October

NATIONWIDE - October is upon us. Well, just about anyway. For most of the month, this is what my view looks like at least once a day. I look out of a plane window to my next destination and wonder who I will meet, what stories I will hear and how my life will change because of these encounters. 

So this is the view from a plane traveling who knows where. Think of me when you look up into the sky – or better yet, please come find me at one of the events listed on our facebook page. I’d love to say hi to you in person!

Martina

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE -  To the best of my knowledge, Martina McBride does not have, nor has ever had, breast cancer. I pray that she never does. That being said, however, she gets us. To my heart, she gets us totally. Even if you don’t care for country music (or even western :), please just read these lyrics. "I’m gonna love you through it." Thank you, Martina. For using your incredible power for good.

"I'm gonna love you through it"

- Martina McBride

she dropped the phone and burst into tears
the doctor just conformed her fears
her husband held it and held her tight
cancer don’t discriminate or care if you’re just 38
with three kids who need her in their lives
he said, “i know that you’re afraid and i am, too
but you’ll never be alone, i promise you”

chorus:
when you’re weak, i’ll be strong
when you let go, i’ll hold on
when you need to cry, i swear that i’ll be there to dry your eyes
when you feel lost and scared to death,
like you can’t take one more breath
just take my hand, together we can do this
i’m gonna love you through it.

she made it through the surgery fine
they said they cut her just in time
but they had to take more than they planned
now it’s forced smiles and baggy shirts
to hide what cancer took from her
but she just wants to feel like a woman again
she said, “ i don’t think i can do this anymore”
he took her in his arms and said “that’s what my love is for”

chorus:
and when the road gets too long
…
just take my hand, together we can do it
i’m gonna love you through it.
i’m gonna love you through it.

Stress

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -  And then there are times when we read the news and we realize that, in fact, the little stresses in our life are not as bad as we thought just a moment ago. At least when we take the time to put it in perspective with others.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, little Saoirse. We hope you and your mommy are both well very soon.

Photo: CNN.com

Carolyn

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA -  I can’t, in all honesty, think of a Carolyn that I don’t love. I mean that with all sincerity; they are all just wonderful. Let me tell you about my ‘Carolyn’ experience this weekend.

I speak annually to an amazing group of people. They are independent studio owners – their stores are the ones you see all over the world that encourage you to paint your own pottery pieces – and part of the Contemporary Ceramic Studios Association. (You can find a studio near you at ccsaonline.com.) Movie stars, celebrities and politicians have all jumped on the fun bandwagon to try this art form and love it. I myself am hesitant but paint nonetheless. If I could ever just learn to use more than one color….

Carolyn has heard me speak before, and she has been a passionate supporter of the auctions that happen to benefit breast cancer research. Carolyn decided to create a fun, amazingly creative and colorful glass piece for this year’s auction. It is perfect, in my non-professional artist opinion. It is just such a lovely piece, it was an honor to see it. It is an even bigger honor to be a part of the Foundation she chose to benefit. Carolyn was most recently a Regional Account Manager for iLoveToCreate and attended a Bisque Imports’ event. Studio owner, Julya Myers (Amazing Art Studio in Gaithersburg, Maryland) also attended. They were sitting together in a class and Carolyn asked if Julya would teach her / help her do the project since she had never worked with the medium before. Julya gladly obliged.

Sounds like a pretty ordinary story, doesn’t it? Here’s the catch; Carolyn passed away before she could finish her piece. It was the last piece she ever created, and she was never able to see it to completion. She had asked her friend, Chris Denison from Bisque Imports,  to pick up where she left off. (He is the resident glass guru.) To finish this piece and get it ready for auction. This auction, for this Foundation. 

Hearing this and knowing the backstory, I see it as both a wonderful tale and an amazing metaphor for everyone I meet. I attend events constantly, but the purpose behind them is not for fun, or for play. It is because, to put it bluntly, people are dying. This mission of mine is to do what I can to have less of that. I have a list of people I’ve lost, people I will no longer get to see and be with, and the list is getting longer. Many of them have done just what sweet Carolyn did; start something great, then hand it off like a baton in a race. Thank you, Carolyn, for doing this for our Foundation. For considering us worthy of your incredible efforts. Thank you, Chris, for picking up her baton. For allowing us to be good stewards of those amazingly important dollars. We are raising funds as if our lives depend on it. Because they do.

Risk

UNITED KINGDOM – A leading scientist in the UK has made what might seem to be a pretty bold statement: "Women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer should have their ovaries taken out when they are 40." This may seem like something most people would have never considered – BUT – if your genetic code shows you carry a risk, this kind of surgery could cut that risk by as much as half!  Amazing.

Of course, the surgical risks and side effects could make anyone tremble. But then again, being told you have cancer could make you pretty jumpy as well. Yes, it’s scary. Yes, it’s a serious surgery. (Of course, talk to your doc about it.) It was mandatory for me to have this surgery when I was 38 years old, and have never regretted it for a moment – but I want you to weigh in. 

Is it worth it? Would you consider such an action if you were BRACA1 or 2? And are you just as ready as I am to find a cure?  :)

Photo: Science Photo Library