PatI have had a busy school year at CSU, so far. The highlight was finding out in late January that the Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund awarded us a research grant we applied for in October. This will fund two years of research on the validity and reliability of a screening tool we have developed to help find students who might be having difficulty in school due to a brain injury. We’re very excited to be awarded this grant, and look forward to beginning the project sometime in March or April.

On the home front, life goes on with two adults, adolescent boy, and labradoodle hanging out, and trying not to let work and school take away any serious “being a bum” time at our house! Our home added another member this winter, with my partner, Terry’s, niece - Sarah, moving in with us from Michigan, while she completes the last semester of her education bachelors by student teaching at a local junior high school.

Thanks to the incredible donations and support from the Fun Fund last year, I was able to take a week last summer and spend time with my extended family in Wyoming. My twin and I celebrated our birthday, attended the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo Parade, and then I took my mother, twin, nieces, great niece and great nephew to the fair! My mother who turned 86 last fall, is not able to attend events requiring walking, so with the help of us four grown women, and with the cheering of two young children, we put “Nana” in a manual wheelchair, and pushed her through all of the livestock barns (got a little stuck in hay and sand and …), by all of the food booths (ah, grease!), and past all of the sales booths and fair rides. I had enough funds to show a large chunk of my Wyoming family a great time! On a less fun, but more critical note, I used the rest of your donations to help with extra medical and medicine co-payments, which are a constant in my life. Everyone’s generosity through the Fun Fund – through planning, working, administering (thanks so much, Diana Van Den Berg!), and donating, made a huge difference in my life last summer, and through the months since then. I am over-whelmingly grateful to everyone for their kindness and big hearts!

-Pat Sample, Celebrated Survivor

 

Ann

Update - As of Aug. 25, 2009

Dear Fun Fund readers,

Things are still going along fairly well. I haven’t had to start a new chemo yet – we keep waiting for the metastases to spread, but the current drugs seem to be holding them at bay. I’m pleased about that. Funny that for the first time in my life, I’m having to worry about gaining weight! I’m holding steady, not losing more weight, but “they” want me to gain enough back for a reserve. Guess I’ll just HAVE to bulk up on ice cream and whole-milk lattes.

I’m leaving tomorrow for the 4th annual Courageous Women Facing Cancer retreat at the Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather. I can’t wait. I just got back from 5 glorious days in Flaming Gorge. Wow, almost sounds like I have a normal life. Go figure. Then it’s back to owning/running a business (in a health care system that likes to pay providers less and less). Good thing I love my job and coworkers.

Kim and I are enjoying respites as we find them – yoga, walking the dogs, reading good books, being with friends, etc. We are going to New Orleans in November for one of my conferences, but we will get some personal time there. I love that area.

My goal for the year is to increase cardio fitness and start to even think about writing a book regarding my work. My journey always is clearer after the retreat, so maybe I’ll post another update later.

I’m still appreciative of the Fun Fund experiences and rewards. I look forward to working with Diana on the new course the Fun Fund may take.

Gratefully, Ann

 

Previous Update

I want to send you an update on life since the Fun Fund. I can’t believe it’s been so long since that great day in June 2008. I often come across photos, my T-shirt, friends that were there, etc. – they all remind me what a special event that was. And I got to know an inspired group of “survivors” who also benefited from what you organized.

Thanks to you, the volunteers, the sponsors and some pretty darn amazing friends and relatives of mine, my life has been a little less stressful, and yes, more fun. I set up a separate account to keep a very close eye on my Fun Fund. I actually did use a portion of it for fun – it helped pay for a yoga retreat in Estes Park, some of the registration and lodging fees for the Courageous Women Facing Cancer retreat in Red Feather, and a new yoga mat. I did not end up taking a trip (rats) but I do remember taking Kim out for dinner “on the house.” Mostly, every month I used the funds to help pay for supplements from Jackie Fields’ Medicinal Store, the lab tests she ordered (not covered by insurance), acupuncture, and a couple of massages (Tina Sono reduced the rate for me so the dollars would last longer). It also paid off the end of last year’s deductible to the Cancer Center of the Rockies.

I got to add about $200 to the Fun Fund account from the Diana Price Fish foundation – who used to pay us (women in active treatment) back for a dinner a month. That fund had to fold this last year due to reduced contributions.

There’s still a few hundred dollars left that I’m going to leave in the account for an emergency. The trip to Costa Rica will have to wait. I know…. The Fun Fund was supposed to be for FUN, but I just knew I could rest easier knowing I had at least some reserve for those expenses not covered. I have been soooooo grateful for the financial and overwhelming emotional support I’ve felt every time I use the Fund. It’s been touching and comforting.

So, the updates. I feel very good today. It’s a beautiful, warm spring day. I have a little lull between my morning clients at the office and my afternoon at the Cancer Club (Cancer Center) to get my treatment. It’s been a year of ups and downs with my Coyote Cancer buddy. My tumor markers and liver functions have improved. The recent PET/CT scans showed the tumors in the lungs and lymph nodes have mostly reduced in size. This is awesome. My coughing has reduced and I can breathe a bit easier. Still can’t play tennis or ski due to the shortness of breath, but I do yoga 4 times a week and take good walks with my buddy, Linda. I garden at a slower pace … allowing myself more time to actually look at the budding flowers. The PET/CT also showed spreading of the cancer to some ribs, two spots on the spine, a couple of small spots on the hips and some increased activity in the sternum. My liver, brain, kidneys, heart and spirit are strong and healthy. Drs. Brown and Fields and I are keep changing drugs and supplements, and Oliver (acupuncture) keeps my immune system up – just keeping a step ahead of the Coyote (clever little rascal) whenever possible. Still lots of drugs to try. I lost a bunch of weight this year and have enjoyed wearing some new clothes some friends got me to be more hip – it took this to get me a new look. I still have hair, but you never know what new drug will have an effect on that!

I’m working full time keeping a practice going and doing the best work we can for our clients. I love my job, my clients, my coworkers. Kim and I try to get out and do whatever we can to relax, get the heart rate going and enjoy our friends. Kim’s been consistently supportive – even when the side effects put the load on her. She’s been very creative on finding ways to feed me to get some weight back on (never ever thought I’d need to do THAT). When she starts riding again with our friends, we’re going to be on the look out for a scooter (Vespa … yeah, right) so I can ride along and be the sag wagon. I’ll get the beers chilled for them.

So … I’m the fortunate one. It’s been 10 years (May 7) since the original diagnosis, and 5 years (April 2004) since the recurrence. And I’m going strong. You all know I’m no Pollyanna, but I do feel grateful everyday that I can do what I can do and that I’m surrounded by (can you feel the ….) love.

Thanks Diana. If you decide to organize another event (Liz better play), I’ll be first on the volunteer list. It was such a fun time. I don’t mind if you share this with those who were a part of the Fun Fund. I wish I had time to catch up with those we spent time with that windy day in June. I want to know what’s going on in their lives too. Guess I better get on that…

Con Brio!


-Ann Pendley, Celebrated Survivor

 

IreneLast year, I was still undergoing radiation treatment at the time of the Fun Fund event. In fact, one year ago (last Feb), I was still undergoing chemo. What a difference a year makes! As I stated earlier, participating in the Fun Fund was life altering for me. It was really the first time that I publically came to terms with having cancer and had the opportunity to share that with the other survivors as well as with friends and even strangers. That, in itself, was such a gift.

Having the funds to use was a further gift. I used a some of the money to attend a special program at the Shambhala Mountain Retreat Center, entitled “Courageous Women” for women touched by cancer. It was a four day retreat and I learned so much about nutrition, meditation, yoga, and about how others are traveling the cancer journey. I met some wonderful people. It was the first time since my diagnoses that I was able to relax and reflect. I let out a lot of emotion and started to find myself again.

That “finding myself again” has been a part of the journey that I hadn’t anticipated. I was feeling better physically starting in September, but still had a ways to go to identify with my professional self, as opposed to my “cancer patient” self. I’m still on a journey to see who I am becoming, but some of that has to do with my having received my Ph.D. diploma during cancer treatment and not really having a firm plan of what I was going to do after graduation. It took me nearly 8 months to even take the framed diploma out of its plastic and put it up on the wall. Anyone care to analyze that?

I’m still mucking around with getting my follow-up medication right. Some of the Fun Funds have been used for complementary treatments such as Reiki, Lymph Drainage Therapy & Massage, and for seeing a nutritionist. I have found that everything is connected to everything else—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As I am drawn to integrative medical practices, I am also reminded of how our own minds and emotions contribute to physical health. I am learning to let go, be happy, and enjoy the people I meet. “The year of extreme self-care” has turned into a journey with many twists and turns. I really appreciate all those I have encountered along the way, and especially those who are walking with me.

Thanks Fun Fund!

-Irene Stein, Celebrated Survivor

 

JanIt's been an eventful year and life is good. Fortunately, I have not had any additional concerns regarding my breast cancer and health issues. There have been additional breast cancer diagnosis for members of my extended family and we provide loving support to each other.

Life has taken a big turn for us this year as we became permanent parents of our two foster children. We now have two great kids and life has gone in a different direction for me. I am a Mom to two little girls ages 3 and 4 and all my thoughts and energy go to them now. Breast cancer is something I almost never think of any more, for sure it doesn't consume my thoughts.

The Fun Fund was a very special part of my life. The great support of friends and family made it an unforgettable experience. Not everyone has the opportunity to know where they stand with their friends and family until an event like the Fun Fund brings us all together. A special thank you to all who worked on this great event, Diana who put her heart and sole into this event and all of you for your love and support.

-Jan Florea, Celebrated Survivor

 

I have finally found work, as a Peer Support Specialist at the Boulder County Mental Health Center. I love this work, and it is truly my life's work. Essentially I am helping clients at the Mental Health Center to become more involved in the community.

I am also singing in a new band, The New Cosmic Americans. We play a combination of originals and covers, mostly blues and folk.

That's it! I hope that all's well with you.

Thank you so much for all you have done for the Fun Fund.

-Kate Ingmundsen, Celebrated Survivor