There was a discussion recently in one of the online support groups where I spend lots of time these days about family planning after discovery of a germline mutation (a/k/a hereditary predisposition for cancer) that got me thinking. As many of you are aware, I discovered in 2017 that I carry the ATM germline/genetic mutation, … Continue reading Family planning
Category: Parenting
A Moment of Tenderness …
This post comes from a pop up writing workshop with Wildfire, "the only magazine and writing community for the women "too young" for breast cancer." I've written before about how I've been honored to have some of my writing published in various issues of Wildfire over the years (and will again in the upcoming MBC … Continue reading A Moment of Tenderness …
My Invisible Work …
This post comes from a pop up writing workshop with Wildfire, "the only magazine and writing community for the women "too young" for breast cancer." I've written before about how I've been honored to have some of my writing published in various issues of Wildfire over the years (and will again in the upcoming MBC … Continue reading My Invisible Work …
Book Review: On Repentance and Repair by Danya Ruttenberg
Recently, I read On Repentance and Repair; Making Amends in an Unapologetic World by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, and so many things that have been rattling around in my heart and mind have become more clear to me about these important topics. We all come from somewhere and my own experiences with the Christian interpretation of … Continue reading Book Review: On Repentance and Repair by Danya Ruttenberg
Parenting and MBC, Part II, a Guest Post
I asked my dear friend, Amanda Raffenaud, a mom also living with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer to help me with this series since she has older boys and her experience in parenting while dealing with a serious illness has been different from mine. On December 18, 2018, I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic … Continue reading Parenting and MBC, Part II, a Guest Post
Parenting and MBC, Part I
When I was initially diagnosed in 2017 with Stage II breast cancer, my boys were one (1) and three (3). We were tandem nursing and as each of my boys were born, my parenting revolved around my breasts. Nursing was such a great way to resolve just about anything and I loved watching their bond … Continue reading Parenting and MBC, Part I
On the first day of school, 2022
I wrote a blog post last year about the first day of school in 2021, following a very strange year complicated by COVID and school at home, etc. You can read that here. There are changes this year too, the boys are at a new school in a different county and we are all still … Continue reading On the first day of school, 2022
To my youngest son on the 7th anniversary of your birth
Malcolm-- This year, you turned 7 on the 7th and we have noticed such a difference in you this year. We think back to your rather tumultuous entry into the world and how at every moment since, you have chosen your own path. You throw every bit of your being into whatever it is that … Continue reading To my youngest son on the 7th anniversary of your birth
To my Eldest son on the 9th anniversary of his birth
Liam-- Every year, on the anniversary of your birth, I think about those days leading up to you joining us earthside and how much anticipation there was. Your Dad and I thought we knew some of what might change, but we had no idea how much our lives would be entirely different after you arrived. … Continue reading To my Eldest son on the 9th anniversary of his birth
Acceptable Risk
I've been thinking a lot about acceptable risk in the context of living with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) while immunocompromised and COVID and all of what we deal with on a daily basis in the world today. I was a little surprised at the variety of definitions out there, but I do like … Continue reading Acceptable Risk
No Half Measures 