Mirror Makeovers & Savvy Insights Travels the World!

2012-02-08T19:53:00.000-08:00

the ABC kidZ: Mirror Makeovers {Book Review & Giveaway}: Mirror Makeovers is a delightful book about keeping your sense of humor while battling cancer. Author, Regina Savage, is a cancer survivor ...

2011-11-14T16:32:00.000-08:00

Bouncing the Ball, Traveling Book,
FORCE Conference

and Exciting News!

Well, when I first started to write this edition on the Traveling Book I was thinking I had dropped the ball on keeping everyone up to date on the book and its whereabouts. But the more I thought about it, it is more like bouncing the ball then dropping it! I have been so busy speaking, traveling, working on some exciting news and keeping up with everything else that I think it is more precise to say that I have been bouncing the ball from place to place and not really dropping it. Which although I am very blessed to stay busy and doing what I like with the book and my company, I will try and promise not to have such a lengthy delay in the future. As for the book, it has not stopped but has been traveling to some new and wonderful places and all of those will be address, so stayed tuned for Peru, Italy, New York, and several other places it has traveled and the amazing people it has met!

As for now, where to start to catch you all up?

FORCE Conference.....

I will start with Florida and the incredible FORCE Conference that I was asked to attend and had the honor of speaking at, a truly amazing adventure and this of course will lead me to the Traveling Book's next stop as well.

At the end of June, I had the honor of flying to Orlando, Florida to speak at the 2011 FORCE Conference. FORCE stands for Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered and address' the issue of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers as well as the BRCA Gene. Here is the FORCE mission statement:

"FORCE was founded on the principle that no one should have to face hereditary breast and ovarian cancer alone. We are the only national non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer".

For just a bit more information on the BRCA Gene here is a excerpt from the FORCE website:

"BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the most common genes involved in hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. Testing can be performed on either a blood or cheek swab sample to tell if a person has one of these BRCA mutations. This test does not detect whether a person has cancer or not; it indicates whether a person carries a change in one of these genes which can increase cancer risk".

For even more information please go directly to the website at www.FacingOurRisk.org or speak with your Doctor if you have any other concerns.

So now that you have a some information on what FORCE stands for and how they help to contribute to the knowledge of breast and ovarian cancers let me tell you about my journey in Florida. The conference was amazing! I have never been to such a well organized, well thought out and well put together conference. Thanks to Sue Friedman the founder of FORCE for taking charge and helping so many men and women with this gene and these cancers. In my time and my journey with cancer I have spoken to several groups; support groups, survivors, patients and supporters but this group was different. This group was not only survivors, but men and women, Moms and Dads, husbands and wives and friends who carried the gene, the BRCA gene who were there to find out information on how to help themselves, their families, their loved ones and others. I spoke to women who were there to make a decision on preventative surgeries meaning planning a mastectomy or hysterectomy in order to prevent having the gene and the prognoses of the gene giving them this disease that had already effected their families. What a huge decision. There is a difference when you are faced with the disease and have no choice in the outcome and surgeries, but to be young and trying to face the possibility that cancer will strike and taking preventative measures is hugely different and effects every aspect of your life. For example having children, changing your bodies, living your life with the changes to name a few. My hat is off, my heart is open and I stand in honor of these brave men and women making such tough decisions for their futures. With this background, I want to share that I was there as the comic relief so to speak. The break away session that they could come to in order to finds a little humor, a little inspiration and a break for the amazing information they received at this event!

My session was entitled "Mental Makeovers & Savvy Insights" and I touched on how strong we really are in our lives from the very beginning and how we sometimes forget that when the next big challenge comes along and I had an amazing group of women in attendance. For an hour and a half, we laughed, we cried and we shared! I thought I was there to help them but really they helped me. They made me see that we all need to remember, need to realized that we are so blessed for the breaths we take each day and how we can find strength, courage, camaraderie and humor in even the darkest situations.

Even my Cheerleaders where there to help!

I came away from this weekend not only with a new me, a renewed strength and a renewed belief that if I can share my story and if just one person comes away with something that helped I have done my job, I have played it forward, I can sleep well. And I made some wonderful new friends! Life is good!

Debbie & I relaxing at the end of the day...

After the conference I did get to relaxed and joined my life-long friend Marion in the Florida Keys! Wonderful to see her, wonderful, wonderful time! And get to relax in the beautiful Florida waters! Again....Life is good!

Now the Traveling Book......

Port Jefferson Station, New York

Joan & Mae

As I mentioned, at the conference I met some amazing people and one of them was Joan Perrin. Joan was amazing! Fun, funny, interesting and a twin! Joan and her twin Mae along with the rest of their family has been touched by cancer and the BRCA Gene. Joan and Mae have celebrated their 60th Birthday and are blessed by this fact as it was a bit of a road to get there. Twelve years ago Joan was diagnosed with Stage 3 Peritoneal/Ovarian Cancer, she then found out that her cousin was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer and other cousins had been diagnosed and were positive for the BRCA gene. Shortly after finding out this information Joan and Mae were tested, both positive, and just a short year later Mae was diagnosed with Peritoneal Cancer. As if this wasn't enough in 2005 Joan was diagnosed with breast cancer, followed shortly by her twin Mae. Through all of this Joan was incredibly positive and just a joy to meet and I would like you to hear for yourself just how positive she is:

"This past July, my twin and I turned 60, a wonderful milestone considering our medical history. We became involved with FORCE, an organization for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer. This past June we attended our second FORCE Conference, where I had the pleasure of attending a session led by Regina Savage. I shared with her my dream of publishing an anthology of humorous poems that I wrote as my way of coping with my cancer and chemo. We both agreed that laughter is the best way to deal with it. Mae and I were happy to sign the Traveling Book, and send it on it's way".

What amazing women!! To stand tall in the face of defeat and survive is truly amazing, to stand tall and keep your positive, upbeat attitude and above all humor intact is truly inspirational! Again, my hats off and truly my honor to meet such amazing women! My heart is truly inspired and has lead me to the months following the conference to help move the book forward, to speak more and to do what I can to help and participate in paying it forward!

Before I end my story about Joan and Mae, I want to pay tribute to their cousin Lana. I did not have the opportunity to meet Lana, but Joan has some amazing words that although Lana was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer 12 years ago was a constant bright light to Joan. Sadly as Joan and I last spoke, Lana was not doing well and had been moved into hospice here are Joan's words:

"Lana is the strongest, bravest gal I know. Her support was vital to my recovery. I am hoping that she will be strong enough for Mae and me to visit. I am heart sick about losing her. Lana told me, "Don't say that I lost my battle with cancer, because I really won. I had 12 years, that the Doctor's said I wouldn't have. I saw my daughter get married, and I became the grandma to three beautiful grandchildren." See what I mean about how inspiring she is".

