This one's for Betty!!
26 May 2006 16:35:21
Well done and 'thank you' Betty - it's good to know people do read these blogs - please keep those comments coming. She asks why I'm not keeping up to date? No, it's not because I'm sitting here eating naughty things (well actually I am as it's the first time I've sat down all day ..... 'Why not?!!' is what I say!! The diet can start tomorrow, next week, next month maybe .....!)
I haven't kept up to date because I have literally been here,there and everywhere these past few weeks,meeting yet more wonderful people, listening to more heartwarming stories and accepting, on Crazy Hats' behalf, very generous donations from across the county as a result of 'crazy' but so thoughtful events staged for us. We have also been writing a few cheques of our own which has gone down well with the many consultants and medical personnel we are working with - £22,500 to Kettering for Gamma probes, the same amount to NGH for pioneering mammotome equipment and £2,000 to Leicester Royal Infirmary to boost their funds for medical tattooing on the nipples. (This sounds oh so painful doesn't it but I can assure you it's not - with a new boob made from other areas of your body - in my case my back and my tummy (where they had a good supply!) there is no sensation).
We've also been organising first time events. I think I've mentioned how fantastic the Celebration of Life Concert was! (we're now busy preparing to cut a CD as a keepsake for all who came and as a tribute to Lesley Sellers). Two weeks after this we staged our 'Breasts Reunited' evening at Leicester for women in the area who have had a breast reconstruction. We decided on evening dress so that us ladies could all show off our new cleavages and 'celebrate' having come through so much. It really was a night to remember. The surgeons who attended were 'amazed' at seeing us all look so radiant and confident - some of us 2-3 years down the line, some just 7 weeks after surgery. Although none of us knew each other it was only seconds before the ice was broken and new, lasting friendships made. Already we are making plans for 2007 knowing it will be bigger and better - like our Walk? - like our Concert? Another interesting idea is to start up a 'Breasts Reunited' website. What are you thoughts on this? I spoke with a surgeon today at Leicester and he liked the idea very much ......
Today I was also on TV!! - interviewed for an Asian channel in Leicester together with Claire, the ward sister on the Kinmonth Unit where I was treated. Claire and all the nursing staff there really put heart and soul into this project - for us this night was a tribute to them and to the wonderful skills of the surgeons and staff - a very special 'thank you'. I have to go back there in a months time for another operation - they've said they are going to tie me to the bed to ensure I keep still long enough and recover properly ..... perhaps I can get more to my book done then?
The op. comes AFTER the 'jump' which I am trying not to think about too much - yes, I am jumping Betty!! (I will bring the sponsor form on Wednesday!) I did hear from Jeremy and understand fully why he has declined and I hope I did not put too much pressure on him - next year I would love to try dragon boat racing (there's story behind this!) - how does this grab you Jeremy? I will write more on the jump as the time for descent approaches.
What else has happened this week? Oh, yes! Yesterday I had my 6th mammogram (half mammogram - they don't do the new one). Every year I always have problems with the flimsy capes they give you that have just a liitle velcro to hold everything together. You sit there waiting, as in a hairdressing salon, talking, using your hands to gesticulate certain issues .. forgetting the cape opens and all is revealed..... I have lost count of the number of times I've been meaning to mention this and ask if Crazy Hats could fund some new, more practical ones. Yesterday I did mention it ..... 'have you tried putting it on the other way round?' the radiologist asked! Why has it taken me all this time to think of the obvious? Has anyone else been in this situation? I think she got her own back on me - I had to be grammied again, the first set of shots being 'fuzzy'. Like my brain at the moment it would appear!!
Yes, life is busy but good! No time to sit any longer and nibble at the box of chocolates - I have a committee meeting to go to.
Published Date:
26/05/2006
Modified Date:
26/05/2006
Time's running out ......!!!
21 May 2006 23:57:20
I'm blogging JC here!!!!! It is just over two minutes until this week is over (I start my new week on a Monday) and I haven't had a response re. the sky dive!!!!! Ohhhhhhhh!! A petition may have to be the answer (refer to comment on last blog - thank you Michael!!). What do you think?
Will 'blog' again very soon - the Breast Reunited Evening was just ----- wonderful!!!!
Will he or won't he???????????
Watch this space - not that we're putting any pressure on him of course! I'm not thinking much about mine until the day but I am chasing up sponsors.
It is now MONDAY!!!!! Oh dear!!!
