Jewish Warrior Sisters
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L'shanah tovah from us as well!0
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L'Shana Tova, everyone. It was wonderful to be in shul this year - my nephew was stealing hearts right and left, and he was so well behaved. He loved the Shofar.
And it was nice to see three of us - myself and two other women - who just finished a year of trepidation, fear and chemo (two for BC, the other woman had lymphoma). We all have really nice hair coming in. But still the reminders that we're never out of the woods. The other woman with BC is now waiting on biopsy results again (she had a lumpectomy). And yet another woman I know, who is Stage IV and has been living with bone mets for 6 years, has some vaginal lesions that they need to biopsy. And I'm lined up for a D&C in 2 weeks for polyps.
My rabbi delivered an effective sermon along the lines of appreciating friends and family, and living and loving for the moment, because none of us ever knows what's going to happen. Amen.
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Shana Tova to all. May we all be blessed with health and happiness in the New Year.
I had 18 for dinner last night,but everyone brings something, although I did make most of it.Roasted rukey with gravy and cranberry sauce, sweet and sour meatballs crispy chicken wings, farfel stuffing, roasted veggies, quinoa salad, coleslaw,sweet potato casserole as well as the usual gefilte fish and chicken soup with kreplach and matzo balls, Dessert was a Swedish apple pie, honey cake and choc. chip cookies, along with a fruit plate, Also dried fruit, nuts, chocolate platter. And of course apples and honey, and delicious challah. I did not make it to shule this morning because I did not fall asleep until nearly 4:00 a.m. due to back spasms (I finally took a Tylenol 3).
Tonight we were 33 (yes, 33!) at my brother's house - really nice to have so much family here altogether. It's getting tight though, once all the kids start getting married, it will be difficult to keep having all the cousins together at these Yom Tov meals, just too many to fit into one house.
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my mil had 7 children. when all married and had kids we finally had to split celebrations into two nights to fit everyone in their house and mama wouldn't hear of having it anywhere else. good memories.
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Caya - Sounds delicious!
Glad to hear everyone's having such great family get-togethers! I decided a long time ago (even long before BC) that the best - and really only - thing we truly get out of life are our memories, so bring 'em on!
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We had a nice Rosh Hashanna....we were invited out for dinner Sunday night....then I hosted lunch yesterday and today.....ony 8 and 9 people each day....lots and lots of yummy food....I love to cook and bake.....honey cake and apple cake..... sweet round challah, brisket, roast chicken, roast potatoes, loshen kugel, corn kugel, potatoe knishes, quoinoa, salad, cabbage soup, chicken soup with matzo balls.....now tonight the kitchen is cleaned up, the leftovers are in the freezer (though not too much... but enough for Shabbat dinner for my DH and me....DD will be in LA for a shabbaton and DS is working). I working Thursday and Friday to make up for taking yesterday and today off for RH, so it will be nice to have dinner cooked.
Wishing everone Ketiva v'Chatima Tova.....and may we all have a happy and healthy year. Karen
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L'shana tova to all!
I got home from the hospital on Thurs. Everything went well, but I didn't know it was standard here to stay for so long after this surgery. I'm moving slowly but doing OK.
My wonderful kids did all the cooking for Rosh Hashana. My dh did a bit, too. Chicken, meatballs, turkey (not roast, a dish with turkey parts), schnitzel, rice, potatoes, string beans, sweet potato and squash casserole, loads of salads, yeast cake, choc chip cookies, choc balls. And, of course, honeycake (which I made before surgery and froze). The food was all delicious, and having them do it all for me gave me so much naches.
May we all have a year filled with health.
Leah
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Leah....your menu sounds delicious...and I bet it was delicious!!!! Wow!!! over a week in the hospital for Mx and recon....when I had my bilat with recon, it was 2 nights and I was lucky to get the 2nd night....I was ready to be home.....pretty much spent the week-end in bed....friends came and stayed with me while DH went to shul....sounds like this surgery was uneventful relative to your last one
wishing you a continued refuah and easy recovery Hugs, karen0 -
First off, I want to wish all of you the very best on this most Holy of days. Please pardon my interuption, but I have a question.
Last May I went to my cousin's bat Mitvah in Atlanta and was a bit horrified that the temple had guards, in full storm trooper outfits, standing around the property. [And, the visual of those boots with pants tucked in was scary when one considers history.] This temple is in the most affluent area of Atlanta and there was no obvious threat amongst the trees and flowers.
But then today, I drove past Temple Israel in Boston. There were state police all along the side of the road with their lights flashing, I assume because the Temple is allowed to park on this busy road and parking is not usually allowed. But on the sidewalk in front of the Temple, there were at least 8 men dressed like secret service agents. They were clearly packing guns, had ear pieces and appeared to have bulky chests as though they were wearing bullet proof vests. Now this Temple must have some very influential members, but coupled with my Atlanta experience, this stood out as unusual.