I love doing the stories of the Traveling Book, I love speaking to survivors and giving what little wisdom I can to help, but cancer is not always positive, not always a winning story and never easy to deal with. Cancer is a disease that in the last several years has touched us all whether it be a friend, a co-worker, a family member, a loved one, a wife, sister, mother, daughter, brother, husband, partner or son and with this knowledge we are sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker, but hopefully always there for others! As for today and this story, we can learn from the strength these women have to see the positive at the end of the tunnel to stand together and to be grateful for the time we have, something we can all learn from and hopefully live by!

Two more items.....

Christmas Book Donation

The Christmas Book Donation is about to begin! I am excited to host the 2nd Annual Christmas Book Donation Program where books can be purchased and $5 from each purchase will be donated to a charity of your choice and the book will be signed, gift wrapped and delivered to hospitals all over the US. This year I will not only donate to a cancer charity which is FORCE that you just read about, but I will also donate to a community program that is a non-profit based in the UK named BigPinkHeart, we are currently working together to start their wonderful community programs over here, but also The Fisher House which is an amazing organization that helps families of our injured military be able to stay close to the hospital for free in order to be with their loved ones. I wanted to do three charities as I believe cancer survivors will benefit from the book when they receive it so they are being helped along with FORCE. Our community and our children always need help to promote positive attitudes, manners and respect such as BigPinkHeart's Mission. And we all need to be proud of our military for fighting for our country and our lives and deserve, if they are injured, to have their families with them during this time. So stayed tuned as the information will go out shortly.

Next...

Quiet Angel Publishing, LLC has BIG News!

We are now publishing books! QAP is now working on three inspirational books from the US and a series of children's books in the UK! And you will want to stay tuned for this as there is lots of exciting news that I will be telling you about shortly!! So keep posted!!

And please Follow US on Twitter and

LIKE us on Facebook!!

2011-07-18T17:58:00.000-07:00

LIVING NOW BOOK AWARD 2011 -

GOLD MEDAL

& Our Trip to New York City!

Mirror Makeovers Traveling Cancer Book has been very busy traveling for signatures in Italy and Peru and those stories will be up soon.

Even though it did not get to travel with me on this adventure, it was so amazing I still wanted to share!

This book has lead me to several wonderful adventures in this past year; new friends, new projects, new non-profits and the public speaking ability that I was not sure I had until now. I have been able to give back and tell my story in the hopes of helping others, but this last adventure was truly amazing and one I will never forget!

I was made aware that my book was up for an award back in the beginning of the year and that I would find out in April. The award ceremony would be held in New York City in May and jokingly I told my Mom that if I won this award she would have to go with me to the City. Well, low and behold…I WON and not just won but won a GOLD Medal!! How exciting!! The title of the award is Living Now Book Award 2011 honoring books for better living!! And in all our excitement my Mom did decide to go with me!! And to make this an even better trip was that two of my good friends John and his partner Dennis live in NY now and we got to stay with them! What more could a gal ask for: an award, a trip with my Mom (who is an inch shy of 80), and two wonderful friends to stay with! Life really is good!

Well us gals took off for our trip and headed to the Big Apple the last weekend of May. John and Dennis met us at JFK and off we were on our NY adventure! My Mom has not been to the city since she was a child, so it was like being there for the first time for her so we wanted her to see the sites! John and Dennis being the best tour guides you could ask for spent their weekend painting the town with us. If things could not get any better, John’s parents who we had met on their visits to California when John and Dennis lived here, came to the City for the day from Pennsylvania to surprise us! And what a fabulous surprise! We ate at Lansky’s Deli and then spent the day at the park, it was COLD, but amazing! All this and the awards ceremony was still to come.

On Monday, mom and I caught up on some rest and got ready for the ceremony which was held at The Providence, this was originally a church and then a recording studio for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix and several others. The ceremony was in the late afternoon in order to have everyone ready for Book Expo America which took place the following day.

After getting ready we took a taxi ride to The Providence and what a fun afternoon. The awards ceremony was wonderful! I met other interesting authors, met several people I had spoken with only through email but had not meet in person and I won a gold medal! The medal is just beautiful and I am humbled by experiencing such an honor for a book that I created to help others! Just take a look below! After the awards, John and Dennis met us and we celebrated at the Marriott Marquis, not only my award but John’s new full time job ! What fun! I wish it was vacation and award winning all the time!!

So after such a fabulous weekend in the City, my Mom wanted to head over to Niagara Falls, she had never been and since we were in the state, why not? So we took the train from Penn Station to beautiful Niagara Falls! It was wonderful! Life is so amazing if you stop to just enjoy it! I am so blessed to have my Mom with me and even more blessed that she is almost 80 and well enough to travel and have fun! And such wonderful friends who just pampered both of us but especially Mom on her big trip! John and Dennis are two of the best people I know and I miss them terribly here in California, but am so happy that modern day travel can make it so easy for us to travel all the way across the states to visit! For those of you who might not remember, John helped with the video and has supported the book and me for as long as I have known him, just truly an amazing friend!

So our journey to the Big Apple was a huge success but not because of the award although I am still so grateful, humbled and truly amazed at the honor, but because I spent some amazing time with a wonderful supportive mother and two of my best friends!

Again….Life REALLY is good!!

Here is one of my favorite photos of Mom and I at the Falls! What a trouper she is!!

Stay posted as my next blog will tell you all about the FORCE Conference – Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered in Orlando, Florida and my first speaking session at a Conference!

2011-04-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to be with the book on it's next stop!

Take a look...

What an inspirational group of people!!

Meet the Colorectal Cancer Support Group

St. Joseph's Hospital

Orange, California

I know you have heard me say this before, but I never cease to be amazed by the people and places this book has allowed me to journey to! It is just amazing to me, the warmth, the kindness, the open arms and welcomes I received from so many wonderful individuals fighting this terrible disease!! I have been fortunate enough to be invited several places to speak; to groups, support groups, events, races, etc and I am generally speechless on my way home. It is not the disease, I mean let's face it we all no know one wants it or asks for it. It is the attitudes, the spirit, the willingness to fight, to move forward and get through something so terrible that most days it knocks you on your bootie and it is that strength, that fight, that willingness to move forward that gets us up again, that amazes me over and over! And that is what I found in this group!!

First of all I was honored, as my goal with this book is to reach all cancers not just one. And secondly, it was because of the kindness and generosity of one gentlemen who lost his sister to cancer and he now battles it himself, that pasted this book forward in the Christmas Book Donation. He requested that the book go to St. Joseph's in honor of his sister and through that kind offer I was asked to speak to this group by the wonderful Ms. Kathleen Close, RN, MS, MBA who is the Nurse Navigator for this support group, It is amazing what we can do for each other when we take a moment.

This group was so impressive! Not only were they spunky, they supported each other. If you notice in the picture the gentlemen with the cheerleader mirror on, he is not a survivor but a husband who was so concerned about his wife not attending to her Doctor appointments that he told on her in group. This of course got the group after her because they were as concerned for her as her husband and it just blossomed from there. I know that there are many tragedies that bring people together and sometimes pull them a part, but my experience with cancer is that people are so supportive, so strong and survivors come together to support each other through this journey sometimes when others don't. It is just inspiring!! So, of course this gentlemen won the cheerleader award for the evening! During me visit, we watched the video, they asked questions and we just talked during and after the meeting, it was wonderful and it is a group of people that I will never forget, they are courageous, strong and I know will make it through anything!!

But beside the group and being able to speak with them, I had an epiphany of my own and a light bulb moment prior to this meeting that I wanted to share. The weekend before this meeting I ran my first half marathon. Not something I am entirely sure I would like to do again, but I did it!! And was very proud of myself. But during that marathon in my struggle to think about anything, anything at all, other then the running, I was thinking about talking to this group and what I wanted to tell them. I was running along (whining to myself) and thinking I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about "Peggy" the cheerleader in my book. I wanted to take Peggy the Cheerleader doll, show them the doll and tell them, that for me and I think for everyone in life (still running and complaining to myself about not being able to finish the stupid marathon) that being your own best cheerleader is the best thing that you can do for you!! I wanted to share (still just done with this whole marathon thing, not liking it, I am on about my 10th mile with 3.1 miles to go) that even if it is not cancer, but a job interview, a blind date, or working out, that cheering yourself on works every time. That you and you alone can make this happen, you can be your own best advocate and if you have nothing else, you have yourself to be your cheerleader and it works! Now mind you, I have had it with this 13.1 miles, I want it to be over with, I am at the "what the heck was I thinking" at this point and maybe not quite as politely to myself! When I saw something that made me realize, I wanted to talk to this group about being their own cheerleaders and I was not being mine at that moment. I wanted them to stand up, be strong, go forward and cheer, cheer like no tomorrow to get themselves through and I was not doing that at this point in this marathon! And I had to straighten myself out!! And I will be the first to say, this was hard! It was a very hard time to be my own cheerleader, I was tired, I was done, I wanted my Mom, but I picked up my boot straps (well my running shoe laces) and got myself moving!! And I finished, something that for a while there I thought I could not do, but I did!

So for all the wonderful, marvelous individuals in this group, this is what I saw and THIS is for YOU!!

It helped me and I hope it will help you too!

Thank you for your time, your inspiration, and for allowing me to be a part of your group! I wish you all the best and hope to see you all soon!! And always remember to...

CHEER YOURSELF ON!!

P.S. This is for you Ms. Julie Garcia!!
What an inspiration you are!!

Stay tuned as the book is on its way to PERU!!

2011-02-26T15:28:00.000-08:00

You will not want to miss the Traveling Books Next Stop...

One AMAZING Young Women

One AMAZING Story

No greater way of GIVING BACK!!

Meet

Susanne Whitcomb

With this book I have tried my best to give back. Give back with my story to help people with what I needed help with during my journey, give back to charities that help everyone suffering with this disease, and give back by sharing the traveling book around the world to spread the word and hopefully cheer even more people who need it. BUT, I could never give back as much as Susanne Whitcomb!

First let me tell you a little bit about Susanne. She is a beautiful young women, who is athletic; rides bikes, does marathons, is supportive, a good friend and a great cheerleader (she came every year along with my Mom and brother Steave to cheer on my Dragon Boat Team in the Long Beach Race), she created my Facebook Page for the Traveling Book just because she was so supportive and above and beyone that...is now a Med School Student at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska! Wow! Just with all this she is some impressive young lady!

But let me tell you more. Susanne being the unselfish person that she is, signed up for the National Bone Marrow Registry and just became a match for a little boy from Orange County, California wtih Acute Myclogenous Leukemia. After a few weeks of paperwork, physical test, etc Susanne got the "good-to-go" and was granted the opportunity to donate peripheral blood stem cells giving this young man a 50% chance of FULL recovery!! Again....WOW! After getting permission from the school, as we all know it is very difficult to miss any med school, and with the support of fellow students/friends/family, Susanne went forward with her journey.

In order not to miss anything and to make sure I get all the information correct, I am going to quote Susanne from her journal (I will add a few things here and there as well):

(Susanne) "I donated stem cells via Apheresis - they stimulated the bone marrow to make an abnormally abundant amount of white blood cells over a five day period. Then, they hook you up to an Apheresis machine and take out blood from one arm (taking what they need - white blood cells, and platelets just go naturally) and putting back the unneeded red blood cells/plasma into the other arm. Supposed to be 4 hours.

I received a shot of Neupogen in both arms for four days preceeding the collection day. It makes you feel like you're sick, like you have the flu.

(Regina) I just want to add here that I had Neupogen Shots during my chemo. I can remember my first one. The nurse told me that it would feel like a very LARGE bee sting. The nurse was fussing a bit and taking her time and I was wondering what the reason for the delay was, when I went to ask the nurse "why the delay" she was crying. Not knowing that it had anything to do with me, I asked what was wrong? To my amazement she was crying because she knew it was going to hurt and she said I never complained and she just felt bad about giving it to me (nurses really go through the hard stuff, really! And they deserve all the credit in the world)! We got through this and the nurse gave me the shot...and I am here to tell you that was an elephant disguised as a bee!! Not only did the elephant sting me, it sat on my arm for a bit and later on my body!!

(Susanne) When we got to the Apheresis Center at the hospital early on Valentine's Day morning, they tried to find a vein in my right arm for the return blood.

(Regina) ...Can you believe Valentine's Day. What a gift! Far cry from flowers and candy!

(Susanne) They poked and proded to no avail (probably from being NPO night before and Neupogen), so they had to surgically insert a central line in my neck. And then they were able to take the blood that way - very direct and fast. The anticoagulant they use in the process was a little strong for my dehydrated body, which made me feel sick (but I didn't throw up) and made all my muscles vibrate due to calcium depletion. A little challenging. I had to stay overnight due to the central line, and they weren't able to get quite enough stem cells.

A friend of mine and fellow med student, Kayla, was so sweet. She went with me and stayed with me pretty much the entire time, even overnight. She caught up with studying late into the night. So I wasn't alone, and had someone to help me move around and get me water, and talk to (and laugh with). That was a huge blessing, and a comfort. She was my angel and cheerleader.

Susanne's Cheerleader....KAYLA!!

Kayla and Susanne!

The next day went by incredibly smoothly, and I felt none of the effects. That was a blessing. In fact, I had many cheerleaders - received so many emails, texts, cards, calls, from students and faculty who had heard about what I was doing, and were supporting me. In all honesty, I can't take complete credit for giving the stem cells, because it was the collective support that got me through it and gave me the courage to do it!

