tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46971041571318745352024-02-06T18:37:52.325-08:00Cure Lung Cancer NowHope is both the earliest and the most indispensable virtue inherent in the state of being alive. If life is to be sustained hope must remain, even where confidence is wounded, trust impaired. --Erik EriksonHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-82730458993853221082013-07-26T08:51:00.000-07:002013-07-26T08:51:17.317-07:00Trying to Stay Positive I've been somewhat avoiding writing a new post lately because the past few weeks have been full of ups and downs, and I didn't want to say something that I'd want to take back later. I decided to go to Massachusetts to visit my family (on my dad's side), and I've been here since July 10th. I spent a few nights in Maine with my aunt, grandfather, and cousins, but that ended horribly and I most likely will never talk to them again. I've been staying with my grandma ever since which has been nice because I'm the closest to her anyway. Me and my dad are actually hoping she'll move to New Jersey sometime very soon, because she's having a hard time living on her own and our family in New England really doesn't pay her the attention she needs.<br />
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My grandmother from Massachusetts was the <u>only</u> grandparent that I heard from during my diagnosis and recovery of lung cancer. My grandmother that's 300 miles away, isn't that a shame? I made sure my concerns about it were heard in Maine. Well, I addressed it the best I could anyway. Long story short.. A misunderstanding about who was driving my grandfather back to the shore house turned into attacking Heather (me), to my aunt bashing the way my father raised me and my brother among other things that completely shocked me, and so I felt it was my chance to express my feelings on my cancer experience and the little support I felt I got from that side of my family. Honestly, for the most part I'm sure it was completely ignored, because that's how it felt. <br />
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Basically I have virtually no relationship with most of my family members on both my dad and mom's side. <em>It is what it is</em>. I can only hope that one day I have my own family, which I hope to have a larger one, and I can start over fresh. For now, I can count on only one hand the family I talk to and would say I have a strong relationship with. <br />
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<strong>Some of the best family members in my life are...</strong><br />
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<strong><em>My father and grandmother</em></strong></div>
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<strong>They have always supported me whatever up and down my life goes through.</strong> <br />
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<u>Staying on a more positive note, here are some highlights of my trip so far:</u></div>
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On Sunday July 21st I attended an annual lung cancer event in Massachusetts called Paddlepalooza which benefitted both <a href="http://www.lungevity.org/" target="_blank">LUNGevity Foundation</a> and <a href="http://upstagelungcancer.org/" target="_blank">Upstage Lung Cancer,</a> a lung cancer non-profit in Massachusetts. To learn more about this annual event you can go to: <a href="http://2013paddle.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1048721" target="_blank">http://2013paddle.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1048721</a></div>
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I went to this event with my grandmother. And I recently learned that her father died of lung cancer. I never knew that. </div>
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I went to <a href="http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farm.php?farm=1433" target="_blank">McCray's Farm</a> with my grandmother where we got GREAT homemade ice cream!! It's the best, they have so many flavors, and you surely can't find that in NJ :-)</div>
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Me and my grandma went to <a href="http://www.mohawktrail.com/" target="_blank">The Mohawk Trail</a>, which is our favorite place to go! They were having a festival, which is more like a townie thing but anyone can go. We are going back in a few weeks to a cabin at <a href="http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/region-west/mohawk-trail-state-forest.html" target="_blank">The Mohawk Trail State Forest</a>. I am really looking forward to it!!</div>
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<em>I got to make my own glass pendant!</em></div>
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I've been going to <a href="https://www.mtholyoke.edu/" target="_blank">Mount Holyoke College</a> to run, but it's not the same as NJ. The trail is okay, but it's only a mile long, there's horse poop all over, it's heavily wooded and the Mosquitos are just nuts here even during the day! Today I hiked for about an hour at Mt. Tom and I took my dog, Oscar, with me. </div>
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That's about all for now. Overall, I am having a good time and making the best of the down days. I am excited to get home (the first week of September)and have a HOAGIE from WAWA!!!<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-91169577536760394392013-06-02T21:00:00.000-07:002013-06-02T21:00:00.844-07:00Hope Summit (3 of 3): My favourites There were some most memorable moments at this year's Hope Summit. Here are my top 5...<div><br></div><div>(1) The Hugger & George </div><div><i>As some people in the group were telling their personal stories with lung cancer one man explained how he hugged everyone during his treatment. He was a very tall man with an even larger heart. George, a 18 year lung cancer survivor, followed shortly after him. As George spoke he lost his words in the weight of what a cancer diagnosis can do to a person - even after 18 years. As George began to tear up so did many others including myself, and someone said "someone give him a hug". You know who stood up? The man who than iconically became known the rest of the weekend as 'The Hugger'. And everybody in the room came to a roaring clap. That was a beautiful moment in Hope Summit history. </i></div><div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAL_DBidXw8tnq8u3iJUAWZMrt9NU2JYBzZaMKme13xAyxpRtNZTVsHJI_RH7pXPFNytFOfdWDKrHRQ7dfeD-9QJyRK4CPUerTGfTT1iBHpiBUo4I0X0Jfpi2SjLFVg3tEROOmcCWU_svb/" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br> <i><br></i></div><div>(2) Meeting Jessica</div><div><i>I had been following Jessica's blog for months before finally meeting at Hope Summit. Jessica is only a few years older than I am, and she's been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Please check out her blog at:</i></div><div><i><a href="http://stageiv.wordpress.com/author/fox220/">http://stageiv.wordpress.com/author/fox220/</a><br></i></div><div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VJ0k5JTlAqKi9AQpsyXjd63X3UeyB6r8o1_ekCfYVrl_WWkbVMDJOi0kUACY_LL6-OgL2bDlmzDvYJ649TWQsi1b5yCBiicuWYHgKFmxtU_E0Zscp4EeBn1g4fs8DsbscY3vv7-KL5ad/" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br>(3) Meeting new friends & reconnecting with old ones</div><div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmQ7DgaTddu1Ql-vmtlUQoM1_J9fKCk1G_UXyNCwb5VNjl36tcoogwEtBbruKfYr3PViT9Ru1G-6lpADkWzPgKqwYr_SEB_-EUS66aUNL8l9HEDu-e_TPLIUs80SU1Y1xErRMNL56hY6d/" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br></div><div>(4) Taking the Washington, DC bus trip with other survivors</div><div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFyqQf21f_K8Hw71a6YIAYxDcLqKuyQiEiUioxr9kWzjfo4JbVWaE2DKzodDU7FSaa9SY3FllbapwYP1jRdaQI_eqj6CgUQihuWDlHSsDquwf0aw0n289s5alPmJi-yCe62P1nlVvjdE8/" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br></div><div>(5) The inspirational speach made by Dr. Lynne Elderidge on Hope Summit's opening day</div><div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qiqvQRC4lqRPSQFmYJeuPDzcozaWPGqrHuF9_CN-bkrwEV2ofSr-5jZ6QO8eTFYI0-XtNLFwiGOHlxBMBmqFOq2LTRjHtCUn0Mqv12Z62Lco5jDMEf9QCSxMk2ljAvW1TIrAIsYOG7eK/" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> <br></div><div><br> <br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-84618710617975883482013-05-30T00:00:00.000-07:002013-05-30T00:00:14.479-07:00Mark your calendar!<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Watch me on the ABC 6 news segment called Perspective New Jersey on Saturday June 1st between 5:30am-6:00am.</strong></div>
