okay. We both have Disney names. It's confusing at best! I wasn't hurt or anything. Just pleased that the fairy gave one to me.

 

[Tinkertude]

Let's count our blessings


I'll start. Much needed rain came last night. A husband that is the beat of my heart. Two healthy happy daughters married to fine examples of husbands and fathers. Three grandchildren that make my heart sing just to look at them. The fact that my mom is almost 89 and still won't tell me she loves me best ( even though I'm sure she does lol). Friends that I can count on.

 

[snappy]

Linda, thanks for the pics, they were the best!!!.

I also like your avatar (I think that is what they are called), of the flag with the mickey head).

Isn't the tag fairy generous today? It really is a thrill getting a new one.
And this particular tag is as Brer Rabbit would say "actual".

Love the idea of working with animals, especially dogs. I have seen the proof of what they can do in nursing homes.

Here we have one dog, a golden retriever/collie mix who we adopted in 2000.
We named her Snappy (thus my screen name) after the habit she has when she is excited/happy of snapping her jaws together (you can actually hear quite a loud snap when she does it). This is not a biting/snapping thing at all, she never bites.

She comes to my rescue often when she sees me down, crying, or just upset.
She thinks she can make everything all better, and she actually does do a pretty god job of it.

We also have a freshwater aquarium, 55 gallons tall, which we've had for about 10 years. I love watching fish glide around, they do it so effortlessly, so gracefully. Looking at them can be very therapeutic. I lean towards the cichlid type of fish and have a particularly large green severum right now who is king of the hill. I also have an ancient silver dollar, and love clown loaches for the happy dancing they do with each other. My DH keeps ours pristine. I love the way he sets it up with slabs of varicolored slate at angles. It is actually set up directly to the right of my computer table so I am looking at my cuties right now.

Thinking of Lisa and everyone who is fighting BC.

 

[TigerCheer2009]

I did a Relay for Life last year-lots of fun!!

I am a pet lover here! Two cats, Aero and OJ...twin brothers...pumpkin orange and wiley as ever!

Pea-n-Me, what fundraiser did you guys do? We went with a neighbor's banking business and they did a raffle.

 

[snappy]

Let's count our blessings


I'll start. Much needed rain came last night. A husband that is the beat of my heart. Two healthy happy daughters married to fine examples of husbands and fathers. Three grandchildren that make my heart sing just to look at them. The fact that my mom is almost 89 and still won't tell me she loves me best ( even though I'm sure she does lol). Friends that I can count on.

Great idea!

Blessings:

Three wonderful trips to WDW this year and a 4 day cruise with my Mom and siblings this year (so far) to make up for no vacation last year during diagnosis and treatment.

Probably will go down to the Oasis on the gulf coast for a couple of days with my sister, her husband and mom soon. And we are planning a trip with the same group to San Destin where sis and hubby just bought a timeshare. Yea!!

Great childhood, many fun family trips as kids (including a 60's trip to DL and a 70's trip to WDW), New York city, Washington, DC, Mexico, etc.

Wonderful, supportive sister who is my rock, along with supersweet hubby of 6 years.

Two great brothers who although they live far away have always spoiled our kids rotten (only grandchildren, only nieces and nephew).

In-laws who would (and do) anything for us. Not to mention the prime Mardi Gral located house belonging to DH's niece that we have a standing invitation to invade each Mardi Gras season.

Wonderful New Orleans friends who put us up when we sold our house before buying another one here. Who we continue to travel with and party with.


Three healthy kids, a lot of great family memories to date and still more coming!! (more memories, not more kids, LOL!!)

And last but not least, my DH who I met when I was 15, married when I was 24. We have a lot of history together, dated all through high school.
We have both had ups and downs but we give each other the support needed. We had fun in the 60's, the 70's and the 80's before starting our family in 1988. We still have fun, we are quieter about it.

 

[disneylizzy]

Linda - I loved the video - so true. We have a German Shepherd Dog from GSRescue. Her name is Sasha and she is 5 YO. I feel a special bond with her even though we got her for my DD (who is now in college). She came to us as a puppy 5 mos before I was diagnosed. I think God really does have a plan and I need to remember that when I start to feel down.

She is an unbelievably smart and intuitive dog and I really look forward to our walks through the woods. That's when I get my head together and have quiet time. I have also met the nicest people while walking Sasha.

Enjoyed the pictures of your Relay. I was a chaperone for my DD's team in 2004. It was such a special time. She had a team from girls track at her HS. What a great bunch of kids. They were so helpful to everyone. Anyway, I couldn't go this year - just too emotional for me. My husband left a year ago and I pretty much keep it together day to day, but I didn't feel like I could get thru a Relay. Next year I want to be there.

 

[snappy]

Linda - I loved the video - so true. We have a German Shepherd Dog from GSRescue. Her name is Sasha and she is 5 YO. I feel a special bond with her even though we got her for my DD (who is now in college). She came to us as a puppy 5 mos before I was diagnosed. I think God really does have a plan and I need to remember that when I start to feel down.

She is an unbelievably smart and intuitive dog and I really look forward to our walks through the woods. That's when I get my head together and have quiet time. I have also met the nicest people while walking Sasha.

Enjoyed the pictures of your Relay. I was a chaperone for my DD's team in 2004. It was such a special time. She had a team from girls track at her HS. What a great bunch of kids. They were so helpful to everyone. Anyway, I couldn't go this year - just too emotional for me. My husband left a year ago and I pretty much keep it together day to day, but I didn't feel like I could get thru a Relay. Next year I want to be there.

Sasha sounds like a wonderful pet, great therapy walking her.

Sorry that you are having such a difficult time. I hope you a have good support from other family members. It is great though that we have this thread to come to.