Why do I do the work that I do?

If I ever doubted why I do the work that I do, Saturday night at Art Bra Austin confirmed why I do what I do.   The clip above is less than 30 seconds long but this was Art Bra Austin in a nutshell. It captures the courage, beauty and sisterhood of these magnificent ladies.

Why was the evening so meaningful?  So many of my clients were there and thanked me for all my help or all the help of our organization.  We saw many doctors there supporting us, supporting the work that we do.  We had a large number of volunteers that were either clients or they love our mission work.  Some of our volunteers were there since 8 am until 11pm or even midnight!

 

This is the last video that I finally uploaded.  It still makes me cry each time I see it.  So THIS is why I do the work that I do.

I leave you with a picture of Dr. H and I. She is wearing 5 inch heels that actually matches my dress.  I don't know how she does it.  I'm also wearing wedge heels in this photo too, though you can't see them.  Isn't she the most fashionable and cutest?   Also, I haven't forgotten to blog about DC, that's next! 

Happy Mother's Day and My Last Visit with Dr. H

Happy belated Mother's Day!  The above picture was taken two years ago celebrating my youngest nephew's belated 4th birthday.  

As promised, I need to write up an update regarding my last office visit with Dr. H.  It pertains to Mother's Day so I saw it fitting to write about it today.

I saw her end of March since I've graduated to every six months follow-up.  I got off of Tamoxifen end of July and have been without treatment since.  Sleep and sorts were rocky the first few months but it makes sense since I was on Tamoxifen for so long.

I'm 10 months post Tamoxifen and I initially asked Dr. H if I could take a year off of treatment.  The key word is initially.  I'm finally starting to feel "normal," whatever normal is post treatment and now 35.  :)  I opened up the visit with her asking about children.  I don't know if that is an option in my future since I'm 35 and I'm single.  I'm pretty confident after the last FORCE conference and talking to the big breast cancer gurus that I'm not BRCA+.  I don't know if I want children but I don't know if I don't want children either.  I always thought one would be nice and two at the most.  I thinking meeting the one would make it a no brainer.  I don't foresee myself being a single mom since I'm uncertain if I would be able to be a good mom doing it by myself.  Besides her fab shoes Dr. H is always known for her one liners.  She leaned into me when I told her about being uncertain about being a single mom and told me, "Aren't we all single moms?"  In case you didn't know, her husband is also an oncologist and was probably in the office next door to us.  They have two boys.  :)

Anyway, she agreed that I could be off of treatment until I decide not to have children or until I was done having children.   She wants to to see the good folks at MD Anderson to be cautious.  (There is a back story to them also but not so important to add right now.)  So I'm thinking 39/40 the latest as my cutoff.  If not, adoption is always a possibility.

As for routine screenings, we're going to forgo the MRI since I'm allergic to the gadolinium and we're going to forgo the CT to minimize the radiation.  I will have a bilateral chest ultrasound this year and we'll decide about next  year when it comes.

Checking in on My Goals for 2012

As a reminder, my goals back in January:  
1. Guitar class
2. Cruise of Western Caribbean
3. DC for a conference and to meet up with an old friend that I haven't seen since 1997. (Never been to DC either)
4. Swim in 6 feet pool
5. Get my braces off!
6. Complete my professional development hours to renewal my teaching certificate
7. Get accepted to Project Lead

As of May 11, 2012 I can successfully check off 3 of my 7 goals:
1.  Went on my cruise and saw the most amazingly clear and beautifully blue water
2.  Just got back from DC and am energized to do more.  Lobby Day was an interesting experience but it was being surrounded by fellow advocates, the Supreme Court and other historical markers that made me realize that one person can make a difference.
3.  My braces came off the end of March!

Chitchen Itza-One of the new 7 wonders of the world.  My sweet roomie is in the back in the pink hat. 

San Francisco Beach @Cozumel

Last day out at sea and I got to witness the beautiful sunset

Where I'm at with the rest:
1.  I start my 1st of 4 guitar lessons on Monday.  I'm uncertain how much I'll learn in 4 lessons since I'm so musically decline.  Yes, I'm not using the word correctly but it really is the opposite of incline. But I might surprise myself and sing and play Smelly Cat beautifully after my 4 classes!
2.  I've done some swimming this year but not in the 6 feet pool.  Part of the reason is that I realized that I'm allergic to chlorine or some cleaning agent.  I used to think it was because I was swimming in an outdoor pool but I've only been swimming in indoor pools and have had massive sneezing attacks and red itchy eyes afterwards.  My sure how successful I'll be with this goal.  Stay tune!
3.  I've started working on my professional development so I'm pretty confident I'll be able to renewal my teaching certificate by the time it expires later this year.
4.  I have my forms for Project Lead so I'm in the process of applying for it.  To be continued!

Don't think this Iron Chef needs an introduction.  He was hilarious!  For the first time in 16 years I ate pork and beef over the weekend.  Detox was need after that weekend.

Spent time with Mary Ann and Summer at Food and Wine Festival.  We dined at Uchiko too. (Notice how I'm braces free and sporting my Zooey bangs)

How lucky and I to then turn around and see Michelle, Justin, Brooke and Brock.  (Brock was running around)

I have more to add and more pictures to post but this will have to be enough for now.  April and May were a whirlwind of activities and special surprises.  I also need to recap my last visit with Dr. H.  So more to come in my next post.