Ovarian Cancer Awareness Baseball Game

To:	Friends of Northern NJ National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC)
From:	Thomas Franklin
Please join us on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at TD Stadium, Bridgewater, NJ for an ovarian cancer awareness evening. Gates open at 6:05 pm. Game time is 7:05 pm. Somerset Patriots vs York Revolution. For discounted tickets and/or information, call Tom at 908-755-6276 or e-mail to drone@optonline.net. Goody bags will be distributed. I've purchased tickets and look forward to the game. Livestrong Dee Every Day is a Blessing!

Magnificent Alaska

I just spent 10 days in Alaska.What a wonderful experience! We traveled with a group of 20 friends of our friend and RU football tailgating buddy, Ron T.

The land portion of our trip started in Fairbanks. We boarded the McKinley Express a domed train and headed to Denali National Park. The train took us past forests of white and black and arctic spruce. When we arrived in Denali we took a 19 mile nature tour into the park. We had hoped to see Mt McKinley or more commonly called Denali but the clouds covered the peaks. We did get to see Caribou, two moose and hare on our trip.
The next day we got back on the train and headed to Anchorage. We stayed overnight here. Darkness is very short this time of year in Alaska. Sunset around midnight and sun rise around 4am.
The next morning, after a tour of Anchorage we headed past the Portage Glacier ( in the photo above) to Whittier where our ship the Carnival Spirit was docked. What amazing views from our stateroom's balcony. The first day at sea at 6am we were in front of the Harvard glacier. I stood on my balcony and could hear the pieces of ice from the glacier falling into the bay. What a gorgeous blue the glacier was.

On our southward journey down the inner passage we had some of the best weather one could have in Alaska in July- sunny in the 70's.We stopped in Sitka- where we visited the Russian Orthodox Church and the Raptor Center; Juneau- where we took a whale watching trip and saw more than 10 different humpback whales ; Skagway - where I took a horseback ride on the Chilkoot trail in the Tongass National forest and Ketchican where we visited the Totem Museum. The last day at sea the weather turned to cloudy and damp but that didn't stop the Orca whale from swimming alongside our ship. What a sight!
We disembarked in Vancouver and boarded an Air Canada flight home.

Today I kept thinking about this once in a lifetime trip. It is hard to explain the emotion I felt looking at the incredible scenery and wildlife of our 49th state. It was wonderful seeing God's creation - the mountains, glaciers and wildlife of Alaska.

Livestrong
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Unexpected Kindnesses

Today I had two very heart-warming experiences.

I had an appointment to get my hair trimmed- just a little buzz to even out the fuzzies that have started to grow in. I went to Annette at About Faces Hair Salon in Tano Mall on Amboy Avenue. She has been my hairdresser for over 9 years. (Annette, some other beauticians and the owner Sandy did the hair, makeup and nails for my daughter's entire wedding party last year. I must admit we all looked marvelous. ) Annette was nice enough to give me a quick buzz and she asked about my treatments and how I was doing. As I walked up to the desk to pay, Annette leaned over and said "That's OK Dee no need to pay- it took me less than 10 minutes - I'll see you next month for another trim" . She really could have charged me what she would have charged a man but she didn't. Of course my eyes got teary and I gave her a giant hug and said "thanks". That was true kindness.

Then Nick and I headed over to Boro Hardware in Metuchen. This is a small family run local hardware store. My friend Pam had given me a key blank with an end shaped like an awareness ribbon and painted teal. I went up to the counter and asked the man if he could cut the key for me. He said sure, took the blank and cut me a new house key. He came back to the counter handed me the key and said "There you go. ". I asked " What do I owe you? " and he said"Nothing. Have a good day". I thanked him and turned away as my eyes teared up again. Such unexpected kindnesses. Twice in one day. It so moved me that two people could be so kind and touch my life in such a wonderful way.

So if you live in the Edison Metuchen area of NJ, I recommend visiting About Faces Hair Salon and Boro Hardware. They employ truely wonderful, caring individuals. Thanks Annette and Boro Hardware.

LiveSTRONG
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! I was certainly blessed today.

PARP inhibitor - NIH Phase I trial

I received this info from OCNA for women who have BRACA1 or 2 mutations.

"Ovarian cancer physicians are excited about the potential of this new class of agents in their use for breast and ovarian cancer of mutation carriers and hope that they will have potential for women with sporadic ovarian cancers as well. Dr. Elise Kohn and her colleagues at the National Cancer Institute have an ongoing phase I study using olaparib (AZD2281) in combination with carboplatin recruiting mutation carriers with breast and/or ovarian cancer (contact: 1-888-624-1937). "

I met Dr. Kohn last year and her Ovarian Cancer research is very exciting.

LiveSTRONG

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Unremarkable

Just wanted to share the good news from today's CINJ appointment.

The scans I had earlier this month were "unremarkable" . I know I like to think of myself as a pretty special woman but in this case I don't mind at all being unremarkable. My physical exam was good and my CA-125 was stable.

I am one happy camper.

LiveSTRONG

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

Changes

After a year and a half of writing this blog I decided to change the layout. I hope you like it. Like my life I am trying to simplify and this layout is simple.

LiveSTRONG
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Help Pass Johanna's Law 2009

I received this e-mail regarding Johanna's Law 2009. Please write your representative and help raise awareness of Ovarian Cancer.

Johanna's Law 2009 Introduced in the House of Representatives

Johanna's Law Introduced in the U.S. House of Representative Take Action! Ask Your Member of the House of Representatives to Co-Sponsor Johanna’s Law Johanna's Law: The Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act was signed into law in 2007. The law authorized a national gynecologic cancer awareness campaign over three years. We must now work to reauthorize the program. Ask your Representative to become a co-sponsor for the reauthorization of Johanna's Law: The Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act. This bill will provide more than $ 16 million in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue work on creating and running an awareness campaign. The enhanced Johanna's Law also calls for collaboration with nonprofit gynecologic cancer organizations and creates a grant program for groups to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.

LiveStrong

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! Today my blessing was taking a walk with Murphy Dog.