As a professional violinist, I have played at lots of Temples and I don't recall this level of security. I would like to know if the threats to Temples has become so great that security guards are being hired everywhere, or have I just witnessed two unusual cases?
I find it all very sad either way.
*susan*
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Susan, the last time I was in the States I went with my sister one afternoon (midweek) to her synagogue. There was a guard at the parking lot. I don't know about the entrances to the building from the street. I also walked to an Orthodox synagogue on the Sabbath and discovered that I could only use a side entrance - the large main entrance is no longer in use for security reasons. Both of these synagogues are in Los Angeles.
It appears that, yes, the threat is there and is very real.
And it saddens me terribly.
Leah
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Susan....our shul always hires a police officer on Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur...no security the rest of the year.....the officers are in their regular uniforms, so nothing alarming in their dress.....not sure how much protection they actually provide!!!! My shul meets in a jewish day school...small parking lot in the front and playground on the side of the building...no cars generally go in and out of the lot during shabbat or yom tov, but are parked there before the start....
I hope everyone had an easy and meaningful fast....
My DD and SIL arrive tomorrow evening for a week....looking forward to having them here for Shabbt and the first days of Sukkot....now I just need to plan out my menus....We have company for lunch on Shabbat and both days of Sukkot lunch.....I work tomorrow, and then have to pick the kids up at the airport so wont' start cooking till friday morning......Friday I'll cook for Shabbat and then Sunday for Sukkot.....Tuesday is a full house....I think there will be 15 of us....I hope my Sukkah can hold everyone!!!!! Didn't think of that till yesterday!!!! Shabbat there are only 10 and Monday 10.....
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Shanah tova, Jewish Warrior Sisters.
It has been a long year. I hope we all approach the gates of prayer with an open heart. May Hashem hear our prayers!
Thanks for being here for me, even when I haven't been there for you. I've been lurking when I should have been sharing, and for that I ask your forgiveness, especially Leah, who was there for me when I had surgery. Leah, I did daven for you, even if you didn't know it. That goes for the rest of you, too.
May it be a healthy year for us all!
xoxox
Eema
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Shanah tova, Jewish Warrior Sisters.
It has been a long year. I hope we all approach the gates of prayer with an open heart. May Hashem hear our prayers!
Thanks for being here for me, even when I haven't been there for you. I've been lurking when I should have been sharing, and for that I ask your forgiveness, especially Leah, who was there for me when I had surgery. Leah, I did daven for you, even if you didn't know it. That goes for the rest of you, too.
May it be a healthy year for us all!
xoxox
Eema
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Shanah Tova.
Susan - My shul usually has a security officer, but just for the High Holidays. It's depressing that we have to be so worried that some synagogues have so much security, even year-round. I spent several years in Russia and got to travel around Europe, and even going to Shabbat services, I often had to show my passport to get in.
Karen - It's great that you always have so much family around to celebrate with.
My sister came to services with me the first day of RH and then yesterday. In the afternoon, we were able to just sit and talk. Plus I loved seeing my nephew for RH.
I also appreciate having had everyone's support here. I went through a very angry phase Tuesday night. As I beat my (silicon laced) breast during the Vidui, I just couldn't stop thinking about everything that BC has taken from me - a year of my life, my breasts, my youth (still hoping my period comes back post chemo), my hair, my peace of mind... I'm feeling better now, but this year's challenge is to learn to deal with my mortality in a productive and healthy way.
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SAB, I work in Santa Cruz! Being BRCA1 positive has made me less thrilled about being Jewish. I know many women get BC with no risk factors but mine unfolded so rapidly... Finished treatment this summer and still rather confused and devastated. Just plain ugh.
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Late Shana Tovah to all. I am now with my Husband in Beijing. No, not vacation, medical treatment for him. The treatment choices in NY became scarce -- clinical trial, without great hope it would work. Lets hope, treatments my Husband is getting here work, at least to give us more time.
We have been here for a while now and are both homesick. Neither one of us has any desire to do any sightseeing -- just treatments and rest.
The Internet connection is only in our hotel room on the laptop and in the lobby for my iPad
And painfully slow, so I usually limit myself to emails to the children and doctors.
Leah, how are you doing. I keep reading about new research and treatments for cancer in Israel, but I don't know how much is still in the laboratory, done strictly on mice, how much is in clinical trials and how much is already being offered as a treatment.
On paper it all sounds wonderful.
We were planning to go to Israel for treatment,but were persuaded that China offered the treatment he needed. I pray they were right..0 -
I'm new here. Love the idea of an area for Jewish women. I'm Merav, an American in Israel.
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Hi Merav. Sorry you have to join us here on the cancer forum and you are very welcome here.
