Motivation March:Catch up

Hey there! Sorry that I missed the last few days of blogging!

For Diabetes week I wanted to tell you all something. As you know, Diabetes runs deep in my family. Both my parents are/were diabetic. My dads mother was, as was my mothers grandmother. After my mother was diagnosed when I was little, and in the last 3 years especially we've changed our diet to a healthier one... a year and a half ago I got my A1C tested and it was 4.6 which is pretty good... about 2 weeks ago I got it tested again and my A1C was a 5.8- which is borderline. It's scary...and I'm concerned that if I don't watch it I'll be considered diabetic soon too. I'm eating somewhat healthy but there are certain things I HAVE to cut out of my diet such as sweets and pop. I'm working on it but it's going to be a different road. Take care of yourself if you may have diabetes... please. It's not a fun place to be.

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Starting tomorrow I hope to give more attention to Bullying which is what I want the rest of this month to be about. God bless!

Motivation March: Daddy's a Diabetic

Before my father was diagnosed as I diabetic, he was diagnosed as a diabetic. I remember a couple of times where his diabetes got so out of wack that he went into a diabetic coma. It was scary, and that was my first HUGE clue of how scary diabetes really is.

Please if you have diabetes or have a possibility of having diabetes, get checked! Go to the doctor and get on the proper diet. If not for yourself do it for your family. For the ones that love you...

Motivation March: My best friend and Diabetes

In college I met my best friend. That best friend that you know will be in your life no matter, distance or anything. She's my age, and we met our friendship was just one of those that you KNEW God had a hand in.

She is a type 2 diabetic and many times I remember helping her when she wasn't feeling up to par thanks to her diabetes. It's one of those things that kept our friendship close. I remember staying in her room trying to help, but just being company to her while I knew she wasn't feeling well. Diabetes is scary business but I'm so glad I could be there with her while we were in college.

Motivation March: My mother is diabetic

To start of my "personal stories" for Diabetes week I thought I'd start with the person I'm closest to. My mom.

My mom had trouble with low blood sugar, when she was much younger, then when she was pregnant with me she had gestational diabetes. As the years went on she was diagnosed as type two diabetic. I remember when she taught, our to go breakfast was little debbie cakes, as we got in her car and went to school. As time went on Mom nixed the little debbies and we tried to eat healthier then my father was diagnosed as a diabetic. After my father died of Leukemia our eating habits changed drastically. But it wasn't until she read Wheat Belly that we got the healthiest we've ever been.

Before Mom read Wheat Belly her sugar would yo yo. But after we cut wheat out of our diet she didn't have as many problems. She mostly keeps her diabetes under control because she wants to be as healthy as possible. My mother is a great example for me. I'm proud of her.

Motivation March: Diabetes Week

Well today is the start of my Diabetes week. Tomorrow I'll start blogging about the stories of people with diabetes that I'm familiar with.

Diabetes is a very scary thing. There is Type 1 and Type two. I've seen the effects of diabetes in many people that I know.

Some diabetes info:

http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/planning-meals/diabetes-meal-plans-and-a-healthy-diet.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002194/

http://diabetes.webmd.com/

Take care of yourself. And if you are a diabetic make sure you follow the diet your doctor tells you to follow.

Motivation March- End of Brain Week

Today was the last day of Brain Awareness week. I've had an amazing experience by submitting an article to the local newspaper and having SEVERAL people come to me and tell me "thank you" for writing it. A lot of people have learned a lot about me, and ACC in general because of that article and I am SO thankful! God is good.

I've learned more about myself and the things I can and can't handle, the people that care about me, and those that don't. I'm so thankful to each of you for sticking with me through this Journey.

Starting tomorrow is Diabetes Week. I'll be posting Blog posts about my mother, father, best friend, and others I know with diabetes. I'll also share my own personal story about trying to stay away from the diabetes diagnosis! I loo forward to this next weeks journey with you! God bless

Motivation March: "Love me for me"

We all have the desire to be loved for who we are... but the question is, who exactly are we?

I have ACC, I call myself an ACCer. But does ACC define me? No not really. My ACC is something I generally associate my quirks with... they are quirks that most people can't over look. Quirks that I'm often misjudged for. But my ACC does not define me.

I don't want to be loved FOR my ACC. I want to be loved THROUGH it.

My mother is the perfect example of someone who loves me through my ACC. No matter what happens, if I have a bad ACC day, she lovingly accepts it. And figuratively holds my hand through it.

My best friend Stephanie is the same way. If I'm having a bad ACC day she just says "I know it's tough, you know I love you" and lets me get through the day knowing she supports me.

These two love me through my ACC, it's not who I am, but it is part of me. So yes, I want to be loved for who I am but I also want to be loved through the icky moments...and I know I'm not alone in this.

Motivation March: No Corpus Callosum

Myself and others with ACC have struggled with and still often struggle with "How do you tell the ones you love about your ACC"

I'm not very good at explaining things, I fumble over my words, I get nervous and... gibberish falls out of my mouth. I do better with writing my thoughts down...

There is a great childrens book called ACC and Me that is a GREAT intro into "What ACC is" But I work through music. So: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMEtBh2vkyQ

Find your way of telling the people you love about your differences, no matter what they are. If they really do care for you, they'll be proud of you for stepping out and being honest :)

Motivation March: Differences and Bullies

It's still brain week and I want to touch on a subject that is very important to me.

All through school, if I saw someone being bullied, I stood up to the bully for that person, often times it was someone with a differability that was getting bullied. I've always been drawn to people who were "different" people that most people thought weren't normal... to me- these were the best people in the world, the ones with all the secrets of how the world really should be. They know contentment and happiness on a level that most people will never understand. They know how to find the joy in the darkest times...because most of the time they know true love. The unconditional love of SOMEONE in their life has touched them to a point that they have the purest of hearts. And it urks me when I see someone else try to take that pureness from these AMAZING people.

Those with differabilities, know more than just the happiness they know heartbreak, and they know rejection. Often times they can overcome that, because they have SOMEONE to help them...but sometimes... they dont.

Recently I had a conversation with my best friend...I'd hid something from her ALL through high school. And most people from my high school and even middle school don't know this but I was bullied. I was the girl that stood up to the bullies for someone else, when they started picking on me I'd come back with a smart alec remark or just ignore them... but after my 10th grade year... I begged my mom to put me on homeschooling. The bullying was getting worse (this was in the early 2000s  before "cyber-bullying" was a big thing) but people were getting online and messaging me telling me it was my fault my dad died (of cancer) they said it was a good thing he died because he'd have hated having a daughter like me... stupid, ugly... you name it, they said it. So I begged to be home-schooled  changed my name on messengers and pretty much disappeared for a year and a half while I grieved on my own. I went to hang out with my best friend at football games sometimes but mostly I just stayed away.

While I was getting bullied I had suicidal thoughts, I know what it's like to be in that point of life, feeling like you have no one. Thankfully people I was close to helped me get out of that part of my depression.

When I returned things had calmed down... the bullies mostly left me alone, we were in our last year and all just trying to graduate.

Then I went to college, I thought that things would be different, that I wouldn't be bullied...then I got my ACC diagnosis and reached to the point of not being able to hide it. The bullying started again. This time REALLY attacking my intelligence and because I wasn't sure how to handle ANYTHING that was going on, emotionally... I was called a drama queen despite trying to just walk away... people didn't understand me at all and that didn't help how I handled things. I had overcome the suicidal thing in high school and didn't return to that at this point... I went back to doing my best to ignore the bullies.


Something about ACC though... when you insult an ACCer that stays with them (this can be true about ANYONE that is bullied though) Their words, the things they said, the way I was treated... that has stayed with me. Even now I have to fight off the words of my bullies. I was bullied from kindergarten to my last year of college. I was able though to confront some of my bullies through the years and when I did, when I told them "You are hurting me, you don't realize what your words do to people...especially someone that doesn't have much control over how they react... please stop. Have a little compassion." it wasn't an over night change but things DID change.

People don't like anyone who is "different" it's human nature to disrespect differences in others. But instead of mistreating those with differences, show compassion, show love... chances are if you love those that are different they will teach you amazing things about life! And you will have some of the TRUEST of friends.

Stop bullying.

Motivation March: Brain Week

Keep your head up! We all get bullied, we all have rough days. When you have ACC sometimes the hard days are 10 times harder than people realize. So today I'm not going to say much- because for me it was a hard and stressful day. But today I'm sharing a video I made:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cor9eb1-59g&list=UUXwMaAn_RfDVp6Wv0oyuv4Q&index=24

Motivation March: Brain Awareness Week

As I stated yesterday Brain Awareness Week is one of the most important weeks in my life.

Mainly because this is a week every year that I can tell others about ACC. But it's more than that I can also show even more support to Causes for other Brain disorders, brain diseases, and yes- even brain injuries.

From the time I was a young child the brain intrigued me... one of my biggest fears was to have anything wrong with my brain. Then when I was 20 years old I found out I'd ALWAYS had something... different about my brain. My obsession with the brain grew, and I learned as much as I could about it- what makes it tick, how can I learn to better myself... and what can I do to help others learn about these... "brain things"

So last night/today our local news paper came out... and in it was an article I wrote about Brain Awareness week and my ACC. It was a step that needed to be taken, so I took it.

I've promised to post on my blog every day this week, something brain related.

I'm trying to finish a video that I want to release this week...

I'm not going to mention much about Brain injuries this week because those that go through things like that have their privacy. I know people that are inspirations to me... and they touch my life just through their stories. I do want to share an inspirational blog though: http://www.forjuliana.org/

Motivation March: My Story

It's that time of year again. Brain Awareness week. Hands down one of the most important weeks of the year for me. I gear up a prepare myself for this week every year from January and all through the week of Brain Awareness.

This is the week that I get to give personal attention to my brain disorder. It's the week that I can tell my story without judgement.

Most of the people that have been recently reading my blog don't know about my ACC So- for those of you that do, get ready for some repetition.

ACC is a brain disorder actually called "Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum" It means that a person is born with their corpus callosum completely or partially missing. ACC touches all parts of the ACCers life. Socially, physically, mentally, emotionally. Some with ACC can't walk or talk, some live in assisted living... while their are others that try to live as normally as possible.

Along with ACC there can be other health problems... ACC Doesn't get better or worse, it just tends to manifest itself as the ACCer gets older.

People with ACC are often misunderstood. On a personal level- I'm often called a drama queen, told that I'm too hard on myself, that I'm negative, or mean. Anyone that truly knows me knows I highly dislike drama unless it's in a novel or movie. I'm ONLY hard on myself in extremely stressful situations when I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm also not a negative person at all and I'm not mean. I am brutally honest though.

In the past I've had severe anxiety in new situations but with all the new situations I've had in the last year I'm almost an old pro at them now. I've grown and God has helped me reach a new point. It's nice.

I've scattered Facts around this blog post but stick with me... I'm going to tell you a story.

Once upon a time in the year 1985 a baby girl was born, it was winter time and it was snowing. It was around lunch time when this little (or not so little) girl was born. She was 10 pounds, 14 ounces and the apple of her parents eyes. Suddenly the baby was put aside as the mother passed out and nearly died. The father named the little girl who was to be called Lynnae Yancy... but wait... the birth certificate read Lynnea Yancy. Finally the baby's mother was stable and the family was whole. As time went on the parents noticed their little girl was crawling backward, but not forward, then she learned to walk later than she should have. The little girls foot was turning in and it worried the parents. Then it came time to learn to tie her shoes, after a long time of trying to teach her the parents decided to use the special needs technique and taught her that. Time went on and the parents who had both worked with those with special needs decided to try therapy on their daughter and were able to get her to straighten her foot when she walked.

This little girl was in school now, and getting bullied as early as kindergarten. Her parent's decided in the 2nd grade that it was time she switch schools. They tried to get her tested for special needs and the school system wouldn't do it. School went on and the young girl barely passed her classes, sometimes she didn't, no matter how hard she tried. Then when she was a sophomore her father who had cancer for 7 months passed away. She was getting bullied worse then ever. Receiving messages online, the cyber bullying was the worst. She begged her mother to put her on home school and she did that for a year and a half, then went back to public school to graduate. She took a year off and then went to college.

Freshman year of college this young womans life changed. She'd had 2 car accidents in a year, and had daily migraines for mos of her life. Her mother, who was now very concerned decided it was time to take her to a neurologist. She was diagnosed with ACC. For months she tried to hide it. That was stressful because she'd never been good at hiding who she was. Finally 6 months after she was diagnosed the truth came out and she was called to share her story. Each day became a struggle, because the bullying didn't stop after high school. No one understood her. She still didn't fit in, even if she was around fellow Christians. The difference was she'd found a group of friends that PRETENDED that she fit in...and just to get by, that was enough.

This girl is me.


Every day has been a struggle. I've had daily migraines most of my life, as stated earlier. I've never taken tests well, and I'm horrible with social cues. I don't do well going to any type of parties... dinner parties or dinner at friends houses are the worst. I always end up doing something dumb and embarrassing something that makes people look at me like I'm the biggest idiot they've ever met.

I've got several very patient people in my life that make it all worth it.

I'm not saying ANY of this to complain. But I wanted to paint a picture. My life really is amazing. I've got the best mother in the world. And the few friends that I'm close to are the truest. I've found my niche among a group of fellow bookworms and a group of crafty people. My fathers family keep me involved in their lives. And with my ACC... I've met some of THE BEST people I've ever met and may ever meet! I've been able to help people in a way that I've never imagined and well... I've got super powers ;)

My super power is that I can do research, homework, read, anything while watching movies...in fact I can't get anything done unless I'm watching a movie or talking to someone WHILE I'm doing it. I've met people that only wish they could multitask like that! haha My life is amazing... but there is still a story to tell and I wont stop until EVERYONE that I know knows about Agenesis of The Corpus Callosum, and until they tell others about it. Not for me but for every ACCer I know. Ultimately I want people to know that bullying the differently-abled is NOT the way to be. Making them feel like less so you can feel like more is just NOT right and every differently-abled person has ME fighting in their corner! BECAUSE I CAN!

So if you know an ACCer or anyone else who has a differability... stand up for them, love them, treat them with respect, the kind of respect that we ALL want.

This is my story and I'm spreading it :)

Motivation March: Brain Cancer

Today's Cancer is Brain Cancer-

Most of my life I've been truly scared about anything that goes wrong with the brain. It's one of the most important things about a persons body...and anything being wrong with a persons brain has always concerned me as much as heart issued.

That is- until a few years ago when I was diagnosed with a brain disorder then I decided to stop fearing health issues because the moment a I fear them, the moment it's possible I may have a problem with that health issue.

When I was diagnosed with my Brain Disorder, there was a moment, just a moment when my doctor, mom, and I were concerned about Brain Cancer.... I have two cysts in my brain and we were worried about growth. We've monitored them and they are just the cysts that people sometimes get with ACC.

That being said... I have a heart for those with Brain Cancer, or anything going on with their brain. So since Brain Awareness week officially starts tomorrow I wanted to give spotlight to Brain Cancer today.

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/brain-cancer/default.htm

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/brain_cancer/article_em.htm

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/brain

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/braincancer.html

Motivation March: My life & Cancer

For todays Motivation March I wanted to share a personal "story" 

Cancer is something I've seen a lot of. I've had aunts and uncles with Cancer most of my life. My father died of Cancer and close friends of mine and my mothers have either died of cancer or went into remission. 

In recent months I've seen family of some very dear friends of mine be diagnosed with Cancer and it has broken my heart. Cancer is one of the most scary diseases and I wish it was way less common than it is. 

Cancer seeps in and causes a change in a person so much so that they are unrecognizable.

My prayers are with each person touched by forms of cancer whether it be you or someone you love. You are thought off... May God give you strength and Wisdom in this battle. You are loved and you are remembered.

"If one person comes to Christ through knowing my story...it will have all been worth it" -Max Squires, Leukemia 9/13/01 

Motivation March: Pancreatic Cancer

Today's cancer is Pancreatic Cancer.

Once again I don't know anyone that personally battled this type of cancer but have heard about it quite frequently. 

So- I'm going to post some websites that I've found.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/pancreatic

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001283/

And a list that I found of the most common cancers in the US: 

http://www.sheknows.com/sheknows-cares/articles/823419/10-most-common-cancers-in-the-us

I hope you are getting a lot of the info I post here. I'm really learning a lot myself! 

Motivation March: Thyroid Cancer

And it's back to our regularly scheduled Cancer week of Motivation March:

Today's Cancer is Thyroid Cancer.

I haven't met anyone with the actual thyroid cancer but know many with thyroid issues...

This is one of those cancers that I personally know little about but it information needs to be spread. I'm learning about this right along with you today! Here are some websites:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002193/

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/tc/thyroid-cancer-topic-overview

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/thyroid

WOW- the number of cases and deaths! Looks like word needs to be spread about this. Keep fighting, my friends and spread the word!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7M65E6uVnA

Motivation March: Spread The Word To End The Word day

We interrupt the regularly scheduled "Cancer week" of Motivation March for an important message from our Month.

Today is a day that is all about "Spreading the Word to end the R-word"

https://www.facebook.com/EndtheWord

Since I found out about this day a couple of years ago I have taken part in it! Since I was young I hated the word and this misuse of it. If you are unaware of what the word is it. It's a medical word to describe people with a mental disability or as I've recently heard them called. People with a differability. I love the term Differability!

The word is... "Retarded" it's become a slur by many of my generation and the generation under us.

It's an almost every day insult to call someone that does something "stupid" a retard... and that has GOT to stop.

I had a conversation with a dear friend of mine a few years ago. He said something was retarded and I called him out on it. I desperately hate that word and I try to tell people to stop saying it, at least around me. So I told him that and he asked me to explain. And this is what I told him.

"That word has become an insult. It was meant as a medical term but has become a derogatory term no different than the words used to describe different nationalities. It's NOT a term of endearment. We don't say things like "you cute, sweet little retard you" It's used in a very insulting way, used to sting and hurt the other person. Why spread hurt, when we can spread positivity."

I stand by what I said that day.

Why am I so passionate about this?

As someone with a mental "differability" I can be classified as slightly "retarded" My mother was a special Education teacher for a majority of my young life, and my father worked with special needs adults! This crowd of people have a special place in my heart! It's time to build them up and not tear them down! Join me and sign the pledge found here: http://www.r-word.org/


One more story of how hurtful that word is. I once heard someone call a cancer patient a "retard" and then they walked away but not before this person with cancer called out and said "I'm not retarded! I'm DYING!" Perhaps that will put it in perspective of how truly hurtful that word is.

Disclaimer: I only used the word in this blog post to show the perspective. I assure you that it pained me to type it every time that I did. You will not catch me saying that word unless I'm putting it in perspective advising people to stop.

Have a great day!

Motivation March: Childhood Cancers

As callings in life go... I'm a youth minister. But what many don't know about me is that from a very young age I had a nurturing personality. I loved children even when I was one. One of my earliest memories is of holding my little nephew Jarrod in my arms, looking down, so proud that this little baby was MY NEPHEW.  As I got older I only got more nurturing. Then when my dad was sick with Leukemia and my mother had a broken arm (he was diagnosed in feb 2001, she broke her arm in may 2001) I was the only person that lived in the home that could take care of them. In college I was known as Mama Nea or Mama Squires by a very large number of friends, and then once I graduated I gained others who now call me Mama.

I love children. I help my best friend with her two kids, and helping children has been something that's always been important to me. Working with kids and teens is one of the best parts of my life. So because of this...

My heart breaks in half when I hear of a child who has cancer. Most of the children with Cancer that I've met or know of are the bravest little warriors that I've ever met. They are strong, they are forces to be reckoned with and some of the most positive people in existence. But they have days where they are weary, when they need those around them to help give them their strength back.

Childhood cancers are scary, heartbreaking, and just almost impossible to imagine.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/childhoodcancers

Some my favorite movies are: November Christmas, The Heart Of Christmas, Letters to God, and Miracle of the Cards. All of these movies are about Children with Cancer. Watch them...but make sure you have tissues on hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iwOFpgNELE
That being said support St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital. They do AMAZING work. Support these Children.

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f87d4c2a71fca210VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD

Motivation March: Lung Cancer

Today's  cancer I want to blog about is Lung Cancer.

I know some people who have had Lung Cancer but it was more a "friend of a friend" kind of thing... Still Lung Cancer is scary and I wanted to dedicate a blog post to it.

Since I have no personal stories, this will be a short post, just sharing some info on Lung Cancer but if you know anyone or have any stories you want to share feel free to comment!

http://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/default.htm

http://www.lungcancer.org/

Hope these pages help with info.

Motivation March: Leukemia

Today's Motivation March: Cancer Week is all about Leukemia.

This certain cancer is one that is very close to my heart. So today's story is my fathers.

I was somewhat Freshly 15 in February 2001. (My birthday is in December.) I don't know much about when my dad was diagnosed except for he went to the doctor and they ran tests and that's how he and my mother found out. A couple of days later my dad asked us to get in the car and go for one of his nature drives. I remember we'd stopped by the post office then as my father started driving again that's when he told me he had Leukemia. I knew what it was, I'd heard of it before but I still asked him to explain.

As a 15 year old I wasn't really all that naive. What little naivety I had left disappeared when my father told me he had cancer. The next 7 months were both slow and fast... My father was in and out of the hospital, he was in a fair share of diabetic comas and we had been afraid we were about to lose him more than once. I went from a carefree, fun loving girl to one that took care of her dying father and injured mother. My mother broke her arm in May of 2001 and it was up to me to take care of my parents.

From May 2001 on I did so many tasks. I was basically like a live in nurse. I was scared, but strong because I had to be. I saw my fathers personality change as he got worse in his cancer. He was in pain and in many ways quite angry.

I will spare the details on some of the things that happened however- other things should be told.

I'm about to recall a moment in my fathers illness that few know about but I carry the memory with me. If you get easily saddened or don't want to know about one of the scariest moments of my life...do not read on.

During my dad's Leukemia there were moments where he would kind of forget himself... and me.

In one in particular my parents and I were sitting in the living room just talking... and my dad suddenly started talking to me...

He called me Chris- the name of my sister that died when I was 5. He told me to play him something on the piano (Though I took lessons, I didn't get very far... so I'm not very good) When I told him no, but that I would play baritone (an instrument he played in his younger years, and that I started playing when I was 10) He told me "No" he said "Don't play that, don't take after me. I don't want you playing Baritone" Then he started talking to me like I was my sister. At 15 years old I was so afraid, I'd never seen this happen before... I began to tear up no matter how much I fought it... and then my mother asked if he knew who she was... he did. And that's when he came back to us, remembering who I was... It didn't last long but it still scared me. I didn't quite understand then that it was only a matter of time.

A few months later my father, who was worse, who was no longer doing much at church, and was basically bedridden... entered a coma on the evening of Sept 11th 2001...and We found him on the 12th... Then on September 13th my father went to be with the Lord, with family surrounding him, including uncles and aunts, and my brothers as well as my mom, my pastor, and his daughter.

My father was one of the strongest men I know. He taught me how to love, how to live, how to sing, how to smile. One of the most amazing things my father said to both mom and I as he lay dying in bed is "If just one person comes to Christ after hearing my story it will all have been worth it." So I live to spread his story, to share his strength and to pass on his memory.

You never forget a parent who loves so purely. He will live on in my memory forever. There are so many good memories that I will never trade. I will never fully get over or move on from my fathers death. Though I smile at his memory there are painful memories that hurt me just as the good ones help. But I will not let my fathers memory fade. People need to hear his story of strength and triumph and know that this man fought as long as he could, as hard as he could... I'm thankful for the memory of my father and I'm praising God that he  is no longer in pain.

If you or someone you love is battling Leukemia...stay strong, stay encouraging and FIGHT.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-rlnge-5Ow

Motivation March- Breast Cancer

Today is all about a cancer that almost everyone I know, knows someone or has known someone with it...

Breast Cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in women, and men can get it too!

Personally I have known almost 10 women that have had breast cancer, and praise the Lord many of them are alive and well today and continue to touch my life and the lives others. I also know of many women who have died of breast cancer.

Cancer spreads quite quickly and is scary, any form but since tonights focus in on breast cancer I want to post a couple of things. This site is from Webmd: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/guide/breast-self-exam

Check yourself but also get regularly checked for breast cancer by your doctor!  It can come on quickly and almost blind-side a person!

I do not have authority to share anyones personal story on this certain form of cancer but I want to extend that if anyone who has been effected by a loved one having breast cancer or if you yourself have had treatment for it, and you want to share your story let me know! Facebook me or comment here.

Keep your head up, stay positive and continue to have HOPE! Keep fighting, and if it is a love one that's fighting the cancer battle stand up with them and help them fight! Support is important in a cancer battle and it really helps build hope!

Also, know that when you do share your story, if you are ready to do so, it really helps someone that feels alone in their own battle...NOT feel so alone!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF2gCxZneH4

Motivation March- Colon Cancer

So my Theme for March is all about Motivation and today was the start of Colon Cancer Awareness month so today was "wear blue day"

I have a dear friend that I met through my work with the Cancer Coalition, last year. We have something in common, both of us have lost a parent to cancer. So today I wanted to share with you the story of her mother, and of her and her family. My friend, Belinda, and her family are very inspiring and I'm honored that she's allowing me to share her story... So here you go:

"May 30th will make two years since we laid my mom to rest. She had just turned 43 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, and our lives were turned upside down. I had always said we were such a blessed family because we hadn't had anyone with cancer, then it seemed like I ate my words twice. In just 5 weeks my moms cancer had spread from her colon to her liver and bones. She was determined to beat this thing, and always tried to smile, but I know how scared she must have been. She began chemo and radiation in January 2011, and it quickly took a toll on her body. A scan after 4 treatments showed that the chemo wasn't stopping the cancer growth. The initial tumor in her colon was nearly 8 inches long at this point. She came to stay with me and my husband and kids each time she took the chemo, and that time is something I would never trade for anything. My girls were everything to my mom, and they didnt quite understand why mammaw was so sick. I remember her yelling for me when she was in the shower and noticed her hair coming out by the handfuls. She said she didn't think it would be coming out so soon, and it really took a toll on her emotions. By April, her dr had told us there wasn't any hope and we only had about two weeks left with her. My dad, not ready to give up, had her sent to another hospital with better cancer experience. There, they decided to operate on her to remove her bowel obstruction. At this point she had stopped acting like herself. She talked out of her head, didn't know us at times, and didnt remember things from her past. Because of her mental changes, when they operated to remove the blockage, she never really gained consciousness again. I didn't get to be there with her before her operation because my little girl was in Cincinnati children's hospital with a staph infection, so I never got to tell her that I loved her again and be able to hear it back. We stayed in Lexington a couple more weeks with her, then we brought her home with Hospice. After three days, we each got time alone with her to talk to her and tell her how much we love her. Then around five in the morning she passed, while we were all surrounding her with love. My girls were in the next room sleeping, and didnt have a clue of what was in store for our family, and how their little hearts would be broken when they woke up. She had told me once that she had waited so long to become a mammaw, but only got to be one for 4 years. Our lives have forever been effected by colon cancer. A mother truly is the pillar that holds a family up, and cancer took that from us. Since her passing, she had had two grandsons born and it seems so unfair that they will never meet the grandma that would have spoiled them rotten, and this is because of cancer. We now have some emptiness at each holiday, and at times find it hard to enjoy them. I can't watch commercials about cancer without crying, I can't see a mother daughter themed movie without crying ( Disney's Brave), and when each of her grandchildren reach a milestone or say something amazing I get so mad at cancer because I can't call her to tell her about it. Cancer has taken do much from us, but there are things it could never take. It could never take the memories I have of her walking to the altar in tears asking Jesus to forgive her of her sins and come I to her heart, this was three days before her diagnosis, so I know God was preparing her for her fight that night he laid conviction upon her heart. It can't take my memory of her standing in severe bone pain and testifying to the church that if God took her or let her stay, she would be a winner either way. Cancer cannot take the memories of our family, our conversations, good times and bad, or my faith that I will see her again some day. My heart was broken when I wasn't at the hospital before her surgery to say goodbye, but I believe I know why now. I believe I didn't get to say goodbye because God wants me to serve him everyday and strive for that day when ill see her again and get to say hello. Cancer took my best friend, but it cannot take my faith and my joy in knowing that my mom isn't suffering anymore and that she will never know sickness again. The pain of losing her is still here everyday, but knowing how we can testify to others and inform them helps to know that through it all, we can make a difference. Early screening and detection truly does save lives. My mom had several screenings before her diagnosis because she had odd symptoms, but nothing ever showed up until it was to late. I urge everyone to get screened at the first sign of something odd because colon cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable." -Belinda Riley

I hope this story has touched you like it has me and others who've heard it. I stand with Belinda as she urges everyone to get screened! Take part in regular screening when your Doctor starts suggesting it and if there are signs PLEASE DON'T ignore them. If you've been touched by your own family member who has or had cancer know that you are not alone. Look at the strength of Belinda and her family and know that she fought hard for that strength, please stay strong too. Until next time... 

February's Theme

Today I'm doing something unusual! You are getting two blog posts. This first one is to talk about last months "Friendship February." I really enjoyed being able to share God's love for His people, WITH His people. On top of that I shared with my friends and family what they mean to me! What a blessing! A lot of people returned my message with what I mean to them and my heart was touched! I love every single friend I have and have enjoyed sharing February with them :)