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I'll try to get an embedded video or link to the video for all of you not within the Philadelphia/New Jersey area!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-18806225760054036862013-05-26T21:00:00.000-07:002013-05-26T21:00:10.833-07:00Hope Summit (2 of 3): Memories to last a lifetimeHere are some more photos from this year's Hope Summit:<div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wR8oqwf0J-KzYA7UwjNPjx6_QdnYfduYaqe51yDXloZHbbIi9qzI7SpKCAGbaTkSDI_nUi1zj-ziSVziSvkLxnq7CWOIiRgs_ivuZXltM_qRqzxAfoESzc9-DisNkIykZDTHNUVmKAUk/" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpR0TzYwy5kGWoolKW1WlsnUiRnSlhKYtdsFe9Wz50nYqoLsPxehUPMOAkvTVVRLc8vl0X_RDFj6dh1NUT0PHr2-gcY9frtJJXpdYrj5uOQ3ksbJ85zVl-_hrkllJaF9VSUCRd1v-yzul/" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><br></div><div>To learn more about Hope Summit, please go to: <a href="http://www.lungevity.org/hope">http://www.lungevity.org/hope</a></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br><br> <br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-9677387574585736712013-05-25T04:43:00.000-07:002013-05-25T06:08:41.964-07:00My pets helped me through my recoveryI woke up this morning as I always do giving love to my pets - my dog, Oscar, my cat, Jack. My pets have been through it all with me. When I felt nobody understood me during my lung cancer diagnosis, my pets were there. When I was in horrible pain after my surgery, my pets were there. And when some friends and family members were virtually non existent, my pets were there. That is why this blog post is dedicated to them. <div><br></div><div>My wonderful pets who also are their own best friends..</div><div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbgyqI0uXdnpcPtr8KT-HC_tL-s95mrjRCQSHjfNeHoWCucIpcsCIfy5sdvLLUpJTHaCoHxiJQhZsc0kWKSe8pv3PQei2FUdvuLduHUSX89viGn9c7eH-TRfFwdsgrBBjMLpmyy8d_iT_/" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br></div>Oscar is a Shih Tzu & Lhasa Apso mix, otherwise known as a Shih Lhasa. He is 8 years old, his birthday is in September, and I've been his mommy since he was about 3 months old. Oscar is usually a shy dog but once he warms up to you he's a bundle of energy. He loves taking rides in his doggy stroller, meeting new small dogs his size, going to the beach, and taking long car rides. Oscar also loves cats of all kinds and sizes! <div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEtzNS_Ler-ma84e7_J5rAUlK5WsLRvO2Z5A5_l1OWIsgGe7O5a9RML5PXcTVz9SJlPyoEjQG2tf-dYQgXrTyWJVCJ_Y948mQHEypbN0KtC25CRfw_A3OC0yozbjhIHCmDY-RxU71L1e6/" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br>Jack is half Siamese, his mother was a pure breed. His father is unknown. Jack is nearly 4 years old. I've been Jack's mommy since he was about one month old. Jack is very talkative and will tell you when he wants something whether it be food or just attention. Jack is a momma's boy will do anything to fight for my attention. He loves cat nip, putting Oscar's toys in his mouth then tossing them downstairs, laying on his 7 foot cat scratcher, and getting some sun outside on my second floor porch. <div><div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGt5bNwLgx96-9_PUEUAT3IeNgrA43IWktTVamq4-oEic8gniMdQpt1p6n8YgmZsNLXBW0PB5YQfcOrU1bG8sJejz89Ks4XPgxE3spB818G378RMBraCOM4t1xlmAUhaKgTTJ5Xw6gOko-/" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> <br></div><div><div><div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-12629156055299599702013-05-22T11:07:00.000-07:002013-05-22T11:15:57.270-07:00Watch out for me!<span style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 16px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Watch out for me on the ABC 6 news segment with Nora Muchanic! I was filmed today at the studio in Philadelphia talking about my personal story with lung cancer as well as <a href="http://www.lungevity.org">LUNGevity Foundation</a>. </span><div><span style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 16px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBG-hky_OtoB6WlaX95E8k5MhB0lA9_p8dLgXdiF5G_KlxfgZrPy8MUDxD207CozzGw0RpaoWUYKC4VMPxsxzVoeJ5qwxWswAgQdO44ieHBpnDPizV-1Cm7WPXJ9La650NTeLbCIt30QxC/" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><br></div>When I know for sure when it will air I will let you know, and for those not in the Phila/NJ area I will do my best to get a link and/or embedded video! :-)<br><br> <span style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 16px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-84551161738824319662013-05-13T00:00:00.000-07:002013-05-13T00:00:07.619-07:00Hope Summit (1 of 3): Thank you LUNGevity Foundation!There is so much to say about 2013 Hope Summit. I suppose first and foremost there should be a brief about its history. So for those who are not familiar with Hope Summit. Hope Summit is an annual gathering of lung cancer survivors (including caregivers - this year) for lung cancer survivors by <a href="http://events.lungevity.org/site/PageServer?pagename=homepage" target="_blank">LUNGevity Foundation</a>. I attended the first ever Hope Summit only a few years ago after being newly recovered from invasive thoracic surgery for removal of two-thirds of my right lung due to lung cancer. <br />
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<strong><em>Katie Brown (Director of Support & Advocacy) & I at 1st Annual Hope Summit</em></strong></div>
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Hope Summit is held once a year during the first weekend of May, however it is planning on an expansion in the near future. I will keep everyone updated on that. Hope Summit has changed my life because it has forever connected me with other lung cancer survivors just like myself. When I was first diagnosed with lung cancer, at the age of 24, I was overwhelmed with the "how did this happen to me?" and "was this my fault?" questions that I now know that many lung cancer survivors face. LUNGevity Foundation and Hope Summit have given me a sense of a "new normal". Although I know many people may not understand this, but I do feel that I have gained some sort of "closure" from my diagnosis of lung cancer. My cancer diagnosis does not haunt me, it doesn't depress me, and it doesn't consume my existence (at least not negatively- ha!). If you could ever feel a sense of peace after being told something truly horrible and then overcoming it, that's my closure - LUNGevity gave me that..<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwowsVX4qrwmPPlYag-Jr4_wvhX1_SGZBmHmGmzaiDhnfl-unyndUw9evD5aKjNNh39OrGzVkE0Rm7vwmOxVQwPveKrtBmX3Lhcmy4pcv2HPOgplZ4H8jML6VbmavuJ7Fk0Qdtkp-6uwQ/s1600/268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwowsVX4qrwmPPlYag-Jr4_wvhX1_SGZBmHmGmzaiDhnfl-unyndUw9evD5aKjNNh39OrGzVkE0Rm7vwmOxVQwPveKrtBmX3Lhcmy4pcv2HPOgplZ4H8jML6VbmavuJ7Fk0Qdtkp-6uwQ/s320/268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><em>Me and Anna from LUNGevity </em></strong></div>
