Lauren and I are still recuperating from our trip to OMG2012. Our suitcase is still half-packed but has made the move from living room to my bedroom. Lauren's counts have recovered (platelets = 150 (yeah!!) ANC = 1.4) and is due for her last cycle this Monday. Once this cycle is over then she will go in for another scan and she will start her alternative therapy soon after.
I have been going through all the media from the summit and have to say it is overwhelming. I wish we would have known (or been informed) about fertility and precautions we could have taken. The crummy party is that some things can be fixed, others cannot. It really makes me angry. I try to think on the bright side, hey she is alive right? But it falls under the quality of life category. She is so resilient right now and tries to put on a smile most of the time. None of us can tell the future, much less some doctors who like to quote statistics. Well, Lauren isn't a statistic and she will prevail! If you are concerned about fertility, check out FertileHope. They will be your "go-to" for all resources pertaining to cancer treatments and fertility.
One exhibitor I was surprised to see was Annie Appleseed Project. Over the course of the last two years, when I would speak to people about Lauren's alternative/holistic treatment plan, most would smile and actually be amazed, but somewhere inside them I know they were thinking "this chick is crazy". We've asked Lauren to do some pretty crazy things that aren't normal in conventional therapy, and I know that what was asked of her may have been a little over the top, but it did put her into a six month remission. It was refreshing to have an exhibitor that I could speak to about some of the therapies that Lauren has been doing and not get that "uh huh, sure" look. Annie knew about most of the things that I brought up. I was amazed! Even better, they will be having a conference in SF this coming fall called "Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies" and Lauren and I will be attending that for sure. I am always excited and more than happy to discuss what we have done to change our lifestyle, including simple nutrition (yes, that means no McDonald's), plus some of the stuff that our nation (USA) looks at as NON-FDA approved yet other countries use it on a regular basis.
The closing speech, by Wendell Potter, was not much of a surprise to me, but still made me extremely angry. One of his slides showed that 700,000 people in the US file for bankruptcy annually due to medical debt. Every day I think, we are about to be one of these 700k. He discussed how the lack of medical coverage for some will mean death. As someone who has had to deal with the ugly side of insurance, the more he talked, the angrier I got. He made me want to move to DC and become a lobbyist for the cause! I've always had problems with the government and politicians in general (it's why I moved to CALI!!!). I often worry about Lauren's future where medical coverage is concerned. I know what it is like to have to make sure you have constant coverage because of this little thing called "a pre-existing condition". I am a Type 1 diabetic. Unfortunately, until this healthcare reform bullshit is fixed, I will always worry.
Needless to say, not only did Lauren and I feel a sense of camaraderie with the other attendees at the summit, we (or at least I) came back also feeling a sense of empowerment that we, someday, will change the world and the way we advocate for such things as cancer, healthcare, relationships, etc. and we cannot wait until next year OMG2013 BABY!
It's going to be a lazy weekend for sure. I am going to do a little housekeeping, relax with my family and go OUT for Easter brunch tomorrow. Be sure to hug your babies, your friends, your family a little tighter than before. Be thankful for each healthy day you have. Live life each day. GET BUSY LIVING!
peace and love
-cherri
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