Christmas 2012. Reflections.

                      Christmas is a time of great joy. During Advent , we remember the promise of Jesus and
we ask him for His blessing and His guidance. We ask Him to enlighten our lives, enrich our souls
as we wait for His coming.

             The birth of Jesus, every year,gives us a chance to start anew.
On this December 9, 2012, one year after my last treatment, I celebrate a one year anniversary
"cancer free".and therefore celebrate life.
             The past year has been a gift so remaining  positive Is and will remain  my number one priority . Not  easy, as any cancer survivor will tell you. The fear of recurrence always  sneaking in your thoughts like an unwanted intruder.
                Having said that,I made a conscious effort to go forward with my life as normal as possible.I have kept busy and enjoyed catching up with things I had no time before.The only reminder of my past illness is not being as energetic as before.A simple cold leaves me drained for days,exhaustion after simple tasks, insomnia. to name a few. All aftermath of treatments, or   getting older,or.......
             However, I have had periodic check ups and I have been
 given a clean bill of health.The doctors assure me that my body will get stronger and stronger.
               Family support, during this period, is essential.I have been very fortunate to have  had my husband, my children and grandchildren near me, or in some instances,I would go visit them.
They were there for me when I needed them, gave me space when they saw I needed that even more..
They never treated me any differently or make me feel any less then I was before.
                  I have also been blessed with a circle of cousins and friends. They have shown me love, support, and friendship on a daily basis. They are my " Sisterhood of Angels". May they blessed with health, and happiness throughout their life.
                      In the past year, Ive experienced an acute awareness of what's truly important in life, to take nothing for granted, and to be grateful for each new day.
                     It is with a full heart, that I thank each and everyone of you for your prayers and good wishes. I am so grateful for your love and support and as always , thanks for listening.

                          From my family to yours......'.MERRY CHRISTMAS'

















































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                                                    Post treatment

     The last five months, have been a mixture of many emotions. At first I felt relief.
Finally ,being able to go back to normal and look forward to a life without Dr's appointments was great....But, what is normal?
        First and foremost, I had to come to term with the fact that i had CANCER. ,Because of all the future preventive tests that will be necessary  to take, I had to  accept the fact that no matter how healthy  I'll be , I will always be reminded  of that fact. So , the way I saw it, I either dwelled on it or chose a more optimistic approach.. Being an  optimist by nature, I chose the latter.  I have so much to be thankful for,that  complaining was definetely not an option.
            Having said that, with every passing week , realization of  a big adjustment set in.  I never, not worked.  I found myself missing the salon which was not my choise to loose.  Women Of Style,lost to flood Irene,took from me the anticipation of returning to my second home. It saddened me so much   and I miss all my coworkes and clients.
                  Beginning of June, I had to have a precautionary histerectomy that I am still recovering from. Hoping that this is the end of not so good a  year, I'm coming to term at accepting my retirement
and enjoy the things i never had the time for.My passion for reading is being satisfied. I don't think i ever had the pleasure to read a book from beginning to end and now I am living the dream. I have read some wonderful books in the past year and I have so many more to go. As soon as I feel better, I also want to return to my other passion...Painting... Lots of ideas. I have learned valuable lessons.Accepting what life throws your way. opens up, that much quicker,a brighter tomorrow. Thanks for listening!

Hope for 2012

It's been a while since my last post. A. lot has happened, all good . I recovered fully from the radiation therapy and just in time to have a wonderful Christmas. We had lots of celebrations primarily with family but also with friends. Lots of good food and finally i was glad to enjoy a glass of wine after abstaining for nine months.
                My husband organised a New Years Eve party and i  was never so happy as this year to go and kick 2011 as far away as possible, and forget it ever happened.
2012 promises to be a better year, full of hope for  health and happiness for everyone.
I started the new year feeling great. aside from suffering a little insomnia and therefore some exhaustion.I was determined to conquer that also.I starded taking some natural herbs and joyned a gym.As of today , I'm sleeping better and started to have more energy.
              Last week I went to see my oncologyst. My blood work was great and i don't have to see her until May.  Life is good!!!!!!   Happy New Year to everyone!

No relieve in sight.

One week after i got done with radiation and i'm still very much in pain and fighting the worst kind of burning rash.Today ,after not sleeping all night , went to see the radiation oncologist who then referred me to the dermatologist, who prescribed another cream(fourth one for me)  Six hours later...still no relief. I am running out of patience.

Last Radiation therapy

, The last two weeks of radiation therapy was nothing like i expected. It was so strong  that it burned me so badly that i have 2nd degree burn. This , by far, has been the worst. They assure me that it is normal to sometime get this reaction, and that it will take at least another two weeks to  heel.

               However , December 9 was my last, and now i wont have the daily trip to deal with .
                Yesterday after being done, having said good bye to the staff and on my way out , i see a bunch if of people with balloons coming toward me,only to realize it's my familly

celebrating at Panera's

Danielle and the boys who drove 3 hours to come from Baltimore to after drive another three to go back. Marcello who took time from school, Jerolyn who picked up  Sophia and Joseph early from school to come and surprise me and celebrate. Needless to say, I totally lost it!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving

                                             Thanksgiving Prayer
         
                                    Thank you God for all that grows
                                     Thank you for the sky's rainbows,
                                     Thank you for the stars that shine,
                           Thank you for these friends and family of mine'
                                    Thank you for the moon and sun,
                                    Thank you God for all you've done.                                      

This is the prayer my grandchildren  say at Thanksgiving before dinner.
After that, we go around the table a share what each of us is thankful for. Everyone of us, undoubtedly
amongst other things,we say we are thankful for our health.
                              This year, however,i found myself appreciating what that means.
Having been battling cancer since last February, having gone through the brutality of chemo therapy,
going through the daily, gruesome schedule of radiation,has made me realize, never, to take  good health for granted.
                                So , This year, I am grateful for my body cooperating to these treatments.
I am grateful for the wonderful medical team at Memorial Sloan Kettering,that has  helped
me thru this trying and scary time. They have been my lifeline.
I am thankful for my family, whose support and love has carried me and finally I am grateful for my grandchildren,who put a smile on my face every time i See them.  I continue to pray to God   to keep me positive.
           
                                                     
                                                      
                            
                              
   

Fall

 I never liked the fall season. I think of fall,as endless  leaves falling on my lawn,  causing a mess and a lot of extra work. This year, Raffaele and I, have had a change of heart on the subject.
.         Radiation for me is every day and it takes place at Sloan Kettering in Basking Ridge. It is a 40 minute ride on route 80 and  route 287.                                                     On our daily ride we have witnessed the most ammazing foliage .Every day we admire  it's everchanging colors .                                                                                 It's  made the daily routine tolerable  and made us apreciate our changing seasons.             12 rounds of radiation done, 21 more to go. Hope the weather continues to be great.