4 yEaRs caNceR FrEE!!!!!!


 I am today so thankful for all the great things in my life and most of all my health. After some soul searching, time and healing I have found myself again after my breast cancer journey and the end to a long marriage. I have tried things I never ever imagined i would or could do, met and shared my life with some very great people, pushed myself to the limit both physically and emotionally to find that you can succeed with hard work and diligence, embraced a little tighter the people most close to me, took some risks, spent time alone to escape and unwind, had a ton of fun along the way, continue to hopefully inspire and give back, and always look positively ahead and not behind.  So hard to believe it's been 4 years and how far I have come since that time.  It's a good thing :)

Love! gail

3-years cancer free!

It has been 3 years today that I underwent a bilateral mastectomy to remove both my breasts that had cancer. Where has the time gone! I blogged about my journey (and what a journey it was) from start to finish and have not updated it in a long time. Where am I now? Healthwise, I am in great health. I continue to run and this past summer even entered my first triathlon (next year I am going to do two!) I just went for my 6 month check, got the green light go and will be back in another 6 months. While some scars have faded away, some remain, but my memory of what I went through is still very vivid in my mind. During that time I had reconnected with old friends, found out who my true friends were and made new friends thru the cancer world. I continue to hold these people near and dear to my heart and thank my lucky stars for my health, children and loved ones. There are many days I don't even think about cancer or that I even had cancer. It never defined me as a person and never will. It was a fork in the road, a life lesson and life altering for me. I am now single, work full time, have a daughter away at college, a son who is a junior in high school, two cats (one who is crazzzy!) and a cute little house that I love! My life is pretty ordinary! I run most days with a pink hat on and proudly say I am a survivor! In two weeks I will join thousands on the Milwaukee Lakefront as we run/walk for the Susan Komen Race for the Cure. No doubt I will shed a few tears as I run, knowing that I am a survivor, thinking of those who lost the battle and those who daily will get the news that they too will travel the cancer road. Three years ago, I was overwhelmed, scared, uncertain and felt like my life was in limbo. Today, I am healthy, live in the moment, have no regrets, don't look too far into the future and am in a great place in my life right now! I wouldn't change a thing! Be strong and stay positive! Love to all! Gail

August 2010 Update!

It has been a long time since I updated this blog. I wanted to post something new as so much time has passed and there are still people who come to visit my blog pages.
I am almost a 2-year survivor and my life has changed so much in the past year's time. I just turned 50 and competed in my first 5K race as a relay in a triathlon. Never in a million years did I ever think I would be running at my age, but with the inspiration of my friend Cathy who runs marathons and competes in triathlons I did it! And I was thrilled with my time of 30.08 minutes. I am almost at the end of a divorce and will be moving to my new home within a month. I have a great circle of friends and the greatest kids ever who have supported me and cheered me on. I am looking ahead to the future with a huge smile on my face. I believe in myself again after a long time of feeling like a failure in my life and marriage. Me getting cancer made me re-evaluate my life and what I wanted and needed for myself. As I have said before "life is too short" Don't waste a minute of it!

February 2010

Susan Komen Walk 2009

This past Sunday I participated in the Susan Komen Race for the Cure 5K walk/run in Milwaukee with some sister survivors and friends. Last year at this time I had just undergone some surgery and could not walk. This year I was not going to miss it!

One Year Cancer Free!

One year ago I underwent a 7 hour surgery to remove both my breasts that were filled with cancer.

Today I am cancer free!

Today I will celebrate!!!

One year ago today

One year ago today I was diagnosed with breast cancer! It is hard for me to believe that a whole year has gone by. I clearly remember how overwhelming it is when you first learn you have cancer and you are not in control of the situation. Doctors, surgeons,appointments, biopsies, oncologists, surgery or no surgery?, lumpectomy or mastectomy? and chemotherapy. I have gone through 4 surgeries in the past year, 6 chemo treatments, two of which failed, countless visits to Hotel Froedert, my oncologist and plastic surgeon and weeks of feeling like crap. At the time I had thought time had stood still. I was bald, boobless and feeling pretty ugly. Now it seems somewhat long ago.

Today my health is excellent, probably better than before. I walk, run and have just started biking again. I exercise almost daily! I have lost almost 15 pounds in the past year. I have boobs! I have hair again! My next surgery will be in October when the soft tissue expanders are removed and the real implants are put in.
My days are now filled with work, family, exercise and staying healthy and fighting my now curly hair! And I love it!

My life has changed but for the better. I can truly say that "life is short" don't waste a minute of it. I wouldn't wish this path in the road for anyone. It takes a toll on you both physically and emotionally. You will either play the cards you are dealt with and move on or let cancer overtake you and beat you up. This journey has taught me about true friendship, love and support,hope and faith, patience and motivation.

I believe I am a better person because of having had cancer!

Vacation

Things have been a bit quiet here on my blog. I am taking some time off and now am headed on vacation until the beginning of July. I am looking forward to some fun and sun!

Thoughts for the Day!

Clink on the link below and enjoy!

www.thejoymovie.com

Update

The above photos are my amateur attempt with a macro lens on my Canon Rebel. My brother was in town for several days and he brought along some lenses for me to try.
I loved the 400 mm zoom lens, although it is huge and heavy. I will have to save some pennies but would love to have one in the future.

All is well with me......

I have......
planted some flowers
attended some baseball games
gone to lunch with friends
gone to dinner with friends
bought more flowers to replace the flowers that drowned
replanted flowers that got drowned from the rain
had my boob filled
tried on my swimsuit with my new boobs :)
pondered what to do with my wavvvyyyyy hair
updated my resume and cover letter (yes looking for a full time job other than our business)
cursed this bad weather in Wisconsin
started counting down the days until Florida
laughed hysterically at my dog laying in my lounge chair outside
and....... every day.... thanked my lucky stars that I am healthy!

Roxie

My dog is crazy! Pictures say a thousand words...........

Photos/Photography

Well the time has come for me to finally start reading my Canon Rebel instruction manual. I have had the camera for a year and never really sat down and looked at all the options available on this camera. I have been using automatic everything for the past year and think I need to try my hand at manual photography. I am investigating a zoom lens right now.
My brother has been an inspiration to me as he takes some awesome photos of which I have posted on my blog before. Below are two of his most recent photos taken with a macro lens. Very cool!

Oriental Pasta Salad

8 oz. vermicelli
4 (half) grilled chicken breasts
2 carrots, julienned
2 scallions,sliced
peapods
1/2 pepper (red,yellow,orange or green)

dressing:
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 c. soy sauce
1 Tbs. red wine vinegar
1/3 c. sesame oil
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 Tbs. toasted sesame seeds
1 Tbs. sugar

Grill chicken. Cool and shred.
Prepare and drain noodles.
Toast seeds and add remaining dressing ingredients. Stir or whisk.
Combine chicken and noodles,carrots,scallions, pepper and pea pods. Add dressing and refrigerate overnight.

Bristo Chicken Salad

Hello! I have been negligent in updating my blog recently. Guess I needed a few days off or I just really had nothing to say. haha
I am feeling great, my hair is growing (and back to my old color thanks to my fabulous hairdresser Kim) and slowly my arm is getting its range of motion back. I have to be diligent in the physical therapy exercises due to the removal of the muscle from my back. My back still gets "tired" by the end of the day. I have been going wigless since my hair was dyed. I do wear baseball caps but I have not put the wig on for several weeks now. The whole wig scene was getting old. I may even be brave enough to post a pic of myself on the blog this week with my new look.

With the long Memorial Day weekend I had some time to cook, which I like to do when I have the time. I made 2 salads that I absolutely love. I hate lunch! I just hate finding something to eat for lunch, but salads always interest me and the recipe below is one of my favorites. I will post the other salad recipe tomorrow.


2 cups cooked penne pasta
1 package (4 oz) crumbled feta cheese
1/2 c. fat free Italian dressing
1.3 c. lightly packed fresh basil cut into strips
1/4 c. chopped red onion
1/4 c. chopped sun dried tomatoes
grape tomatoes halved
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts grilled or broiled cut into thin slices

Toss all ingredients together except cheese. Top salad with cheese but do not mix in until serving.
Serve warm or chilled
Makes 4 sevings
290 calories
9 g fat
4 g fiber
6 WW points per serving

Quote of the Day!

There is only one person who could ever make you happy, and that person is you.
~David Burns, Intimate Connections~

Reduce your risk of breast cancer

Click here to view a slideshow of 5 ways to reduce your chances of getting breast cancer. Take charge of your life now!

Enjoy the Ride

click on the link above.

Two Weeks Postop Update!

Yesterday I was 2 weeks postop from my lat flap reconstruction surgery. My drains and bandages have all been removed and I am healing well! After looking at the 15 inch incision running across my back after the bandages came off I now know why my back has been bothering me. I have a tight burning sensation in that area of my incision. I was able to go walking yesterday, so that made me feel much better. I am still on a 10 pound weight restriction and advised "not to do anything crazy" (did he refer to me swinging a golf club perhaps!) I will go back to see Dr. Hijjawi in three weeks to begin filling the new boob! Now that is progress!

Funny for the Day!

Just to let you know I'm thinking of you today.

No matter what situations life throws at you...

No matter how long and treacherous your journey may seem..

Remember ~~ there is a light at the end of the tunnel.


thanks to my friend Connie for making me smile!

Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day!