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Welcome Merav. Sorry you have to come here; i gather you also belong to our
breast cancer sisterhood. You will find help and support on this forum, in general, and especially in our little Jewish corner.0 -
Welcome Merav! Where are you getting your treatments? I live in the center of the country so I go to Shaarei Tzedek.
Antonia, I hope your husband's treatments are successful.
Leah
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I'm popping in to say hi after 5 days in the hospital for facial cellulitis. Welcome, Merav and anyone else new. Leah, hope you are doing well, Rachel, all my other Jewish sisters. Feeling really down. Wish I was in Israel.
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Eema, I also wish you were here! I'm so sorry to hear about the cellulitis. Are you still in the hospital? How are you doing now?
So..... after my surgery in Sept I'm doing well. Last week I had an appt with the PS on Sun AM, and she told me I was cleared for exercise, ne restrictions. Just in time! My very good friend's daughter got married Sun PM and let me tell you, I danced up a storm!
Leah
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I was released right before Shabbat under the condition I continue the "last resort" antibiotics, zyvox. I have two more pills, I think. My insurance wouldn't pay for them at $1000 a pill, and I was going to have to stay because they pay for it in an inpatient setting. The hospital social work program paid for 3 days, even though they wanted me to have seven.
Oy! My 7 yo little boy needs his Eema at home!
So glad to hear about you dancing at a wedding, Leah! Only simchas!
This summer, the BFF I made in te city where we moved 5 years ago left for aliyah. Her family landed 20 minutes from my BFF in karkur/pardes Chana. We would like to re-Aliyah this summer, provided my health improves and we can make a living. Or, if I can't work, need to have disability ins. kick in. I was much healthier when we lived in Israel. It can't have anything to do with the fact it was 10+ years ago, can it? I think the Vit D kept me healthy.0 -
Eema,
You have been through so much but I am so glad you posted. I wish you continued good health and better times going forward. We need to reinvigorate our Misheberach list!
Caryn0 -
My East Coast sisters, stay safe and warm during the storm. My father reported that all of the yahrtzeit candles were sold out in their supermarket. Everyone, he said, liked the idea of a candle in glass!
Caryn0 -
Oooh, candles are dangerous! Better to have battery operated lights and snap lights. Candles in a hurricane can= fire. Stay safe, everyone! No idea what the world will be like tomorrow.
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Leah....I can just see you dancing!!!!
Eema...so sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time
Merav.....glad that you found us, but sorry that you have go down this journey
antonia.....hope your dh is responding to Tx
I just got back from a long week-end in S. FL at my parents.....I think my dad has declined since my visit in August....my mom is also struggling....yesterday she lost her balance and almost fell when she walked out of her apt...it was very scarey to see...and then later when we were walking she fell.....No one seems to get a handle on it...one doc says its from meds, so she stopped them, another says something else and no answers....very scarey to come home with no answers......I'm trying to get them to move to Denver by me.....
I hope all the east coast sistahs are not in harms way...the weather report is very scarey....HUgs....
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So glad to get updates from all of you.
Merav - Welcome, but I am sorry you did have to join us. Please feel free to add your name to our Misheberach thread.
Antonia - I'm hoping that the treatments will help your husband. How are you doing?
Eema - I'm sorry to hear you're feeling down. Your humor has always been such a help. I hope your recovery is going well.
Caryn - I hope you're doing well. Do let me know if you head to NJ any time soon.
Leah - That's great that you were able to dance at that wedding!
Karen - I'm sorry to hear about your parents. That is hard to watch your parents get older. I hope you can find some doctors that really pay attention and care for them the way they deserve.
I think I'm ready for this storm. I'm stocked up the best I can in my apartment. Since I work in radio, I'll have to make an effort to get in, but the good side is that we're more likely to have power there. Stay safe everyone. After what we've all been through, what's a little wind and rain?
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We'll know for certain if the treatments have worked after we do the tests in back in NY. My Husbands still has a few treatments left. By now, we are terribly homesick. It is different here. Beijing is a beautiful city, but the standards of hygiene, especially at the medical facilities, is not what we are used to in the United States. Very few people here speak English, so it is next to impossible to communicate with them. In addition, almost all signs are only in Chinese characters, even the numbers, which makes moving around difficult.
My husbands treatments are at different hospitals, all in the different parts of the city. So, I spend my days going with my Husband from one treatment to another and so I experience the city from through the car window. However, I managed to spend a day visiting the Forbidden City.
I will let you know how successful the treatment turned out to be after we get back home.
Right now, I am worried about my children back in Connecticut and Westchester and all of you on the East Coast weathering Sandy.
Stay well, stay safe.0 -
Mazal Tov! Mazal Tov! I'm saying it twice because it's double good news - my daughter gave birth to twin girls today!
Two more little girls to love!
Leah
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