THE LORD BROUGHT ME THROUGH BREAST CANCER - PART 2

I can say with complete and utter conviction that chemo therapy is a combat soldier marching through your body, destroying everything in its' path. It also destroys some good things such as bones and muscles.  Your heart is a muscle.  My heart was weakened back in 1996/1997 but it did not show until this year.  At least, that is what the doctors tell me.  
There are many different side effects of chemo therapy that effect different people, differently.  

http://www.etsy.com/listing/102764381/velvet-headband-pink-ribbons-breast?

Most people lose their hair, some not as much as others.  I am guessing it depends on your dosages.  I always said back then that they were giving me enough chemo medication to kill an elephant.
I lost every single hair on my body. Some areas happily, some not so happily like on my head.  
Some people choose different methods of hiding that.  Wigs, fancy scarfs, little caps and the brave just let their bald head show.  I chose to use a bandana - you know - like the ones that gang members wear to show their "colors".  I had to be careful about where I walked and what part of the city just in case I could get shot at - J/K. I thought it looked a little more youthful.
Those chemo combat soldiers also destroy most of your taste buds so everything tastes the same.  My diet consisted of mashed potatoes. french fries with ketchup, and the real Coca Cola with sugar.  I did not eat french fries as a regular thing before or after chemo and I always drank diet soda. I could not eat vegetables or salads. I did eat a lot of creamy things.  Instead of losing weight during chemo I gained. 
Actually, gaining weight gave me a feeling of wellness. 
My mom was very supportive during this process but could not understand the eating part.  She has always been focused on weight and was upset that I was gaining.  Going on a healthy diet during chemo?  PULEEEZE!
I do want to say here that everyone is different.  These are just my own personal reactions.  Also, chemo medications have improved since 1996/1997.
Stay tuned for Part 3.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86286591/breast-cancer-awareness-card?

Sue Anderson

THE LORD BROUGHT ME THROUGH BREAST CANCER - PART ONE

I always waited until right after the first of the year to schedule my routine medical check-ups and 1996 was no different.

I went to see my regular doctor and asked him for a script to get a routine mammogram at Chilton Memorial Hospital.

While there, I was told that something showed up on the mammogram but the advice of the doctors there was to return in 6 months to see if anything had changed.

My regular doctor was not hearing that and sent me, quickly, to another doctor who actually did an ultra-sound. Then from there I was sent to a lab that actually did another ultra-sound and a needle biopsy. I was sent home and told to call the next day.

So right around my 50^th birthday on January 14, 1996, I was told that it was cancer and that I should make an appointment immediately with a breast surgeon, which I did. His advice was a lumpectomy. All of this happened within a week.

A few days after surgery the report came back that in 15 lymph nodes that were removed from under my left arm, there was a microscopic spec of cancer and I was sent to an Oncologist.

Boy, was I angry! God was in my life but I had not grown to trust Him as I should. I was advised to have chemo-therapy and then radiation which took about one year in total. I did this kicking and screaming the entire time. I am thinking that my anger might have gotten me through all the sickness and depression.

I purchased this bracelet from Laura of ShadowCutter on October 27, 2010 and aside from the cards I made for my shop it has been my only physical symbol until NOW.

BELOW is the beautiful jewelry holder purchased by my wonderful friend Jennifer/Aloquin from Jennifer/ElegantQuirk.  What a sweet surprise.  I love you all.

Part 2 next week.

Sue

WE RISE BY LIFTING OTHERS

Add caption

What can we do to bless others?

We can certainly pray for them.

We can support them emotionally.

We can try to help them financially by purchasing something from their shops.

We can bring a casserole for their dinner.

We can help another with some techy computer issues.

We can send them some chocolate.

We can send them a link to an uplifting worship song.

We can listen to them.

We can send them flowers.

We can give them hugs.

Can you think of other blessings?

Sue

Disclaimer - These photos are not mine.

CROSS COLLECTION

This was made by Teresa Penrose on
Etsy.

The bracelet that is hanging
was made by ShadowCutter for
Breast Cancer Awareness.

Combination Star of David and Cross

cC

My friend made this for me - I was amazed.







CAN WE HAVE TOO MANY CROSSES?  I suppose but I just love their reminder. I want more.

Luke 9:23
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

MORE BRONX NOSTALGIA

I was born in 1946 and we lived in the Bronx, NY.  Doing laundry was a daily chore.   

This washing machine is similar to the one we had in our kitchen.  Mom says that she doesn't remember it but I do.

After the wash was clean, there began the process of drying.  If the weather was nice, mom hung the laundry out on the roof.  There were clothes lines already set up.

Mom would then get the pieces that had to be ironed, sprinkle them with a little water and roll them up and put them in the refrigerator.  This made for easier ironing, especially getting out the wrinkles.

If the weather was rainy we had an indoor drying rack that mom set up in the bathtub. I also remember something pulling out of the wall on top of the shower faucet but could not find any photos.  There were always silk stockings hanging off of the shower curtain rail.

Another memory attached to laundry was the Chinese laundry that was about a city block away.
In New York, perhaps seven out of ten Chinese survived by working in Chinese Hand Laundries. At the end of almost every residential block or alley, there was always a Chinese laundry. A Chinese laundry was usually small - about the size of five dining tables, equipped only with an ironing board and a shelf to put cleaned, ironed clothes that were packaged and ready to go. 


Mom would have my Dad's work shirts done here. They always did a beautiful job.

Suffice it to say the chore of laundry was daily and daunting.  In today's world, it is has been made so much easier although still daunting.

CELEBRATING NOAH'S 11TH BIRTHDAY

It seems like only yesterday!  How many times do we say or think that.  But it does seem like only yesterday when I walked into the hospital and there he was - so beautiful in the nursery and then they brought him to Jenifer's room.  What a gift from God.


How did we get from HERE TO********

cole & noah

HERE TO*****

HERE TO****

HERE TO****

HERE***

We celebrated with a delicious dinner (Noah's favorite) salmon and french fries and salad.

He got some phone calls from his friends who are away on vacation to wish him HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

He got some really great gifts such as gift cards for ToyRus, some money and a homemade certificate from me.

Of course, the cake had to be ice cream filled with those chocolate crunchies.

My sweet Noah is 11!

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

MATZO BALL SOUP - CREAMED MUSHROOMS
CREAMED MUSHROOMS ON TOAST - MATZO STUFFING

Most of my family life from a infant has been focused on food.  My great grandmother, Sophie, was a live-in chef in Russia/Lithuania before she came to the United States.  When she cooked our family actually kissed her hands.  Her dishes were loaded with butter and cream and delicious.  Her recipes were passed down to my grandmother, Edith, her only daughter, among 5 sons. Then down to my mom and now to me and my daughters. Even though Sophie died before I was born, her memory and cooking was kept alive.  Family gatherings was always food first and then the roar of everyone talking at the same time probably trying to make room for dessert.

Food became my love and comfort.  Marrying an Italian, my mom blossomed into a great Italian cook.  Eating her spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmisan and antipasto was euphoria for me and the memories linger forever. So now we are talking about great Russian food full of butter and cream and great Italian food. 

ROAST CHICKEN - MEATBALLS & SPAGHETTI - CHICKEN PARMISIAN

Fast forward all of this and I am now 60 years old, 420 lbs. and on the road to physical disaster.  Ordered by my doctor I had lap band surgery and proceeded to lose 170 lbs.  Lap band surgery is not for the weak of heart.  There is an internal device that is placed around your stomach to make it tiny and the "passage way" is also tiny.  Even swallowing medication becomes a chore.  Most of what I could eat, which wasn't much except maybe soups, came back up.  There were foods, many foods, that I could only look at and never eat. This continued for 6-1/2 years.  I realized throughout this process the psychological and emotional reasons I dealt with food.

GREEK SALAD - SALAD WITH FRUIT - MIXED GARDEN SALAD - CHICK-FIL-A SIDE SALAD
ANTIPASTO 

I have also been strengthening my relationship with God during this process and know that I can now get that same comfort from Him and His Word.  Based on this, I decided to go back to my surgeon and ask him to please reverse the tightness so that I can now eat NORMAL portions of foods that I have been missing. IMAGINE being able to have this and the LOVE of our LORD ALSO!

Still waiting to try the piece de resistance - STEAK and BURGERS. YUMMMMMM!

BURGERS WITH CHEESE BACON AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS ON A BUN!

-

STEAK AU POIS - STEAK WITH CREAMED PEPPER SAUCE!

GRILLED NEW YORK STRIP STEAK AND GRILLED T-BONE STEAK!

Chillin' at the Outback Steak House

On Wednesday, May 30, my family and I all went to the Outback Steak House to celebrate my grandson Cole's 19th birthday.  We have been doing this every year since Cole was 10. My daughter, Jodi was a server there in her senior year of High School and worked there for years.  He loves the Bloomin' Onion and their Coconut Shrimp.  His main course is always steak.
I took some photos this time.

The menu is always a hard deliberation. What to get??

We don't drink alcohol but I love the new trend of using mason jars.
I had an unsweetened ice tea.

I had the Mahi Mahi with artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes.  I had to bring most of it home though since I had a delicious clam chowder first.

My mom had the pork medallions which looked delicious.

Everyone else had steak.

                                                               COLE & NOAH

Although I could not get any good photos of my mom, Vito(step-dad) and Jenifer, we all had a wonderful time.  Since Cole's friend, Eric, works there, he told them it was Cole's birthday and they brought out an ice-cream Sundae with a candle in it and sang to him.  I had already packed away my camera!!

ANOTHER COLOR CHALLENGE

I have gotten in to following blogs lately and came across this Blog called  http://cr84fncolorchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/05/cr84fn55.html























This is their newest color challenge and I am hoping that they allow photographs.


Here is the photo that I am going to enter.

What do you think??