{ Fabulous Feature Friday: a beloved Professor }

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Cancer affects all of us in so many ways. It is common, rampant, doesn't discriminate, and everywhere. You can find cancer anywhere and everywhere. Since I started "Nana's Box" I have had the privilege to make boxes for some amazing cancer fighting people. Although most of them have been strangers and I probably will never meet any of them, I still am affected by their stories and touched by their fighting spirits. However, this is the first time that I have been notified of a "Nana's Box" recipient that has lost their battle with cancer. My good blogging friend- Meaghan, awhile back, posted about a Professor that was a huge strength to her while she was battling her own fight with cancer. She says: "One of my professors is battling melanoma. She is brilliant, passionate, young and someone who has helped me through my journey. I don't want to get into too many details because she is a private person but just know that this is a huge tragedy in my life. I think about her daily and she is always in my prayers."

Shortly after she posted that she asked me if I would make a box for her Professor. I was delighted to have been asked and got to work on it right away. To be honest, this box was the hardest one to make and one of my most favorite ones when it was finished. I think it turned out gorgeous and classy, which is how I imaged this women in my mind.

The quote on the inside reads: "I will CONQUOER this, I just know I will." This was something that she had said in an email to Meaghan, and asked if I would incorporate it into the box some how. Once the box was finished I shipped it off and waited impatiently to hear how she liked it.

The day the box arrived I read this post on Meaghans blog:

"If you read my last post you saw that I have a professor who is battling cancer. I regret to tell you that today she died. This has come as a total shock. I am devastated! When I got to school today someone asked me if I had ever had Professor Aleong., if I knew her. Of course I said yes I did and that yes I knew she was sick. You see Stephanie was a very private woman. This is why I never mentioned her name or went into details about her on my blog. Not many people even knew she had cancer. So when a fellow student approached me and asked if I knew Professor Aleong I figured they just figured out she had cancer. I was wrong! The student frankly told me, "she died".

Panic, that was the first emotion I had. Absolute, utter panic. Then I started hyperventilating. I totally lost it, in front of everyone. You see Stephanie was the first person I met who was battling cancer. She was young like me, a lawyer, a fighter.....Stephanie was someone I looked up to, she inspired me. She led me through a difficult time and was so full of life. She recently sent me an email and in the end she said: "I will conqouer this, I just know I will" When I read this I felt she would too. How could she not?She was so strong, much stronger than me and I beat my battle.

Just yesterday I brought the Hope Box that Angie made at Nana's box to her secretary. She was going to mail it out to Stephanie today."

I was so sad to hear the news, and wished that I was there in person to give Meaghan a BIG hug and tell her that I feel her pain. Sad stories like this plaster our world everyday. This is just one of the reasons why I do what I do. It's my way of looking cancer in the face and tell it that it won't be here for forever and that it can only crack the spirits of those that are fighting it. That someday... someday soon.. cancer will be packing its bags and be heading back to hell where it belongs.

In honor of Professor Aleong, Meaghan has set up a charity donation in her name to the Melanoma Research Foundation. Portions of the proceeds from her Mexico Coetepec Coffee will be donated to this charity. For more information about purchasing a bag or to make a donation to this charity go to the Get The Bean website.

For more information on melanoma and melanoma screening visit this website.

Go HERE to enter our Afriques Glass beaded necklace Giveaway -
for Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Ends Friday!

Chemo is Hell on Wheels

How do you feel when a celebrity goes public with a cancer diagnosis? For me, I didn't seem to care too much. I was used to hearing the fluffy stuff about them being ok, and being in the best hands, blah blah blah.... and then only seeing the "glamorous" photos in the media.
Well, things changed when I read this article from Patrick Swayze, who is very open about how his chemo treatments have been, and his honesty in saying that working... and working alot is what is keeping him sane and alive. The same was true with my mom- working 3 jobs kept her sane and alive during her treatments, even though my family thought otherwise.

(article taken from www.popeater.com)

-- For the first time since announcing to the world that he was facing a very tough fight with pancreatic cancer, Patrick Swayze is opening up about his daily struggle with the disease as he promotes his new police show 'The Beast.'

In an interview with the New York Times, Swayze implies that while he should probably be tempted to take it easy (pancreatic cancer has a slim 5 percent survival rate), his drive doesn't allow him to do so. "I just love to work hard," he says.

"I'm still fine to work, I haven't changed -- oh, I have changed, what am I saying? It's a battle zone I go through. Chemo, no matter how you cut it, is hell on wheels," Swayze says.

Swayze, who shot to fame in the '80s and '90s with roles in such classics as 'The Outsiders,' 'Ghost' and 'Dirty Dancing,' says it's the hard work that makes him happy. "I do find myself, at the end of the day, riding home sort of catching myself with a smile on my face. I'm proud of what I'm doing," he said.

Swayze said at first he disregarded the discomfort and symptoms his disease was causing. "Then all of a sudden real symptoms start showing up. You see it in the mirror and you go: 'O.K., better go get checked out.'" Swayze then said he "had gastro-intestinal pain," which led to getting a biopsy. "Hello, goodbye, welcome to my world," he jokes.

