Aiding Tsunami Victims

It's a little bit off topic, but when it boils down to it, this blog is about my (small) efforts to try to make the world a better place, so I would like to offer a list I found of relief organizations accepting donations to aid quake/tsunami victims. The list can be found here.

Also, since I work a lot in music, I would like to say big kudos to the band Linkin Park for donating $100,000 to the relief effort. There are many who can, but not so many who do, so I feel that this is pretty outstanding.

I am continuing to feel better, but still feel pretty icky.

Thank you for checking in on me, good people! Pictures tomorrow. Promise!

Home Again and $35M??

I am home from the hospital, albeit in pain, but all went well with the surgery and I'm good (actually better!) than new. Because I'm bored and strange, I think I'll shoot some pictures of my new brand new scars and post. The great news, and I don't want to jinx anything, is that I am still cancer free, almost 2 years now.

I feel wrong going on about myself (well, this is my blog, but still) with all of the horrible suffering and loss sustained in Southern Asia. I have been thinking a lot, even in the midst of all of the pain and suffering at the cancer hospital, how lucky I feel to be safe and secure in my home and dare I say country (geographically speaking.)

Which brings me to my final point, $35 million?? Give me a freaking break...

A Big Day

Well, my friend made it through surgery and now it's my turn. Tomorrow I go in for about a 3 hour procedure to correct some radiation damage. It's an elective procedure, but I want to get it done and put some closure on this cancer journey.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday, and I apologize with being so late with the holiday greetings this year!

A special thanks to my mom and step-dad, Stephanie and Jerry, and my brother Greg, for getting my through this. My father is, as usual, absent. Haven't even heard from him, but that's pretty much in character. Sad.

I'll check in after what hopefully will be a simple and painless procedure tomorrow.

With love and hope,
Jodi

2005 Fundraising goal: $30,000
Raised to date: $1,295

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE LANCE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION

On Fear

My 36 year old friend is having open heart surgery today and understandably was very fearful. I told him to look at it this way: he is going to have a difficult surgery, but then he will recover and he will be done. He will be fine and his life will go on. I told him to try to compare it to cancer surgery, where often times the surgery is just the beginning of the journey. I'm not sure if I made him feel better, but I'm pretty sure it gave him something to think about.

It is amusing how the cancer experience makes you feel like you are some kind of sage and qualified to dispense life lessons on everything (well, at least it does me, but I was bossy to begin with...)

I am going in for surgery at the end of the month, so I'm kind of writing this as a note to self to read later! (Not cancer surgery, but I'm still frightened.)

2005 Fundraising goal: $30,000
Raised to date: $1,270

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE LANCE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION

Steph's Fund

A special fund has been set up at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in memory of my dear friend Steph, who was my honoree at the Ride for the Roses this year. The fund benefits the Post-Treatment Resource Program for Young Adult Cancer Survivor at the hospital, which is funded entirely through private donations. This program is open to everyone in the community, and provides free group support for young adults going through the cancer experience.

The fund is a most fitting tribute to a wonderful, brave young woman whose courageous battle inspired many, many people. If you would like more information, or to make a donation, please visit the website that we have set up for her here .

Thank you so much. We all miss Stephanie terribly.