Go Gal Go!!

(Regina) Please pay close attention to the next paragraph....

(Susanne) And I rested a few days, and now I'm feeling great! And so very, very glad I was able to do it! I am going to be working with a couple of students and faculty in the area to promote bone marrow registry within the community. There are many people, especially within the inner city, who have misconceptions or have not heard of bone marrow donation. It can save patients from suffering and pain, and extend or even save lives. And it's so worth it! I'm so grateful I was able to do it."

(Back to me) What an amazing story, an amazing women and I for one feel grateful that in a few years she will be a Doctor with the ability to see both sides of a patients journey! Both sides of helping and being helped! We are truly blessed to have her in our world and I am TRULY blessed to have someone so caring, so giving and so kind, sign the Traveling Book!! Words can not express!! I will be sending Kayla a Cheerleading button as well for being such a good friend and supporter and taking care of our beautiful Susanne!!

For those of you who would like to help or learn more and follow in Susanne's foot steps:

National Bone Marrow Donor Program

Also stayed tuned for the books next adventure at
St. Joseph's Hospital
Colorectal Cancer Support Group
Very Inspirational!

2011-01-30T13:57:00.000-08:00

The Traveling Book has taken a break, helped out with our move, and worked for the Christmas Book Giveaway and now....we are back on track!!

Check out the Traveling Books Next Stop....

Meet the Gals....

in the Women's Wellness Center at Mission Hospital

Metastatic & Recurrent Breast Cancer Support Group

Mission Viejo, California

I could not be honored more! It was my pleasure to be a part of the Metastatic & Recurrent Breast Cancer Support Group at the Women's Center in Mission Hospital. What a strong, beautiful group of women! This group is lead by Lori Ash, LCSW (second from the right holding the book) and what a wonderful job she does. Such support groups are so special and take a very special women to organize, run and lead them. She is kind, warm and gives you a sense of calm as she talks to the group, leads them in their discussions and provides them with information. I spent the afternoon listening to these beautiful women and their stories of their journey with cancer. These stories included triumphs, difficulties and sharing their wisdom helping others to get through the treatments and worries that come with this disease.

When I am able to speak to group's such as this one, I always head into the group with the hope that "I" will be able to help them with lessons from my journey, and lessons from my book and how I coped. But the fact is I always, always leave humbled, and feeling so blessed that I was able to be a part of this moment, this second in time that I was safe to share with and honored to see them move forward in their journey.

The traveling book is traveling the world for survivors and supporters signatures, and has made some amazing stops! In the end the book will carry names of those who have fought and won, who have fought and lost their battles and those who have stood by them with love, understanding, friendship and hope. And I am grateful, honored, and will always keep close to my heart these women who have signed the book and who, for a moment, I was able to be in their beautiful, courageous light.

No one chooses cancer, no one ask for this disease and through the treatments, the surgeries, the fears, the triumphs and the loses, it is how we handled it that counts! It is how we stand up, fight, keep our head above water, laugh, cry and get through the battle with this monster with our soul intact and our head held high!

What a perfect stop for the book to make as its journey continues!!

Thank you ladies for sharing your courage and strength with not only me, but the world!

"There are two ways of meeting difficulties:

You alter the difficulties

You alter the way you meet them!"

Up next on my blog....

Stayed tuned as the books next stop takes us to a remarkable young women who is not only studying to be a Doctor but is donating her bone marrow to help a child with leukemia!

This is a story you will not want to miss!!!

2010-08-12T16:55:00.000-07:00

The Traveling Book Continues

Meeting wonderful Survivors & Supporters Everywhere...

Meet Debby Shifflet

Costa Mesa, California

As always as with anyone signing the book, I was so excited to send the book to Debby! Debby is a beautiful person, who has survived cancer, a tougher then normal ordeal with cancer and has come out, as you can see from the photo, smiling and living life!!

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Debby at the AWOL (A Way of Life After Cancer) Retreat. She and many others, along with just the truly amazing weekend at this retreat, is what made me want to sponsor this non-profit. I could see first hand, the change in myself and others as the weekend went on.

Debby and I, along with two other wonderful gals (Cindy & Dawn) all shared a room and adjoining rooms. We had so much fun and became instant friends from the start! We all shared our battle stories, our worries, our concerns, what we had been through and where we wanted to go. It was amazing and just left me feeling free and more at peace!

Me, Debby and Dawn at AWOL Retreat

But Debby, she was an inspiration! She had traveled through cancer, had some tough times with her surgeries, with her healing, with the treatment and just came through it all so peaceful, so inspiring, she even made me feel the same. It was a moment in life that you knew, you were right where you were suppose to be.

Debby, Dawn, Me and Cindy (showing off her t-shirt design) at AWOL

So not only was the retreat a success as far as making me deal, feel, relax and move through life with a better understanding, but the friends I made will always warm my heart! And Debby will always be one of them!

As I was asking Debby about how she felt about cancer and what she wanted me to share in this blog, I think she said it best in her own words:

"I have found that my life has been enriched by this journey, I no longer worry about what life will throw my way. My life has always been filled with events that made me wonder "why", not "why me", just why? I still don't know the answer to that question and never will, but one thing I do know is that I can overcome. When I was diagnosed with cancer, the support and love of friends and family provided me with the strength to accept the outcome, whatever that might be. Not to be mistaken by giving up, but another opportunity for me to find my inner peace and strength and climb on board this ride with my eyes wide open. There in lies the acceptance."

As a writer, as a survivor, I could have not said it better myself!

Debby with her son

To a truly amazing women!
You will always have my respect and friendship!
Thanks for sharing your spirit with all of us!

As you can see from the photos above, AWOL is truly an amazing retreat for cancer survivors!
Any donations will help them continue to enrich lives!
http://www.chrysalistowings.com/

In memory of a Beautiful Daughter
Carmen Marie (Flores) Coney
October 1968 - February 2010
Her beautiful spirit will travel the world with the book, forever touching the lives of others!

2010-07-07T20:50:00.000-07:00

Our Journey Continues.....

Niagara Falls, Canada

and a

Very Special Person

Signs the Traveling Book

After our wonderful visit in Peterborough for the 2010 International Dragon Boat Festival solely for Breast Cancer Survivors, my friend Barb and I decided to take a couple extra days and head to Niagara Falls. As you can see from the picture above, it was spectacular! Very beautiful and wet!

It was amazing! The picture above is from the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side and below is a picture of the American Falls on the New York side. Both just breath taking and something I have wanted to see since I was a kid, I can take that off my life list now (all the things I want to do while I am living, truly living).

