2013 Survivors!!!

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Comments

  • juneaubugg
    juneaubugg Member Posts: 517
    edited August 2013

    Wow - sounds like everyone is saying goodbye.... using past tense... were, have been,... whatever...  It's making me very sad, but I guess I'm emotional today. I went to the Making Strides Against BC kickoff breakfast yesterday and I walked last year 11 days after my last chemo.  Then I realized that tomorrow is 1 yr since the start of chemo.  That anniversary is more stressful for me then the surgery. 

    I have to say it sucks thinking you need to seperate a bit from the BCO to move on.  BC is a part of me now.  It's part of what makes me who I am, just like being a recovering addict.  I can't change it, ignore it as I still need check ups, or forget it as my body is changed.... it IS.  I like checking in here to see how Tazzy's garden grows, and I'd like to see Websister post a photo of that new grand baby. I know many of you are on FB now - but... well I don't know....  I'm just sad.

    xoxo JEN

  • ramols
    ramols Member Posts: 310
    edited August 2013

    Don't be sad Juneau. I had the same read as you, but think that folks will still stay here. I know I still read every day. And you're not alone with the chemo anniversary thing. Mine is coming up later this month but I am finding that odd little things these days bring me a nostalgic (not in a good way) reminder of my chemo days. The change in the weather. Walking into my bedroom in the middle of the day with windows open and recalling my hours spent lying in bed. Opening my nightable drawer and finding old pharamcy bottles/bags from chemo days that for some reason I haven't thrown out. I am kind of dreading 8/28 rolling around - as that will be my one year from chemo. I feel so much time has passed and I've been able to block out some of the bad memories - but at the same time, I can remember how it all felt and what those days were like with painful and distrubing clarity. You are right. BC and all it brought with it are a part of us and will always be with us. But as with everything in life - hopefully the bad parts will begin to fade some.

    Last night I stopped at a local pizza place to pick up dinner. And behind the counter I saw a young man I had encountered in there on my birthday back in January this year. That happened to be an awful day. It was on the heels of my exchange surgery that went south when the left side of my body decided to fake a stroke. So I'd just spent my entire birthday at MSKCC getting a zillion and one scans and was stopping for a quick pizza with my hubby as a late b-day dinner. All decked out in my scarf to cover my bald head - i was recognizable to another cancer veteran. This young man - a one year survivor at that point - reached out and made my day a million time better. So last night I asked if he remembered me and he did. We had a nice little chat and I was reminded about the fact that life goes one. He is coming up on 2 years this fall and said that time starts to go faster and it gets further and further behind you.

    Not sure I'm going anywhere with this post - but felt you Juneau and so wanted to spew a bit. I don't plan on going anywhere. I still need this place like a lifeline and will use it as needed!

    Hugs to all! Juneau - please go get some happy. Call me for it if you need to. I'll come up with something! :)

  • Believe777
    Believe777 Member Posts: 540
    edited August 2013

    Juneau - you said that so well. I picked up the goodbyes too. BC is part of my life now too. I'm here as long as possible. I also look forward to Tazzy garden & camping stories. Websisters grand daughters pictures. I can't wait to tell you all that I got a hand pay - like Aruba (someday) I want to hear results from you Juneau about your new home and your thyroid. I lost half of my thyroid years ago. I had a lump in it and they kept wanting to stick needles in it - I opted to have it removed instead. Benign. Don't miss it at all. Ramols - I always enjoy the way you put words together. Thank you again 2Fried for the descriptive name that always makes me smile. You have all touched my heart.

    Good luck to those moving on, i understand that is the right decision for you. Think of us fondly. Thankful that some of us will still be checking in - I read and look forward to whatever you want to share. I know we will be here to help Stride. I hope she is having a great vacation with DH.

  • KarenZ0305
    KarenZ0305 Member Posts: 345
    edited August 2013

    Help! how do I post a picture here?

  • liefie
    liefie Member Posts: 761
    edited August 2013

    Don't worry, girls, I'm reading here every day. It is more a question of getting busier with everyday life post bc, and not having time to post regularly, than wanting to get away from these boards. I love you all, and will continue to check in. And oh, I will become a first time grandma in March if everything goes well.

  • loral
    loral Member Posts: 818
    edited August 2013

    I'm staying for the long haul, hope you all will too...........

  • websister
    websister Member Posts: 405
    edited August 2013

    Karen - To add an image to a Topic or a Post, click the image icon in the Post/Topic toolbar. A popup will appear where you can enter the image’s URL (see note below), description, and dimensions. Click "Insert" to add the image.



    Note: The image you wish to insert must be saved online somewhere, such as www.Photobucket.com or www.Flickr.com. Each of these sites explains how to share your images. You should select the HTML code option for the image you want, and paste it into the "Image URL" box.



    Juneau - my chemo anniversary is the 13th, I remember our treatments were fairly close together. I am not going anywhere either, this thread is supposed to be for 'survivors' and I am looking forward to keeping up with everyone's lives as we move forward and supporting as needed for the scan and appointment pocket parties



    Wish me luck on posting the baby picture :)

  • Shari0707
    Shari0707 Member Posts: 260
    edited August 2013

    I am definitely not going anywhere either😄just trying to live a little more

  • websister
    websister Member Posts: 405
    edited August 2013

    Grandma and Paisley

  • websister
    websister Member Posts: 405
    edited August 2013

    Trying again

  • websister
    websister Member Posts: 405
    edited August 2013
  • websister
    websister Member Posts: 405
    edited August 2013

    OK, I give up for a bit but will try again

  • Believe777
    Believe777 Member Posts: 540
    edited August 2013

    Websister - I was able to follow your link. What a cute little Angel, dressed in pink! Love all that hair! Definitely worth waiting for!

  • websister
    websister Member Posts: 405
    edited August 2013

    Believe - I'm glad you were able to view, we are enjoying her

  • websister
    websister Member Posts: 405
    edited August 2013

    I think the best I will be able to do is provide the link -

    Edited to remove link for security reasons
  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,156
    edited August 2013

    Still here too but just not posting much and spending so much time. Wow, this summer is flying by!

  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 714
    edited August 2013

    Websister she is absolutely beautiful .. And what hair.



    I am still here reading ... I just find that I might not have much to offer the new ones as I did in the past. BCO and my cyber sisters are what got me through everything and continue to carry on.



    Joanne

  • loral
    loral Member Posts: 818
    edited August 2013

    Websister..so cute, thanks for sharing her with us.

  • iatigger
    iatigger Member Posts: 269
    edited August 2013

    What a cutie Websister!

    I'm not going anywhere, this is the family that understands the new normal.

    I read often, post sometimes and bounce to Facebook to keep it interesting.

  • adagio
    adagio Member Posts: 713
    edited August 2013

    Although I post very little, there isn't a day goes by that I don't read some of the posts. I have learned so much from all the posts on BCO and some have been heartbreaking but most have been inspiring and have offered me hope to keep moving forward in the new life after breast cancer. I feel more "alive" now than ever and am truly grateful for each and every day I waken up - I so want to embrace life and all it has to offer - it truly is a gift. 

    I went for my very first pedicure since before starting chemo back in November and the girls at the spa asked me where I had been - they had missed me - I got all choked up telling them about my experience - it was very emotional! The reality of what I had actually been through sort of just hit me. I also realized that I only had a lumpectomy and not all the extra surgery that many of you ladies have had and it just made me marvel at how strong we have had to be to endure this past year or so. We truly are survivors (not my favourite terminology) but can't think of another word to describe it.

    Have a relaxing weekend and remember to do things that you enjoy, bring you pleasure and make you happy. We all truly deserve it!!!

  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 714
    edited August 2013

    Boy it is quiet .... Hope all are well. Going to enjoy a nice sunny day at the cottage with friends ....

  • websister
    websister Member Posts: 405
    edited August 2013

    Have a great time at the cottage with your friends, Joanne.



    Looks like a nice, sunny day here also - lots of gardening to catch up on and expecting lots of company over the next week and a half so need to prepare for that



    Take care, everyone

  • Outdamnedspot
    Outdamnedspot Member Posts: 164
    edited August 2013

    Websister--congratulations on your beautiful granddaughter.  