Published Date:
22/05/2006
Modified Date:
22/05/2006
"Time needed to catch up!"
16 May 2006 20:41:04
Where have the last few days gone? Well, for 2 days I escaped the world and went off with my friend to chill out - in a caravan on the east coast - to escape the phone, emails, the post and people - to eat things we shouldn't have eaten and do things we wouldn't do here at home. We played bingo, we went on the fruit machines and other amusement arcade games (and I was thrilled to win a World Cup football from one of those contraptions where you have to aim with claws and talons and hope you pick something up - usually the 'prize' falls off just as you think you have won it, but this time, I won it! It's sad isn't it how little things like that can make you feel so good? My nephew (10) will be so proud of me and will love me to bits for a short while when I say he can have it! My friend and I also went for an exhilarating walk along a windswept and deserted beach, collecting shells and looking for lost treasure and for awhile all thoughts of Crazy Hats were forgotten - I was back to my childhood. We even watched a child's DVD (loaned by my nephew) - Nanny McPhee (we enjoyed it!) - it was good to laugh and step back into our childhood times. Having survived the caravan I think it could be the answer to me escaping the planet once more to complete the writing of my book ......
But like all holiday breaks, they come to an end and as soon as I opened my front door I was back into the world of fundraising! Ten letters, seventeen messages on the phone and many emails - all needing repsonses.
I had to update my list of things to do. I cannot work without a list. Everything imaginable has to go on my list and I have to change it every night - it's a very satisfying feeling when you can tick so many things off. But sadly, at the moment my list has been extended to more than one page. Suddenly Crazy Hats has moved up a gear which is fantastic - but I need more than 24 hours in a day at the moment to keep up. People are, and have been so, so generous and the stories we are hearing ...... I really do hope that any of you reading this will get back to us and tell of your stories.
A lady called 'Cath' did and I am so grateful for this. Cath didn't read my blog. Cath looked after me almost 5 years ago when I was going down to theatre to have, first a lumpectomy and secondly a mastectomy. Cath wrote a most moving letter to me reminding me of our acquaintance and to let me know she herself had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Through the equipment Crazy Hats had purchased for the hospital and had been used on her, she was absolutely delighted and so thankful that she did not have to have a mastectomy. I wanted to share her letter with others and with her agreement the Evening Telegraph kindly gave her story front page news. A real success story - and thank you once again to the ET from us all at Crazy Hats for such excellent coverage. Thank you to Cath too.
(Talking of the ET and the support of the Editor .... this week is decision time for JC!!!!! Is he going to take the plunge with us or not? My sponsor forms are out. I'm sure once the public know he IS jumping and diving about for such a good cause he would have no problem in finding sponsors - we'll provide the immodium and the medical people jumping with us have assured us they will bring a good supply of incontinance pads ..... I await his call / email with anticipation as it's only a few weeks until Sunday June 18th (just a reminder of the date!!)
This coming Saturday we have our "Breasts Reunited" evening at The Tigers ground in Leicester and the excitment is growing. We're thrilled that several of the consultants will be joining us but they are worried that us ladies will be spending a lot of our time in the toilets comparimg our new boobs. I've suggested we do a 'knobbly knees' type of game whereby our faces are concealed and they have to recognise us by our boobs!! It should be a very,very good evening - very emotional to begin with I'm sure as none of us know each other but we all realise we have been in the same boat. I've spoken to many who are coming on the phone and I know many, many new friendships will be formed. Again, this is what Crazy Hats is all about. I look forward to telling you more next week.
For now it's back to my list and a matter of writing numerous thank you letters and checking that my posh evening wear still fits!!
(We've gone public this week to announce the news we have passed the 1/4 million mark and we have also made public our new projects with the hospitals ... so much going on!! ...... I wonder if the caravan is free next weekend?)
Another PS - I had a lady ring up asking how and why I was allowed out of prison!! It was my 'bosom pal' - Margaret '86 - now aged 90!! She has a wonderful sense of humour! Being in prison, even for a short period was quite an experience - one that I do not recommend!!
Please do post your comments if you read this - I could chat away for hours but would love some feedback from you. Put it on your list of "To do's!"
Published Date:
16/05/2006
Modified Date:
16/05/2006
"Going live!!!"