At 56 years old, Swayze has had to work even harder at staying healthy while battling his disease. Thanks to "muscle-building shakes," he's been able to gain back 20 pounds from his lowest weight since his treatment started.

As for his leading role in 'The Beast,' it marks Swayze's first regular return to television since 1985's 'North and South.'

"I wanted something that's going to challenge me on a constant basis. To be honest, I've made a game out of trying to live through my James Dean, Janis Joplin, Freddie Prinze, Jim Morrison period, those demons that we all have that we're either successful or not at making work for us rather than destroy us," Swayze says.

Aside from regular chemotherapy treatment, Swayze is also on an experimental drug called Vatalanib. It seems to be working well, prompting his doctors to clear him to work.

And it's work that's keeping him hopeful. "How do you nurture a positive attitude when all the statistics say you’re a dead man?" Swayze asked. "You go to work."

Despite all of his previous success, Swayze says he's not done leaving his stamp on life.

"There is probably that little bird that flies through your insides and says, 'I sure would like to make a mark in life.' I've made a pretty decent mark so far -- nothing to scoff at. But it does make you think: Wait a minute. There's more I want to do. Lots more. Get on with it."

{ Cancer Songs } (Updated 10/29)

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** UPDATE-- I recently added a few more songs, thanks to some suggestions from you all. I added: Miracle by Celine Dion, This Womans Work by Kate Bush, and Last Tears by Indigo Girls. **

Awhile ago I helped a friend put together a compilation of cancer songs for a CD that she was making for her mom to take to her chemo treatments. Her mom was able to upload them to her ipod and listen to them as she rode her bike to her sessions. Lately I have gone back to those songs and wanted to share them with you. Nowadays, ipods are all over the place and I'm sure that many cancer patients are toting one along to those dreaded thearpy sessions. This would make a great gift for any cancer patient or even a survivor:

If you think of any other songs that would be great to add to this list please comment and let me know. Enjoy!

{Fabulous Feature Friday: A daughters love}

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~ Fabulous Feature Friday ~

I had the privileged of meeting a wonderful couple, about 2 summers ago, while getting ready for my 2nd Relay for Life. Dawn and her husband Jason are one of the nicest people I have met. We had an instant bond... thanks to cancer. Dawn's mom was diagnosed with colon cancer in January of 2000 and passed away in April 2006. Her mom was only 53, and Dawn was 23. By the time I met Dawn she was already in her 6th year of relay! She got involved with relay right after they were told her Mom's cancer had moved to her liver. "I felt so helpless, and it was the one thing I could do to feel like I was taking control of something related to the sickness; especially to help them support their education and prevention messages. If my mom had gotten the colonoscopy screening at 50 that she should have, she probably would be alive today. I've always been frustrated with her and her doctor for letting that slide." Here's her story:

Her Smile

It's hard to say goodbye to someone who has been a part of your life from the instant you were conceived. On April 24, 2006, I had to say goodbye to my mom. I knew the moment would come; she had been battling cancer for six and a half years, and the fact that she lived through the last three was nothing short of a miracle. But selfishly, I wanted her to keep fighting. I needed her here for me; to be around for all the moments in my life that hadn't happened yet - moments that would seem less scary or more joyful when I shared them with her. Despite this selfishness, it had become painful to see her alive. To see her struggle for every breath, to see her body worn down and beat up, to try to find the essence of who she was hidden inside what was left of her tiny frame, and to see the passion and enthusiasm that used to emit from her dark brown eyes replaced by pain and agony.

You can't prepare yourself for the moment when it's over. That one moment which becomes a perfect and absolute contradiction in your life - simultaneously bringing relief and utter devastation; bringing an end to one grief, and the beginning of a whole new grief. You don't realize how loud emptiness can be until the sound of life is replaced by the quiet that signifies the absence of it.

Two years after her death, I still yearn for the normal life I had before the diagnosis, before the surgeries, before the chemotherapy, and before the quiet. But I've come to realize that my normal is forever gone. My new life, my redefined "normal," feels kind of like a turtleneck that is a bit too snug around the neck and too short on the arms - making it difficult to breathe normally and leaving me with a constant chill. That discomfort isn't completely unwelcome; it means that her absence in my life is noticeable. The void a mother leaves behind cannot be filled, so really, how could life without her ever be truly normal again?

I know I'll never stop missing her, never stop needing her - but in the cruelest twist of irony, I need her the most because she isn't here. I needed her to help me through my father's remarriage before I was done grieving her death. I need to hear her voice so I don't forget what she sounded like. I need her to teach me how to cook her mother's Lebanese dishes so those traditions don't die with her. And I need her to help me make sense of a world that seems to make no sense without her.

I can't believe that all evidence of her could truly be gone, and so every day I look for her somewhere. In the shape of the clouds, in the whisper of a breeze, in a bird's song, a flower's fragrance, or the flutter of a hummingbird's wings. I search my dreams at night and my memory during the day. Occasionally I feel her warmth; though, it could just be the sun. And sometimes she guides my decisions; though, that could just be my conscience she helped shape. But every now and then, I'm lucky enough to see her smile. And when I do, I know it's her because it appears on a picture of me. It's almost as if, magically, my own smile was replaced momentarily by hers. Just long enough to remind me she's still with me; that I'm not as disconnected from her as I sometimes think. Just long enough to make me feel normal again.

