Happy (Scans)giving – Gulp!

Posted on November 19, 2012 by

It is that time again.

You know: turkey, dressing and the three-month cancer scan.

Even though I am in remission and am feeling good, a week before the scan I begin to feel anxious and testy.

I start to worry about random, little things. Then I start to worry about big things that I have no control over. As the days go by I get so anxious I finally ask myself “What is going on?”

“THE SCAN is coming,” says myself.

“Oh, that. Well, it will be OK, I feel really good. I trust things will be clear.”

“But what if it’s not…” my contrarian self says. My mind spins off into dozens of imaginative scenarios – none pleasant, most terrible. I am filled with dread.

When these times come, I’ve learned it helps to pray an “out of my hands” prayer and then list things I am grateful and give praise for. It only takes a few minutes, works wonders and there are no wrong answers. As it is that season, here is my list for today.

Thankful for…

  • Birds that sing
  • Flowers that express themselves
  • Spirited children
  • Mischievous dogs
  • Faith of generations
  • Never-ending, never-changing love
  • Walks outdoors
  • Neighbors who care
  • Neighbors in need of care
  • Rain drops
  • New moons
  • Candle flames
  • Music
  • Teachers
  • Seers
  • Watchers
  • Protectors
  • Food growers
  • Field workers
  • Peace-makers
  • Medical research
  • Compassionate healthcare professionals
  • Friends
  • Family
  • Breath

Unfurling my thanks to the universe and God for all the goodness that exists. There, that feels better.  What is there to be anxious aboutImage? It is better to be grateful in the present.

Share your gratitude. Make your own gratitude list in the comments. Spread your joy to others.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Posted in cancer, Families with Cancer, Gratitude, Inspiration, Scan anxiety, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Surfing for Hope, November 9-10, Pismo Beach

Posted on November 7, 2012 by

Oh yeah, that “hope” thing.

Last night President Obama said in his acceptance speech:

I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting.

Hope is critical for anyone, but cancer survivors especially need hope. Cancer survivors have a unique perspective on hope and understand how important hope is for others:

If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or Fight Like Hell.

That’s from Lance Armstrong and I think he hit the target. I’m choosing to Fight Like Hell or in other words: Fight Like a Mother!

How do we stay hopeful? Do hopeful things, be with hopeful people and get involved for hope here on the Central Coast this weekend at Surfing for Hope.

Here is a super fun event to help inspire people challenged by cancer through the positive energy of surfing. All proceeds go to the Hearst Cancer Resource Center and Angel of Hope Fund. If you don’t want to surf on Saturday, the Luau on Friday sounds like the place to be!

Sunset Paddle Out and Luau Dinner

Friday, November 9, 2012

Avila Beach Golf Resort

This benefit dinner is hosted by members of the local surfing community and benefits the Hearst Cancer Resource Center at French Hospital Medical Center. Before the dinner, a Sunset Paddle Out will honor friends and loved ones who have lost their battle with cancer.

The evening includes an auction with surf-themed items including luxury surf travel packages, Jack Johnson signed ukuleles, music and dancing with the Zongo All-Stars.

Longboard Surf Contest and Health Fair on the pier

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Divisions for all ages, cancer survivors, and doctors with special appearance by Goattee the Surfing Goat and his kid Pismo.

For Registration and Information


http://surfingforhope.com/about/

If you cannot attend but would like to donate, go to:


http://surfingforhope.com/donate/

Posted in cancer, Community, Hope, Survivors | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Music Matters – Keyboard Classes for Kindergarteners

Posted on September 10, 2012 by

Here’s a great opportunity for the little ones!

If you are in the San Luis Obispo area and have a musically-inclined kindergartener, Keyboard Classes will be available starting Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at Village Children’s Center in Los Osos. Classes will be 1:15 – 1:45 p.m. weekly.

Students will receive semi-private instruction on individual keyboards each week. By using musical songs and games the classes will explore: keyboard skills, coordination between hands and fingers, rhythmic imitation and reading rhythmic and melodic notation.

Classes are limited to 6 children with two instructors and are $52 per month with a $20 registration and materials fee.

Register now by calling (805) 528-5200 or email marianandkim@musicmatterslososo.com

For more information visit their website at www.musicmatterslososos.com.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Why We Chose Public School

Posted on September 8, 2012 by

We recently sent our daughter, the apple of our eye, to public Kindergarten. For most, this is traumatic enough. A few days later I had to leave my daughter with my mother to go to Santa Monica to have a PET scan and brain MRI to see if more “treatments” (love that word) would be needed. In the middle of these two seismic events I celebrated turning 43.

We want the best for our daughter, like most parents do. In our area there are many educational choices: College prep, Spanish-language immersion, science magnets, home school support, private school and international education.

We chose our local neighborhood school for many reasons. Number one: It is a good school (how lucky are we!) Number two: It is walkable and bikeable from our house. It is easy and we feel good from our morning bike rides and walks. Number three: We want to be connected with our community to give us and our daughter a sense of stability in case cancer blows up again and I have to be away. Our community has been great at rallying around us when things go wrong, the idea of driving to another community (besides burning fossil fuels and spending a extra hour driving each day) seems like a stress we don’t need in our lives. We don’t need distance from our support network.