09 May 2006 22:57:07
This is scary!! I didn't realise we had gone live until "Annie" made me aware today (I promised Annie I would mention her!) that there was an article and a picture (not another one I hear you say!) in last night's Evening Telegraph. I am now witing alongside the Editor (whose consent form for the parachute jump has still not been returned!!! Will he do it? Should he do it? Let me know!! ) and Michael, 'The Running Man', whose weekly columns I find amusing and so true to life. Will (do) my blogs match up with theirs? I've never done anything like this before - and I must soon learn how to add the graphics!!
This is for real then. I must learn not to waffle as I do and remember that more people may be reading what I say . I hope they do. My title to my blog says; "It's good to talk." It certainly is. I've just returned from giving a talk to a wonderful group of ladies in Rushden about my personal breast cancer journey and that of 'Crazy Hats'. I took my best friend along - she told me she had never heard me talk for an hour about my personal story (yet I've delivered dozens of talks to many, many groups - and she has been with me from Day 1) - she was amazed at how people opened up and were able to tell snippets of their stories and get burning issues off their chests (pardon the pun here!). Yes, it is good to talk. I find this at every talk I give. People who have been through any traumatic experience need to feel there is someone out there to listen to them, they need to be able to off-load. I really do hope that this 'blog' thing will enable others to 'talk'. Let's hear it from you! Through this site tell us your stories. How have you coped with having breast cancer? How have others coped with you having breast cancer? What are their stories? What can we do, through Crazy Hats, to help you?
I've been back into school this week helping Year 6 children with their SATs - oh, how I wish I were back there. I feel I could just step back in to it ..... where have the past 5 years gone? But then, having given this talk tonight, as strange as it may seem, it is so similar to standing up front addressing children - it seems such a natural thing to do. They were eager to learn tonight - Marilyn says they clung on to every word - a captive audience. I believe this is now my job and I do love it - if I have left just one person feeling more hopeful and positive then it is all so worthwhile.
(The liver/abdominal scan went OK yesterday - as I say, I'm sure it's only precautionary. I will keep you posted.) In the meantime I am preparing for a visit to HM Prison in Wellingborough this coming Thursday having absconded from a Jail 'n' Bail event ...... they've caught up with me at last! How can I prove I am not completely crazy?!!
I look forward to talking with you.
Published Date:
09/05/2006
Modified Date:
09/05/2006
"Celebrate Life!"
Life certainly has been a celebration these past few days! Life has also been VERY frustrating too - more on that later. So many different things have happened it's difficult to know where to start to record them. I keep quite an explicit diary so, if I write now as I do in my diary, my blog would resemble a book - the idea of keeping a diary is so that, at some point, I can actually get my book finished. Yes, I am writing a book about my breast cancer journey - perhaps I've mentioned it before? I keep giving people a date as to when it will be finished but so much is happening in my life - where do I stop? But, I have made a firm decision that later this month, or in early June, I will go into isolation for a week to get the bulk of it written. It's all in my head but I need quality, uninterrupted time to .... just write. Where shall I go? Ideas would be appreciated!
Our 'Celebration of Life' Concert was a hit - absolutley wonderful!! I was so very, very proud of the children who sang for us and of the male voice choir members - the mix was amazing. What an experience! During the afternoon whilst rehearsing we all had our reservations but the excitement soon built up and nerves subsided as we all changed and donned our evening gear, pink bow ties(for the men and children) and our pink roses - everyone involved pulled out all the stops, the theatre soon filled, guests arrived and the music began. It was a truly magical evening , for which we have received such enthusiastic and complimentary feedback - already we are thinking of a date for next year's concert and making arrangements to have this year's cut to a CD. (Does anyone have good contacts here?) One week on we are all still on a 'high' and it is the talk of the community. Even today, my mother's 82nd birthday, my family and I were all enjoying a meal when the waitress suddenly said: "You're the hats lady aren't you? You're doing a good job. Keep it up!" It's surreal! Deep down I still consider myself to be a teacher - that all this is only temporary. But it's not! Crazy Hats is for real and the potential is huge.
The day after the concert I was invited to attend a live, outdoor, all day, pub concert - the second time this pub has done this for us. Feeling somewhat delicate after the concert I'm afraid I only lasted half an hour or so - the headbanging music being just a little too much! More people with hearts of gold though! Bank Holiday Monday saw us at a Donkey Derby ( minus Eleanor!!) - good fun but spoilt by inclement weather - yet more people and more money for the Appeal. (We will be going public soon with the announcement of our 1/4 million mark).