Thank you Dawn, for being so open and for letting me share such a personal story. For more information on colon cancer and colon cancer screenings click here.

** Last October GIVEAWAY!!** (CLOSED)

It's time for our LAST October Giveaway.

We are giving away a Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Beaded Necklace from Afriques.

*This beautiful necklace is beaded with Pink glass seed beads and a large White Pink Ribbon bead.

To enter check out Afriques Etsy site by clicking here, then come back and leave us a comment telling us what your favorite piece of jewelry is on her site.

For 3 more entries post about Nana's Box and this giveaway on your blog (entry subject to verification) Make sure to comment back letting us know you did!

What are you waiting for? Go enter NOW- Giveaway ends Friday, October 31st!!

Winner of the J'Ollie Custom Color Barn Star

The winner of a fabulous 24" Barn Star from J'Ollie Primitives is:

Nikkicrumpet over at Blah, Blah, Blah, blog!
Congrat's!

Stay tuned- our necklace GIVEAWAY from Afriques kicks off tonight at 9pm! Your gonna want to come back and enter to win this gorgeous pink glass beaded necklace!

**A BIG Thank You goes out to Linda over at J'Ollie Primites for her wonderful donation!
Thank you for your kindness and support! **

Newest Additions

I recently had the privileged of making 2 new Nana's Boxes:

The first box was for my husbands classmate and friend, we'll call her Faith. Faith's mother is suffering from a malignant brain tumor, about the size of a ping pong ball. After bouts of radiation, the tumor was not affected at all, but had actually increased in size. During all of this her fathers cancer came back. Faith was debating whether to take her last semester of Law school off to care for her parents, when her mother said: "I am holding on to see you graduate. Don't you dare drag this out any longer than it needs to be. I will be fine, and I will be here to see you graduate." This is the box that I made for her parents:
The second box that I made was for my blogging buddy, Meaghan. She has a professor who's cancer has recently come back. In an effort to show her that there are people out there thinking and praying for her she asked me to make her a Nana's Box. The unique thing about this box is that I was able to add a statement that the Professor had said to Meaghan, on the inside of the box... as a reminder that things will be ok, and to reminder her of the fighter that she is.

It says: "I will CONQUER this, I just know I will."

Thank you to those that have made a donation and who have sent out items to help out. Your contributions have helped out greatly! Thanks to the Yates, who's donation of hand-made paper helped to make these wonderful boxes that you see above. (((HUGS)))

CLICK HERE to enter our J'Ollie Barn Star GIVEAWAY- it ends WEDNESDAY!

Awards (insert BIG Grin)

DON'T FORGET TO CLICK HERE TO ENTER OUR BARN STAR GIVEAWAY!!

Wow! First off I have to say that I am so excited and honored to receive 2 wonderful awards in the same week!! EEEK! I can't wait to pass on the joy to other much deserving women! So lets get started.

The first award I got was from Sandy over at "My Girls". Sandy is my newest blogging friend and was I very surprised to get this award from her. THANK YOU SANDY! Make sure to stop by her blog and send her some love!

“This blog invests and believes, in ‘proximity’ [meaning, that blogging makes us 'close' - being close through proxy]. These blogs are all charming and they aim to show the marvels of friendship. Let’s give more attention to them! So with this prize we must deliver it to eight bloggers that in turn must make the same thing and put this text."

Don't you just love these spanish awards that are going around? =)

Since this award is for charming and unselfish people I pass it onto the following 8 FABULOUS blogs. Make sure stop by and say Hello! Tell them Nana's Box sent ya!

1. I Kicked Cancer's Ass
2. Pennies in my Pocket
3. Pleasant Drive
4. Our J'Ollie Home
5. Designs By Reese
6. Marks Family
7. Yeah, sure, youbetcha!
8. Life just keeps getting weirder


The second award I got was from my good blogging buddy, Meaghan, over at I Kicked Cancers Ass. Thanks Meaghan, you RoCk!!!

Here are the RULES for the Award:

*Mention the blog that gave you the award and comment on their blog to let them know that you have posted their award. You also have to list 6 things you VALUE and 6 things you Don't VALUE. Lastly, you have to pass the award onto 6 other friends!

Six Things I Value:
1. Family- they are everything. At the end of the day family is all that matters.
2. Good health- we live in an age where taking care of ourselves is of the utmost importance. Its something that shouldn't be taken for granted.
3. The kindness of strangers- I have been blessed by crossing the paths of some amazing and giving strangers. It restores my faith in the world.
4. Cancer Survivors- they are what keeps me fighting this fight. Knowing that it is possible to survivor something so monstrous give me faith that we will find a cure.
5. Food- because lets be honest, I love it.
6. Religion- without it my whole world would crumble. It's the foundation that my life is built on.

Six Things I DO NOT value:

1. Cancer- what kind of cancer fighter would I be if I didn't post this as #1?

2. Pessimism- life would be a long journey if you walked around all day in a gloom and negative mood. There is something positive in everything.

3. Dirty diapers- seriously that is something I DO NOT value at all ;)

4. Politics- probably because I don't understand it most of the time. I feel like I hear the same things over and over with each election, and nothing seems to change.

