Archive for the ‘The Chronicle’ Category
May 12, 2011
I know it has been a long time since I have written on the Pinky so I hope this finds everyone well. We have been so blessed with mom’s recovery and could not have done it without all of you. But I thought this was important information to pass along on The Pink Chronicle so we can all sign her petition.
Please Read:
Alaina Giordano was diagnosed with breast cancer three and half years ago. That was bad.
This is worse: On April 25th, a judge in North Carolina used Alaina’s cancer as a key reason to transfer custody of her 5-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter to her ex-husband (a man Alaina describes as “abusive” and who lives more than 700 miles away).
This is happening even though Alaina says her kids “know that I have cancer, they know that I go for treatment once a month now, they know that it’s stable. They know me as mom, and it doesn’t affect our daily life.”
She has just two weeks to appeal, and her hope is that a huge outcry from the public and local elected officials can help reverse the decision.
Thankfully, that outcry is growing quickly. A petition started by Alaina’s sister Lauren has more than 7,000 signatures, Alaina was interviewed on Good Morning America and the Today Show, and media throughout North Carolina and the U.S. are now covering the injustice.
But time is short, and the wrong outcome here sets a dangerous precedent for mothers and fathers with cancer or other serious diseases. Please sign Lauren’s petition asking that Alaina Giordano’s breast cancer not be used as a reason to take away her kids:
http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-allow-nc-judge-to-take-alaina-giordanos-children-just-because-she-has-cancer
Thanks for taking action,
- Shelby and the Change.org team
P.S. Alaina is urgently looking for a lawyer who can help with her appeal, pro bono. If you’re qualified to practice law in North Carolina and can help, shoot me an email at Shelby.Knox@Change.org.
Tags:Alaina Giordana, blog, breast cancer symptoms, cancer, case, chemotherapy, court, custody, judge, North Carolina, www.thepinkchronicle.com
Posted in The Chronicle | 2 Comments »
June 1, 2010
I recently I found out that one of my close friends, Liz Lea’s, mother suffered a stroke. Pam Lea is undoubtedly one of the most amazing women I have ever met. She is young, compassionate, and has a deep faith in God. She is a wonderful mother to her children and everybody in her life. She is the type of person you immediately fall in love with upon meeting. She is one of the few people I feel can truly feel empathy, she is constantly putting others before herself especially her children. She loves with her whole heart and needs all of ours right now. Pam believes in prayer and Liz asked me to please have my mom pray for hers, which of course she is doing but we need all of yours as well. I have seen what the power of prayer can accomplish and believe that God still performs miracles here on Earth. The Lea family has undergone much heartache these past months and now Pam has had a stroke. The saying, when it rains it pours seems to be true to Liz & her family, but they are stronger than the storm so keep them in your thoughts. Please pray for Pam Lea because I believe the Pinky network has a direct line to God, which I have seen time & time again with the recovery of my mom.
Pam’s email is pamlea@comcast.net and her address is 225 Lone Oak Village Way, Nashville, TN 37215 if you feel like sending her a note.
Thanks so much for everyone’s love & support.
Tags:family, friends, mother, prayers, stroke
Posted in Prayer Request, The Chronicle | Leave a Comment »
May 17, 2010
Hey Gang – Some more great news !! I had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Barber this morning. Cubby came with me because she thought I might need support for when they took the bandage off. We walked in and his assistant said they got back the pathology report on the whole breast. The lymph node and enter left breast (inside tissue, nipple and skin) came back negative for malignancy. When God does healing he gets it from the root, and it is completely healed. Dr. Barber was not there to see me but, as we left he was coming out of the operating room. He was so happy and beside himself, he said I made his month.
I have to say, I am ok with my flat breast. It is sort of cute, so I can’t be too down on it. They also took out my drains. They were suppose to stay in for 2 weeks but, they were through draining. Praise the Lord, now I am free to move around. I am heading out for a long walk around chastian Park. All I can do is pinch myself that I have all this behind me. I knew all along I didn’t have anymore cancer but, now the Doctor’s have confirmed what I have known all along. I want to pray that through my experience others will see that nothing is impossible with God. And I mean nothing!!!!!
Php 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
Love,
Lisa
Tags:atlanta, blog, breast cancer, breast cancer symptoms, cancer, chemotherapy, family, friends, georgia, God, mastectomy, prayers, tumor, www.thepinkchronicle.com
Posted in The Chronicle | 4 Comments »
May 13, 2010
Lisa with flowers from Ellen & Taylor Knox
I arrived at the hospital around 8:30 expecting to find mom groggy and bedridden, but to my surprise though I should have expected it, she was racing around the room planning her homecoming and my birthday party tonight. Mom had already dressed to kill in a beautiful new blue outfit to mask and hold the tubes connected to her breast, which she is already draining herself. The doctor about fell on his face when he came in for the checkup and found his patient doing the nurse’s jobs.
By the time I sat down and feigned my astonishment, a birthday cake rolled in that Lisa organized with the staff at 7:00am this morning. After birthday cake and breakfast, she cleaned the hospital room and prepared herself for departure even though the doctors are begging her to stay until noon. I feel they selfishly want to keep her here because she is their best patient and can put up their feet up while she;s around.
I am now watching her try to convince the nurses that she should be able to go home before 12 because of party preparations and George, her dog, needs a walk. The Lis is unbelievable and I think I just saw her sneak slash steal a Piedmont Hospital pitcher in her bag. I see her mind working she is thinking, ”oh my this is better looking than mine and would be just perfect for tonight’s cookout, I am sure they have more than enough to share.”
Anyways, our patient will be driving us home from the hospital because she feels I drive too slow and has a list of errands to run before home. Thanks for all your prayers, she is doing incredible. She has been constantly checking the blog and reading everyone’s comments. The excitement and joy over yesterday’s cancer free discovery makes this birthday celebration the most special in all my 27 years!
Tags:atlanta, blog, breast cancer, breast cancer symptoms, cancer, chemotherapy, friends, georgia, God, miracle, prayers, tumor, www.breastcancersociety.com
Posted in The Chronicle | 9 Comments »
May 12, 2010
On the Way Back to Surgery
Lisa made it through surgery with flying colors! There was not a dry eye in the waiting room when Dr. Barber came out of surgery to report that Lisa is cancer free! The lymph node came back clear as well. He found no tumor to remove. He told us that one third of the patients tumor shrink to almost nothing. Her tumor disappearance is a miracle!
Mom even shouted out to the surgeon and our family as they were wheeling her back for the operation that “oh don’t worry he is not going to find anything, there is no cancer in me.” She already knew her results before the doctor’s even opened her up.
We just saw her briefly as she was being wheeled back to surgery. She looked beautiful, but a bit groggy from the drugs. She was so happy to hear about the surgery results. I am sure she will be updating the pinky tonight about God’s miracle. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support. We could not be happier at this moment; the mastectomy went better than we could of imagined.
Tags:atlanta, blog, breast cancer symptoms, cancer, chemotherapy, family, friends, georgia, God, mastectomy, miracle, prayers, tumor, www.breastcancersociety.com
Posted in The Chronicle | 8 Comments »
May 11, 2010
The Prayer Group
Lisa had a wonderful weekend celebrating Mothers Day. The holiday had new meaning for our family this year. I traveled back to Atlanta in time for the big occasion. My grandparents also came down from Big Canoe to join us for dinner. We all rejoiced in family and the importance of Motherhood, which has been made extremely clear throughout the last few months. The night helped kick off the upcoming week and the preparations that lay ahead for Wednesday’s mastectomy.
Martha, Lisa’s eldest sister, came in town Saturday to support Mom with her upcoming surgery. We all had such a wonderful time together these past few days with little anxiety regarding Wednesday. Everyone in the family has worked hard to keep Mom busy though we all know she can do that by herself.
Tomorrow is the big day and we need all your prayers. Five of Lisa’s close friends gathered today at our house to cover her with prayers and love before the big surgery. She is doing everything she can to prepare for tomorrow, which is keeping her positive and thankful that the road to recovery is coming to an end. Chemo and mastectomy will soon be crossed off the list, leaving radiation and reconstruction as her last two hurdles. Good riddance to that horrible little tumor! Please think of Lisa tomorrow, the surgery begins at 10:00am.
Posted in The Chronicle | 12 Comments »
May 7, 2010
I am pinch writing for Mom today because last night she realized she had two doctor’s appointments to attend this morning and would not be able to devout the appropriate time to her beloved Pinky.
Lisa had a big Wednesday, filled with friends and preparations for her upcoming surgery. Three close friends took her to lunch to gather knowledge about the mastectomy and fill Lisa with love & prayers. Lisa has been looking forward to this outing because it is important for her to be able to discuss the mastectomy in order to ensure prayers and support though we all know Mom is going to be fine. It is just unsettling to realize you will be losing one of your breast because though women may not always realize it, breasts are apart of our physical self identity, but Lisa will overcome her apprehensions and will fall in love with her beautiful, sturdy new set!
After lunch, she headed over to the hospital for pre-op where she learned her schedule for Wednesday. She will arrive at the hospital at 6:00 am to inject dye into her lymph nodes so we can all be assured that the cancer has not spread. At 10:00 am, she will go in for her mastectomy and port removal. Lisa will recover for the rest of the day in the Ritz-like hospital room at the Waters Pavilion, which I think she is secretly excited about residing in for the day & night.
Thank you for all your prayers and support, we all appreciate each and every one. Please continue your prayers for Wednesday’s events.
Tags:atlanta, blog, breast cancer, breast cancer symptoms, cancer, chemotherapy, christian, family, mastectomy, mother, prayers, tumor
Posted in The Chronicle | 5 Comments »
May 4, 2010
Lisa is on the move again, really taking advantage of her new found freedom. She is now residing in Las Vegas where she stay until Wednesday. She was so eager to throw craps with the rich and famous that she convinced Vincent to participate in a business convention in the Golden City.
Mom drove straight from the airport to a nail parlor in hopes of fixing her shrek nails for the night’s date with Dad. At first, the nail artists told Lisa that there was nothing they could do, but she convinced them that they were so talented they were capable of anything in the nail world. The nails are now covered with a beautiful sparkle that disguises their empty beds.
Next, mom decided to go on a scarf shopping expedition. She has discovered through her frequent scarf fashions that it’s best to wear lightweight cotton ones because they are less likely to slip. Breast cancer sure has taught her a lot. I feel she deserves guru status in the scarf department.
Lisa felt down when she first arrived to Vegas because of all the beautiful half-naked people hanging out by the pool and in the restaurants. She started to envy their hair and nails, but quickly realized what her mind was doing and picked herself back up. I cannot imagine how she must feel, but she certainly has mastered being positive.
Tags:atlanta, blog, breast cancer, breast cancer symptoms, cancer, faith, family, fashion, friends, georgia, God, mother, prayers, scarf, tumor, www.breastcancersociety.com
Posted in The Chronicle | 3 Comments »
May 3, 2010
Mom and Dad's Jackson Visit in 2008
We had a very successful wedding planning weekend. Lisa kept us busy from sun up to sun down. Mom pushed us hard every step of the way because of the desperate time crunch. She groomed us into her wedding soldiers by challenging us to make quick decisions and express through words each one of our ideas. Her leadership made the weekend a huge success.
In the midst of all our busy decision-making, Lisa lost the rest of her nails, which she now kindly refers to her hands as shreky pooh (Shrek, the cartoon character). She turned the fallen warriors into pawns for her practical jokes by quietly tossing them at me in the middle of serious meetings. Lisa chose to laugh rather than cry about her situation, which is a common theme in Mom’s recovery. She continuously looks at the bright side even if she has to invent one.
Our last night in Jackson, Dad took us to one of the best restaurants in Jackson to celebrate his birthday and the first Monday that Mom will not undergo chemo. Wild Sage is a quaint little restaurant with only six tables, which makes it so personable and perfect for discussing the weekends affairs. After ordering appetizers, Rafe excused himself to the restroom. On his back to the table, he was stopped by a couple also dining. The couple asked if the woman he was seated with had cancer. They explained that they ask because their fourteen year old daughter was recovery from bone cancer and also underwent chemotherapy. The couple was celebrating their twenty year wedding anniversary and the recent health of their daughter. The lovely couple had made a pact to buy a dessert to anyone they saw undergoing cancer while eating out. This is an act of PAYING IT FORWARD, which is an amazing way to recognize and pay back all the love and support they felt while going through hard times. They made Rafe promise he would not relay this message until after they left so they wanted no thanks for their good deed.
The love and support Mom has received throughout her battle has been overwhelming even from so many strangers she crosses paths. Their act of kindness made me want to participate in a method of paying it forward as well. We will all be thinking of a similar act to honor all the love and support we have felt throughout this journey.
Tags:breast cancer, cancer, chemotherapy, family, friends, Jackson Hole, love, mother, mother of the bride, wedding, Wyoming
Posted in The Chronicle | 3 Comments »
April 29, 2010
Jackson, Wyoming
Lisa, Vincent, Rafe, and I are headed to Jackson, Wyoming this weekend for a wedding planning trip. This is Mom’s first trip out of Atlanta since her diagnosis. The doctor gave her the green light because her red and white blood counts were so high. She has a two-week get out of jail free card before the mastectomy. I am ecstatic that she is able to use it to help me wedding plan.
I remember when Mom first found out she had breast cancer. Rafe and I were newly engaged, which had been both our mother’s dream since we were fifteen. She was so excited about our wedding that at times I thought she was going to stop breathing due to her excitement. Dad complained about not being able to sleep at night because of Mom’s incessant chatter about wedding possibilities.
Anyways, at the beginning of her cancer journey she felt she would not be able to help me with the wedding. She called me one Saturday night crying about the wedding and how hurt she was that we were finally getting married and she was not going to be able to be apart of the whole process. She felt she was being cheated out of her Mother of the Bride dreams. Mom and I were both shattered by this realization, but I reassured her that her health was the most important thing and we would somehow figure out the rest.
Our fears never came to fruition because Mom has been able to do more than most Mother’s of the Brides who are in perfect health. She has not missed a beat or decision in the wedding planning. She has been with Rafe and I every step of the way along with his mother as well. We have been so blessed by her strength because she is helping plan our dream wedding in face of her battle. Lisa is exactly the mother I imagined her to be when Rafe and I first got engaged. Breast cancer has never slowed Mom down.
Tags:atlanta, blog, breast cancer, breast cancer symptoms, cancer, chemotherapy, christian, family, friends, georgia, God, Jackson Hole, mother, mother of the bride, prayers, tumor, wedding, www.breastcancersociety.com, www.chemoflage.com, www.thepinkchronicle.com, Wyoming
Posted in The Chronicle | 3 Comments »