Time for a rest? No. I was then off to Leicester to plan for our Breasts Reunited Evening in June (another glitzy evening!). A breakthrough was achieved here because I met with my consultant (who is also one of our Vice-Presidents) and he has kindly agreed to come along. This is just what I personally want our charity to achieve - from experience, the public sincerely appreciate seeing medical personnel at the events we organise. We even persuaded a top consultant at Kettering General Hospital to have his photo taken last week when we presented them with £22,500 for new diagnostic equipment - equipment that made the national news. Isn't it great that people of Northamptonshire are so willing to 'give' to enable this to happen? Again, this is what Crazy Hats is about.
Yes, life was a celebration alright - but then the bubble burst! Or, should I say, my computer was hit by a virus - someone (so I found out later) was trying to hack into my emails. Thank goodness I had all the antivirus software installed. Everything was blocked - a first for me and panic mode took over. I had no idea how to resolve this one! Four and a half hours later I was more or less back on line having found helpline numbers and having spoken to many, many individuals from call centres, it would appear, from all over the world! "Hang on ma'am, I'll just transfer you to another operator. I apologise for keeping you waiting." ...... how I kept calm I don't know as person after person took control of my computer whilst they played classical music. One of the operators even asked what job I did as my emails looked very interesting! Like the waitress I was told to keep up the good work. It makes you think are these call centres safe? My life was in their hands so I had no option but to trust them. Frustrating is not a strong enough word though. Everything on my computer has been rearranged and some data lost. I dread to think what my phone bill will be! Surely, in this technological world there must be a simpler way? And what about the hacker? I know who it was - they were able to retrieve the email that messed my life up for a few days. Do I contact her? It is a child. It's very worrying.
No time to let it fester - tomorrow I have to go for a liver scan. The dreaded appointment has arrived. I'm sure (I hope) it's only precautionary but like all follow-ups and check ups you always think - has 'it' returned? 'It' had better not! I haven't got time!
To 'Katy' another hat lady who read my last blog - I've been on to your website. Thank you for the publicity - I loved the hat!! We are setting up our website "Crazy Hats Appeal" - and should be going live ASAP - fingers crossed!! That is, if my computer backs me up!!!
Now to write my diary - think I will print this out ......
Published Date:
07/05/2006
Modified Date:
07/05/2006
"Poor Eleanor!!"
Why 'Poor Eleanor'? Well, today I had to sit on a donkey! Yes, a 51 year old lady sitting astride a donkey in the middle of nowhere, waving a cowboy hat in the air and shouting "yeehaaaaa!" - being photographed to promote a forthcoming Donkey Derby with the proceeds being given to our charity. Poor Eleanor!! I am no lightweight that's for sure but Kit, the photographer, insisted. I hate to let anyone down so I willingly obliged (?) but he and Geoff (organiser of the Derby) had to help me up (and down) - not a pretty sight! And all I could hear was "Hang on tight before she runs off!" (What? - with me on it?) I hung on alright! To be honest, I enjoyed it! It reminded me of my youth whilst holidaying in Spain with a group of friends when we decided to go on a donkey trek - sipping sangria out of a yard glass. My donkey didn't move - at all! I sat back and enjoyed the sunshine and sangria as I watched my friends disappear over the horizon. At least I wasn't saddle sore that night! That was the last time I rode a donkey so, yes, today was fun! What the public will make of this I'm not sure - perhaps the ET will only put Eleanor's head in - after all, she was wearing my hat!
Things we do to raise money!
The two days off from writing have stretched out I'm afraid - life has been busy! I did manage to get the garden done and do a 'little' spring cleaning but until I can find an office the rest will have to wait. Preparations for our 'Celebration of Life' Concert are going really, really well; the children have worked so hard
and everyone is excited, but there is still a lot to do and we would like to sell a few more tickets - how can we get across to the community just how special this is? Perhaps it will take the same format as the Walk? Next year we could double everything on that score - you have to start somewhere and keeping to tradition with my school motto - we have to "Aim High!"
Although everyone is excited I am feeling rather nervous. Standing on the stage last week was frightening - why, oh why did I suggest my friend and I do a comical sketch about how Crazy Hats started? We rehearsed on Sunday but could only manage a minute before the giggles and mild hysteria set in. On top of that I have to start the show off by being pensive and looking into space - a flashback to today with me getting on and off the donkey will put paid to that notion! As Kit rightly said: "Which one is the silly ass?" Poor Eleanor! If only animals could talk!
