National Dance Day

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The last Saturday in July is observed as National Dance Day .  It has been set aside as the day honoring the benefits of dance to everyone.

Dancing is not only the performance of art but also the way to show people personalities as well as to help people raise their mood and improve their health.

Dancing is an integral part of my life. When I was growing up my parents would frequently put their favorite vinyl records on the turn table and along with my two sisters we would dance to favorite show tunes and legendary crooners like Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and others.

The Wedding Dances

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When our oldest son was married, I was polite and enjoyed mingling and meeting all the guests at the wedding until…. The music started. Then I never left the dance floor and danced with anyone who was next to me. It wasn’t much different at the weddings for my godson and nieces.  In fact, the song I chose in the YouTube video below is the song that my niece and I have long dubbed, “our song”, because when it comes on, I look at her and together we sing, “I love you, I love you, I love you!”  She played it at her wedding and the two of us went out to the dance floor and rocked out together.

Carpe Diem and the Power of Music

Fun-day Friday Dance

It only seemed appropriate then to celebrate the final phase of my breast reconstruction with a dance. Here is what took place that Fun-day Friday just minutes before my breast reconstruction surgery.  I don’t know who is lucky enough to have a micro-surgeon with such compassion and such a great sense of humor to embrace and honor my request to do this.  It was not an easy task and I’m not suggesting anyone do the same thing.  There is an element of safety that we had to work around.  I truly thought I’d be up dancing with the team but due to safety concerns, understandably, I had to remain on the surgical bed.  Just watch my feet as I can hardly stand it that I’m not on the floor with them doing the “sprinkler” or shaking my booty with them.  Thanks to the great surgical team, too, for joining in.  You are all the best!  I do think it elevated all of our moods that morning and certainly brought out each individual personality.  Enjoy, and if the music so moves you…. Get up and dance!

Happy National Dance Day!

Breast Reconstruction Fears After Mastectomy

Breast reconstruction fears after a mastectomy and not knowing all of the steps involved prevent many women from making the decision to move forward with reconstruction.  My breast reconstruction journey began when I had my annual mammogram on April 2, 2014.  My radiologist informed me the mass she found in my right breast was highly suspicious of cancer.  I had to return to her office the next day to confirm this with a core needle biopsy (CNB). The results were ready five days later. My radiologist asked me the day she took the CNB if I knew of any breast surgeons to review results of the biopsy with me. I had been to see one about five years previously to have a benign cyst removed. I was very impressed with the surgeon and asked to schedule the results of my CNB to confirm whether I had cancer or not with Continue Reading →

“The Emperor of All Maladies” documentary

Tonight is the beginning of the three-part documentary, “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer”. The movie is based on the book by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee. It will air on PBS as a three-night, six hour documentary.  I was fortunate to attend a pre-screening of this important documentary last week. Hope and Inspiration ~ The documentary, “Winning by Living” was made about a local woman, Michelle Kirlew, in conjunction with our local PBS affiliate’s screening of the Ken Burns documentary. Michelle has pancreatic cancer. She is a wife and mother and at a very young age found out about her diagnosis. She is aware that death is likely very soon for her and is dealing not only with her illness and the side effects but all the emotional responsibilities that come with facing death. She had the courage to contribute to science by participating in a clinical trial Continue Reading →

A Reflection ~ Mrs. Jolie-Pitt

The Media The past two days have been an explosion of conversations on social media, radio and TV about Angelina Jolie Pitt’s decision to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes to prevent a very real possibility of developing cancer. Angelina carries a mutation in the BRCA1 gene and with a strong family history of cancer she made this very informed decision. The Critiques There will be critiques because of her star power. But she recognized that power to a good end. Strip that star power away and she is another woman, another wife, another mother who is making informed decisions about her health not only for herself but for those she values and influences. “I wanted other women at risk to know about the options. I promised to follow up with any information that could be useful, including about my next preventive surgery, the removal of my ovaries and fallopian Continue Reading →

DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction Blog Launch ~ March 17, 2015

It has been a complex mental process for me to know when to launch this “DIEP flap Reconstruction Blog”.   I am very clear on the purpose which you can reference in the Purpose section of this website. However, when you reach out to others in hopes of helping them by sharing your life’s story your mind becomes muddled with all the responsibilities of just that, responsible blogging. I have been an educator for many years. The nature of my profession has revolved around planning, writing goals and objectives, organizing, and most importantly maintaining confidentiality with precious and valuable information regarding my students and their parents/guardians. With all those parameters in my head and my heart I was searching for the just right time to launch my blog. I realize that the only just right time to launch it is now. I will let it evolve with dignity, honesty and passion. I Continue Reading →