Woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend... Just when I thought life could not get any better I heard a knock on my door, it was Cancer.
It changed everything but not for the worse. I choose Life and Hope .
BACK OFF CANCER is what I say!

The beginning of this journey...shaving my head

The beginning of this journey...shaving my head
Me, Francesca, on April 1st 2007, the day I shaved my head....

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Keep Fighting! Stop Struggling!

Sorry I have been a little MIA! And Thank you for all of you who checked in to see if everything was OK... Everything is OK! Actually all is GOOD!

I recently read a story about a teenager , with a rare form of cancer, who has also began a blog. His name is Miles Levin and to say the least, he has become so inspiring. I believe that it should be a rule: No one under 21 should get cancer... period! Cancer robs you from your innocence , I think I read it somewhere.

The words: Keep Fighting! Stop Struggling! are actually his, I borrowed them. It does not apply only to people with cancer... think about it!

Last Sunday, Discovery Health Channel, aired a special hosted by Ted Koeppel titled: Living with Cancer . There were many guests, many doctors, patients, survivors, including : Lance Armstrong, Elizabeth Edwards and Leroy Sievers. I knew who the first 2 were but did not know who Leroy was. He has become my new idol and I encourage you to visit his blog on NPR. (www.npr.or/blogs/mycancer)

Leroy touches upon so many "common" feelings of people with cancer and from all that I have read ( and I have read a lot) I believe he has been the best in capturing what really goes in the head of someone with a life threatening disease, no drama, no sensationalism but also confidence, optimism and humor .

Talking about reading, I have been reading a lot and for the first time in years I have a Library card ( Thanks Barb!) ... and I read and I read, ... all kinds of stuff. ... so if you have a great book.. please send me the name... I am currently reading the new book by Walter Isaacson: Einstein; very interesting and also a bit difficult so every few days I put it down and read a quick novel.

Tomorrow I will go to my 4th ( yes FOURTH!) round of chemo... I am more apprehensive that the other times .. not sure why... just as I know exactly what to expect and its plain NOT FUN! But as my friend KSA said: one step closer to killing the MONSTER!

I will leave you with "An Attitude Check" : (Thanks Bill!)

Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.
I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say to me, my circumstances, or my position.
Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there's no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.

Have a wonderful Mother's Day !

Many kisses
Francesca

7 comments:

Toaster said...

Inspiring. I happened upon your blog by chance. People like you give me faith in people again.

Keep fighting.

neila said...

Checca,

Entao leia "criando meninos", Steve Biddulph, se eh que vc ja nao leu. Love is the Answer!

Tenha Um Feliz dia das Maes!

Bj

Neila

Chiara said...

Feliz Dias das Mães para nós!

Continua lutando e pensando em coisas lindas e gostosas,tipo um dia de praia aqui na Barra do Sahy,ou um sushi do Nagayama,ou um Negresco.....uma cervejinha bem gelada ,na praia,claro.....uma ida ao cabelereiro aqui do Brasil,bem caro...mas que agente sai liiinda,ah...bastante sol !!!
Ai,daqui ha pouco tudo isso vai acontecer...ah..nossa tatuagem...agente não falou mais nisso,mas ja tem que ir pensando....
Love
Manequim De NJ

neila said...

Checca,

Hoje tá fazendo um dia daquels de SOl...vc ia adorar estar aqui no ceará. Penso em você Night and Day!

Bj

Neila

admin said...

Francesca,
I have been reading your blog and want you to know that you are in my prayers and constant thoughts.
Thinking of you and how inspiring you are!
Take good care..please...miss you!
Kimlee (from TCC)

Anonymous said...

Nice post… Thanks for sharing your such a nice person!…

Jesus said...

Francesca, I have been reading your blog and want you to know that you are in my prayers and constant thoughts. Thinking of you and how inspiring you are! Take good care..please...miss you! Kimlee (from TCC)