Barb and I had a wonderful time doing all the tourist stuff that Niagara has to offer, we went to the Butterfly Conservatory, Niagara's Fury, Journey Behind the Falls and of course, Maid of the Mist! I think we covered everything! We even stayed and watched the Falls as they change colors at night, which was suppose to take place at 9pm, but really took place at almost 10pm, but like good tourist we hung in there and it was totally worth it. I don't think we missed a thing, including all the Fudge stops!

But as wonderful and fun as all this was, even all this pales in comparison to the next event because this was just so special to me.......

Meet...

Darren Cranford

Illustrator of Mirror Makeovers & Savvy Insights

I was so excited about this stop and about having Darren sign the Traveling Book! Darren and I have been working together mostly via email for a little over a year. He is the illustrator of my book and I could not be happier. But believe it or not, this is the first time that Darren and I have ever met! It amazes me, when I look at the illustrations and how I have had them in my head for years, only to be so blessed to have someone come along who could take what I saw in my minds eye and put it down on paper so perfectly! I thank my lucky stars everyday! And besides being an incredibly talented illustrator, he is very kind, patient, and generous! Even though we had never met, I felt like I have known him for years, even from the beginning. Even though we work together I have felt as though he has stood by me like a true friend, full on encouragement, inspiration, with a great ear, a good heart and a very kin sense of figuring out what I want when I get overly excited with a new idea and thought! Somehow he manages to put it down on paper just like it is scrambled in my head!! For that he deserves a medal because... I can get very excited!!

When we started out and I had the book written, I would describe to him what I wanted for the illustration, I would say "You know, you have really bad days, like Medusa and I use to draw snakes on the mirror" and this is what I got.....Perfect!! Just perfect, even down to the robe and of course the cup!

Then I would say; "when I was bald I use to wear really big earrings so I wouldn't look like one of the boys!" Again, exactly what I had in my head! I even think I have a pair of earrings like that.

While we were working on the eyebrows gal, I would tell him that you have so many emotions that there where days that I just thought..."Beam me up Betty"..just get me out of here. I always figure "Betty" would work better then "Scotty" because "Betty" would totally understand! And again, perfect eyebrows and just how I felt on those "Beam me up days"...

So now you have an idea of how Mirror Makeovers & Savvy Insights came to life and who the wonderful person is that helped me accomplish this. It was so much fun and I am positive that that fun came from being able to work with someone so professional, kind and understanding.

All of you know that the name of my publishing company is Quiet Angel Publishing, but you might not know the reason behind it. Since I was a kid, my mom has told me to say my "Angel Prayer" a prayer to our Guardian Angel so they will watch over us and she tells me this to this day. Now everyone has their own beliefs and I will always be the first to respect that, but for me, I believe that I have someone watching over me. And this is the reason why, now it could be that my Mom says the heck out of that Angel Prayer 100 times over, when I am on one of my adventures, traveling, riding the Harley to Laughlin, paddling in open water, etc. But the reason I believe it, is because for one... I am still standing. I have made it through my adventures, through tragedies in my life, and through cancer, but it goes beyond that. I have met and have some wonderful people in my life. My family, who watches over me constantly never tiring and seems to like the job. My true friends who have stuck by me, encouraged me, and helped me every step of the way (like Barb above) and the wonderful people I have met that help, not because they need to or have to, but because they want to with kindness and support and Darren will always be one of those to me. I consider myself truly blessed every day!

This is why I honor Angels....because I have so many in my life!

My logo another beautiful illustration by

DARREN CRANFORD

Even though this is your work, I owe you a debt of gratitude for helping to make my dream come true!

2010-06-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

Meet the Beautiful Breast Cancer Survivors of the

2010 International Dragon Boat Festival

in Peterborough, Canada

Take a look at our travels and meet the beautiful survivors of the 2010 International Dragon Boat Festival! This festival was the International Races for Breast Cancer Survivor Teams from around the world and it was held in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. With 73 Teams from around the world it was truly amazing!! There where teams from Canada, the States, Australia, Italy, South Africa and the UK. This event has been in the planning stages for Peterborough and Survivors Abreast, host of the races, for the last two years, and what an outstanding job they did! Other then a cliche in the weather, which of course could not be helped by anyone, the festival was a huge success!!

So to start at the beginning. First let me say, on my blog, I have taken a step a head as the book has been traveling like crazy, but no worries, I will get back on track after this blog with our other amazing signers! But while this was fresh in my mind I wanted to get it written so I could share this wonderful event.

I traveled to Canada with one of my dearest friends, Barb. Barb and I flew into Toronto and rented a car to travel to Peterborough. We had some serious luggage in tow as we had a booth at this event with the book and new t-shirts and brought them along with us on the plane.

Barb with five bags of luggage upon our arrival

We managed to get through customs and get our luggage loaded in our rent a car and off we headed to beautiful Peterborough! We arrived just in time to see our beautiful surrounding and view from our hotel room. What a lovely place to have a race. I have raced and traveled now for almost nine years and this has been one of the prettiest venues yet. The park was beautiful, the people were warm and kind and the weather was like Canada; very beautiful and sunny on Friday, poured like crazy on Saturday, which of course was the first day of the races. At first I felt a bit odd being there, as this is the first race I have attended and not raced in almost nine years, but after the rain on Saturday, I was okay! After all we were there to spread the word about the book and helping as many survivors as we could with its humor!!

Friday was a beautiful day, we got set-up in the warm sunshine and had the honor of watching the parade of survivors march through the streets of Peterborough, it was really something to see, just a sea of pink! And all the gals were truly decked out!

Start of Parade - Take a look at all the supporters as well!

Survivor in her Pink Parade outfit!

Saturday, as I mentioned, was just some serious rain, especially for us Southern Californian's! But not only did it rain, it was COLD! Again, I was pretty okay with not racing today as I have raced in this situation many times before and staying dry was good! But the teams where amazing, all raced and held tough no matter the weather! But after a cancer diagnoses, a little weather is really nothing in the scheme of things, so off they went. Today was also the Survivors Ceremony. In all my years of participating in survivor ceremonies, this was one of the most beautiful I had witness. I don't think there was a dry eye in the place. The weather held up and did not rain for this part of the day, and the towns people and supporters of Petersborough where out in full force. Not only where the survivors allowed to throw their pink carnations in the water in honor of those we have loved and lost, but the supporters on the shore could purchase pink carnations, with the money being donated, and could throw their flowers in the water as well. Now remember this was a breast cancer race with 73 teams participating making it more then 3000 survivors lining the beach with survivors in the water and supporters on the side. It could do nothing, but warm your heart!

Survivors on the water and the shore for Survivors Ceremony

Survivors forming a Pink Ribbon on Shore during the Ceremony

After I regained my composure from this truly moving ceremony, it was back to the tent to try and warm up! Although the event was such a success and so well done, the best part for me was meeting everyone! I had been sending emails regarding the book and booth and had several people stop by and introduce themselves. I also took the Traveling Book with me as well and several teams came over to sign the book! It was such an inspiration to me and so meaningful, I can not begin to explain! I have written this book to help others and to reach out with something I thought helped me through this journey that we never asked for, but as you can see...fought! And these moments make all the hardwork worthwhile.

So many people touched my heart while I was there, too many to count and I would never want to leave anyone out, but I do want to mention Sue Cogley of the UK from Paddlers for Life. Sue was the first book that I sold to the UK and has had so much faith in the book that she has been passing it around to all her team members and anyone it might help. I was so happy to meet her and her team. Just take a look at them signing the book and possing for a picture! Thank you so much Sue...this meant a lot!

Sue from Paddlers for Life signing the book

Paddlers for Life Team lining up to sign the book

The Beautiful Paddlers for Life Team

Now besides this beautiful team we had many others come by to sign the book. Now remember this book is being sent around the world for survivors and supporters signatures to raise awareness, to help a wonderful charity, to show support and to just really cheer those up who need it, so what better way then with women from around the world that have taken something so devasting as breast cancer and turned it into something so positive as dragon boating!

Cheers to all of them!

Take a look at all the others.... and again my sincere and heartfelt thanks for stopping by and taking your time to sign my book! This was truly priceless!!

Beautiful Members of the Italian Team with their Coach

From Canada - The Breast Buddies!

Mary was truly an inspiration and Jan promises to paddle with NAC on her next visit to California!

From Australia - The beautiful in Pink - Aussie Dragonflies

If this was not enough, some of the gals came back to show me how they put my buttons to good use! Take a look at how marvelous this looks!!

Thanks Judy!!

My sincere and heartfelt thanks to some truly inspirational, courageous women who have fought a good fight and are still standing and showing the world their strength!

To my fellow Ladies in Pink may you always....

Embrace Life, Have confidence in Yourself, and Take Action!

Paddles Up!

Up next on my blog...Barb and I continued our journey to Niagara Falls were we had a very special person sign the Traveling Book...the Illustrator

Darren Cranford

(stay tuned)

2010-05-30T23:02:00.000-07:00

Meet Sylvia Schierberl...

Well, the book has been creating and experiencing some wonderful adventures and this is yet another one! This one is also very dear to my heart as the book stops in Sunny Southern California for a visit with a very dear friend!

Meet Sylvia Schierberl. As you can see from her big smile and bright eyes, she is a wonderful person! Warm, funny, helpful, always happy and just lights up any room! I had the privilege of meeting Sylvia in Sandy Finestone support group. It is the same support group I had attended when I was going through chemo, but had not been back to visit for a while. With this group dear to my heart, I had spoken to Sandy and asked if I could stop by and speak to the group about finding some gals that might be interested in being in the music video that I had written and was getting ready to produce. From across the room, I could see Sylvia and her cousin Debbie just beaming! They were laughing, giggling and whispering back and forth and from that moment, I knew I had found the right gals for the parts and before I could even make my way to them after the group, they had caught up with me and asked to be a part of it. The rest is history! Debbie was in the midst of chemo and is our star in the video along with Michelle Bolden and Sylvia was an extra, filling in were ever needed and helping Debbie every step of the way! It just warmed my heart and made the video even more special! And they have supported me since! I consider myself very blessed.

Debbie & Sylvia paddling with the NAC Dragon Boat Team for the Video

Well, that was how we met and this is Sylvia's story of her journey through cancer. In 2006 Sylvia was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 43. Sylvia's cancer was Ductal Carcinoma Insitu dubbed the "best" cancer ...if there is such a thing, and she was left with the option of a lumpectomy and radiation or a mastectomy. After watching her cousin Debbie go through the same situation just three years earlier, she opted for a mastectomy taking the worry away from having cancer in that breast again. With her husband nicknaming her remaining breast "Winky" for reason we will let them keep private and Sylvia nicknaming it "Betty Boop" life went on with their humor intact. After a year of carrying around what she fondly called her "Boulder Holder" (her prosthesis), and having it fall out while swimming and dealing with the heat of carrying it around during the hot summer, she started her journey of reconstructed surgery. Feeling that this was the best thing that she ever did, Sylvia got back to feeling like her beautiful self once again.

Three years passed with life good and "Betty Boop" and her new partner living life and moving forward when Debbie, Sylvia's cousin was once again diagnosed with her second bout of cancer. This time however, things were different. Debbie's cancer had come back more aggressive making it a tougher protocol for chemo and this time, things were different. Debbie decided to be tested for the BRCA gene which came back positive, making it almost certain that other females in her family had the same chance, including Sylvia.

The BRCA gene is a gene mutation giving women who are diagnosed with this gene up to a 60% risk of developing breast cancer and a 55% risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Sylvia, with the support of her husband and Debbie, was tested for the BRCA gene having the test come back positive. After eight long months of deciding the best approach to dealing with this news, Sylvia and her husband decided a prophylactic mastectomy or preventative surgery was the right decision for them. So after singing "Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie" in the O.R. with the nurses before her surgery leaving Nurse Christy to say "In my 25 years of being an O.R. Nurse, no one has ever belted out a tune like that before surgery, I will always remember you", Sylvia said good-bye to "Betty Boop" and is currently doing just fine. This surgery has taken Sylvia's chances of getting breast cancer from 60-80% down to 1% taking an incrediable load off of her shoulders! I know as with everyone that this book comes across, we wish Sylvia well and a life filled with happiness, and of course... I will keep you posted on the nickname of the new addition to their family!

Much Love, Support, Laughter and Well Wishes for a Beautiful Lady and Friend!

2010-04-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

Meet Sharon Clephane

and her Non-Profit

BIGPINKHEART

Sharon (top left corner) with the Young Adults in the Community at their RESPECT Event

5th Stop on its World Tour.....

2nd Stop in ENGLAND....

When I first started my journey in writing my book and wanting to write and direct a music video, I was looking for a way to get in contact with KT Tunstall in order to use her song "Suddenly I See". As I was searchng the internet using KT's name, BIGPINKHEART came up and I took a look. I was so impressed with their whebsite and what they were trying to accomplish I decided to sign-up as a follower (something you can do on my blog...hint, hint). Well, I received an email back asking why it was that I signed up and why I wanted to join. I responded back and from that moment on was the start of an amazing friendship! Sharon Clephane and I became instant friends and began a journey helping each other and supporting each other in our causes.

I will have to say when she did respond and I replied, I did have to tell the truth and say that in all honesty, in the beginning I was just looking for KT's information, and KT along with other artist support BIGPINKHEART. Well with that, we talked some more and Sharon put me in contact with KT's manager, thus getting me started with my dream. I am sure you can understand now, why this blog is so special to me. Not only do I like their ideas, dreams and the actions they are taking to make our world a better place, but I can see how it got started with such a wonderful, kind person at the helm! It is amazing what we accomplish when we are honest and we take that one leap, that one step, that can change our worlds in an instance. Not only was I able to get the information I needed to use KT's song, but I made an amazing friend in the meantime, one I know I will have to the end of days.

And in regards to the Foundation BIGPINKHEART, it is what all of us should be striving for. They are working hard to create positive changes to social behavior and lifestyles. They are working hard on getting their small corner of the world to realize just how important Acts of Random Kindness' are and Bridging the Gap between young and old, and community to community. How could we all not want to strive to make our worlds better, to be kind, to have the young help the old; who so deserve it for living a life and seeing the world from beginning to end, and in turn have the old help the young; with so much information and enlightenment...so much to learn from each other.

Sharon's Daughter Olivia, with some of the Gals from

BRIDGING THE GAP Event

That is how it starts you know....one small act of random kindness and a moment, a situation, a life can change, and it does not take much. Our world's are so busy, we do not know what each other may be going through, or struggling with. Until my diagnoses with cancer, I had no idea what women, men, children, grandparents, mom's, dads, daughters, sons, brother, sisters, wives, husbands, friends, lovers, partners go through dealing with this disease. I do now. But if I had taken a moment prior to my diagnoses to be more aware, to be more knowledgeable, I could have been a better person to someone I might have met in passing. I might have had a better understanding of the struggle, the stress, the worry and hardship that someone goes through on a daily basis dealing with a monster that is never asked for, but is fought daily to survive and conquer.

So in keeping with BIGPINKHEART, I try everyday to accomplish a act of random kindness. Maybe I help someone elderly with bringing their trash cans up the drive, maybe I help someone carry their groceries to the car, or maybe I just smile and say hi. All small, all take up very little of my time and all show others we care. I have tried to take this one step further with the book and the video to help those with the battle that I fought, and Sharon has helped with that as well. Sharon has my information posted on her website spreading the word in England and to her readers and I have tried to help in return. Living in the States, I believe her non-profit could help so many here that I have registered with the State of California to start a BIGPINKHEART non-profit foundation here in hopes that someday we can reach across the pond and see that we have changed our behavior, our lifestyles, and helped those who have needed it, stretching across to both our small corners of the world!

Once again, it is my honor and priveledge to have the book signed by such a wonderful, kind, friend and Supporter!!

http://www.bigpinkheart.co.uk/

2010-03-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

4th Stop on its world tour......ENGLAND!

With Verite Reily Collins

The book has made its fourth stop on its world tour! How amazing and eye opening! This has turned out to be quite a journey not only for the book, but for me as well. The people I have met, the wonderful stories, the help and support; are a blessing, a learning curve, and truly wonderful!

Upon writing the book and my process with it, I was looking up different cancer sites on the web when I came across Having Fun After Cancer. Well of course with my approach and trying to get some humor out there just the name caught my eye. I thought..great someone else who is just trying to shine some humor on a bad situation. Upon looking up the site, I got more than just that. I was impressed by all the information, the honesty and hard work that was put into finding answers, addressing questions and helping with just the everyday experience of cancer. For those of us who have gone through the disease, this is so refreshing. It is hard to get answers at times and equally hard is answers to what to really expect. Not everyone likes to hear the hard brutal truth and because of that we get the "sugar-coated" end or sometimes even worse, we are just expected to deal with what is sent our way. Not with Verite Reily Collins! Ms. Collins tackles some of the tough questions, and the biggest one of all Tamoxifen! For those who do not know, in simple terms, Tamoxifen is a hormonal drug that is given to breast cancer survivors to inhibit their hormones and to help fight off the cancer, prolonging our life. It is a drug that is taken for five years after your completion of chemo, radiation, or the measures taken that were specific to your cancer. It is a very hard drug to deal with. It has incredible side effects, that may not address everyone, but in my experience most. But... for example in my case, by the time you are beat up with chemo, surgeries, radiation and you finally make it through to the end just the words, it will help the cancer to not come back and prolong your life...I just dealt with what came my way, no questions asked.

But Ms. Collins, who lives in England and explains that their medical systems may be a bit different than ours, decided she was not going to stand for it. She was not going to just take the side effects and the un-answered questions any longer and started her research. Through her research she looked at different countries and for information they may have and were given. She looked at the web, asked Doctors and found answers. With this information, she decided it would best distributed on the web, were millions could view it in hopes that they might get answers to questions, information and the realization that they were not alone and had the same effects and feelings.

By no means did Ms.Collins suggest or decide not to take Tamoxifen, quite the opposite. Of course you want to take a drug that will prolong your life; you just need to figure out the "nasty" side effects. This is her philosophy "But for every "nasty" that comes up, there is probably a gorgeous treatment or super product that helps with side effects - these make life easier and more fun. I call these Having Fun After Cancer".

Ms. Collins is not a Doctor, and does not claim to be an expert, but she has an abundance of information so you can find your own answers, look up information on different subjects that might be helpful to you, and move forward well educated and in hopes of a better understanding. Plus to have fun with some of the things you can do to take care of the side effects! It is a wonderful site and definitely worth the look!

Having Fun After Cancer

She is kind, funny, and has been a delight for me to come in contact with. It was my pleasure to send Ms. Collins my book to have it signed and reviewed. And with that said, I hope to honor her with this blog for all the help. I am sure with her website she has given millions of women in Great Britain as well as women around the world help in having fun and a look at the brighter side of dealing with the effects of cancer!!

My hats off to a Lovely Lady ...across the pond!!

Read Ms. Collins review of the book!

After-Cancer Blog

2010-01-28T18:43:00.000-08:00

Third Stop on its Journey........

And what a truly amazing stop this was! Where to begin.... Dr. Sandy Finestone has long been a Facilitator, Teacher, Counselor and Support Group Leader. I can honestly say that you would be hard pressed to find a women in Orange County and for that matter, all of Southern California that Dr. Sandy Finestone has not helped in their jouney through cancer. Not only has she lead support groups, and brought information, knowledge and understanding to women going through cancer, but she has held hands, prayed and visited every patient newly diagnosed on their first step through a world they never asked to be in. She is honest, staightforward, and tells it like it is with grace, wisdom and patience. Dr Finestone is the right person for this job, not only because she has the degrees, but because she has first hand knowledge, as she herself is a cancer survivor and has gone through the journey and its trials. She was also my support group leader, my cheerleader, and helped a very frightened young lady and her Mom make it through to the other side.

But Dr. Finestones path does not end there. Even after all these years, all the help she has given countless women, she is now moving on, continuing to grow, and has taken an even bigger step to help not just here but around the world.

When the Traveling Book went to Egypt and Jordan, it went with her. She was sent on a journey and the book went with her. Dr. Finestone's trip to Egypt was not just a visit or a vacation, she was sent by the National Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. She was sent to Alexandria to the Susan Mubarek Women's Center to train and establish support groups and support services for breast cancer patients. Those in attendance included Doctors, Nurses, and Health Care Professionals from Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Baharan, Yeamen, Palistine, Egypt, United Emerites, and Abu Dabi. Not only was this an amazing, impressive trip for Dr. Finestone and the outcome of her shared knowledge a success, but the book (and its owner...that would be me) was tickled pink! Dr. Finestone, in her busy scheduled of helping others, got some wonderful signatures in the book from women she met and supported. Women in a country far away from here, with different back grounds, different beliefs, but going through the same journey, the same battle as all of us all over the world, who have battled cancer. It makes me not only proud that my book went with someone whose kind soul has personally touched my world, but sincerely speechless, that my small book reached across this vast world to say to someone else, someone I have never met, that we care, that we are fighting the same battle, and that we understand and are in this journey together! This, this was my purpose for the Traveling Book, this was my goal and this was given to me by Dr. Finestone.

But alas, the journey took her one step further and she was able to be present for the first Race for the Cure in Cairo, Egypt. To her delight and amazement, the pyramids were all lit in pink! Truly an amazing site! At this time, she was not able to forward pictures to me for this site, but when able, I will post them on the blog for all to see.

So, as the Traveling Book comes to the end of its Third Journey, I am left with the belief that someday we will win this battle and when we do, it will be as a whole, as a world fighting together in the Race for the Cure!

You have the opportunity to meet the amazing Dr. Sandy Finestone and her colleague Dr. Nicki Pike as they have now opened a new Wellness Center. At this center, both Dr. Finestone and Dr. Pike plan on having seminars, lectures, support programs and a Breast Cancer 101 Series as well as a Cancer 101 Series. Dr. Finestone will also be doing patient navigation; helping newly diagnosed women sort through all the information they have in order to make decisions they are comfortable with. In addition both Doctors will be doing individual and family therapy.

You are all invited to their Open House, this Sunday, January 31, 2010 at the following address:

HOPE WELLNESS CENTER

2900 Bristol Street

Building G, Suite 103

Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 957-2900

Please click on HOPE WELLNESS CENTER for more information.

2010-01-02T19:16:00.000-08:00

Second stop on its amazing journey....

When I decided to send Mirror Makeovers & Savvy Insights around the world for survivors and supporters signatures I had no idea how wonderful it would turn out. Not only is it making its tracks, and brightening survivors days and helping supporters with a little more understanding of what the ones they love are going through, but I am learning too. I thought I had learned all I could about cancer, about myself and living life, but this book has brought so many wonderful people to me, and with these new people their stories, their journeys, words of wisdom and triumphant battles. It breaks my heart to say that not all of the stories have a happy ending, not everyone survives but when they don't, they leave behind those who love them, who remember them and who share their stories, so even though they are gone, they will live on in those who loved them and their memories.

So my journey of learning came with the second stop for the traveling book. While in Houston, Texas at a show with Vicki from Dinkybaby.com, designer of "Peggy the cheerleader doll", we stopped to see a friend of hers who was going through treatments at MD Anderson's. Her friend was our second signature.

Paula Wirth was one of the founding member of The Desert Cancer Foundation of Arizona, which is a non-profit, 501c organization dedicated to serving uninsured women and their families who are in need of cancer care and treatment.

The foundation is a grass-roots, all volunteer organization whose objective is to bring together coalitions of corporations, community and service organizations and private citizens in developing resources for cancer screening, diagnostic and treatment options for our medically under-served population. Paula's board strives to maintain the highest degree of accountability, ethics and professionalism in their work.

Even with all the great work and support that Paula has passed down to the community, she was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer and has been battling to survive.

Paula and her husband Joel moved from Arizona, temporarily leaving their home, friends, family and dogs, so Paula could have the best care at MD Anderson's in Houston। It has been a tough road, Paula being diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer that leaves MD Anderson treating Paula and only 18 other cases they have ever seen of this type of cancer। But our visit was wonderful, Paula looked beautiful and I can only hope that our visit and the book lifted her spirits and brightened her day.

When Vicki and I left Paula's and the next day headed back to our show in Houston, we were surprised to see the "Pink Heals Tour". "Pink Heals" is a beautiful Pink Fire Truck that travels the states, making appearances and visiting survivors to bring joy, love and the fight to cure cancer with awareness। The Pink Fire Truck is run by Dave Graybill and other Fireman who travel, who wear pink fire suits and are so kind and warm, it made my heart melt। I had some of the best hugs, kind wishes, warm thoughts, then I have had in a long time। It was amazing! All you have to do is shake Dave's hand and you can feel the warmth and the kind soul that he is. And with all this said, I even got to sign the Pink Fire Truck itself. The truck is signed by all survivors and it is almost hard to see the pink through all the signatures, again it is truly amazing! But it goes one step further on the amazing level. Vicki told Dave about Paula and how she was in Texas, missing her family and receiving treatment, well that was all it took, that very afternoon Dave, his fellow fire fighters and yes...the Pink Firetruck headed right to Paula's door to visit, cheer her up and have her sign the truck for all future survivors to see!

What an amazing world we live in! So again, I have learned in my journey to give back, that people from all walks of life, all corners of the world, all different backgrounds, they care and they strive to make a difference! All I can say is THANKS .... and it did my heart good!!

Go to YouTube and watch the amazing videos on the "Pink Heals Tour" and go to their website at http://www.pinkhealstour.com/ and purchase a t-shirt to help these men pay for gas on their travels around the states! I bought TWO!

Next Stop for the Traveling Book....Egypt!

2009-11-15T09:58:00.000-08:00

First Stop on it's journey....

Mirror Makeovers & Savvy Insights has begun it's journey! I thought to get the book started with warmth and love, the best place to start was the support group that helped me through my journey, and helped me to create my music video, I could not think of a better place!

So the book began it's journey in Newport Beach, California with the support group directed by Sandy Finestone. This group and this coordinator are who got me through some long days, some hard days, and filled them with laughter, strength and love. Everyone needs support on this journey and other than my family and friends, this group has always been there for me. Even now, when I have gone to do other things; write a book, paddle on a team, when I pop back in for visit, I am always welcomed with open arms, no one could ask for more then that! How blessed am I?

The book and I went to visit the support group, I told them my idea for one of my books traveling the world to raise spirits and to help a wonderful charity, and again, I was welcomed with open arms!

Just take a look, what a beautiful group of Gals!! So my heartfelt thanks to this wonderful group, who are always welcoming, who show each other great love and support, and who are sending this book off with arms wrapped around it with hugs for it's next visit.

Stay posted, next stop...... the Great State of TEXAS!!

View the Video with the Support Group: