Beauty and Strength

 

Jen Burgess Thompson
http://www.amistillagirl.com/


 When I was diagnosed a lot of people gave me advice and notes, cards and gifts. Genevieve sent me this blog and I was captivated by Jen. Not just by her beautiful pictures but her writing. Her fight for survival was just what I wanted to see. And her pictures were, well, lovely. I am so sad and heavy hearted right now. Jen died today and even though we never met, I am in tears. We exchanged a couple of emails- nothing major just "fight on" or "sending you health". But cancer connected us. Jen is the reason why I will never stop my battle. Call me whatever you want: a pain in the ass, a loud mouth bitch, but I am unstoppable now. I need to fight for myself, for Jen, for Heather, for Susan, for Kim, for YOU!! Don't you dare try to stop me, your best bet is to join me.

To Jen's boys and her family, I have not a single word of comfort as you are grieving so hard right now. It will never get easier do not believe anyone who tells you that, you just get used to it. The hole you feel in your heart will slowly fill in, but never completely. It needs a spot for Jen to live. Let her live in your heart. Some day you will  find peace in this difficult time, but for now cry, scream, yell whatever you need to release.

 

 

 



 

 



Advance is done...

Well I was going to hold advance sale open until the weekend but we are closing it now. The tickets will be $15 at the door, if the fire codes allow us. I know people are concerned about parking but there is a Pascale's lot, you can park at Decker's Wine, under the bridge and I believe in the Town offices. The reaction is amazing, the sponsors have been incredible and Pascale's has been wonderful to work with. Hope you all got your tickets and that you are ready for this emotional event. I can not express enough thanks. Especially to my husband who has had it with looking at my breasts! Well, not really but he likes to say that.

My peeps at CNY Komen

Even before I was diagnosed with stupid dumb breast cancer I had such a connection to my Komen Affiliates here in Syracuse. The staff is warm, helpful and always available to answer my forty million questions. Even brave enough to give me their cell number. When I found my lump ironically it was open registration for Race for the Cure so I spent the day with Kate and Deb and Kelly and her sweet mom registering people. Kate and Deb were sitting in the chairs when I walked in and almost started to cry right there. I think my first words were "Hey girls, are we ready? I found a lump". They wanted me to go home and chill but I needed to stay. A survivor walked in and I was a little freaked but in some crazy way it reassured me "Shit people survivor this". When MC got there we went into the bathroom so she could feel the lump (we are talking breast cancer here so chill men). What a perfect place to do a breast exam!! When I left both Kate and Deb told me it was going to be ok and to call them Monday ASAP, both have been very respectful but supportive at the same time. Once the news spread to others at Komen the support was incredible. I do not want to hear any bullshit about Komen because for me they were/are amazing. No one is perfect and mistakes were corrected. I will focus on the positive and the fact that 75% of the money raised stays in CNY, directly affecting women with stupid dumb breast cancer, shit that's me!! I kept forgetting that. Anyway, here is their "Pink in Print" where I am featured in the survivor corner (wow I'm really dealing with breast cancer, it is still wigs me out). Livvy did a bang up job of not censoring this loud foul mouth survivor! What a a great opportunity to remind you to join the Cure or Bust team as we take CNY Race for the Cure by friggin storm this year!! If you are not at the race on this team May 18th you are missing out, trust that.
http://centralnewyork.info-komen.org/site/DocServer/fall-winter_newsletter_2012corrected.pdf?docID=4384&AddInterest=4441