But wait! My eyes fly open in the middle of the night. Are we decreasing our daughter’s chances of everything by just going to a normal, public school? Is cancer taking something away, her educational opportunities? I panic. Many of our friends are sending their kids out of the community. Will their kids will be bi- and trilingual, young scientists and global citizens, while mine is stuck, bored in a classroom that has to teach to the average? Will she, a promising student, be left behind?

It is possible, although I am committed to “after-schooling.” At present, this includes Spanish classes, gymnastics, play-dates and lots of time outdoors and in nature. That extra hour we would have been in the car together, we’ll play by the bay, go for a kayak and hike the local trails. In the future my daughter will be what she will be, but for now she will be rooted in a caring community with dirt trails to run on and sand dunes to climb. She’ll soak up what this community has taught me about sticking together, helping our neighbors and being present for each other. She’ll have the gift of time. I believe these are “lessons” that will last her lifetime and serve her well in whatever direction her heart leads.

Posted in cancer, Community, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Cancer Sucks! Fight Back.

Posted on July 6, 2012 by

Cancer sucks so here is your chance to Fight Like a Mother to beat back cancer and its effects on lives.

Please join us for the Central Coast Cancer Challenge, August 5, 2012. Walk, run, bike or surf (not really) to raise money and awareness about cancer. The proceeds stay in the local community supporting cancer groups. We have some really good resources here on the California Central Coast, this is an opportunity to support them.

Click the tab at the top of this blog or click here for more information and how to register.

Posted in cancer, Cancer support network, Central Coast Cancer Challenge, Community, Families with Cancer | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Jeff Fights Like a Mother on Air

Posted on March 1, 2012 by

The organizing team for the FIGHT LIKE A MOTHER FUNdraiser, which is rapidly approaching this Saturday, 9 – 1 at Tidelands Park in Morro Bay, have outdone themselves yet again.

It is not enough that they have secured the funnest and coolest activities, the best baked goodies, the most amazing silent auction items and awesome Fight Like a Mother t-shirts (think Private Benjamin), as well as managing a platoon of volunteers — they have attracted the attention of the local talk radio station.

Today at 3 pm on KVEC News-Talk 920 am. Dave Congalton host of “Hometown Radio” will interview my husband Jeff, event organizer Sabrina and a SurviveOar Sister about the event. Wooo Hooo!

We want to get the word out about the BIG event, talk about the dismal funding for lung cancer (although it is the biggest killer of all the cancers) and garner interest for a “parents with cancer” support group.

I am still recovering from pneumonia so Jeff has graciously agreed to stand in for me. He is the greatest partner and it helps that he was a press secretary for a congressman in a past life!

To listen to the live show today at 3 pm click here. To listen to a podcast 24 hours after the show click here.

It is very exciting that all this is going on around as I patiently (not so) try to recover from pneumonia and the adverse affects of the various treatments. It is a slow process but I am heartened by these wonderful shows of support. It takes a village…and a community and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful one helping me to FIGHT LIKE A MOTHER!!


Posted in cancer, Cancer support network, Community, Families with Cancer, Family, Helping, Kids | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Scanxiety – It’s Real

Posted on February 13, 2012 by

It is stormy right now. I am sitting over the bay in Marina Del Rey, California, USA watching the wind blow strongly and keeping an eye on the choppy water. It must be the nautical theme of this place with its hundreds and hundreds of boats that makes me want to scan the horizon. I want to see what will happen in the days ahead. I am having my own personal storm. I feel sick. My head and stomach hurt. I cannot eat well. I feel very tired. What is going on?

Ah, tomorrow (yes, Valentine’s Day) I am to be scanned. In fact, I will have a full scanning experience. All the major cancer areas including the areas last treated: brain, lungs and abdomen will be scanned using MRI, PET and CT. The hope is the scans should give a whole picture as to the state of the stage 4 lung cancer in my body. But will it? We hope the scan results will show a clear path for treatment options. There is so much to consider: quality of life, maybe a need to relocate. The extended absences and the upheaval in our lives from living a four hour drive from where I am treated is beginning to strain our four-year old and all of us.

The time of the dreaded scan is back. For many of us cancer survivors scanning time is a time of hope, fear, uncertainty and feeling out of control. An article in Time Magazine captures many of our fears so well, click here for article.

And what if we have kids? Our anxiety can ratchet even higher. What if the results are really, really bad? How do I tell my family? How do I cope first and foremost?

To add to the anxiety, experts say that anxiety is bad for our overall fight with the disease! What to do?

I have had to come to center to relieve the anxiety. I have to let go and believe, no matter what the scan says, that: things are working out for the best, I am loved and I have something to contribute to others from this experience. Prayer, meditation, healthy eating, a daily habit of practicing gratitude and healthy, stress-relieving exercises such as yoga, kayaking and walking help keep me centered and able to say, “Let it be” or “Your will be done.”

It is not easy. I am not always successful.

As I listen to the wind blowing steadily and see the palm trees swaying on their long trunks, I think about storms and what they leave behind. Sometimes a storm leaves a mess, maybe damage; at times even total destruction. Storms also bring change; perhaps much needed rain and the chance to exercise faith that the black clouds will give way to sunshine, the wind will die down and the waves will be still again.

Related articles
Posted in cancer, Kids, Scanxiety | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment