Team Sarcoma

It's International Sarcoma Week!

In 2006, I was able to participate in Denmark during this week to raise money and awareness for sarcoma. Askin's Tumor, the cancer I had, is a type of sarcoma.

Check out the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative website for the details for this year's event and how you might be able to get involved!!

http://www.team-sarcoma.net/

May they be blessed on their bike riding and journey this week!

Today, I am grateful for friends, family and God!

Rach

The Day I Was Diagnosed...

I wrote this today for the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative's Team Sarcoma's Moments in Sarcoma Project-which I encourage you to do if you have been touched by sarcoma. The link is: http://www.team-sarcoma.net/moments.html

The website says, It might be a moment of bravery, compassion, wisdom, humor, or grief, an experience that educates others or a time full of hope...

Mine is about the day I was diagnosed-

I will always remember the day I was diagnosed-Friday, Dec. 4th, 1998. I stayed home from high school that day because my legs and chest were numb. Through the course of fortunate events, we ended up getting into a very respected neurologist that day. He had actually had taken the day off to do paperwork, but had an inkling that something was up and wanted to see me right away. We did the usual neurological tests with the pins and instruments and I could feel some and others felt strange and could not feel much of others. I remember too, for some reason, I was wearing black fleece pants with zippers on the bottom and a light blue long sleeve t-shirt. After an MRI, he sat my mother and I down to let us know what they'd seen-an egg-sized tumor that was strangling the upper part of my spinal cord. I was admitted directly into the hospital and was raced around to different departments for other testing before an emergency surgery was performed early the next morning. I also vividly remembering listening to a song on my Dad's Walkman called 'Changes' while the nurse attempted to start an IV in my arm. The lyrics rang very true, "...things'll never be the same/That's just the way it is..."

Today, I am grateful for friends, family, God.

Rachel

Winner!! and The Bucket List

First, just an update, The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative (unofficially) won a total of $13,000 in prizes in the Facebook Giving Challenge, bringing the total of funds raised for sarcoma research to $30,780 in one month! The official results will be announced late this month. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! This will help SO much!

Second, I wanted to talk a little about The Bucket List movie. I thought it definitely had its positive points and a few downsides but don't most movies, I guess? Overall I was pleased. I am usually pleased with movies with Morgan Freeman, possibly my favorite actor. Jack Nicholson and Morgan played off each other very well as the main two characters, each coming from very different lives.

The synoposis is:

A long time ago, Carter Chambers' philosophy professor suggested that his students compose a "bucket list," a collection of all the things they wanted to do, see and experience in life before they kicked the bucket. But while Carter was trying to define his private dreams and plans, reality intruded. Marriage, children, myriad responsibilities and, ultimately, a 46-year job as an auto mechanic turned his concept of a bucket list into little more than a bittersweet memory of lost opportunities and a mental exercise he occasionally thought about to pass the time. Meanwhile, corporate billionaire Edward Cole never saw a list without a bottom line. He was always too busy making money and building an empire to think about what his deeper needs might be beyond the next big acquisition or cup of gourmet coffee. Then life delivered an urgent and unexpected wake-up call to both of them. Carter and Edward found themselves sharing a hospital room with plenty of time to think about what might happen next--and about how much of that was in their hands. For all their apparent differences, they discovered they had two very important things in common: an unrealized need to come to terms with who they were and the choices they'd made, and a pressing desire to spend the time they had left doing everything they ever wanted to do. So, against doctor's orders and all good sense, these two virtual strangers check themselves out of the hospital and hit the road together for the adventure of a lifetime--from the Taj Mahal to the Serengeti, the finest restaurants to the seediest tattoo parlors, the cockpit of vintage race cars to the open door of a prop plane--with just a sheet of paper and their passion for life to guide them. Adding and crossing items off their list while taking in the grandeur and beauty of the world, they grapple with the difficult questions and the even more difficult answers that plague all of us. And, without even realizing it, become true friends.

I think that it was sad and probably unrealistic that Carter (Freeman) spent most of his last months with someone that was essentially a stranger. But that is what makes a movie be a movie-not always intended to be completely truthful and very rarely is. When I was supposed to die (by medical standards) all I wanted was time with family and friends and yes, I traveled quite a bit, but it was to visit those people and most of the places weren't very 'glamourous'! True, they were glamourous because of the people and experiences but it wasn't because of a specific place.

Overall, I recommend the movie-it was mostly a feel good movie that made you think a bit about all our lives, which is a good thing!

Today, I am grateful for: peacefulness in my life, a splendid morning with Gabe and my pastor, a nice day ahead and for family, friends and God!

Rach

Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative Help

I normally do not ask for money, especially on the blog, but for causes that are dear to me like this one, I have to put this. It's pretty easy on the wallet too (compared to a lot of other stuff).

The amazing organization that I went to Denmark with, The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative, is in the Facebook "Causes Giving Challenge" competition. It is currently one of the top contenders in the heat of the competition and could possibly win $10,000, $25,000, or $50,000 for sarcoma research (this is what my type of cancer is categorized as). Will you make a $10 donation to help us win a prize? The competition ends February 1st so the sooner, the better! To help and get more details visit http://tinyurl.com/2hmj34.

Feel free to forward to anyone who you think may be interested also.


If this is something you are not interested in or cannot help at this time, I understand. I truly appreciate all your support in the past and everything you do for me! To everyone, THANKS!



Rachel



Today, I am grateful for: cancer research, good times, friends, family and God.

Eco-Friendly Home

First,Check out Mary's blog today to help people with cancer, specifically sarcoma... http://abc-survivors.net/mary

Yes, I finally decided to show you my end-of-semester project from Residential Interior Design. We were given an existing home and floor plan and the made-up couple wanted an addition plus renovation in their home with as many eco-friendly/"green"/sustainable elements as possible...They also wanted a more contemporary feel. We had to work on plumbing, electrical and lighting plans, roof plans, architectural plans for the addition (including building materials, etc), finding furniture, flooring, cabinets, lighting fixtures, wall applications, ceiling designs, ETC. We also had to do renovate the basement and completely re-do the kitchen plus a bunch of other stuff. I converted my garage into the addition and moved the garage to the back of the house. I used a lot of eco-friendly finishes and furniture. It was a lot of hard work while being somewhat under the weather but in the end, I think it turned out well...

This is the floor plan for the first level and basement.

On the right side of the house is where the garage used to be.

On the left is a rendering of the kitchen and it's finishes are below,

and on the right, is the dining room area.

This is the living room and wet bar area of the house which is in the former garage.

Today, I am grateful for: friends, family, dinner&movie date night, God


Rach

Fabulous Tidbits

by Mary Porcher Sorens from ESUN

-First, I wanted to share a humorous dream that I had the other night. I was with a friend of mine and we were walking along in a shady neighborhood. All of sudden, 2 guys started walking behind us. My friend turned around and said, "Are you going to mug us?" and they said, "Yes." She held out her purse, gave it to them and ran away. One of the guys went away and the other followed me. I approached a home and rang the doorbell but no one answered and they guy was close by this point. I calmly touched his arm and told him, "I have cancer. And if I keep touching you, you are going to get it too." He got scared and ran away. Later I found my friend and we went to a party. I remember thinking during the dream-the happenings of tonight will be great 'blog material'. HAHA. Thankfully, it was just a dream, but how funny!?

-Next, some AMAZING poetry and photography has been published online in the same publication some of my work has been in a couple times, ESUN (Electronic Sarcoma Update Newsletter put out by the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative). It is by Mary Sorens, who is a dear friend and founder of the ABC Survivors group. Here it is (enjoy!): http://www.liddyshriversarcomainitiative.org/Journeys/mary_sorens/shades.htm

Quite beautiful work...I made sure to print it all out and enjoy curled up away from the hum of the computer screen.

-Finally, I wanted to share something I saw in the CancerCare Newsletter- Young Adult Telephone Group- CancerCare is teaming up with the Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy to launch a telephone support group about "giving back." When treatment comes to an end, many young adults diagnosed with cancer want to give back to the cancer community. This group provides an opportunity to connect with others, explore possibilities and determine options that are meaningful and realistic for you. For more information, please contact Julie Larson, LMSW. (The link to Julie Larson took me here-http://www.cancercare.org/about_us/contact_us/contact_general.php?recipient=jlarson@cancercare.org&origin=enews_1207p&tr=y&auid=3261965 )

And with that, I'm off to more holiday gift making, cleaning and much more that are on the massive to-do list that comes with a school 'break' but I really don't mind most of it, thankfully!

Today, I am grateful for: friends, feeling better today-yay!, family, God and another day without limitations and living in a free country

Love,

Rachel

Circle of Hope Bracelets

Mission Statement
Circle of Hope Bracelets is a community-service organization that offers its dedicated volunteers opportunities to raise money for the fight against cancer. Volunteer activities include making and selling bracelets. Profits from these activities are donated to cancer causes, particularly cancer research, education, treatment and care.

I have gotten involved with this organization the last few years. They are awesome! They have given money to SO many awesome organizations-including the one I went to Denmark with. They've also given to Amn. Cancer Society, Camp Rainbow, Friends of Kids with Cancer, St Jude's, etc!

They sell awesome bracelets that volunteers (like my mom and I) make. Tonight we are going to a volunteer appreciation dinner! Should be a blast. I'm pretty excited-we missed it last year because I had some infection or something...

Anyways, today, I am grateful for: new friends, old friends, family, God and not feeling too bad after being up way too late and of course tonight!

Love,
R

Tid-Bits

Johnny crosses the finish line after going up and

down the stairs 50 times with ankle weights...

-Have you ever tried to run up and down stairs 50 times with ankle weights on? Well, don't worry, I didn't, but my fiance's 16 year old brother did...it was quite funny really (after a dare). I mention this because his (newer) band, Open Theory, featured this blog on their site. Thanks! Check it out!

-CTOS- Connective Tissue Oncology Society is having their 13th Annual CTOS Meeting this weekend. I was asked by the head of the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative to grant permission to use some of my artwork there. There was going to be some posters for various organizations and my work was on the one for the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative. I hope the weekend was successful and I look forward to hearing about it and hopefully seeing some pictures of the posters!


-Go enjoy your Sunday!


Today, I am grateful for: art, God, writing, nice weather again, family and friends!


Adios, amigos!


Rachel

Team Sarcoma

I wanted to present a unique and wonderful opportunity (that I had the privilege of being involved with in the past) to support the Cancer World, in particular the Sarcoma World. It involves traveling to amazing places, getting exercise from biking through these places, raising money for badly needed cancer research and meeting amazing people and making life-long memories. And it is all possible through the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative.

I went to Denmark for this very sort of thing in 2006. It was truly life-changing and it was neat to see my family and friends rally around me in support-financially, emotionally, spiritually, etc. I made some life-long friends and had to lean on (then) strangers for help. I was unable to bike each day but rode the bus with a couple of others. The first picture above shows the end of the biking with a finale in Copenhagen. The second picture is of luminaires on the beach to honor the survivors of cancer-whether on earth or in heaven.

The next trip is being held July 12-20, 2008 in Germany and Austria, biking along the Danube River from Passau, Germany to Vienna, Austria. Sure wish I could be there with everyone but because of the wedding and other reasons, I will only be there in spirit.

There are also opportunities to organize local simultaneous Team Sarcomas wherever you live in the world which is also a terrific way to help this amazing cause!

For more info, leave a comment, email my friend, Bruce Shriver (shriver@genesis2.com) or visit:
http://www.sarcomahelp.net/Bike%20Tours/ts_2008/ts_2008.htm

Today, I am grateful for: a smooth presentation at school, wonderful organizations, working out and family and friends

Love,

Rachel

Human Enlightenment

We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.

-Herman Melville

For my class, I had to Photoshop 5+ images to represent "Human Enlightenment". I personally took the background pic, the angel on the building, the 2 small dragonflies mating and the pic on the side of the column. My friend Mary took the pic on the front of the column in Denmark (a fellow sarcoma survivor who was my roomie in Denmark, when I went with the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative-she runs Adult Bone Cancer Survivors!) The pic of the column and angel was found randomly and the butterflies from a magazine!

Enjoy-be enlightened. Haha. Corny.

Today, I am grateful for: some depuffing on the 'square face', being able to make it through a full day of school with enough energy, grateful that I am normally able to eat whatever I want and this "mushy diet" is temporary

Ciao.

Rach