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<strong>I am 100% dedicated to LUNGevity Foundation and all that they do. I would like to dedicate this blog post to the LUNGevity Foundation staff.. This for all of those LUNGevity Foundation staff who I've met thus far and those I have yet to meet. Everyone at LUNGevity has a personal story with lung cancer and I respect that about this organization. They may never know how much they have truly helped me as a young person diagnosed with cancer, but I will surely do my best to give back to my community because of it.</strong> <br />
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I feel so lucky everyday that I am alive. I am not a religious and spiritual person, but I do feel blessed for being diagnosed EARLY. I feel that I have been given a second chance, possibly even one of many to completely start over and look at life differently. I will never take my lung cancer diagnosis lightly by any means, and I do take this opportunity to spread awareness for a disease that does not have many advocates. I hope that one day lung cancer will be as widely acknowledged as breast cancer, and for that matter I hope that ALL CANCERS for as widely acknowledged as breast cancer one day! <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vWw9W47pwfo" width="480"></iframe><br />
Please check out this video created by Katie from LUNGevity Foundation!!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-86174435432369631592013-05-10T12:00:00.000-07:002013-05-10T12:08:56.611-07:00GUEST POST: My Caregiving Story<strong><em>The following guest blog was submitted by Cameron. If you'd like to have a guest post please refer to the following link '</em></strong><a href="http://heathergeraghty.blogspot.com/2012/10/be-guest-blogger.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff1800;"><strong><em>Be A Guest Blogger</em></strong></span></a><strong><em>' and e-mail me at </em></strong><strong><em><a href="mailto:LungCancerFundraiser@gmail.com" target="_blank">LungCancerFundraiser@gmail.com</a>.</em></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">On
</span><st1:date day="21" month="11" year="2005"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">November 21, 2005</span></st1:date></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">, just three months
after my wife and I became parents for the first time, our family was forever
changed again. That was the day my wife, Heather, was diagnosed with a deadly
form of cancer called malignant </span><a href="http://www.mesothelioma.com/mesothelioma/types/pleural.htm" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: black; color: blue;">pleural mesothelioma</span></a><span style="background-color: black;">. </span><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">This was also the day I took on the role of caregiver: a role
I readily accepted but was in no way prepared to assume.</span> </span> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYPnlB8ciwEChoE0Nihkz58C5urUzdTFN8zd3rptGsulmpyM2YXny5gx5A36I1fbNxZlIZPGeNvtgQgEIf4XjEBEaUS96wTmKJupbrZv-3oUO7_JhezzxC_KsvsAMZAUXmVSRc8t6H-Pi/s1600/Family.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYPnlB8ciwEChoE0Nihkz58C5urUzdTFN8zd3rptGsulmpyM2YXny5gx5A36I1fbNxZlIZPGeNvtgQgEIf4XjEBEaUS96wTmKJupbrZv-3oUO7_JhezzxC_KsvsAMZAUXmVSRc8t6H-Pi/s320/Family.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">Following
Heather's diagnosis, a time when we should have been focusing on our daughter's
first Christmas, our lives were thrown into turmoil. We were immediately faced
with various decisions regarding treatment. Heather's doctor walked us through
several options as to where she would receive treatments. After much
consideration, we decided on a hospital in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">Boston</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">, which, according to
Heather's doctor, employed one of the best mesothelioma specialists in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">United States</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">. </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span></span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">We
began making plans to get Heather to </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">Boston</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">. She had to quit her
full-time job while I made arrangements to reduce my hours at work. As for our
daughter, Lily, family members and close friends came to the rescue. Between our
loving family and friends, we were in no short supply of trusted, loving care
for our baby girl. For the help provided by loved ones during this time,
Heather, Lily and I will be eternally grateful. </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">During
this time, I tried my hardest to stay strong for my family. But try as I might,
I couldn't help but break down every now and then. I'd obsess over my wife's
illness and how we were going to get through it. My mind would play out the
worst possible scenarios. I'd imagine my life without Heather; I wondered how
Lily and I would make it without her if treatment didn't work. Coupled with
exhaustion, my stress nearly sent me over the edge. As solid as I seemed to be
on the outside, my insides were awash with fear, anxiety and utter desperation.</span>
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnh31fSHD7Znu4kYHh_NlJbHNiB3fr6b7eVNYYSGCUIqX2W_sYpTPyb5yfwzYoNRgW80Cf0SZ1N2__y3zoVOKMVUUG_fNIWwq75CLEzpyQamebDwlFidatCI_vtIZz6YlNpN86g1yPt_Z/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-07-26+at+8.01.02+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnh31fSHD7Znu4kYHh_NlJbHNiB3fr6b7eVNYYSGCUIqX2W_sYpTPyb5yfwzYoNRgW80Cf0SZ1N2__y3zoVOKMVUUG_fNIWwq75CLEzpyQamebDwlFidatCI_vtIZz6YlNpN86g1yPt_Z/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-07-26+at+8.01.02+AM.png" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">Being
a caregiver isn't easy. In addition to the chaos of appointments, work and
daily obligations, the mental challenges seem impossible to overcome. In our
case, we were blessed with the support of friends and family, without whom I
doubt we'd have made it through this. If there is one piece of advice I can
give to other caregivers, it's to ask for and accept help. In the uncertain
world of cancer, the smallest offering of support, be it financial, emotional
or physical, can provide a tremendous amount of relief. Don’t be too proud to
accept it.</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Now, over seven years later, Heather is 100
percent cancer-free. She underwent months of grueling</span> </span><a href="http://www.mesothelioma.com/treatment/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: black; color: blue;">mesothelioma treatment</span></a><span style="background-color: black;">, </span><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">and I
witnessed firsthand how incredibly strong and brave my wife is. Through all the