    Juneau--great post.  Though I rarely post, I read almost daily and love the connection to you all.  Hoping for a get together in NYC so we can meet!

    I'm heading off to Vancouver tomorrow to see my sister and DD who is coming in from Banff.  Also getting together with two gals from the Canadian thread.  So excited about meeting them. 

    Have a great weekend everyone!

  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,156
    edited August 2013

    Outdamnedspot, I am looking forward to the meet up too! Have not heard yet where but did ask Sneaky if she knew exactly where you are staying? 

  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 714
    edited August 2013

    Outdamned have a great trip west and post some pics of the meet up with marianelizabeth and sneaky ... Have a great time ....

  • Outdamnedspot
    Outdamnedspot Member Posts: 164
    edited August 2013

    Joanne---thanks and I will try and post a pic or two...if I can figure out how to do it!!

  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Member Posts: 2,484
    edited August 2013

    I have not posted in a long while but read here regularly. Enjoying vicariously Juneau's house purchase, Tazzy's garden and "woodshed" time. Followed the ladies trip to Iowa.

    Websister - your granddaughter is beautiful. Love the dark hair and little rosebud mouth.

    Liefie - Oh, my, missed that you will be a grandmother in March. Congratulations.

  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 714
    edited August 2013

    Liefie I missed that too ... Congratulations on your happy news.

  • 2FriedEggs
    2FriedEggs Member Posts: 324
    edited August 2013

    Juneau don't cry; our group isn't breaking up we're all just spreading our wings a big more than last year. 

    I'm not sure about the others but this group is stuck with me!   I'm definitely not "leaving" this group of wonderful friends; but maybe just not posting as frequently as last year . I think the comments were not so much a goodbye but just a reaction to the fact that no one was posting last weekend because everyone was busy doing one thing or another. I think for alot of us its just that we are finally allowing other people and activities into our lives so we don't have as much time to sit and post like we did last year between treatments. Theres not a week that I don't sneak a peak though at what you are all doing.  I think  last year we were cancelling vacations  & get togethers etc as we were all consumed with our breast cancer, the treatments , multiple surguries and the million appointments that went along with it all and we focused on the BCO to be with the only other people who understood the journey we were on. Now that the majority of our treatments are done or are much more spread out, we are cautiously allowing more people, work, summer and other activities to move into our lives. As everyone seemed to say, we all want to know what happens with one another; Juneaus thyroid and  new house and websisters new adorable grandbaby and tazzys camping and trips behind the shed (hmmmmm) and we will want to see pics of Liefies 1st grandbaby when it comes, and what kinds of goodies our own angel, Believe, is cooking up and how all of the families of our BCO friends are doing. But it just goes to show that thank goodness we are allowing other things to influence our time now as last year I barely remember anyone talking about anything other than it being relative to  our own BC. No, BC is always going to be a part of our being as are all of the great friends we all made on here that shared each others journeys but now we have the chance to share our time by doing things that we couldn't possibly think about last year during all the chaos our lives were thrown into.  Even though I don't fly, I hope to heck to get to meet all of you at one time or another because you have been such an important part of my BC journey.  

    Have a great weekend everyone.

  • Believe777
    Believe777 Member Posts: 540
    edited August 2013

    Liefie - congratulations on becoming a 1st time grandma. Very special...

    I have a new long term goal. I thought of this when I saw Websisters Paisley. I want to be around to see her go to kindergarten.

    So glad we are sticking around here together. You are all so very special to me.

    I spent part of the day with my son, shopping to buy him clothes for my Mothers 80th bday party on August 25 (her birthday is actually the 28th). The party is a Roaring 20's theme. It's been fun putting it together but I'm exhausted. I hope I didn't miss anything important... I'm stumbling on just 2 items, the cake (I only make cookies)... I need to make a decision and just pick one! The 2nd item is a fun game that is easy and doesn't require a lot of movement. (We have 60 people coming-all ages). Can anyone here suggest anything? I've been scouring the web and can't find anything I like. Please help me, if you've got any suggestions. Thank you in advance!