5. No manners- just don't appreciate it. Didn't your mama teach you anything?

6. People staring at a crying child- being a mother I know what it's like to be at JoAnn's when your toddler throws a temper tantrum, and to have 5 different people give you crusty looks... yup, don't appreciate that.

Six Blogs I Pass this Award to:
1. The Gift Closet
2. My Girls
3. Team Jarvis
4. To be determined...
5. One Eyed Prayers
6. Hair Today

Thanks ladies!

{ Fabulous Feature Friday: the husbands story }

Last Fridays, Fabulous Feature Friday, was on Lindsey over at Pleasant Drive. This week I have the privilege of featuring her husband and his side of the story. Many thanks goes out to this wonderful couple and for their courage in sharing their cancer story with us. May the blessings of heaven be in your home as you fight this thing!

1. What were your first thoughts when you found out your wife was diagnosed with breast cancer?

It was a very surreal moment when Lindsey called me with the news that she had breast cancer. From the onset, when she first discovered the lump, the thought of breast cancer never really crossed my mind. I encouraged her to have it checked out but never expected it to be anything more than a little bump. When the words “I have cancer” came out of her mouth I kept thinking to my self she is only 25, we have been married less than three months this can’t be true. I commute an hour to work every day and on that drive home those three words kept playing over in my head the whole way home. It was a long drive that day!

2. How has it changed your life?

Being a newly wed of three and a half months my life had really been about adjustments and planning for the future. Lindsey and I were talking about selling our current house and upgrading to something that we both really wanted and a house we would want to bring a child home to someday (– no kids right now!). We were talking about five and ten year financial and career plans. We are both goal oriented people and have things that we aspire to achieve. (I wanted to retire early and she has hopes of a career as a writer someday)

When the diagnosis of cancer was introduced into our life it put a giant “road block” on our 5 and 10 year road map. (Lindsey has affectionately dubbed it our little “road block”) Our priorities have obviously shifted now. Not only is our priority now getting Lindsey through this disease, we also want to be an example to other people who are or could be facing the same thing. Cancer is not aware of your age, it does not care if you are a newly married couple with plans of a fairy tale life on the horizon, and the bottom line is it can happen to anyone at anytime. We have shifted our priorities to fight cancer and when she is cured and we are beyond this point we will begin again for the dreams on our horizon.

3. What brings you hope and courage during the rough times?

My faith in Jesus Christ brings me hope on a daily basis. Lindsey and I have both agreed that if our adversity can be an example of faith to even one person then it is worth what we have and will go through.

John 11:4 states,” When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."

Stories of Jesus healing the sick and performing miracles occur many times throughout the New Testament, so what makes this one different from any of the others?

The next verse tells the difference. John 11:5 - Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Jesus loved Lazarus very much. He and his sisters were very close friends. The Lord allowed this trial happen to the ones that he loved knowing what the outcome would be. It says SO THAT God’s Son may be glorified through it. The people around Lazarus would never have known of God’s glory, or heard the name of Jesus had it not been for Lazarus’s sickness and the miracle preformed because of it.

I say all of this because what brings be hope and courage is the knowledge that my Saviors glory is made even bigger through trails such as this. I know that Lindsey will be cured and that our life will continue together, but, I believe that it is the rough times in life that our character and faith is put to the test and I consider it a pure joy (James 1:2-4) to face this hand in hand with my wife and Our Savior leading the way.

4. Did you want to know everything? (about the cancer, her status, etc.)

Of course I want to know every little detail. I want to know because in order to make the best possible treatment decisions and to map out everything it is important to gather all the facts.

That and I kinda have to by default, when we do anything there is a crowd of family breathing down our neck wanting to know every detail of everything that is going on. It is good to know that we are so loved by so many but it can be overwhelming at times!

5. What advice do you have for cancer spouses and caregivers?

The best advice that I can give is always always be ready to put a smile on their face. Cancer can be a tremendously intense experience, and overbearing to someone that is going through it. If you can be there to take the weight off even for a few minutes by putting a smile on your spouses’ face it can go a long long way. Telling jokes, making my self look stupid for some reason and just spending time with Lindsey has been great for the both of us. Nothing makes me feel better than when I see a smile on her face.

6. How has it changed the relationship between you and your wife?

Being a newly wed of three months, I never thought that I would know my wife on such an intimate level so soon. Normally at this stage I was sure that my biggest relational issues be trying to figure out which side of the bed to sleep on, or trying not to squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube the wrong way, and she would surely still not be aware of all my peccadillo’s, and heading for the hills J.

With cancer now a part of our relationship it has in all honesty helped me view my wife in a whole new perspective. This disease has exposed both of us to the core. Sitting on the sideling and watching her go through this is the ultimate test of my faith. I would trade places with her in a heartbeat, but, the sickening truth I have to face is that I can’t. However, I can stand with her and hold her hand through the whole thing. Being with her and seeing her handle this with such boldness and faith has given me a love for her that I could never put into words.

7. Have you had any other past experiences with cancer in a loved one?

Yes, unfortunately this is not an uncommon experience for me. Both of my grandfathers, my aunt (mom’s sister) and my mother have been diagnosed with some form of cancer.

My mother and her sister have both had spots of skin cancer removed from their bodies. My Dads Dad was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2001 and unfortunately passed away about two years later. My Mom’s dad was diagnosed with grade three colon cancer in the summer of 1996. He had a large part of his colon removed and intense chemo treatment there after to control the spreading of his cancer. I am happy to say that he has been cancer free now for the better part of 10 years. He recently went in for a check up and is cancer free and doing great.

8. Anything else you would like to share?

Nope. I think I have covered it all. If you read this and want to know more about us check out Lindsey’s blog.

Don't forget to enter our October J'Ollie Primitives GIVEAWAY!!

** October GIVEAWAY!! ** (NOW CLOSED)

The winner of the TrickyKnits Raspberry Lemonade Lariat is:
Sandy Toes from Shell In Your Pocket! Congrat's to our winner!

If you didn't win, NOW is your chance to enter our second October GIVEAWAY!!! That's right we are kicking off our J'Ollie Primitives Giveaway, right now!

We are giving away a CUSTOM 24" Metal Barn Star. The winner gets to browse through 26 different colors and chose one they like best.

* "Our heavy duty metal stars are individually made to order by an Old Order Amish family. Each star is cut and bent by hand by an Amish crafter. Our barn stars are constructed from 22 gauge metal, the thickness of a dime. The metal is galvanized to permanently prevent your star from rusting. We personally paint each star with Severe Weather exterior paint. Our stars come to you ready to hang indoors or outside. You can expect excellent quality and craftsmanship."

All you need to do to enter is go to J'Ollie Primitives site and look at all the colors they offer. Then come back here and tell us what color you like best... you might just win it!

For a second entry post about our giveaway on your blog.

It's that simple! Go enter now! Giveaway ends Wednesday, October 22.

*Thanks to Tricky for her fabulous lariat giveaway! I appreciate your support!

TODAY is your last chance to ENTER our GIVEAWAY!!

{ My Side of Things }

Nana’s Box is a nonprofit service committed to providing a photo box to cancer patients who are undergoing treatment. Nana's Box offers this service to the individual patient with the help and support of families, and those volunteers interested in the emotional support of cancer patients.

I started this project in an effort to support and honor my mom as she battles Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. My mom lives in another state which has prevented me from assisting her while going through her treatment. In an effort to comfort her as much as possible I made her a box full of pictures that had quotes on the back in hopes that it would make her smile, laugh and most importantly feel loved and supported. She absolutely loved it!!! The happiness this box gave her made me anxious to make them for others.

My Story:

August of 2004 was the day my life changed; I married my best friend. Of course the whole family came to the wedding.
I found this out months later, but during the visit for the wedding, my Mom had discovered some rather large bumps on the back of her skull. After returning home she told a friend about it, who referred her to her dermatologist. She had told my mom it was probably just some blocked pores. Her friend had been treated for the same thing.
During the visit with the Dermatologist he told my mom that this was something that he could not treat or diagnose. He suggested that she go see her Family Physician, we'll call him Dr. P.
During the visit Dr. P determined that my mom had some tumors, whether they were benign or not would need to be determined with a biopsy. At this time the number of bumps on my moms skull had increased to almost 15.

The week of Christmas was when my mom called to tell me that she had tumors on the back of her skull, but that she was not worried about it being cancerous and that with surgery everything would be fine. She asked me not to tell my siblings because she did not want to worry them for no reason. Being the oldest I felt like I needed to shield my siblings from this terrible news, so I agreed to keep her secret.

The end of January my mom had her biopsy done, and we waited for the results. On February 14, my life completely changed, again.... I found out I was pregnant with my first baby. Amidst all the excitement of the pregnancy and the first grandchild in the family, my Mom was diagnosed with B Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

That was the day my life truly changed.

I went through mountains of emotions. I was pregnant with my first child, I had no idea what I was doing, I needed my mom here to help get through all this. And here she was sick with cancer and about to go on aggressive experimental treatments. Because the lymphnodes where attached to the back of her skull, which had increased to over 20 lumps, they could not do surgery. Chemo was the only option. My mom decided to try a new chemo drug, Retuxin, which only targets the cancer cells. It was meant to be less harsh then other chemo drugs. But the effectiveness on getting rid of the cancer were still being studied.

At the end of February my mom decided it was time to tell my siblings about the cancer and the treatments that would be taking place shortly. It was hard news to deliver. My family at the time was very spread out, my sister and I lived in Utah at the time and my parents were in Missouri with my youngest brother. The second oldest, my brother, was going to school in Nebraska. None of the oldest children would be around to help care for my mom, and the youngest at home was still in high school.

The agony of not being at home to care for my Mom during her chemo treatments was felt through all the kids. I felt it especially hard. I knew that being the oldest I should be caring for my mom, it was responsibility, but I was thousands of miles away. I considered flying home for treatments but I was nearing graduation, my last semester of college and finals were coming up. My mom was no help either, she would not tell me when her treatments were, so that I could plan flight schedules, she didn't want me to put my life on hold to come home and care for her. It was hard, very hard, to sit at home with very little knowledge of how bad the cancer was, how sick she was, or who was taking care of her. It sucked bad.

In May of 2005, I graduated from college and was completely surprised to see my mom waiting for me as I walked into the arena to get my diploma. She had flown out to Utah to see me walk. I admit she looked better than I expected. Her gorgeous, long hair had thinned, but was still there. Her beautiful brown eyes still had that spark but dark circles had found a place underneath them. Of course, she had gained some weight, thanks to the chemo, but it just made her that much more wonderful to hug. When her short visit was over I was so sad to see her leave. She was getting ready to continue round 2 of chemo, at a higher dose. Months of chemo passed.

In September I gave birth to our first baby, a little girl. At that time, my mom was off chemo and in what they said was "remission". She came out to stay with us for a month after I had the baby. Shortly after her return home she relapsed and went back on treatment.
This is when the idea to make her a box came about. I was sick of not being able to be there for her. There was new life in our family, a first grandchild, a new hope for me mom. So, I gathered some of the best photos of my daugther, photos of my siblings and I as children, photos of my parents in the early years and I put inspiring quotes and scriptures on the back of them. I then created and decorated a small box that would contain the photos. I sealed it with love and sent it to my mom. This would start a pattern of her taking her box to treatments and the nursers "ooh-ing" and "awe-ing" over the new grand baby. As my daugther grew, so did the pictures in my moms box. She would continue to add more photos.

The joy that was brought to my mom through a simple box of photos was very healing for me. I felt as though I was able to finally help out and care for my mom. In an effort to keep that healing feeling I began to make boxes for others who were in the same situation as my mom. the amount of joy that has come from making these boxes cannot be put into words.

In December of last year my mom finally went off of chemo treatment's after having them every month for 2 1/2 years. They said she was officially in remission.

{Fabulous Feature Friday- Breast Cancer at 25}

I have a new bloggy friend, Lindsey, over at Pleasant Drive. She is a religious, newlywed of 4 months, who was living the dream life. In August of this year, she was at her sister-in-laws wedding, as Lindsey was changing she looked down and noticed a "...small, rounded bump just below the skin on my left breast. Immediately, I ran my fingers over the bump, all the while thinking, "Hmm? I've never noticed that before." This little guy felt hard, but movable, so I didn't worry too terribly about his presence." About a month later she was diagnosed with grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma... Breast Cancer. This was less than a month ago. Still dealing from the news of her diagnosis and a recent surgery, Lindsey has taken the time to share her story with us:

- How did you tell your family and friends?
They knew from the time that I was having an ultrasound that I had a lump. Since I was so young, we just assumed that it was benign. As soon as I got the call (I was at work), I called my husband. Then I called my parents and sister, they circled around me for the rest of the day to get a game plan in place.

- Do you have a family history of Breast Cancer?

My paternal grandmother was diagnostic at 58 with breast cancer.

-What was your life like before cancer?

Footloose and fancy free. I’m a newlywed of 4 months.

-What is bringing you hope and courage during the scary times?

My Jesus - the Great Healer and Physician. If I wasn't a person who believed in the power of God and prayer, I really don't think that I'd be able to pull myself out of the bed in the morning.

- How has cancer changed your life?

Blessings - it has made my new marriage rock solid. It has given me a love for my husband that is unbelievable. It has forced me to rely on God for my daily strength and hope. It has given me time with my family. It has forced me to think about my stance and plans for many important issues. It has allowed me to tell others about the joy that I have in my heart.

Hardships - I have temporarily lost some of my freedom - to drive, to shower, to cook, to work, to clean, to do laundry. If I'm honest about myself, I would say that I'm a very vain person, and it's hard for me to look a little disfigured for a while.

-How has it changed the relationships between you and your family and friends?

STRENGTHENED THEM - BIG TIME! Literally hundreds of people have given of their time, effort, resources, energy, knowledge, prayers, etc to support Brian and I during this difficult time. It is VERY overwhelming to know that people love us so much. And, I can talk about almost anything now with my close family members. I'm telling you, cancer stinks, but it has some enormous blessings. It's a huge reality check!

To read more about Lindsey and her story click here to visit her blog.

I was linked to Lindsey's blog through a series of links from other blogs. I was so touched by the many posts I read about Lindsey and the kind of person she is that I had to check out her space. I read her story and was immediately touched. I knew she was the perfect candidate for our Friday features. No one in their right mind, at 25, thinks they will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Her story just goes to show how important it is to be in tune with your body, no matter your age. Thank you Lindsey for taking the time and energy to share your story with us! My prayers and thoughts go out to you, your hubby, and your family at this time.

Stay Strong and Fight Hard!

As always DON'T FORGET TO ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY!!!
See the post below...

** GIVEAWAY TIME ** (NOW CLOSED)

TODAY we are launching our TrickyKnits Giveaway!!

We are giving away this beautiful, handmade, Lariat- in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.* Freshly crafted with 2 soft cotton yarns: a flirtily knotted and tied yarn in cool cream and a hot pink novelty yarn with tufted little bursts that remind me of ripe raspberries.

Measures a generous 60" with plenty of fringe so you can whip it, tie it, belt it, wrap it
- whatever strikes your fancy.

It's easy enter- all you have to do is go to TrickyKnits site, look around and then come back HERE, leave me a comment telling me which color Lariat you like the best. It's that's simple!

