I've written quite a few blog posts about labels. Labels are important and can be extremely meaningful; labels can also be fraught with triggers and emotion. One such label that creates a lot of angst for me, is survivor. I'm sure no one is surprised by this as I've written about this before and it's … Continue reading Conflicting Labels
How to be an Ally
When I met my now husband, Elliot, in 2006, I'd never dated anyone who wasn't as lily-white as me. In fact, the area where I went to high school in Ohio was so homogeneous, that going to UCF (That's the University of Central Florida for those of you not familiar with the Knights) for college … Continue reading How to be an Ally
Form over Substance
There are usually good reasons for doing something the same way every single time. Protocols and procedures are extremely helpful, especially when someone's health is on the line. When I was practicing law, I had lots of policies and procedures, especially for new hires and the people at the front desk. When there are employees … Continue reading Form over Substance
Scanxiety
When I was initially diagnosed, I began seeing this term in many of my support groups. I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone that cancer metsters/thrivers have their own jargon that helps to explain the shared experiences. It's sometimes like learning a new language, especially the acronyms. I've also found that the jargon changes in … Continue reading Scanxiety
Holding Space
I had never heard of this concept before my cancer diagnosis and I must confess, I SUCK at holding space. I have a hard time sitting still and so much of the time I spend listening to people, I'm thinking of how I can help them, how I can meet their needs. Just sitting in … Continue reading Holding Space
Medical Marijuana
I am not a doctor. I am not a medical provider. None of my statements in this blog should be taken as anything other than my own conclusions and personal experiences. Anyone who knows me knows how much of a rule follower I am. I've been been this way since I was quite going and … Continue reading Medical Marijuana
Congressional Support
Thus far, I've been successful in getting my insurance company to cover what my doctors have prescribed and, thus far, my private disability insurance company is behaving itself. Being an attorney does come in handy when it comes to fighting with various organizations -- when someone tells me no, especially when I know the answer … Continue reading Congressional Support
Fertility, Infertility and Secondary Infertility
This is a topic fraught with so many sensitive issues and let me say up front that I am not an expert on any of it. What I am is a woman, a daughter, a wife, and a mom. Some background on me ... I delayed having children on purpose because I wanted to build … Continue reading Fertility, Infertility and Secondary Infertility
Medical Professionals
At last count, I have over a dozen doctors that I have open and active treatment with. This does not include the entire medical team I had up in Orlando before we moved to Miami. Going from seeing one doctor once per year (before cancer) and never having much of anything to say or write … Continue reading Medical Professionals
When People Pretend
Since I was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer in mid-2017, there have been two people that I followed closely on social media who were "outed" as not actually having the level of illness they had claimed. I'm not going to use their names in this blog post because this is about me sorting … Continue reading When People Pretend
No Half Measures 