Celebrating Hope and Giving Back to The Cancer Institute of New Jersey

In July of 2005, I heard the words “ You have Stage 3 ovarian cancer”. My gynecologic- oncologist at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey ( CINJ) told me that I should not look at the survival statistics for ovarian cancer because statistics are just that statistics not individuals. Then she told me she would do her best to make me well.

Well, here we are in 2012 almost seven years later and the doctors at CINJ have made me well not just in 2005 but again in 2008. Currently, I am disease free. I am certain that taking part in the CINJ clinical trial lead by Dr. Lorna Rodriguez and the outstanding treatment and follow-up care by Dr. Darlene Gibbon has made the good health I experience today possible.

In the past I have asked you to donate to other organizations in support of ovarian cancer awareness and research. This year during the month of February, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in New Jersey, I am asking you to directly support the ovarian cancer research that is taking place at CINJ by donating to the Cancer Institute of NJ Foundation through my personal fundraising campaign. I hope to raise $5000 so the doctors and scientists can continue their research to better understand ovarian cancer, develop new treatments and find a cure .

As a special thank-you, I will mail a note card of my painting called “Hope” to the first forty-five donors. You can see a photo of the note card on my donor page at

http://cinjfoundation.donordrive.com/event/deesparacio/ . If you prefer you may also go to that page and print out a form and mail in your donation.

Thank you in advance for your donation.

Sincerely,

Dee

PS- The relative five year survival rate for late stage ovarian cancer is 30%. )

Dee

Every Days is a Blessing!

An Early Christmas Gift-Hope Concert V

Lately , my husband and I have had a difficult time coming up with Christmas gifts for each other. So a few weeks ago when I heard about the Hope Concert V to benefit CINJ ( where I have been treated) we decided that would be a good gift to give to each other and a gift to those very people who have helped keep me alive to be here to celebrate Christmas 2011.

What a fun gift it was.

After eating a delicious meal at TEAK in Red Bank, we headed over to the Count Basie Theatre. The event was sold out. I did manage to run in to my gyn-onc and her husband and friends and the head of communication and her husband.

The Count Basie theatre is a smaller venue and our seats were perfect - end of the row , in the back but with a clear view of the stage. The show began with an introduction to CINJ through its video " What Does a Minute Hold at CINJ". I admit that I got a bit teary eyed as I saw nurses and doctors who played a roll in my treatment. And I was thrilled to see the $175,000 check presented to Dr Di Paola, director of CINJ and my friend Leanne Kochy , Director of Special Events for the CINJ Foundation. Also on stage was Ed McKenna , a CINJ Foundation Board member, who I had met a few years ago at the CINJ Gala.

Now back to the concert. The list of marvelous entertainers and musicians who donated their time included Tim McLoone and the Shirleys, Brian Fallon,Nicole Atkins, The Jersey Shore Rock-n-Soul Revue, Bobby Bandeira ( who helps organize the performance) , Gary U.S. Bonds , South Side Johnny and drum roll please .... Jon Bon Jovi! Yes, folks he is alive and well . He even joked that if he were dead then "Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey"

I apologize for the quality of the phone video.

We sang and clapped and stood and danced during the performances. I still can't decide if my favorite Bon Jovi song was "Who Says You Can't Go Home" or his rendition of "Blue Christmas". A fabulous time was had by all.

I want to send out a special Thank You to each performer , the stage hands, sound and lighting crew and the Count Basie Theater for volunteering their time and facility to support CINJ this year. There is a nice article about the concert here.

It sure was a fabulous Christmas present . Thanks Nick

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

High Five plus 1

As many of you know, last year I participated in the High Speed Chase for the Cure to celebrate my 5th cancerversary. I wrote about it on this blog in July and September. I walked to honor my doctors whose excellent care has helped me fight Ovarian Cancer twice.The High Speed Chase raises funds for the Cancer Institute of New Jersey through the CINJ Foundation. It takes place on the Livingston Campus of Rutgers University.

Recently, I received an e-mail from the Foundation which said" Due to a major construction project on Livingston Campus, we are not able to host the event this year, but hope you will still wish to support the patient programs and research at CINJ that this event has funded for the past 8 years."

Instead this year the High Speed Chase for the Cure is going virtual. I've decided that once again, I want to honor the doctors & nurses who have been my "lifesavers" for six years. Funds raised are used for patient programs like the Gynecologic Cancer Support Group which attend and for cancer research.

I've formed a team called "High Five Plus 1"and will be raising funds virtually. But I also plan on walking through downtown Hightstown and around Peddie Lake on Sunday, September 18th . I'll be leaving my house around 9am. (Please note that I will postpone this walk if Baby G arrives early.) If you want to walk with me on the 18th sign up to be on my team by going to the High Five plus 1 team page.

If you can't join me on the 18th, please consider donating here to help me reach my fundraising goal. Thanks for helping me help further Ovarian Cancer research.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

A Way of Giving Back to My "Lifesavers"

Yesterday was the High Speed Chase for the Cure, a 5K run and 3K walk, which raises funds for the Cancer Institute of NJ through the CINJ Foundation. I formed the Team High Five a few weeks ago to celebrate my five years as an ovarian cancer survivor and to honor the five gyn-oncs at CINJ , their nurses and their staff . I consider them all my "Lifesavers". I along with the other members of High Five - Nick, my husband , and two long time friends Terry and Joan met at the Rutgers Athletic Center. Theresa, my daughter, was a virtual walker from all the way out in Kansas. It was great seeing so many CINJ folks, Candace, Michele, Dena and of course Dr Gannon- the surgical oncologist who did the surgery for my recurrence.

It started out as a cloudy, cool morning in the 60's. But as fate would have it just as the run/ walk started it became a cool and very wet rainy morning. That did not stop us or the hundreds of other runners and walkers from completing our task. It did though make me go a bit slower- I didn't want to slip on the wet road. We finished our 3K walk in around 30 minutes.

I finished the walk with a wet hat and soaked pants since my Rutgers red poncho couldn't cover everything. But I was thrilled that Team High Five was able to raise over $1000 for CINJ. I love going to my donor page and seeing the little thermometer fill up and listen to the cheers as the the stars shoot out of the top .

It felt great to give back to the people who saved my life.
Dr. Rodriguez, Dr. Gibbon, Dr. Nieves, Dr. Hellmann, Dr. Wagreich yesterday's walk was for you. Thanks!


Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! I am blessed to be treated by the talented doctors and nurses at CINJ.

High Five! A Celebration of Five Years

July 29,2005 was not such a great day for me. I awoke from surgery and learned I had stage IIIB ovarian cancer. My doctor said I shouldn’t read any of the statistics. They are just numbers, she said. Did I listen? No. When I got home from the hospital I went on to the NCI website and I read the stats . Not so good. The overall five-year relative survival rate for ovarian cancer is 46% but for late stage (that was me) it drops to roughly 30%. Not such a great number.

But the stats didn’t know me. The stats didn’t know my doctors. The stats didn't know my family and friends. My doctors, Lorna Rodriguez and Darlene Gibbon and their nurses at the Cancer Institute of NJ are my lifesavers. They discussed my options, suggested a port-a-cath, offered me a clinical trial, started treatment quickly and made sure I stayed on schedule.

My husband was my rock. When I thought it was too tough to continue he would say just take it one day at a time and you’ll be done before you know it. So after nine cycles of carbo/taxol /selenium over a 7 month period, I was done. Life slowly returned to a new normal. Over the next few years I visited my son in Switzerland where he spent a semester abroad, I watched him graduate college and saw my daughter marry a marvelous man.

Then in October 2008 my CT scan showed lesions on my spleen and liver. Darn that was not good. I thought to myself maybe those stats would be right. But once again my CINJ gyn oncs went to work. They referred me to Dr. Chris Gannon , a CINJ surgical oncologist. He removed my spleen and did a liver resection. I followed that up with six cycles of chemo and the cancer was gone. Again. And it still is.

So tomorrow I get to celebrate my fifth "cancerversary". The heck with those statistics.

As a way to celebrate this milestone and to honor my CINJ Doctors and nurses, I am walking in the High Speed Chase for the Cure benefiting CINJ on Sunday September 12, 2010. I’ve formed a team. My daughter suggested the name - High Five. Makes sense – ‘cause I’m celebrating five years as a cancer survivor. Want to join my team? You can walk, be a virtual walker, run or just make a donation for what I think is a very worthy cause- my lifesavers at CINJ.

High Five!

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing !

PS( Thanks to http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/featured/its-national-high-five-day/ for the photo above.)

Honoring my Lifesaver!

On Saturday night Nick, my sister-in-law, Denise and I attending the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Foundation's Award of Hope Gala and Benefit Auction.

One of my lifesavers, my gynecological oncologist, Dr Darlene Gibbon was honored with the Leadership in Patient Care Award. Sheri McCoy, worldwide chairman, Pharmaceuticals Group of Johnson and Johnson was presented the Award of Hope. The black tie event was held at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick.

Two other ovarian cancer survivors, a caregiver and I had been filmed in August for the video part of the presentation. John R., the film maker,did an outstanding job capturing the essence of Dr Gibbon's care of her patients. None of us had seen the finished product. I must admit it was very moving to say the least - and I had heard most of what we had said. By the end of the video all four of us were on stage to ask Darlene to accept her award.

How does Dr Gibbon practice medicine? Her patients are treated as individuals each with their own special needs and Darlene combines the science of the medicine used to treat ovarian cancer with compassion and hope . Thank you Dr Gibbon.

LiveSTRONG

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing! My life has been blessed by my doctor, Darlene Gibbon.

My "lifesavers"

Most of you who read this blog know that I have been treated for ovarian cancer at the Cancer Institute of NJ, first in 2005 and recently for my recurrence. I consider the doctors and nurses there to be my "lifesavers".

I thought I would share a YouTube video with all of you that truly gets to the essence of what it is to be treated there. You will see a number of the nurses that I know as well as hear about the Resource Center. In the short video they don't have time to mention the nutritionist, pharmacists, social workers and genetic counselors who are available to help you on your journey. They sure have helped me.

So if you have a few minutes- 10 minutes actually- check out the video About the Cancer Institute of NJ

LiveSTRONG

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing !

Sunday - Tea ... Monday - CT

May 3, 2009
I attended the Teal Tea given by the Teal Tea Foundation , a NJ foundation, that raises awareness and funds for ovarian cancer. It was a wonderful event at the Trenton Marriott. Women volunteered to be table captains and decorated each table using different themes.They also held Teal Hat, Ms Tea and Mr & Mrs Teal competitions. Yours truly wore the hat I made (shown above). Spending time with my Doctors and other survivors from CINJ ( top photo) was wonderful. CINJ Foundation benefited from the event.

Jean Shipos, survivor and President of the Teal Tea Foundation, asked me to come up to the podium and share with the group why I wrote this blog. I was really honored to be a part of the festivities and can't wait to participate next year.Kudos to all the volunteers who made the event such a success.

May4,2009
Well it was CT day today. They actually took me early and it was a good thing there was some extra time. They needed it to find a vein for the IV for the contrast. My veins are terrible. They finally found a vein in my hand . Ouch! This experience just drove home the point that I must schedule my CT's with enough time before hand to have my port accessed at CINJ so they can use it for contrast. Everything else went smoothly.

Livestrong
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing.

CINJ Receives Community Program Grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation

I am so pleased to report that CINJ ( where I am treated) received a $100,000 Community Grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation to train health care providers in NJ about the emotional and physical needs of cancer survivors. The Buildings and Bridges Program is part of the recently established Center for Cancer Survivorship at CINJ. CINJ is NJ's first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"Receiving a boost from one of the nation’s most highly recognized cancer foundations, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) will be able to expand a successful clinical program that meets the unique needs of cancer survivors. The Buildings and Bridges Program is being made possible by a $100,000 Community Program grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which seeks to inspire and empower people affected by cancer. The award was made recently to the CINJ Foundation. CINJ is a Center of Excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Through peer-based training, the Buildings and Bridges Program enhances the capacity of nurses, social workers and other healthcare providers to meet the practical and emotional needs of cancer survivors. It is an extension of CINJ’s Center for Cancer Survivorship (CCS), a newly established entity serving as a focal point through which all survivorship research, clinical, educational, and advocacy efforts are coordinated . ...
Denalee O’Malley, MSW, is the supervising program development specialist for the CCS, who designed the Buildings and Bridges Program program. “The aim of this educational program is to build an understanding of cancer as a chronic disease that is survived, with ongoing practical and emotional impacts that can be managed. By educating health care workers we can be sure that we not only enhance the quality of care and resources available to survivors, but that we also increase community awareness about the ongoing challenges experienced through the different phases of survivorship. We are grateful to the Lance Armstrong Foundation for this support,” she stated."
The complete press release can be found here.

On a personal note, I am happy to have been asked to be a member of the Survivors Advisory Board for the CCS.

Livestrong!
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!