For a second entry, all you have to do is add us to your list of "blogs that you follow". (found at the bottom of your dashboard.)

That's it.... so what are you waiting for? Go enter now!
Giveaway runs from Oct. 8 - Oct. 15!!

People don't die of Breast Cancer...

.... They die of Metastatic Breast Cancer.

I saw this title on a fellow bloggers post and was immediately intrigued. She found this article that talks about Metastatic Breast Cancer and how it is becoming a chronic disease. Statistics show that those diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer will be dead in 2-3 years. Whoa, that is crazy!

So, your probably thinking "What is metastatic breast cancer?" Metastatic breast cancer is the term used to describe cancer that has spread from the original site in the breast to other organs or tissues in the body. Another name for metastatic breast cancer is secondary cancer or advanced cancer. If you have previously been diagnosed with breast cancer and your breast cancer comes back in your breast or in another part of your body it may also be said you have a recurrence of your original cancer. (www.breasthealth.com)

I then did some research and read about the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network. MBCN is a national independent advocacy group of and for individuals with metastatic breast cancer. We give those living with stage 4 breast cancer a greater voice in the breast cancer community.

My knowledge of breast cancer and what it is exactly is so limited. Yet, I am quick to wear a pink ribbon of support and do my part in cancer awareness and research. I am grateful to those women who are living with metastatic who use their voice to educate the community on this silent killer. To read this article in it's entirety click here. For more info on the MBCN see their website.

{ An Army of Women }

On the Today Show last week, there was a segment with Dr. Susan Love, about the launch of a new way to fight Breast Cancer. It's called the Army of Women.

The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and the Avon Foundation, a global leader in breast cancer research, joined forces to launch the Love/Avon Army of Women.

Our revolutionary initiative has two key goals:

• To recruit one million healthy women of every age and ethnicity, including breast cancer survivors and women at high-risk for the disease, to partner with breast cancer researchers and directly participate in the research that will eradicate breast cancer once and for all.
• To challenge the scientific community to expand its current focus to include breast cancer prevention research conducted on healthy women.

Join us in this movement that will take us beyond a cure by creating new opportunities to study what causes breast cancer—and how to prevent it. (excerpt taken from www.armyofwomen.org)

This is how it works: Women who are interested register on the Love/Avon Army of Women website, providing very basic information such as name, age, city, and state of residence. Army staff notify volunteers via email about studies that need volunteers. These emails describe the study, criteria to participate, and what is involved. Women who fit the criteria respond to the email to express their interest. Army staff then contact these women to let them know how to take part.

It's that easy. I am registered, it's just another way that I plan to help fight the battle against cancer.... any and all cancers! So, what are you waiting for? Go register today! And yes, if you are a breast cancer survivor you can register too.

(all information was taken from the Army of Women love/Avon website)

{ Donate a FREE Mammogram }

The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' for free (pink window in the middle). This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.
Click here to go to the web site!

{ Fabulous Feature Friday }

Since October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month it seems only fitting to do this Fridays Fabulous Feature Friday on a Breast Cancer Survivor.
While doing some research and blogging I came across
Jill's blog: " Dancing With Cancer: living with Mets, the "New Normal",
and was touched by her words and her fighting spirit. She has been kind enough to let me share her story with all of you. The following is an excerpt from her blog, click on the title to read the full story:

My Cancer Journey (Round 1: 1999)

This is the story of how I found my cancer, got through treatment, and came out the other side

One night in November 1998, I decided it was time to do a breast self-check. I wasn’t in the habit of checking every month, and I don’t really know what prompted me to check that night, but the lump I found was immediately detectable to my untrained hand. It felt like a small pea under my skin.

I called my doctor right away, and she arranged for me to have a mammogram upon returning from our planned vacation. While we were away, I checked the lump daily. It didn’t changed.

I had the mammogram in January 1999. The technician said it was hard to see the lump on the x-ray, so she wanted to conduct a biopsy. When I asked the doctor for her opinion, she told me it was most likely malignant.

The mammogram and biopsy took place on a Friday. Monday was Martin Luther King Day. As you can imagine, it was a long weekend! On Tuesday a call confirmed my fears – the lump was cancerous.

Fortunately, I had limited side effects from the chemotherapy -- no hair loss (I didn’t take Adriamycin), very little nausea, and some weight gain (an unfortunate side effect for women). I did begin early onset of menopause, which is a common, but seldom mentioned, side effect. The symptoms of menopause continue to come and go, and I’d be happy to tell you my tricks for living with hot flashes!

Radiation treatment was, for me, the easiest part of the whole cancer experience. I went to the hospital every day for seven weeks. The radiation treatments lasted for only a few minutes, and I could go on with my life. I developed quite a suntan on my left breast, which took almost a year to fade.

I now participate in a lymphedema support group through Cancer Lifeline. Knowing other women living with this condition has made things easier for me. I still get frustrated when I can’t move my arm as easily as I’d like, or when I want to wear a short-sleeved shirt and feel conspicuous about the compression sleeve. My loving husband gives me a manual lymphatic drainage massage very night.

What can you learn from my cancer experience?

1. Check your breasts every month. Make it part of your regular schedule, like getting a haircut. Check on the first day of the month, or on the last day of your menstrual period, but check regularly! Make sure you have a base line mammogram at age 35, and that you get one every year after age 40. It’s worth the temporary discomfort to catch a lump early.

2. If you have a lump, or if a regular mammogram reveals a lump, go for treatment right away. Although I’m glad we took that vacation, I wouldn’t have waited another week for the diagnosis.

3. If you learn that you have cancer, don’t despair. There are only two choices with cancer, and I think deciding to die is a bad idea. Fight your cancer with every tool at your disposal. My chemotherapy nurse once told me that since I thought of chemo as medicine, my body tolerated it better than if I thought of it as poison. When people offer to pray for you, accept graciously. Believe in the efficacy of prayer, no matter the source.

4. If you decide to have surgery, minimize your risk of lymphedema and request sentinel node dissection. My only regret is that Providence began using this surgical procedure, which removes a single lymph node for testing, exactly one month after my lumpectomy.

5. Remember that you’re not alone. Cancer Lifeline, the American Cancer Society, and many other local and national organizations can match you with a survivor whose experience parallels your own. As a dear friend told me, if you don’t tell people what’s wrong, how can they help you? You don’t have to fight cancer alone.

The newest addition to the Nana's Box Family

I recently had the privilege of making a Nana's Box for a fellow blogger.
Tina, of Tina Bug Time, had been following my blog for a while and had decided to ask if we make boxes for survivors. I was more than happy to make one for someone who has fought the battle.

Tina's Mom, Janis, is a 3 year survivor of Renal Cell Carcinoma. Renal Cell Carcinoma is the most common type of Kidney Cancer in adults.
She is the Nana to a 5 yr old girl and a 3 month old boy. She is a nurse and loves to help people. She also lived in Korea for a year doing missionary work after she first got married.I am so happy to have been able to make this box for Janis.
I wish her the best in the years ahead, and continue to fight the fight!

{ 10 Myths about Breast Cancer }

Myth: Small breasted women do not get breast cancer.
A: False. Every woman is at risk regardless of breast size, race or socioeconomic status.

Myth: Breast cancer only affects older women.
A: No. While it's true that the risk of Breast Cancer increases as we grow older, breast cancer can occur at any age.

Myth: If you have a risk factor for breast cancer, you're likely to get the disease.
A: No. Getting breast cancer is not a certainty, even if you have one of the stronger risk factors, like a breast cancer gene abnormality. Of women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 inherited genetic abnormality, 40–80% will develop breast cancer over their lifetime; 20–60% won't.

Myth: If breast cancer doesn't run in your family, you won't get it.
A: No. Every woman has some risk of breast cancer. About 80% of women who get breast cancer have no known family history of the disease. Increasing age – just the wear and tear of living – is the biggest single risk factor for breast cancer. For those women who do have a family history of breast cancer, your risk may be elevated a little, a lot, or not at all.

Myth: Only your mother's family history of breast cancer can affect your risk.
A: No. A history of breast cancer in your mother's OR your father's family will influence your risk equally.

Myth: Birth control pills cause breast cancer.
A: No. Modern day birth control pills contain a low dose of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Many research studies show no association between birth control pills and an increased risk of breast cancer. However, one study that combined the results of many different studies did show an association between birth control pills and a very small increase in risk. The study also showed that this slight increase in risk decreased over time. So after 10 years, birth control pills were not associated with an increase in risk.

Myth: Eating high-fat foods causes breast cancer.
A: No. Several large studies have not been able to demonstrate a clear connection between eating high-fat foods and a higher risk of breast cancer. Excess body weight, IS a risk factor for breast cancer, because the extra fat increases the production of estrogen outside the ovaries and adds to the overall level of estrogen in the body.

Myth: A monthly breast self-exam is the best way to diagnose breast cancer.
A: While that is better than nothing, finding lumps and irregularities in breast tissue may be more difficult with wet, soapy fingers. The best way is while lying down, about a week after your period every month.

Myth: I'm at high risk for breast cancer and there's nothing I can do about it.
A: No. There are several effective ways to reduce—but not eliminate—the risk of breast cancer in women at high risk. Options include lifestyle changes (minimize alcohol consumption, stop smoking, exercise regularly), medication; and in cases of very high risk, surgery may be offered (prophylactic mastectomies, and for some women, prophylactic ovary removal). Be sure that you have consulted with a physician or genetic counselor before you make assumptions about your level of risk.

Myth: A breast cancer diagnosis is an automatic death sentence.
A: No. 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no signs of metastases (no cancer has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes). Furthermore, 80% of these women live at least five years, most longer, and many live much longer. Even women with signs of cancer metastases can live a long time. Plus promising treatment breakthroughs are becoming available each day.

Information was taken from Women's Health Care as well as Breast Cancer.org

{ and the winner is......}

#6- Maureen of Cooking my Life!! Maureen won a beautiful and handy Lyrehc1 Pink Ribbon Bag.
If you like what you see check out Lyrehc1's Etsy site for more amazing, handmade bags!!
Thank you Lyrehc1 for your donation!!!

Check back here on October 8 for our first Breast Cancer Awareness giveaway... a Raspberry-Lemonade Lariat by TrickyKnits.