That Special Piece of Paper

Posted on May 18, 2009 by jacqui722

on the mendWent to the Dr.’s today and got the special paper that says I can go back to work on Wednesday.  What this paper symbolizes is my return to my normal life at last.  No matter how many times I may have complained about my job in the past, it takes something like this to really know that being able to even have a job is indeed a blessing and I am so grateful to be able to get back to life.

I know it won’t be easy.  Even now, I still feel the awful fatigue and I still tire really easily, but I’m ready to dig down and find my spirit and determination to get back to normal as best as I can.  I still have another test ahead of me, as well as getting the drain removed that’s connected to my bial duct, but hopefully these things will happen quickly enough and soon all foreign objects from my surgery will be out of my body.  I have a horrific scar running diagonally across my midsection from my left breast to my right hip….but that’s ok because I gave up showing my stomach years ago.

I’ll just add my scar to my other collection of scars- caesarian, hysterectomy, lumpectomy and now gall bladder removal and stomach repair.  Oh well, only God is perfect.  I don’t mind because these are my war wounds and most importantlly, I’m ALIVE to experience another beautiful day.

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Wanting my life back- the quest for strength

Posted on May 17, 2009 by jacqui722

Cancer and chemo are no fun. I started out big and brave, resigning to my future with battling breast cancer.

First came all the tests…mamograms, ultra sounds, pet scans, biopsies and finally diagnosis. Stage 2 lobular invasive cancer. Then…decisions? Choose now, mastectomy or lumpectomy. Who in the world could possibly advise me on such a subject? Because, yes, they want you to make the decision all on your own. I chose lumpectomy, because it seemed easier to deal with than breast reconstruction. Also, if it comes back I will give ’em both up.

They did the lumpectomy, which means they removed the 1.5 centimeter lump and left kind of a crater in my left breast, at 4:00 position. Not too bad, but when I did my follow up with the surgeon, she informed me that I did not have clear margins yet and they would have to go back in and do a little more removal of tissue. The tests also revealed that I had another kind of breast cancer as well, in situ in my duct.

OK one more round, even though I did not want to go through it again, I did it. So now the Cancer has been cut out of me and it’s time for my Chemo treatments.

Chemo is one of the hardest things I ever did. I consider myself a strong person, able to bear and bounce back from anything. I was widowed at the age of 33 when my newborn daughter was only a month old. My husband died in a car accident. I made it through that as best as I could. Now was another test of my endurance, strength and attitude.  Somehow I got through the Chemo and radiation, feeling fatigued and sick most of the time.  Gradually, I came back to feeling normal and made a vow to get healthy.  I changed my diet, started exercising again and was able to build my self up again.  Halleluia!

Fast forward to my current illness.  3 weeks in the hospital and major surgery has left me weak once again.  All to familiar and I hate it!  Usually, I am a very energetic person, ready to embark on impromptu trips, jumping into an advanced step class at the gym, taking dance classes and thowing parties at my job as a social director.  So, I’m finding it really difficult this time to be so weak and unable to do the things I love to do.  I am hoping I will get enough strength back to return to work some time next week.  Tomorrow is my Dr. appointment and I am waiting to get the word from him as to when I can get back to reality.

OK, that’s enough whining for now, I just had to get it off my chest!  Onward & upward.

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Tabouli

Posted on May 16, 2009 by jacqui722

Tabouli
When I lived in Danbury, CT there was a restaurant called “Sesame Seed” that served the most wonderful tabouli.  Since moving to Florida, I have yet to find a restaurant who can match up to Sesame Seed’s tabouli.  Even the grocery stores have nothing but tasteless, over-priced little plastic containers which is not worth purchasing.  So…I decided to make my own and here’s the recipe.  It’s delicious, fresh and wonderful and so much better than those little containers of blah from the grocery store!  Enjoy.

1 cup dry bulgur wheat

1 1/2 cups boiling water

1 to 1 1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup Olive Oil

2 medium cloves garlic, crushed

black pepper to taste

4 scallions, finely minced (whites & greens)

1 packed cup minced parsley

10 to 15 fresh mint leaves, minced

2 medium ripe tomatoes, minced

1) Combine bulgur and boiling water in a medium-large bowl.  Cover and let stand until the bulgur is tender (20 to 30 minutes minimum).

2)  Add salt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and black pepper, and mix thoroughly.  Cover tightly and refrigerate until about 30 minutes before serving.

3)  About 30 minutes before serving, stir in remaining ingredients and mix well.  Taste and adjust seasonings  adding salt & pepper as needed.  Serve cold with warm wedges of Pita Bread.

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Posted on May 12, 2009 by jacqui722
Florida Girl

Florida Girl

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Hello world!

Posted on April 29, 2009 by jacqui722

This is my first attempt at a blog.  I’m a Florida Girl, married to my wonderful husband, Mark, and have a beautiful daughter Lacey. We live in South Florida and have been here close to 8 years, originally from Connecticut.  Life has been an adventure for me, filled with up and downs, but in the last 2 years I have been fighting for my life in various ways.

My first major battle was in 2007 when I discovered a lump in my breast which turned out to be Stage II Invasive Breast Cancer.  I did it all- lumpectomy, chemo, radiation and fianlly I had my first clear mammogram last winter.  I consider myself a survivor now being cancer free.

The next hurdle came recently, when I had a huge complication with my gall bladder.  It seems that a tennis ball sized stone tunneled it’s way into my stomach cutting off the exit to my intestines.  I had major surgery in which I was given a 50-50 chance of survival, but I managed to survive and have just left the hospital after a 3 week stay.  I am slowly regaining my health so I can go back to work.  God works in mighty ways and because of Him I was able to survive these illnesses- I truly believe it.

So, these are the beginning facts of my life and I hope I can live up to the responsibility of writing a fairly decent and current blog.  I have many interests to explore and talk about, so here’s to a great beginning!

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