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In The Garden of Thoughts by Dodinsky Book Review

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May
02
2013
Dodinskys Book Review

Do you sometimes feel disconnected? Like somehow life stuff took over and left you stranded on a baron path in the middle of nowhere? Have you ever looked in the mirror and asked yourself who the person looking back at you is? We’ve all been there. Somewhere along the way we lose touch with what matters, we veer off the path meant for us… we forget where and who we are. Having Dodinsky’s “In the Garden of Thoughts” on your bookshelf is like having a personal roadmap to help you find your way back ‘home’.  Dodinsky’s soul-soothing quotes have a way of penetrating through all the layers of ego and landing right in the middle of that vaguely familiar but not-often–visited place of complete emptiness – the place where meaningful thinking and deep contemplating occurs.  It is here that our mask is gently removed, the ego dissolves, and we are left with the magnificent being that we are. Although any of us can go to this place, at anytime, it's often a difficult … [Read more...]

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Tiffanie’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Melanoma)

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Apr
29
2013
Tiffanie's Story (Melanoma)

After a month of calling around to try and find a dermatologist, I decided I couldn’t wait any more. I contacted my general practitioner to at least have someone look at the mole that had seemed to change overnight. I knew there wasn’t much the GP could do, but I was hoping she could get me in to see a dermatologist. I went in thinking she was going to tell me that even though it looked angry, it would turn out to be nothing. The appointment went as planned. She looked at it and called a local dermatologist. I couldn’t get in to see the actual dermatologist but they could get me in to see a physician’s assistant. This was good enough for me! Finally, this scary mole would be looked at. Once at the dermatologist’s office, the PA agreed that the mole was extremely angry and needed to be removed immediately. He did a deep incision in order to get a really good sample for testing. The PA spoke to me about the possibilities but suggested I not jump automatically to melanoma. … [Read more...]

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Jackie’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma)

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Apr
29
2013
Hodgkin's Lymphoma Story

There is a light at the end of the tunnel! In 2007 I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma Cancer, 6 mos after my ex-husband and I were getting a divorce. I felt my life was upside down. In the midst of this I had a sweet angel my daughter, Taelor. She is so amazing. She was 5 when I was diagnosed. I didn’t quite understand it. I felt like I wasn’t in my body. I felt numb, angry, and, of course, I had to ask myself, WHY ME! I was stage 2. I had to get a port put in. Then I started this CHEMO which was EVIL!! ABVD was the drug. I lost all my hair, gained 40 lbs, and was in so much pain. I wanted to die and not fight anymore. I would take pain meds and they didn’t touch it. My daughter would crawl into bed with me and read. I was lethargic. She would just rub my face and say "mommy, please tell God to make you better". I would cry. I didn’t want to give up on her so I kept fighting! My biggest problem was I had no control over my life but I knew it was just temporary. The … [Read more...]

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Karen’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Fibromyalgia)

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Apr
27
2013

I am 31 years old and have had fibromyalgia for most of my life. When the pain first started many years ago, I didn’t understand what was happening. I just knew that I hurt all of the time and I was having muscle spasms. Sometimes the spasms were so bad that I couldn’t walk or I would collapse. Physical activity usually made it worse, though some days I hurt badly even without being active. I let it stop me from doing things I wanted to try because I wanted to avoid the pain. Then in my early teens, I came to the realization that by sitting out to avoid the pain I was letting whatever was causing it to win. That was the turning point for me. Now at 31, I know what I am fighting, and I know that the only way I win is if I don’t let it stop me. I dance, I hike, I fence, and I am learning to play roller derby. None of it is easy for me, but I always give it my best and work as hard as I can. When I start to hurt and feel like giving up, that’s when I push myself the hardest. It … [Read more...]

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Michelle’s Story (Breast Cancer)

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Apr
24
2013
Michelle's Story (Breast cancer)LR

I turned 40 in 2009 and I decided to go have a mammogram. Normally I put things like this off. It had been a few years since I had even been for my yearly womanly doctor visit, but for some reason since I turned that magical age where they tell you that you should get a mammogram, I decided to go ahead with it. I have no family history of breast cancer and never gave a thought to having breast cancer. To my surprise, they immediately saw something on my mammogram. I was sent straight to a breast surgeon who scheduled me for a lumpectomy. A week later, I found out I did indeed have stage 1 breast cancer. I was scheduled for another surgery to remove more tissue and I had to have my lymph nodes removed. Thankfully those came back clear. After that I went through 6 weeks of radiation treatment daily. I could not have gotten through this journey without the support of my family and friends. I got a clean bill of health after my radiation treatments and now I bug my girlfriends and … [Read more...]

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Allyson’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Bullying)

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Apr
24
2013
Allyson's Story (Bullying) LR

My name is Allyson.  I am 22 years old from Northern NJ. I am a public speaker on anti-bullying and sexting awareness. When I was a sophomore in high school, I was a straight A, fully involved, popular, church-going girl. I had strict parents and I was not allowed to date until high school. I started dating a boy on and off my freshman year and when I was 16 and a sophomore my boyfriend broke up with me. Being a naive 16 year old and, thinking that we were in love and that we were going to get married, I was crushed. About two weeks later, my ex-boyfriend told me he would get back together with me if I sent him a naked picture. Impulsively and without thinking, myself and my two best friends went into my bathroom and I took off my shirt. They put their faces next to my chest, took the picture, and pressed send. He never answered that picture message. Overnight he had forwarded the picture to everyone in his contact list - to parents, friends, classmates, and even strangers. I … [Read more...]

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Christy’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Endometriosis)

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Apr
24
2013
Christy's Story Endometriosis LR

"Oh, my friend, it’s not what they take away from you that counts – it’s what you do with what you have left." - Hubert Humphrey. It all started officially in 2006 on St Patty’s Day. That was the day of my first surgery to confirm that I had endometriosis. I had never really had bad periods that left me bed ridden. Painful, yes, but I thought everyone’s were. I distinctly remember the date because as I/we (my boyfriend who became my husband) were waiting for me to be called back for surgery they were interviewing people on TV who were Irish. My surgery was supposed to be about 45 minutes long. It turned out to be about 3-4 hours. Most of my internal organs were stuck to each other AND they ended up taking out my appendix because my doctor said 'It looked like it was melting'.  We got the pathology back on the appendix a few days later which confirmed that it was indeed melting…melting with cancer!! Thankfully they had caught it before it spread so I didn’t need … [Read more...]

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Dawn’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Breast Cancer and Bone Cancer)

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Apr
24
2013
Dawn's Story Breast and Bone Cancer LR

Hi, my name is Dawn, and I am 53 years old. I was diagnosed with (the beast) breast cancer on the right side in 2004. When the doctor told me, I let one tear slide down my face and that was it! I was ready for battle. So I had the surgery, had the radiation, had the chemo. The surgical site got infected and I lost 3/4 of my breast. For a woman who is 42D, that is a lot. That, and only that, was the embarrassing part for me. Now I guess you have to know me, because I am kind of kooky. When my hair started falling out, my husband and I had fun with it. First I had a mohawk, then the sides were zig-zagged, then we did all kinds of goofy things with it. Then we finally shaved it all off. I had the wigs and the bandannas with the bangs, but luckily I have a good shaped head and went around bald. Besides, I loved the looks I would get from the little kids. Ha ha! Sometimes I would take my teeth out too for good measure! I didn't mind not having to shave my legs anymore. Woooohoo! When … [Read more...]

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Sandy’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Endometriosis)

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Apr
24
2013
Endometriosis Stories

Reading the endometriosis stories have brought back so many memories and realizations. Looking back, I have probably had endometriosis since I started menstruating. I don’t remember even one month without being doubled over in pain or embarrassing mishaps! For four years, throughout high school, various doctors told me it was just part of being a woman. Even though my mom had a full hysterectomy in her early 30’s due to uterine cancer. I missed outrageous amounts of school, time with family and friends, and became depressed. At age 19, I moved away from home and the pain continued. I began to see a new doctor who ordered an ultrasound. After being accused of a miraculous pregnancy and dishonesty during the test, a radiologist found that my right ovary was attached to the backside of my uterus among other various adhesions and cysts. I later had a laparoscopic surgery to ”burn” the areas and detach my ovary. I was then placed on a high daily dose of oral provera. Although … [Read more...]

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Sarah’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Endometriosis)

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Apr
24
2013
Sarah's Story (Endometriosis) LR

Lets see, it all started when I was 8 years old. I remember the day just like it happened yesterday. This was when I started my period for the first time. I just remember being curled up in a ball and crying because the pain was so bad. Throughout the years, the pain got worse and worse, followed by periods that would last up to 2 months long. By the time I was 15 years old, I was told that I wouldn’t be able to have children, so I begged to have my ovaries removed. When I was 19, I finally was able to have endometriosis surgery, which it gave me very little pain for about 2 months. I am now 21 and fighting not having to have surgery again. I just finished up with my second round of the Lupron shots and I’m waiting to go see the doctor again. I just want to thank all the women that write on here, because hearing your stories gives me hope that one day, I will be able to have my own child and that hopefully one day I will be in no more pain and love being a … [Read more...]

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