Time with Friends

Over the past five years I have taken on this attitude that if there is an opportunity to spend time with family or friends or to experience new things I jump at the opportunity. I don't think so much any more about how long it will take, how tired I will be or what else I should be doing, I just jump at the opportunity. Take last weekend for example.

We have been friends with the Pics for quite some time. We used to live on the same block in Edison. Then the Pics moved to North Carolina. But the distance did not cause our friendship to end but rather it has flourished for close to 25 years now . We vacation together, spend holidays together & celebrate our children's milestones . Linda and I speak on the phone frequently most times for over an hour. We watched their daughter Christina marry Chris in 2007. So we were thrilled to be invited to Christina's baby's christening even if it was in Charleston, South Carolina a 12 hour car ride away. ( See I wouldn't let the distance or the fact that we might get bad weather to stop us from going.)

Last Friday, Nick and I hopped in the car at 4:30 am and headed south on 95. We switched drivers every few hours but I think I did more sleeping than driving. We arrived to sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70's , certainly a nice change from the snow and cold we had been experiencing in NJ. We meet up with our friends and ate dinner overlooking a marina full of boats. ( You can't do that in Jersey this time of year.)

On a warm , sunny Saturday morning we heading to downtown Charleston. What a beautiful , friendly city. We visited the Market and took a horse-drawn carriage tour. What a fascinating history the city has - from plantations to pirates. And I love the brightly colored homes. We ate lunch at Magnolia's on East Bay. If you are ever in town be sure to stop in for some of their delicious food. I would rate their pecan pie the best I have ever tasted. Later that evening we headed to Christina's for dinner. It was there that I ate my very first steamed oyster. And I had the pleasure of opening it myself!

Sunday morning came and off we headed to the Cathedral of St John the Baptist for Mass and the Baptism. If you ever visit the cathedral you can't but help notice the beautiful stain glass windows. Christina's baby was so cute and well behaved in church. It was wonderful to be present at her baptism. Later, back at Christina's, we shared a wonderful meal with the Pics and Christopher's family. I wish that our time with the Pics could last longer but we were off early Monday morning back up 95 to snowy NJ.

I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful city of Charleston, and eat steamed oysters. But the best part was spending time with such good friends.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

One Less Thing Thing to Do

The Westminster Kennel Club Show has been on my bucket list for years. And yesterday I crossed it off my list. I went to the show to watch my niece's Viszla compete. Thanks McCoy!

McCoy is with Debbie (dressed in blue) his breeder/Handler

Nick and I took the train into New York City and meet up with my niece, her husband, her infant son and her in-laws at Madison Square Garden. Then we took up seating outside Ring # 5 along with my nephew, brother-in-law , cousin and many family friends. McCoy was competing in the Viszla Breed competition at 10 am. Isn't McCoy a handsome dog?

After watching the end of the German Shorthaired pointer group ,all 45 Vislas entered the ring. The judge split the group into threes. Two groups of male dogs and a group of females. Debbie, McCoy's breeder and handler, walked him off to wait his turn. After judging the first group of males and picking out a handful of dogs , the judge called for the second group. In walked McCoy. We were all so excited. We cheered as he strutted his stuff and as the judge examined him. One last walk around the ring by the dogs in the group and the judge started pointing out the dogs who would continue. We were thrilled that he chose McCoy. Hurrah ! He is still in the running. Then the judge brought in the females - from which he picked the top bitches.

About and hour later all the dogs who made the cut - I think there were 10 in all- were in the ring. The judge spent quite a while looking at McCoy. But sadly he was not chosen to compete in the Best-in-Group Sporting Dog competition. He sure was our top Viszla.

We spent some time walking through the bench area admiring many of the other top Terriers, Working and Sporting dogs in the country.

What an awesome day! I couldn't wait to come home to hug my puppy Amber. She is my top All-American dog.

Dee

Every Day us a Blessing. I am blessed to have had the love of many dogs throughout my life. My dogs Kris, Kona & Amber and my grandpuppies Murphy, Silvio and Walter.

Teal Sister- Ellen

Last Wednesday I wrote a post about the passing of C ( Carl) the husband of E (Ellen) . The photo is of Carl, Ellen with NJ Senator Leonard Lance this past August at the Somerset Patriots game to raise awareness of Ovarian Cancer. This was the second year that Carl and Ellen helped to organize the event. I learned last night that Ellen lost her battle with ovarian cancer. What a sad week this has been. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Santaniello family and her Northern NJ NOCC friends.

These losses only make me more motivated to spread the word about ovarian cancer's symptoms, to support survivors and to raise funds for ovarian cancer research. We need to find an early detection test and a CURE!

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

A Teal Friend- Courtney 1982-2011

Earlier this morning I learned that my friend Courtney Clifford had lost her battle with ovarian cancer. I knew Court was in hospice and had received updates through our mutual friend Crissy. But you know what - it still hurts. Badly.

Now my thoughts are a jumble as a remember snippets of a short but wonderful friendship.

Both Court and I attended the first LiveSTRONG Survivors Summit in Austin , Texas in 2006. Even before the event an LAF message board allowed us to reach out to other survivors with the same diagnosis. So I actually corresponded with Court even before we meet in person in October. We were both diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer and had surgery in 2005. Mine in July and hers in November. We both had made an ER visit due to pain on the left side of our abdomen which lead to our diagnosis. We both had had thyroid issues earlier in our lives.

We really hit it off- even with the big age difference. She was the same age as my daughter and son- in law. After the Summit we stayed in touch through e-mail and Facebook. I learned she loved college football - like I do. She was a Cincinnati and The Ohio State Fan- how she loved her Buck-eye necklace. While I am a Rutgers and VT Fan - more about that later. She loved to travel- me too. So I would send her post cards from places I visited. I was so thrilled when she told me she was traveling to Australia. That would be my dream vacation too. I loved the photo she put up of her and a Koala bear. I wish I could have been there with her.

Then in 2008 I learned that they were holding another LiveSTRONG Summit in of all places Ohio- Court's home state. I couldn't wait to meet up with her again. I flew off to Columbus with my nephew Kevin. I'm glad he got a chance to meet Court too. What fun we had! I remember the trip to the zoo where I was lucky to meet her Mom, Mary and see her green van decorated for the event by our friends. Then of course there was her chance meeting with Lance in the coffee shop. The photo of the two of them is precious. Our get-together after the leader's meeting was great too. She would always tell me the it is not Ohio State but rather THE Ohio State. I couldn't wait to tell her when we walked over to THE Ohio State football stadium and actually got inside.

Court was one of the first people to call me when I recurred in Oct 2008. She told me about her trip to MD Andersen and her Avastin treatment. In January of 2009 our football rivalry began again when VT played Cincinnati in the Orange bowl game. I was so glad she could be there with her family. We even texted after the game. (I still have them on my phone.)

There were a few e-mails back and forth in 2009 and early 2010. I was so happy when she got to throw out the first ball at minor league baseball game in September - Ovarian Cancer awareness month. These last few months I've send cards, postcards and posted to her Facebook page. And I prayed. I wish that I could have gone and given her a hug in person and see her smile.

Thank you Courtney for being my friend.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing! Courtney was a blessing.

Every Ache and Pain

© 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

When I was first diagnosed I had a pain on the left side of my abdomen by my hip. It was my mentioning of this pain to my gynecologist during my annual physical that prompted a series of tests and the surgery that let to my stage III ovarian cancer diagnosis. I never felt any pain or symptoms when I recurred on my liver and spleen back in 2008.

Even with two different scenarios for a diagnosis it seems when I have a consistent ache or pain I begin to worry about what might be causing it. I admit that if my wrist hurts my mind does not necessarily jump to cancer. But if I have a new ache or pain in my back, abdomen or pelvis the thought of recurrence still pops into my head.

For the past two weeks I have had pain in my lower back on the right side and in my right hip. There were days the pain was at a 7 ( on a scale of 1-10). Ouch! Lucky for me that yesterday I had an appointment to see my PCP for a blood pressure check. We survivors still need to stay on top of all aspects of our health.

After a blood pressure check - it was perfect- I mentioned this back pain to my doctor. He examined me pinpointing exactly where the pain was focused.He told me he thought it was a problem in the sacroiliac joint. Then he looked at me and asked when my last CT scan was. When I told him September he said " In light of you history I would like to check this out. Would you mind going for an x-ray". I said "no problem". Since I have been his patient years I think he read my concern about this pain and also wanted to insure we were treating it the correct way.

Off I went to my favorite radiology group in Metuchen. I waited over an hour since I was a walk-in but eventually I had my lower back x-rayed. The tech said that my doctor would have the results by later in the afternoon.

By the time I got home my doctor had left a phone message which said that there were no signs of cancer but I did have arthritis in the joint . He told me to take anti-inflammatory and pain pills for the next few days and to call him next week with how I feel.

What a relief - dodged another bullet. If I can deal with cancer I can deal with arthritis . The problem is that I always thought of arthritis as something that affected older people and I don't think of myself as old.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing! Blessed by a wonderful PCP.

Walking in another's shoes

Over the past five years I have met so many women diagnosed with ovarian cancer and other gynecological cancers. Many are still alive and cancer free, some are alive and battling recurrence, some are alive with stable disease, some are in hospice and some have passed on leaving a hole in their family's and community's world.

I have a friend E, an ovarian cancer survivor ,who has been in treatment for much of the past few years. I met her and her husband through an OC awareness organization in northern NJ. She is a sweet lady and her husband has been by her side through every test and treatment. He has always been on top of the latest ovarian cancer legislation and research for early detection and treatment. He helped to raise awareness of ovarian cancer in a number of creative ways.

Just about two weeks ago C. had a stroke. Three days ago he passed away.

For the past few days I keep thinking about E and putting myself in her shoes. I have a tendency of doing that - putting myself in other peoples shoes so that I can understand how they feel or why they react the way they do. Sometimes that is a good thing but sometimes not.

I know I can deal with whatever my health issues are going forward but when I think about doing it alone - without Nick by my side I admit I get scared. Would I find the strength to make the tough decisions on my own. I just don't know. I have children and other family members and friends who I know would jump in and help me. But I think there would still be a huge void. Nick is my soul-mate , he is the wind beneath my wings and I am thankful for every day we have together.

Dee

Every day is a Blessing!

June 18,2011 ~ Save the Date ~ Second Annual One Force to Make a Difference Ovarian Cancer Symposium

As I promised in yesterday's post, here is information on the 2nd Annual One Force To Make A Difference Symposium. The symposium is open to Obstetricians/gynecologists, family physicians, nurses, technicians , patients and their families.

I'll be sure to post updates as speakers etc. are finalized. It should be a informative day for New Jersey's doctors,nurses and ovarian cancer survivors.

See you all there!

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing! I am blessed by all the organizations in NJ who work so passionately to raise awareness of OC in NJ!