Hello All,

I have surgery tomorrow at 1:00 pm tomorrow. I am glad the day is finally nearly here. Although, there is still so much to do it seems. Oh well, what will get done, will get done and what does not get done, does not.

This morning I went to the Orange County Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I was not able to do the walk or run . . . next year I guess. But, it was nice to go and to see friends. There was a survivor ceremony, with speakers beforehand. It was nice, but, I have to say it was a little weird for me. I have been years ago, running it in honor of my Aunt Anne. This year, I am a “survivor”. Women were wearing beads – one strand for each year out from their breast cancer diagnosis. Some women had thirty strands. That is encouraging. I sat during the ceremony with three women, my friend Debbie, her mother and her cousin . . . all three have had breast cancer (Debbie has had it twice).

Anyway, it was great seeing Debbie and her family and friends.

I am glad that there is so much attention given to breast cancer. But, other cancers get less attention. The Orange County Race for the Cure is a huge event every year. This is the 19th year of the race in Orange County. I just wish there was an equivalent event/attention for other cancer types . . . October is breast cancer awareness month . . . “pinktober”.

Other cancers have a color too . . . for example . . . ovarian cancer is teal, uterine cancer is orange. But, no other cancer seems to be anywhere near as much on the radar (research and awareness wise) as breast cancer.

Maybe with organizations like Stand Up 2 Cancer, there will be more awareness, more research dollars. I don’t know.

Well, I have to get back to the rest of my pre-op hop. Here are some pictures from today’s festivities.

Please keep me in your prayers tomorrow, I greatly appreciate it.

Much love,

Lisa

P.S. A special thank you to my friend Sandy and to the generosity of her family and friends . . . Sandy raised $375.00 – that will pay for three mammograms! Thank you Sandy!!! (I stand corrected . . . Sandy has raised $400.00)!!! Thank you Sandy!

Cassi, Tiffany, me and Amber

Me and Dan . . . he ran the race, I sat out 🙂

Three amazing women! Sylvia, Debbie and her Mom

Me and Debbie, we went through chemo together last year.

Me and Sylvia

Me and my friend Lindsay

Survivor celebration . . . I am in here somewhere . . . 🙂

Here are some pictures from this past weekend:

Playing with my blues group at Bistro 400

Friends who came to hear us play . . . 🙂

More friends who came out to the Bistro . . . Tiffany, Cassi and Amy 🙂

Playing with my blues group in Laguna Beach at the Art A Fair

Laguna Beach Art A Fair

Laguna Beach Art A Fair

Art A Fair, Laguna Beach

Crystal Cove, Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Beach, one of my favorite places.

Sunset at Crystal Cove

Hi All,

Here are a few pictures from the past six weeks (I will be six weeks out of surgery this Monday – so glad to be on this end of things)!!!

Here you go . . .

Not looking my best - the day after surgery 5-18-10

Roses from a friend to brighten my room.

More fun - running out of places to get a vein . . . this has to be my least favorite place to have an IV - in my neck.

Close up of neck IV (I hope you've already had your lunch) 🙂

Beautiful flowers from family and friends 🙂

Post-op - getting IV antibiotics at home (I had a nurse come in daily for three weeks). So glad to get rid of the IV pole in my living room 🙂

Memorial Day trip to the ER

We can rebuild her! (Memorial Day at the ER).

Here are a few pictures from last weekend. I went out with some friends for dinner (excellent Italian food at Alessa’s in Huntington Beach, I recommend it) and then music and dancing after. It was a really fun night. It was fun and great exercise. Although I think that may have been what caused the expander on my right side to rupture. Who knows. Better now than a month from now or even a week from now – as that would mean a whole separate surgery to replace the expander. Instead, because it happened this past week, I can have it dealt with on Monday – during the surgery for my left side. (And, I presume you all get that when I say “side” I mean my chest or “boob like structure” or whatever this is :)) I know one thing that it is for sure . . . it is something I am getting very tired of.  But, I am moving onto the next thing, reconstruction. And . . . most importantly . . . I am here, and I can dance. Those are good things.

Surgery is Monday, have to be at the hospital at 5:00 am. I am expected to be home by Wednesday night or Thursday.

Please say prayers for me that all goes well and that I have a speedy recovery.

Here are some photos from last weekend.

Love and peace,

Lisa

Easter was a really nice day. I colored eggs for my youngest nephew’s first Easter egg hunt. It was a lot of fun. He is so full of joy . . . it is impossible to be unhappy around that little boy. Here are some pictures . . .

Happy Easter! My nephew Garrett, sheer delight!

Garrett and his new bunny from Grandma & Grandpa

Garrett and Daddy

Hello All,

I just got my bone scan results – everything is normal. Phew!

Thank you all for your continued prayers, please keep the prayers coming, I know it works!

Much love,

Lisa

And . . . here is a picture of me naked . . . okay, not really, but kind of 🙂

Look at them bones! 🙂