treatments and all the worry, we made it through to the other side. Together,
and with lots of help from loved ones, we survived and are better and stronger
than ever. Although I wouldn't want to relive the experience, I'm grateful for
all that I learned from my wife's illness. Most importantly, I learned that time
and family are precious, as are faith and hope: faith in ourselves and hope for
a brighter tomorrow</span>.</span> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeCVVFbJBEA1VgFv7DD1jXwHDkSb49qB0GfueekzsD-yGnHbozic8tvTotEYhlHdR_4trpBu1ZWnPthd9L5psRfZCKT8AQ1OLm8atYnzsEQpr6sm9XAI8hCYFQRJhmfMHnq8MdywPA2pF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-07-26+at+8.01.25+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeCVVFbJBEA1VgFv7DD1jXwHDkSb49qB0GfueekzsD-yGnHbozic8tvTotEYhlHdR_4trpBu1ZWnPthd9L5psRfZCKT8AQ1OLm8atYnzsEQpr6sm9XAI8hCYFQRJhmfMHnq8MdywPA2pF/s200/Screen+Shot+2012-07-26+at+8.01.25+AM.png" width="141" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;"><strong><u></u></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;"><strong><u></u></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;"><strong><u>To learn more about Cameron & his family, please go to:</u></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><a href="http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/cameron/" target="_blank"><strong>http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/cameron/</strong></a></o:p></span><br />
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<strong><em>The following guest blog was submitted by Cameron. If you'd like to have a guest post please refer to the following link '</em></strong><a href="http://heathergeraghty.blogspot.com/2012/10/be-guest-blogger.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff1800;"><strong><em>Be A Guest Blogger</em></strong></span></a><strong><em>' and e-mail me at </em></strong><strong><em><a href="mailto:LungCancerFundraiser@gmail.com" target="_blank">LungCancerFundraiser@gmail.com</a>.</em></strong>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-20144109719289515132013-05-03T10:09:00.000-07:002013-05-03T10:15:39.488-07:00Hope Summit bound!I am on my way to Hope Summit, hosted by LUNGevity Foundation. This will be my 3rd year attending! I am excited to meet new people, make new friends, reconnect with friends from previous years, and just have fun!! :-)<div><br></div><div>I will be posting photos and updating as often as I can. Please make sure to follow the corresponding Facebook page called Cure Lung Cancer Now.</div><div><br></div><div>To see photos and other media from previous Hope Summit years, go to:</div><div><span style="font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">http://heathergeraghty.blogspot.com/p/lungevitys-1st-annual-hope-summit.html?m=1</span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-17827459119226574972013-04-21T04:55:00.001-07:002013-04-21T04:58:18.490-07:00Recognizing my blog?How cool is this?!? I received an email yesterday from excite.com saying that they wanted to place my blog on their top 20 healthcare blogs, visible on their website under healthcare & education. They also asked that I put the image below on my blog:<br />
<a href="http://www.excite.com/education/healthcare"><img alt="Healthcare Degree" src="http://degreesexcite.s3.amazonaws.com/images/top-healthcare-blogs.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 10px auto; max-width: 202px !important; width: 90%;" /></a><br />
I didn't think this was real at first, because I've never been approached with something like it. But looks like it is - it's pretty cool!!<br />
<br />
I am sure I've only come to receive this much notice of my blog because of people like you that log in, read, return to the blog, share information, and interact with me via my blog.. THANK YOU! Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-48335326256393554182013-04-10T14:13:00.000-07:002013-04-10T14:56:14.062-07:00Progress is being made!I am so excited about <a href="http://www.lungevity.org/southjersey" target="_blank">Breathe Deep South Jersey's</a> progress already! I have landed already a hand full of $500 sponsorships, one of which is already visible on the event page. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQEyo80Cp_kqqUM42BY6cjqurUMoRYeyITMOPfC7e8KaBnRN4XPqrDWieAHCJtGOAnjVTVe86yxM1LbcSv9p8NPjgDYSOWNrWq3QjxJs9xySIpHidooAKcEBgUm-vfMKht9NVFA7Z5r_v/s1600/themo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQEyo80Cp_kqqUM42BY6cjqurUMoRYeyITMOPfC7e8KaBnRN4XPqrDWieAHCJtGOAnjVTVe86yxM1LbcSv9p8NPjgDYSOWNrWq3QjxJs9xySIpHidooAKcEBgUm-vfMKht9NVFA7Z5r_v/s320/themo.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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I wanted to take a moment to ask for your support as I journey through this new endeavor.</div>
<br />
If you are in New Jersey/Philadelphia area:<br />
<ul>
<li>Please consider attending this walk</li>
<ul>
<li>You can register at: <a href="http://www.lungevity.org/southjersey">http://www.lungevity.org/southjersey</a></li>
<li>Use promo code EARLYBIRD for $5 off!</li>
</ul>
<li>Calling all lung cancer survivors!</li>
<ul>
<li>NOW is the time to come out from the shadows, this walk not only honors you and celebrates your continued survival but gives hope for those still undergoing treatment. I want to see you! </li>
<li>Please contact me at: <a href="mailto:LungCancerFundraiser@gmail.com">LungCancerFundraiser@gmail.com</a> if you'd like to become a speaker at this year's walk, or simply just need someone to talk to :-)</li>
</ul>
<li>RALLY ON all you co-survivors (friends & family members of those diagnosed)</li>
<ul>
<li>Whether it is honoring someone or in memory of someone, come out! As you may or may not know, there aren't many lung cancer survivors actually living. And those who are surviving at times are afraid to come out from the shadows because of the stigma of lung cancer - restore their hope by supporting them!!</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-581253640760623212013-03-28T06:48:00.000-07:002013-03-28T06:50:53.151-07:00GUEST POST: Mesothelioma and Caregiving<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 10.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 7.5pt;"><strong><em>The following guest blog was submitted by Joseph. If you'd like to have
a guest post please refer to the following link '</em></strong><a href="http://heathergeraghty.blogspot.com/2012/10/be-guest-blogger.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff1800;"><strong><em>Be A Guest Blogger</em></strong></span></a><strong><em>' and e-mail me at <a href="mailto:LungCancerFundraiser@gmail.com">LungCancerFundraiser@gmail.com</a> </em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 7.5pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 7.5pt;">The role of caregiver is so important for mesothelioma patients.
They need someone to give </span><a href="http://www.weitzlux.com/mesothelioma-treatments_28930.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: blue;">mesothelioma treatment</span></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 7.5pt;">, physical support
and emotional support 24/7. They need to know that someone is there by their
side during this difficult time. The </span><a href="http://www.weitzlux.com/mesothelioma-life-expectancy_1962605.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: blue;">mesothelioma life expectancy</span></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 7.5pt;"> is very low, and
it's imperative that someone is there to give them the best chance of survival.
