Can you believe tomorrow is May 1st?

I can't believe how time just flies by. Tomorrow is May 1st. Taylor is going to be 11 years old on May 5th. She is growing up so fast. Today is her third day at science camp. I hope she is having a lot of fun.

I got my chest port out yesterday!!! They did it with only one incision instead of two like when they put it in. The area is a little sore but I'm feeling great. It is a big thing for me mentally to not have it anymore.

Josh's first bartending gig went great. He passed out some business cards and actually may have gotten me a lead for my processing company.

Besides that not much is going on. We are going to take Hailey to .31 cent ice cream at Baskin Robbins tonight. From my understanding, it is nationwide, so if you have Baskin Robbins, go enjoy an ice cream cone for .31 cents from 5 -10.

xoxo

NO MORE CANCER = NO MORE CHEST PORT

I am so excited, I finally have my surgery scheduled to get my chest port out!!! My Oncologist put the order in 3 weeks ago and I finally got the call today. My appointment is for Tuesday, April 29th!!!

Josh got his first bartending job. This Saturday he is doing a private birthday party in Oakland. He seems excited but a bit nervous. I'm sure he will do a great job.

Taylor leaves for science camp on Monday and will be gone for a whole week. I think I'm going to go crazy. She's never been gone for more than a day. I think Hailey will love it the first day or so, because there will be no one to fight with over the WII. But by the end of the week, Hailey will want her big sister home too! Taylor is bringing two disposable cameras, so I will share pictures with everyone once we get them developed. Developed?? I haven't gotten a role of film developed in years. Damn digital camera have me spoiled :)

Well, I'm not sure who even reads this anymore, but to all who do, I hope you had a wonderful week and have a fun weekend!

xoxo

Mr. Bartender

Josh got his bartending certificate today!!! He attended a course so he can look for some extra work. He had to take a written test and a speed test. He got 80 out of 84 on his written test and sucessfully completed the speed test; 12 drinks in 7 minutes!!! So if anyone is looking for a bartender, let me know!!

xoxo

mAss Kickers

I am so excited!!! My blog has been selected to be featured on a new website called wwww.masskickers.com (below I've copies some items from their website to give you an idea what mAss Kickers is all about)

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The MISSION of mAss Kickers is to EMPOWER patients and their loved ones through KNOWLEDGE and to make them feel less helpless when faced with an intimidating diagnosis.

mAss Kickers is a HUB for online resources to provide INFORMATION to patients and their loved ones.

As the power of the internet provides more information about one’s new diagnosis, the need for an online health store for the newly diagnosed patient and their loved ones has emerged. Patients are continually looking for information online. mAss Kickers will fulfill this need by offering links to diagnosis specific organizations, offer informational books by leading experts, and inspirational books by survivors of specific diagnoses to provide knowledge, courage, and strength in unity through this intimidating process.

mAss Kickers strives to:

• Promote courage for patients and their loved ones through unity and a fighting attitude.
• Offer support for the newly diagnosed patient, current patients, loved ones of patients, and survivors via a unique diagnosis specific discussion board
• Empower patients, their loved ones, and most importantly the newly diagnosed patient through knowledge
• Offer diagnosis specific books for purchase written by leading experts and inspirational survivors
• Offer links to diagnosis specific organizations
• Provide links to informational and inspirational videos for specific diagnoses.
• Fundraise for research and support in diagnosis specific organizations
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I wish I would have known about this website when I was diagnosed. It has so many resources. I remember being told I had Hodgkin's Lymphoma and thinking to myself...."what the hell is that?" I knew it was cancer but I knew nothing about it. I searched up and down to try and educate myself. The doctor's give you great handouts, but the internet has so much more information. This site is wonderful because it has all of the medical resources, but it also has one of the most useful resources I have found...links to other cancer patients and survivors. Being able to communicate with other cancer patients and survivors has made my journey with cancer so much easier. There are other people like me, I wasn't alone.

On the website, my blog is described as "A thoughtful and insightful blog by a survivor of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma who is in remission and looks towards a cancer-free future with her family." I couldn't have said it better myself, thank you mAss Kickers and thank you Eric for considering me.

xoxo

PET Scan Results

"NO EVIDENCE OF RESIDUAL OR RECURRENT HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA" - as written on the results of my PET Scan. I am so excited!!! My doctor also said is was okay for me to get my chest port removed!! I'm not quite sure of the date yet, but the order is in. I just wanted to share my good news! I hope everyone is doing well. Please take the time to read my blog regarding RELAY FOR LIFE 2008

xoxo

Relay for Life 2008

This year I have decided to get involved with Relay For Life. We (Josh, Jane, Taylor & Hailey) will be participating on June 21-22nd at Johansen High School in Modesto, California.

"At Relay, people from within the community gather to celebrate survivors, remember those lost to cancer, and to fight back against this disease. Relay participants help raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society in its lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a major health issue."

I'm asking you as a Cancer Survivor to please help me raise money to support the fight against cancer. There are two ways of raising money. One is a straight donation made to the American Cancer Society and the other is by donating $10.00 for a Luminaria? A Luminaria (pictured above) is simply a bag filled with sand and a small candle that makes it glow. Each Luminaria bears the name of a person who has battled cancer. There is a special Luminaria Ceremony at each Relay For Life event.

If you are interested in making a donation, please email me at janeandjosh@verizon.net.

xoxo