Thanks for the voting on when the blog should die a natural death. Seems most of you said "when there is nothing left to say about cancer." Which is very nice of you. Then it occurred to me, finally, you aren't exactly a captive audience anyway (and probably some of you didn't vote on when it should end because I didn't give the "three weeks ago" option). Y
But then today, a really valid reason to keep going presented itself! I met with the lovely ladies from Inland Agency's Women's Health Initiative (BECKY FOREMAN, JODEE PALMER and ROSA OLAIZ). Besides being able to give them $330 from the Survivor t-shir
(photo is Jayden Pierce rockin' the pirate look in a feeble attempt to hide the fact that I'm kickin' his Pampered butt in the hair growing contest!!)
So, I'm going to help (of course I am!). And you are too (of course you are!!). I offered to help put together an advisory committee to focus on exactly what a breast cancer patient needs throughout treatment and beyond (you know, besides a blog!) and then of course where we can get those things. I'll be calling on my local friends who've "been there done that" either themselves or in support of a loved one. [But hey, you know who you are, save me a call and just email me that you'd love to be involved (not a lifetime commitment here; just a few meetings and I promise good wine)].
For those of you who aren't local or can't be involved at the committee level, email me or leave a comment with your thoughts on what would make for a great resource center. What did you want to know? What things did you need? What resource did you find that was particularly helpful to you? What works? What doesn't work? Speak up! I want to hear from you. I'll give you an example--I had a heck of a time organizing all the paperwork and keeping track of everything I needed to know, test results, phone numbers, doctors information, prescriptions, and all that crap. About halfway through treatment my new friend and fellow survivor URSULA VUCCI-GIGLIA sent me a fantastic Breast Cancer 101 "Basics for the Diagnosed" organizer! Super useful. And it would have been even more useful had I known about it from the beginning (she sent it in response to my complaints on the blog!). Little things like that make a difference. So give me your ideas and experiences and help make this resource center happen (a lot of women will thank you later; I'll thank you now!).
I'll likely have much to blog about in this new endeavor. I'm also the honorary chair of the 2010 Shop to Stop Breast Cancer which raises funds for the Resource Center and breast health programs (including mammograms for the uninsured and underinsured). We'll have so much to chat about.
The Dog Lived. I lived. The Blog Lives!!!
P.S.
Okay. How can I help?
ReplyDeleteWe have our first committee member!!
ReplyDeleteTeresa, I'd like to be involved. The first cancer my mom had was breast cancer. She survived three various cancers without ever having chemo...and cancer had literally nothing to do with her death. Go figure. If I can participate, I'd love to.
ReplyDeleteYou're in, Lisa! Thanks. I"ll be organizing a meeting soon!
ReplyDeletehere's my contribution/question: what happens to all the cools wigs once your hair grows back? maybe the resource center could have a 'gently used' store for them...or is that too yucky? also, who should i talk to about a story on the resource center?
ReplyDeleteLori--that's a good question and I"ve wondered that myself. It seems like the wigs could be "sanitized" in some way. Something to look into.
ReplyDeleteI emailed you the contact info for the Program director of the Resource Center. Great idea for an article! ;-) Thanks.
My idea for a great resource center: Volunteer drivers for chemo and radiation appointments!
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to thank you for not including any pictures of me, wilted like the Oregon fern I am, on Michelle's great leather love seat.
Happy the blog lived, overjoyed you did.
Teresa I would love to "sign up" for the committee. Just let me know when and where and I will be there !
ReplyDeleteJudy G.