At the same time taking on this task is overwhelming, tiring and life-changing.
Caregivers need to take care of themselves so they are strong enough to take
care of their loved ones.<br />
<br />
In addition to being there for them caregivers will perform all household
chores. Washing dishes, washing clothes, ironing, cleaning, cooking and running
errands are just a few of the many things caregivers will have to do by
themselves. More household responsibility will become the caregivers' sole
responsibility. Examples are finances, giving out medicine, taking over daily
activities and scheduling appointments. Caregivers must be flexible. Changes in
health and need will happen rapidly and you must be ready to handle it at any
given moment. Patients deal with side effects of mesothelioma (such as tumor
problems, respiratory problems, fluid backup and weight loss) and caregivers
must help them through their side effects with mesothelioma treatment. They may
assist in bathing and dressing their loved one. They may provide transportation
and relaxation exercises. Depending on their condition and other factors there
may be more or less responsibilities for caregivers.<br />
<br />
This demanding support system and mesothelioma treatment can take a toll on the
caregiver. Physical, mental and emotional energy is drained. The best solution
is to provide self-care. It's not selfish to take care of yourself. You need to
do it so you can be healthy enough to take care of them. You want their mesothelioma
life expectancy to last well beyond the given time frame and it can't be done
if you're not well. Take a busy day to recharge your batteries. Enjoy life, get
some sleep, eat healthy and exercise. Having a mix of emotions ranging from
sadness to frustration to resentment is natural. Having your own support system
to get you through the rough patches is a must to keep you sane. Refusing to
take care of yourself will cause you to become ill.<br />
<br />
An alternative solution for caregiving is to have two or three people helping
out the patient. Along with you one or two other people can help ease some of
the burden of taking on all the responsibility. Give duties to each extra
person so they'll know what their responsibilities are. It will be easier to
take that much needed break; it gives the patient the best chance of beating
the mesothelioma life expectancy odds without breaking you in the process.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-75190531049496251642013-03-25T16:23:00.001-07:002013-03-25T16:23:50.456-07:00Breathe Deep South JerseyHello all!<br />
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Breathe Deep South Jersey is even more official then before! The link to the event is now live in <a href="http://www.lungevity.org/" target="_blank">LUNGevity Foundation's</a> website, you can find it here: <a href="http://www.lungevity.org/southjersey">http://www.lungevity.org/southjersey</a> AND the Facebook page is up at: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/breathedeepsouthjersey">http://www.facebook.com/breathedeepsouthjersey</a> AND the Twitter page is up at: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/breathedeepsj">http://www.twitter.com/breathedeepsj</a> <br />
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I hope you can continue to follow the walk on those medias!<br />
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There is so much to do with this walk, and it is all very exciting! I am contacting people about creating teams and participating, and businesses I am hoping that will sponsor, and I've already begun to receive donations for the live auction! I want to have vendors at the event, mostly geared toward health & wellness. My mom is basically my co-coordinator and she's been helping A LOT. We are trying to get people motivated and hope that we will get a great committee going. It is actually very difficult to find people that want to help! Ugh, I had faced worst situations. I tell myself that often when something is difficult. <br />
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Here are some photos from LUNGevity's annual coordinator conference that me and my mom attended a few weekends ago in Maryland. We learned all sort of new ideas on how to improve the walk, and we met other coordinators from across the country!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP571ThJdYV6hY1EG8D-cowsxlYf_xaCjQAIKiA4pjogFCQlrqBskqEBh27rIecan-at_NIl8X8isK9Hgqhewl7pe8MXxzCRdQoe29TaCsYIadK6JD9dMM26zCnxT0xgNibILh-R7-yFMP/s1600/BEdWg8ZCMAAKGBF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP571ThJdYV6hY1EG8D-cowsxlYf_xaCjQAIKiA4pjogFCQlrqBskqEBh27rIecan-at_NIl8X8isK9Hgqhewl7pe8MXxzCRdQoe29TaCsYIadK6JD9dMM26zCnxT0xgNibILh-R7-yFMP/s320/BEdWg8ZCMAAKGBF.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Until next time...Please check out this video! <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0Ta0paISQrw" width="640"></iframe><br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-91699242611750079022013-02-20T18:10:00.001-08:002013-02-20T18:10:54.044-08:00Breathe Deep South Jersey: It is Official!!It is official, I am the coordinator for Breathe Deep South Jersey! .. South Jersey's lung cancer walk formally called Heather Saler's Lung Cancer Walk.<br />
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Formally Heather Saler's Lung Cancer Walk, Breathe Deep South Jersey continues to raise critical funding for early detection research as well as raise awareness for lung cancer. From the beginning Heather Saler's Lung Cancer Walk focused on LUNGevity Foundation's ultimate vision of a world without lung cancer. Heather Saler, original coordinator of this walk, passed away at the age of 38 after surviving 5 years with lung cancer. Heather's legacy will forever live on, however the walk's title changes to Breathe Deep South Jersey. And although I never got the opportunity to meet Heather Saler personally, I will continue to stride toward her goal. My name is Heather Geraghty and I was diagnosed with stage 1A lung cancer at the age of 24. To coordinate this walk is an honor, and I intend to make a large splash as I continue this journey.<br />
Thank you for your support.<br />
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To learn more about me and Breathe Deep South Jersey...<br />
Cure Lung Cancer Now (Blog)<br />
<a href="http://www.heathergeraghty.blogspot.com/">www.heathergeraghty.blogspot.com</a><br />
Cure Lung Cancer Now (Original Facebook Page)<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/curelungcancernow">www.facebook.com/curelungcancernow</a><br />
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To learn more about Heather Saler...<br />
The Heather Saler Lung Cancer Walk<br />
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<!-- Facebook Badge START --><a href="http://www.facebook.com/BreatheDeepSouthJersey" style="color: #3b5998; font-family: "lucida grande",tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_TOP" title="Breathe Deep South Jersey">Breathe Deep South Jersey</a><br />
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<strong><em>The following guest blog was submitted by Kim. If you'd like to have a guest post please refer to the following link '<a href="http://heathergeraghty.blogspot.com/2012/10/be-guest-blogger.html" target="_blank">Be A Guest Blogger</a>' and e-mail me at <a href="mailto:LungCancerFundraiser@gmail.com" target="_blank">LungCancerFundraiser@gmail.com</a>.</em></strong></div>