(I've had feedback from one previous blog! From an unknown! So people do read them. I have responded. Which reminds me ...... I haven't had the consent form in yet from a certain editor re. the pending tandem sky dive?????? Having enviously watched this year's marathon on Sunday, in which an ex-parent of mine kindly, and very bravely, ran it for us, I think this could be another challenge for Crazy Hats/the Crazy Lady next year .. like the Concert - another dream of mine! ...........)
Update on Crazy Hats - over £72,000 from the Walk - fast approaching the quarter of a million mark in total! Amazing!! !!!!!! (I love exclamation marks!!!)
Published Date:
25/04/2006
Modified Date:
25/04/2006
"Easter Break"
21:07:15 14 April 2006
Good Friday - three days have passed since my last blog. I've been trying to catch up on all outstanding correspondence, phone calls and e-mails so that I can have some kind of a break over the Easter period - time to do the dreaded spring cleaning, the garden and, hopefully, enjoy some of the fine weather that is predicted. What a varied life I lead at the moment - no two days are ever the same! Yesterday I had an appointment with Pat, my lymphoedema nurse, at the Lakelands Hospice (and was introduced to their 3 new fund raisers) and as my arm was quite swollen she tried out a new technique of bandaging it with strips of plaster that had drainage channels in them! This is where it would be so useful to show this in picture form - it certainly raised a few eyebrows when I saw friends and family - and I think it helped. Pat was pleased because Crazy Hats will be helping her team out once more by sponsoring information leaflets for the lymphoedema services in the county. Later that day, with members of the committee, I met with the Director of Nursing at Kettering General to discuss ways forward with them and us. We were pleased that, at last, they are a little more receptive to the ideas we have to further enhance breast cancer care. Could this be because we told them our latest total following the Walk? (We are almost up to doubling last year's amount!!!!!! - £60k+ with still more money to come in!!) It really is exciting to think we can now plan for more projects with the three hospitals we support.
Plans for the Concert are well in hand - McDonalds showing a keen interest in supporting us - more people have signed up for the sky dive, a donkey derby has been arranged, as has a live band concert, and recently the daughter of a friend of mine told us she would like donations to come to Crazy Hats after her wedding!!! Now that is something so very different and so, so lovely!! My head is buzzing so - it's time to switch off for a couple of days and recharge the brain cells!!! Happy Easter!
Published Date:
14/04/2006
Modified Date:
14/04/2006
Woweeee!!
21:06:40 11 April 2006
Today's blog starts with an apology for missing yesterday's - where the time has gone I don't know, but I do know it has been a very busy 24 hours. Saturday was the official closing date for the sponsor money to come in and our Treasurer's postman is beginning to buckle under the strain of all the post coming her way. She loves it! (As I did, when the entries for the walk came to me - so much so that my postman says he is experiencing withdrawal symptoms!) I digress (as is my norm!) At the last count we are fast approaching ....... £60,000!!! with still more money pledged. This is absolutely staggering!! What an achievement by 'everybody'! Woweeee!!
We're not going to press with this just yet - we want to wait to see if we can tell the public that ,for the 4th year running, we have doubled the entries and the amount raised. Cause for a celebration I think!!!
In addition to what's been happening with the walk I have also been busy preparing for our Celebration of Life Concert later this month; our "Breasts Reunited" evening in May (more on that later) and our tandem skydive in June. (Yes, I have sent our Editor a registration pack!!!)
Yesterday I was interviewed by a magazine called IMAGE which has links with the Evening Telegraph and the Chronicle and Echo. They wanted to know what it was like living with lymphoedema, knowing I'd just had access to a new DVD made about it. Perhaps some of you have no idea what lymphoedema is. Through my blogs I can explain and invite you to share experiences you may have had, or are having. It's good to talk. Just for a few minutes, during the interview, I was reminded that I had had breast cancer.....
Life is fun! I'm feeling happy because I have just been offered some office space for storage so that I can make my home a home again - it really has been embarrassing when kind people have called on me only to find I have no vacant chairs - I live in a maisonnette.
At some point the spring cleaning must begin - but that's another story. For now I'm off to have yet another hot bath - the strain of the barn dance still taking its toll - where I will gloss through a book I purchased today called: "How to write your life story". I know I've got a lot to tell! (My blogs are not getting any shorter are they?)
Published Date:
11/04/2006
Modified Date:
11/04/2006