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My uncle, William Thaddeus Stevens III or as we liked to call him Uncle Bill, was an extraordinary man; as a navy veteran, corporate lawyer and an amateur historian, he lived life to the fullest. Uncle Bill had graduated in May 1939 from Duke University and soon afterwards enlisted in the US Navy. As luck would have it, his first ship was USS Arizona and his first port of duty was Pearl Harbor. Uncle Bill was right in the middle of it when the Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on the morning of December 7, 1941 and was one of the survivors who managed to swim to safety. <br />
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After the war, Uncle Bill went to University of Chicago for Law school and practiced law in a prestigious firm in New York. While a corporate lawyer mainly, Uncle Bill was also intimately involved with the civil rights era and even worked for some time with the famous lawyer Herbert Wechsler on his Supreme Court brief in the matter of New York Times v. Sullivan, one of the most important cases of that era. This was before he was diagnosed with lung cancer, to which he succumbed a few months later, leaving behind a grieving widow and an adolescent son. It was a life well lived but cut painfully short because Uncle Bill would have gone places. Before being diagnosed with cancer, he was flirting with the idea of running for the House of Representatives and he would have been a great legislator.<br />
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Uncle Bill’s lung cancer came as quite a shock to everyone because as a health nut (before being health conscious was fashionable), Uncle Bill had kept away from smoking. He did enjoy the occasional cigar with scotch but that was it. It should not have been enough, on its own, to cause him lung cancer. So what caused it? This was around the time, when increasingly experts and medical researchers were pointing out that something was amiss with asbestos. At the time, I had just started med school at Harvard, where I came across a research paper on the use of <a href="http://www.sokolovelaw.com/legal-help/asbestos-diseases/asbestos-lung-cancer/lawyers/navy-asbestos-exposure" target="_blank">asbestos in navy ships</a>. On my prodding, father contacted a lawyer friend of Uncle Bill’s. They together came up with the plausible idea that Uncle Bill may have been exposed to asbestos on USS Arizona from 1939 to 1941. By pulling a few strings in Washington, father managed to confirm that those who served aboard USS Arizona did in fact get exposed to asbestos. Indeed a lot of those sailors who survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor were exposed to fumes of burning asbestos, causing them <a href="http://www.asbestos.net/diseases/lung-cancer" target="_blank">lung cancer from asbestos</a> exposure.<u></u><u></u><br />
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My aunt, Uncle Bill’s widow, and her son filed a lawsuit against the Navy. This lawsuit created quite a stir back then. The Navy was sued for not just the pain and suffering their actions had caused Uncle Bill’s family but also for loss of future earnings.<u></u><u></u><br />
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Lung cancer and asbestos have a direct nexus. In fact asbestos is the second most common cause of lung cancer. Navy veterans, sailors and those who have worked on Navy shipyards have high risk of developing asbestos related diseases, including <a href="http://www.mesotheliomahelpnow.com/Mesothelioma-Symptoms/Mesothelioma-Lung-Cancer" target="_blank">mesothelioma and lung cancer</a> from asbestos.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=culucano-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000DZDSII&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=culucano-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0199534853&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=culucano-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B006M5U5C0&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
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<strong><em>The following guest blog was submitted by Kim. If you'd like to have a guest post please refer to the following link '</em></strong><a href="http://heathergeraghty.blogspot.com/2012/10/be-guest-blogger.html" target="_blank"><strong><em>Be A Guest Blogger</em></strong></a><strong><em>' and e-mail me at </em></strong><a href="mailto:LungCancerFundraiser@gmail.com" target="_blank"><strong><em>LungCancerFundraiser@gmail.com</em></strong></a><strong><em>.</em></strong></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-27008304543086260012013-01-29T17:38:00.000-08:002013-01-29T17:38:48.888-08:00Heather's MUST HAVE Books!I LOVE to read! I don't always have time to read as much as I'd like, but I when I do sit down one of my favorite book genre is self-help. Do you have a favorite book that relates to cancer? If so, post a comment below and tell me about it!<br />
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The following are on my MUST HAVE list:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592981593/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1592981593&linkCode=as2&tag=culucano-20">Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time: Practical Advice For Preventing Cancer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=culucano-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1592981593" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<li>Written by the fabulous <a href="http://lungcancer.about.com/bio/Lynne-Eldridge-MD-41387.htm" target="_blank">Lynne Eldridge</a>, MD</li>
<li>Lynne is a breast cancer survivor that dedicates her life to advocacing for lung cancer</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaQiMAyUhhlLs-9I_r3ZWgK2aXI-M9X_CS4CPnW09USlwXvUBThdCVSSxzGvC7WePOWpUsOh_sVt22LSlctkrYnef_IE1fmcJNS8ELISnZtMU8KV8e-IWFk3Zo30DX87xG6JWase6Atgd/s1600/photo+%25281%25291111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaQiMAyUhhlLs-9I_r3ZWgK2aXI-M9X_CS4CPnW09USlwXvUBThdCVSSxzGvC7WePOWpUsOh_sVt22LSlctkrYnef_IE1fmcJNS8ELISnZtMU8KV8e-IWFk3Zo30DX87xG6JWase6Atgd/s320/photo+%25281%25291111.jpg" width="240" /></a><strong><em>Photo of me and Lynne at LUNGevity's Hope Summit 2012</em></strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1467901628/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1467901628&linkCode=as2&tag=culucano-20">Perspectives of a Flying Elephant: My First Year in the Land of Lung Junk</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=culucano-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1467901628" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<li>Written by <a href="http://flyingelephantbook.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Teri Simon</a></li>
<li>Teri IS a lung cancer survivor. She passed away December 2012 but her memory lives on within her writting.</li>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/158761149X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=158761149X&linkCode=as2&tag=culucano-20">Help Me Live, Revised: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=culucano-20&l=as2&o=1&a=158761149X" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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Written by <a href="http://lorihope.com/helpmelive/" target="_blank">Lori Hope</a></div>
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<li>Lori is also a lung cancer survivor. Lori passed away sometime last year, and like Teri her writtings live on.</li>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934184004/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1934184004&linkCode=as2&tag=culucano-20">Voices of Lung Cancer: The Healing Companion: Stories for Courage, Comfort and Strength (Voices Of series)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=culucano-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1934184004" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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Published by LaChance & Edited by The Healing Project</div>
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I encourage you to read all the stories within this book, but please take some special notice to:</div>
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Lori Hope - Page 15</div>
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Heather Saker - Page 63</div>
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Jamie Young - Page 169</div>
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<li><a href="http://www.choosehope.com/product/chicken-soup-for-the-cancer-survivor-s-soul-book" target="_blank">Chicken Noodle Soup for the Cancer Survivor's Soul</a></li>
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<li>Published by the original bestselling series</li>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-75644088498194650722013-01-28T18:12:00.005-08:002013-01-28T18:14:12.448-08:00Help me to get Hope Summit 2013!!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpa6XFI2f8EM86bYWjXGoIJsdEajNGg2cXFxAEEtWSXz07s_j3xrIDV50-aVjnXbQXOuz3iuHO7NO_p42AMwmrYE7dqjOD6s9QiKBbUoqO18GqBnzuHQw1UxyFDRJIHKu8LyiieClskC4/s1600/e116d4f0a3a711e19dc71231380fe523_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpa6XFI2f8EM86bYWjXGoIJsdEajNGg2cXFxAEEtWSXz07s_j3xrIDV50-aVjnXbQXOuz3iuHO7NO_p42AMwmrYE7dqjOD6s9QiKBbUoqO18GqBnzuHQw1UxyFDRJIHKu8LyiieClskC4/s320/e116d4f0a3a711e19dc71231380fe523_7.jpg" width="320" /></a>I am asking for your support yet again for a very special <a href="http://events.lungevity.org/site/PageServer?pagename=v2_AboutUs" target="_blank">LUNGevity Foundation</a> event that is close to my heart. Every year, for three years this year, is hosting an event only for lung cancer survivors that is called <a href="http://events.lungevity.org/site/TR?fr_id=3910&pg=entry" target="_blank">Hope Summit</a>. It is a wonderful event that brings lung cancer survivors from all over the world together for a weekend long gathering. <br />
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As I am sure you know, funding for lung cancer is not nearly as much as other cancers. This funding applies to nearly every aspect of lung cancer from research dollars to survivor assistance funding. Please help me raise at least $1,000 so that I can continue to attend Hope Summit. I encourage you to share the following link for my fundraising site at LUNGevity for Hope Summit this year.<br />
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<strong><em>Help me and all my lung cancer survivor friends get to Hope Summit this year!!</em></strong><br />
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<a href="http://events.lungevity.org/site/TR/2012TeamRaiser/General?px=1647946&pg=personal&fr_id=3720" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">to go to my fundraiser page!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy4KkQ8iZR5IOPi3c2Q7Iyz_SUiUI0HADByqQFzlrP75EnCatOSqwUsDhpuIz1MDumlkt-wHQ4TBPgNzZ-6unzIllAWJ3BuVCDYE9o8t84CdNcrPkel_uWsK6CjxXiMaXblFhKXTq5bQS/s1600/photo+%25281%252911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy4KkQ8iZR5IOPi3c2Q7Iyz_SUiUI0HADByqQFzlrP75EnCatOSqwUsDhpuIz1MDumlkt-wHQ4TBPgNzZ-6unzIllAWJ3BuVCDYE9o8t84CdNcrPkel_uWsK6CjxXiMaXblFhKXTq5bQS/s320/photo+%25281%252911.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><em></em></strong><br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-70770636740760314802013-01-27T12:18:00.000-08:002013-01-27T12:26:59.412-08:00Long Overdue Update - And It's a SH*TTY oneHello,<br />
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It's been way too long since I've written in my blog, I know. I've had every intention, so many topics run through my head, tons of insightful ideas to share, but I've waited until this moment. Today is January 27th (I had to check the calendar)... It is a new year with so much more ups and downs then last year. Really? Already? Yes, really and already and I must say that it really sucks right now! I've written about my 'ups and downs' of life before. You don't remember? Well, here it is: <a href="http://heathergeraghty.blogspot.com/2012/05/ups-downs-of-life.html" target="_blank">http://heathergeraghty.blogspot.com/2012/05/ups-downs-of-life.html</a><br />
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I need to write about this because I need to vent like NO OTHER. <br />
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I keep telling myself my situation is NOT worse than being diagnosed with lung cancer, and in fact that would be the absolute worst thing that could be added to my situation. <br />
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No, I don't have lung cancer again. I lost my job last Monday. No, not my nursing job that I had been working at for nearly 8 years. I quit working that job sometime at the end of November when I was offered this amazing position that I could not pass up at The Philadelphia Sign Company. I left my job of nearly 8 years to begin full-time with benefits at The Philadelphia Sign Company working as an Administrative Assistant. Things were really looking up, wow, I got a new apartment, and I really was enjoying the new people I was working with. I never worked in an office before but my new boss, who I had met at one of my lung cancer fundraisers, said she'd train me at the job and even promised me a promotion after I had advanced in my position. But the thing is, I was actually meeting a soon-to-be nightmare of a boss. I received very little to zero training on various tasks I was expected to preform, my boss was down-grading, ripped my emotions to pieces making me cry at work on a number of occasions, made the job environment a hostile one to say the least, and after my boss mastered the art of intimating me she fired me! <br />
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Now I am unemployed, I've never been unemployed (except for the three months I was recovering from lung cancer - but I still had a job to go back to!). I am faced yet again (like cancer) with all these other 1st like applying for food stamps and applying for state assistance to pay my monthly utility bill. I am just beside myself. AND, there's an and, to make my life even more anxiety filled and stressful during this horrible time... Someone I know who has been telling me for about two weeks now that they are moving in to the same apartment complex as me, giving me a $500 referral bonus for March's rent, is now NOT moving in. Two weeks ago I still had a job, it was just 'cool' knowing that I was getting $500 off March's rent. Now I am unemployed and it is personal! This person contacted ME, told ME they were moving in, I wasn't trying to persuade anybody. That person even had a move in date set up! They were suppose to move in on February 1st...Wow, I told the person good luck at their new place.. I am sure it didn't sound sincere, but I don't care right now. I am bitter!<br />
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For now, I am applying for any state assistance that I am entitled to. I am also endlessly applying for jobs in my area, sh*t I am even willing to relocate! I NEVER thought I'd be in this situation... Doesn't that sound familiar? Just like lung cancer I am feeling like nobody understands, there is no sensitivity to my very personal dilemma. Life sucks right now.<br />
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<strong>I guess I just am looking for someone to relate to me right now. Anyone? Anyone?</strong>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-81365565451067638712012-11-24T19:10:00.000-08:002012-11-24T19:10:00.365-08:00WEEKEND CHALLENGE!<em>REPOST THE FOLLOWING QUOTE, PHOTOGRAPH, </em><st1:stockticker><em>AND</em></st1:stockticker><em>/OR
VIDEO TO YOUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER, </em><st1:stockticker><em>AND</em></st1:stockticker><em>/OR
PINTEREST TO SPREAD AWARENESS FOR LUNG CANCER.</em><o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWosCYF0zYMJFr6XsVx4txppfWyRShmCmqM7wSl6WBlcXuRTOQwWL7SpaWzBdyGK2-4xC3V4c0T0RvPWTcGXJhABJwod2s-baAR5M1FCQoOTO8vhoFiMDHIrv57UyS9NjaQvWG7WpyOfqq/s1600/LungCancerWomen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWosCYF0zYMJFr6XsVx4txppfWyRShmCmqM7wSl6WBlcXuRTOQwWL7SpaWzBdyGK2-4xC3V4c0T0RvPWTcGXJhABJwod2s-baAR5M1FCQoOTO8vhoFiMDHIrv57UyS9NjaQvWG7WpyOfqq/s320/LungCancerWomen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-70351227624792900922012-11-17T19:08:00.000-08:002012-11-17T19:08:00.108-08:00WEEKEND CHALLENGE!<em>REPOST THE FOLLOWING QUOTE, PHOTOGRAPH, </em><st1:stockticker><em>AND</em></st1:stockticker><em>/OR
VIDEO TO YOUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER, </em><st1:stockticker><em>AND</em></st1:stockticker><em>/OR
PINTEREST TO SPREAD AWARENESS FOR LUNG CANCER.</em><o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWiu6NLEih9w2azoWBWPQ0BTG2GCCKToQeCNwp1QLAJ2k33ZbanqvZT6QGwsazouh7cxrIQ0-sdZRkGu-bLFigHHTlyGs2P4LOkMvCn8N1h8-rPjgW6KdQqyvIhuXM6zD2wD-TpnbBbqF/s1600/LungCancerMen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWiu6NLEih9w2azoWBWPQ0BTG2GCCKToQeCNwp1QLAJ2k33ZbanqvZT6QGwsazouh7cxrIQ0-sdZRkGu-bLFigHHTlyGs2P4LOkMvCn8N1h8-rPjgW6KdQqyvIhuXM6zD2wD-TpnbBbqF/s320/LungCancerMen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-91528457042124540282012-11-13T16:18:00.000-08:002012-11-13T16:18:00.620-08:00Lung Cancer ResearchHave you had a positive or negative experience with a certain drug that was derived from medical research? Tell me about it, or post it on the Facebook wall of my page called, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/curelungcancernow?ref=hl#!/curelungcancernow" target="_blank">Cure Lung Cancer Now!</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cBpO05pseOQ" width="560"></iframe><br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-5494980889849094322012-11-12T15:53:00.000-08:002012-11-12T15:53:00.085-08:00Gets Me Every Time...When I hear/watch/learn more about this story it gets me every time just as equally as the next. Please learn the story of <a href="http://www.lungcancerfoundation.org/2010/06/10/just-like-jill-lung-cancer-campaign-think-you-know-lung-cancer-think-again/" target="_blank">Jill Costello</a>, because as everyone who is diagnosed with lung cancer - she did not deserve it!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/12472397?badge=0" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/12472397">"Just Like Jill" Lung Cancer Research Campaign</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/lungcancerfoundation">LungCancerFoundation.Org</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-81431434175757039312012-11-10T19:03:00.000-08:002012-11-10T19:03:00.035-08:00WEEKEND CHALLENGE!<em>REPOST THE FOLLOWING QUOTE, PHOTOGRAPH, </em><st1:stockticker><em>AND</em></st1:stockticker><em>/OR
VIDEO TO YOUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER, </em><st1:stockticker><em>AND</em></st1:stockticker><em>/OR
PINTEREST TO SPREAD AWARENESS FOR LUNG CANCER.</em><br />
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<em>"</em><strong>Does quitting smoking or never smoking cure lung cancer?</strong>No. Quitting smoking (or never starting) is important for your overall health and the health of your lungs, but will not prevent you from getting lung cancer. About 55% of those newly diagnosed with lung cancer are former smokers or people who have never smoked. Research shows that even 30 years after quitting smoking, there is still an elevated risk of getting lung cancer. In addition, each year, as many as 30,000 people who have never smoked are diagnosed with it."- <a href="http://www.lungevity.org/" target="_blank">LUNGevity Foundation</a><br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-87236524301556141532012-11-09T00:00:00.000-08:002012-11-09T00:00:13.270-08:00What is Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma Lung Cancer?<a href="http://www.cardiothoracicsurgery.org/content/6/1/132">http://www.cardiothoracicsurgery.org/content/6/1/132</a><br />
"Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung (MEC) is a tumor of low malignant potential of bronchial gland origin. MEC and adenoid cystic carcinoma are both considered to be salivary gland-type neoplasms."<br />
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"MECs are comparatively rare with an incidence of all lung cancers."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5M-UEfxYiBQIyKNzCc2FQJ-8GWtfWZUaHJDXP9IomLyqHOWb1de3_toiv5driErBe2UPeuzb4pnKPxZsC13iAN2woFYrfXcVSB2_3lq7KZ22t91y3LvyKotIomSl-rC02l5_rIDCp9AA/s1600/Lung.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5M-UEfxYiBQIyKNzCc2FQJ-8GWtfWZUaHJDXP9IomLyqHOWb1de3_toiv5driErBe2UPeuzb4pnKPxZsC13iAN2woFYrfXcVSB2_3lq7KZ22t91y3LvyKotIomSl-rC02l5_rIDCp9AA/s320/Lung.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697104157131874535.post-89255131733307538082012-11-08T00:00:00.000-08:002012-11-08T00:00:00.894-08:00Someone Who Inspires Me...When I was diagnosed with Stage 1A <a href="http://www.cardiothoracicsurgery.org/content/6/1/132" target="_blank">Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma Lung Cancer</a> I felt completely lost, alone, and devistated. With the help of <a href="http://www.lungevity.org/" target="_blank">LUNGevity Foundation</a> I reached out to my community of Maple Shade, NJ to spread the word about my diagnosis. I was both overwhelmed and relieved to have numerous people contacting me via email and phone after my story had been published in my local county newspapers. And I was most thankful to have to pleasure of "meeting" (via email) a really lovely mother whose daughter, <a href="http://www.diablomag.com/Diablo-Magazine/December-2009/Threads-of-Hope/" target="_blank">Abby</a>, was diagnosed with the exact same type of lung cancer as I had! If I can remember correctly, Abby was only 5 years old when she was diagnosed with lung cancer! She had a whole left lung removed, and she should be about 13 years old now. Abby lives on the West Coast, not exactly around the corner from me, and has become a large advocate for the disease through the <a href="http://www.lungcancerfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Bonnie Addario Foundation</a>. I am so happy to see her progress via the wonderful web, she is truly an inspiration to me.<br />
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<strong><em>To this day I have not meet another person that has had the same type of lung cancer as I did.</em></strong> Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098751600603297604noreply@blogger.com0