tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9535227833204038862024-03-21T06:53:22.541-07:00One girls guide to healing from divorce & cancerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.comBlogger570125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-13474409810472471592016-09-05T09:24:00.000-07:002016-09-05T09:24:07.563-07:00Verbal Abuse Via Text. Another Crazy Exchange with Rob the Great AlcoholiccHere is my latest column via Divorced Moms. Happy Labor Day weekend, my dear readers!<br />
<br />
Lizzy<br />
<br />
<b>Alcoholism Hell. A Text "Conversation" With My Drunk Abusive Ex Hubby </b><br />
<b>By Lizzy Smith</b> <br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> September 05, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636086889167463125635603989586670693Fotolia_67632798_XS.jpg"><img alt="635603989586670693Fotolia_67632798_XS.jpg" height="234" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636086889167463125635603989586670693Fotolia_67632798_XS.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px;" width="416" /></a>During my marriage to Rob the Great (Alcoholic), I was often left scratching my head on how we could be getting along one minute and the next – bam! – we would get in the biggest arguments one could imagine. Of course, looking back on my life married to a drunk, it was the alcoholic. Unstable, mean, makes no sense at all, world of alcoholism.<br />
<br />
Flash forward to today, I am happily divorced from The Drunk and have rebuilt my life. I still struggle with my health (myeloma, a blood cancer) and try to be a good mom (even though I too often fail). But at least I’m away from the severe abuse that accompanies an addict.<br />
<br />
And so after four years of not speaking, texting or emailing Rob, and his total abandonment of two daughters, he reappeared in February, texting and calling the girls on a regular basis. I was happy and relieved. I prayed often begging God that he would stick around this time. I was hopeful. He invited Mo (our 16 year old) out to San Diego to spend five days with him, he bought her a plane ticket. This was happening!<br />
<br />
About a week before “Mo’s” scheduled departure, I got a text from Rob. My heart stopped. Because his communications would often send me into anxiety attacks. They could be so brutally mean and awful. And going back and reading this exchange, I had proof right in front of me that perfectly illustrates my point that Rob was and still is explosive and unpredictable. And a drunk (his many promises to quit drinking have not happened—he is as awful as ever). Words are powerful, especially in the written form, because you can come back to them. And here it goes snippets of our text exchange… (some edits were made to get rid of typos)<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>August 3, 11:02 AM from Rob to me (Rob is likely sober at this time of day)</strong><br />
<em><br /></em>
<em>Sorry to hear [you are sick]. I did not know [that]. Take care.</em><br />
<br />
My note: Back when I was diagnosed with Stage III multiple myeloma, I told Rob about my diagnosis. He filed outrageous documents with Family Court saying that I wasn’t sick, that I needed to get back to work, and I was making this all up to get sympathy from people. I filed letters from my oncologist – letters that Rob received copies of letters from my oncologist that detailed my health status. Still, Rob denied I was sick, and told mutual friends and his family that I was just trying to get his money. It was disgusting.<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>From me to Rob</strong><br />
<em>“I’ve been sick for 4.5 years! And I’m in Washington, DC often in a clinical trial at NIH. You know I’ve been sick.</em><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>From Rob to me</strong><br />
<em>I didn’t mean to upset you. Last I read about it. You were in remission. That was years ago. I don’t go on social media and only know what I last saw. Now I know. I’m hopeful the trials go well and you recover. Take care.</em><br />
<br />
My note: Maybe there is hope that Rob and I can get along. Maybe he has grown a soul. Cross fingers, crossing fingers. Pray.<br />
<br />
It is now 4:19 PM when Rob reappears via text. By now, he has likely been at a bar for over an hour. He often leaves work really super early, takes his work phone and answers emails so his boss and coworkers think he’s still “working.” Instead, he is typically getting wasted. Seriously, some of his “best friends” are bartenders and cocktail waitresses. It’s so sad. Luckily, he works for a utility company and it’s nearly impossible to get fired. The most incompetent employees get promoted or shuttled off to another department so he becomes someone else’s problem.<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>4:19 PM text from Rob to me</strong><br />
<em>Where is the new dad?</em> (Referring to my husband of about a year)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/alcohlism-hell-a-text-converstaion-with-my-drunk-abusive-ex-hubby" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-75946266493784857822016-08-28T16:38:00.000-07:002016-08-28T16:38:18.427-07:00Bully me? Ok, TRY IT!I haven't written in awhile because: 1) my kids are out of school for the summer and I didn't have time; 2) my myeloma relapsed and I've been in more doctor's offices than I can count and is it ever time consuming; 3) I was trying to make peace with my ex husband, Rob the Great (Alcoholic). But I am back! Mostly because Rob has given me so much fresh content and it's so unbelievable crazy that I have to share. Trust me, living among an alcoholic is one of the most AWFUL experiences one can imagine. And the things an alcoholic is capable of doing is stunning and limitless. So here's to writing again, sharing my story, and hopefully letting others out there know that they are not alone.<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Open Letter To The Biggest Asshole on the Planet, My Ex Husband </b><br />
<b>By Lizzy Smith</b><br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> August 28, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636080206430497260635654867606598487Fotolia_39652567_XS.jpg"><img alt="635654867606598487Fotolia_39652567_XS.jpg" height="219" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636080206430497260635654867606598487Fotolia_39652567_XS.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px;" width="389" /></a>Many women think their ex is Satan. And maybe he is. But my ex is a special evil kind of man. The lowest of the low. A liar. A bully. And a drunk. <br />
<br />
When I got a cancer diagnosis, he literally spit in my face. He is so disgusting, there are truly no words.<br />
<br />
When my ex (Rob the Great [Alcoholic]) and I split, he vanished from our two daughters' lives. I mean, he totally disappeared-- no birthday cards, phone calls or texts. He literally shattered their hearts. They didn't understand why. They blamed themselves. It was HORRIBLE. For four years, silence. He blamed it on my blog but this man vanished from their lives some 10 months before I wrote a single word about him.<br />
<br />
And then, out of the blue, in February he started calling and texting the girls almost every day. We were all stunned. Why now? What was his motive? My oldest was very guarded in her communication with him, terrified he would just vanish again. Eventually, though, they started warming up to him. A few months later, he invited our oldest daughter, "Mo", to visit him for five days in San Diego and he offered to pay her flight and all their activities. It was a scary but an exciting invite so we said yes. I was truly supportive of their rebuilding their relationship.<br />
<br />
About a week before Mo's departure, Rob started texting me with all kinds of bizarre demands, which I will detail later. All of these demands included "if you don't do xyz, I will cut the girls out of my life again." One "request" included my putting in writing that I would end my friendship with his ex wife, Tina (we are great friends), and his two daughters until HE decided I could have a relationship with them again.<br />
<br />
Say what? What are we, ten years old? Hell no, I would NOT agree to that because The Drunk does NOT dictate my adult friendships. Another request required Mo helping perpetuate a Big Huge Myth of Rob's real living situation. Those details I will write about later, too. I told Mo that we don't lie or help others lie- ever - and she could say and do anything that was in her good judgement regardless of what Rob was demanding.<br />
<br />
All this aside, I was as nice and accommodating with Rob as I could be. I thanked him. I told him how happy Mo was. I did not want to trigger a Rob explosion because, trust me, they are bizarre and frightening. I even fantasized that maybe Rob and I could maintain a decent relationship for the girls' sake. Maybe this was a whole new dynamic and we could do this. We could be adults, move forward. Rainbows and flowers. One could hope, right?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/open-letter-to-the-biggest-asshole-on-the-planet-my-ex-husband" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-65852467123284017232016-07-16T08:18:00.000-07:002016-07-16T08:18:20.476-07:0010 great questions to ask your kids<b>10 Fabulous Questions To Get Your Kids Chatting </b><br />
<b>by Lizzy Smith for Divorced Moms</b> <br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> July 09, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636036715252222773roadtrip2.jpg"><img alt="road trip2.jpg" height="472" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636036715252222773roadtrip2.jpg" width="630" /></a><br />
<br />
I have two daughters who I love more than life itself. I (almost always) love spending time with them. Because when we do, and it's just us, we have some fascinating chats. We get to bond and get to know each other better. The trust factor increases and, generally, so does the "like" factor. Our favorite places to have these chats are generally at a great restaurant or in the car. It's one of the reasons I purchased another season of ski passes for them-- because our drive up to our favorite ski resort in Park City, Utah is 45 minutes of "us" time-- no distractions, electronics must be put away, we talk, we listen to music. It's one of my favorite times of our entire week. I also love a good road trip when it's just the three of us, exploring somewhere new and, yes, talking.<br />
<br />
Not long ago, I attended a parenting class that was fantastic. As part of this class, we were given 10 open-ended, probing questions to ask our kids that would help ascertain the condition of their hearts. How are they really doing inside their heads? How are they processing their world? How loved, secured and supported do they feel from me? And there were questions that would help us delve into those meaty topics. I a sharing these questions with you and adding/tweaking them to fit my parenting style and concerns.<br />
<br />
First, I did not ask all of these questions at once. It was more like one question per week. I would ask the question, and we would dialog it. Yes, I really listened to them. And over the course of the next, say, week or so, we would come back to these questions.<br />
<br />
<b>1. How is your heart?</b><br />
<br />
This question can be rather open-ended. And when I asked them, I offered up very few clues as to what I even meant. I was basically asking how they felt inside-- grateful, angry, forgiving, optimistic... But this is the information I was really looking for. Were they struggling with friendships, adult relationships, depression, or did they have unrealized needs that were not being met. I started this one off myself.<br />
<br />
How was my heart? At that time, it was felt with extreme gratefulness. I was alive. I had survived some pretty terrible medical treatments. I was slowly getting stronger and better. While I wasn't yet strong enough to ski with them, I was able to take them up to the slopes and sit in a coffee shop writing while they skied. I was able to make future vacation plans (Costa Rica was coming up!). But I also felt incredible anger and sorrow. How did I get sick in the first place? How was this fair to them? What if something happened to me? I kept these fears silent. Perhaps there was a time for it, but it wasn't then.<br />
<br />
<b>2. What do you worry about most?</b><br />
<b></b></div>
<div class="justifyMe">
<b></b><br />
<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/10-fabulous-questions-to-get-your-kids-chatting" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-2279177766970591012016-07-16T08:12:00.001-07:002016-07-16T08:12:18.887-07:00Game On! I'm back and ready to FIGHT<b>Game On! After An Epic Meltdown, I've Come Back Swinging </b><br />
<b>by Lizzy Smith for Divorced Moms</b> <br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> July 16, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636042784562612550boxer.png"><img alt="boxer.png" height="197" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636042784562612550boxer.png" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px;" width="350" /></a>Last week, I got some frightening news. A new drug that I started taking to keep my cancer markers in check had failed. My blood work was wonky. And I had a total meltdown. I sat in my oncologist's office looking shell-shocked as we discussed Plan B-- a new drug cocktail.<br />
<br />
And that is my life since discovering that I had multiple myeloma in January 2012, a blood cancer. I am always on some sort of treatment combo and the side effects can range from almost nothing to intense fatigue and everything in between. I've always stayed positive (yes, pretty much ALWAYS, with very few exceptions) in this battle. I will win it. I will not succumb. My treatments might suck at times, I need a lot of patience, but I'll be ok.<br />
<br />
Except Monday. I wasn't feeling anything positive. In fact, what I did feel was total panic and fear. And for the first time since that pivotal diagnosis, I started taking anti-anxiety medications. I started out with one Xanax. And then two. And then I moved on to Ativan, and then another, and another. By the time the day was nearly over, I was in a stupor. Because without those pills, I could not overcome one wave of massive anxiety after the next. I felt like I was having a heart attack. I wanted to RUN. But where would I go? And what would that change? I needed to confront my situation and somehow ... survive it.<br />
<br />
I thought about all the articles I've written about combatting stress and anxiety. Baths with Epsom salts. Essential oils. Massage. A hike up a beautiful canyon. A lunch with my girlfriends... NONE of those would have worked and, honestly, at that moment, I felt so arrogant and stupid. How could I tell anyone to stay off medications and take a bath instead? How innocent and un-relatable I must have sounded to those in the throws of true depression or suffering from PTSD.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/game-on-after-an-epic-meltdown-ive-come-back-swinging" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-26545499916831656772016-07-09T10:48:00.000-07:002016-07-09T10:48:14.709-07:00I had severe anxiety yesterday. And I popped (many) pills<img src="https://anxietytreatment4u.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/4352449728_552d6586f12.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Throughout my myeloma battle, I have to admit that I've been quite the brave, amazing, fearless warrior. A rock star. Go.Fight.WIN!!!! And when I have a bad day, I'd go... get a massage, take a hike, go on a fabulous trip, or buy some new clothes. Whatever. I was a MYELOMA SURVIVOR and, heck, I DESERVED everything I wanted RIGHT THAT MINUTE.<br />
<br />
And then there was Thursday, learning that my numbers, while declining (I thought was a GREAT thing???), could not mean anything at all. It could mean... relapse, refractory, response to Daratumumab, or whatever in between (take your pick). Sure, new meds and new protocols are available and all this can be expected in this long journey... but I AM TIRED OF THINKING ABOUT MYELOMA.<br />
<br />
And I had a SEVERE anxiety attack, actually, one anxiety attack after another. They came in rolls. One would stop, the next one kicked in. It felt...<br />
<br />
-like I couldn't breathe<br />
-like I was having a heart attack<br />
-I was in the middle of a nightmare for which there was no escape<br />
-I wanted to crawl out of my skin and go somewhere else and hide (this was impossible and fixes nothing anyway)<br />
-I wanted to just... be... nothingness. (Not suicidal, but I needed it to vanish, to disappear, to be someone else, with someone else's problems.)<br />
<br />
So I pulled out my trusty Ativan. And I took one. Then two. Then four.<br />
<br />
And I called my doctor's office, which prescribed me something with a Z and I took that, too. And then I took another. And, wow, was I pill drunk. It felt... good? Calming? These Mormons have it right. They won't drink beer or wine but, hey, as long as they're prescribed narcotics, it's just FINE!!! Swollow-away, you righteous minion! Pills have their advantages-- fewer calories. No puking. Same effect. AND HEALTH INSURANCE CUTS DOWN ON THE COSTS!<br />
<br />
I texted my PA at my doctor's office to say that the labs that I was due for on Sunday? Not showing up. Because I don't feel like it. Because I am TIRED of hearing about myeloma. All I want to do is crawl in a ball and hide and swallow pills, which don't do as great a job as I might hope (hey, I was still coherent enough, gosh dangit, to have that conversation, though my words were quite slurred). And wow, that really freaked her out. She wanted to call the police because she thought I was suicidal. NO I AM NOT, I wanted to SCREAM. I am pill-drunk. And I am fatigued of FOUR YEARS of living in Myeloma Hell and I am tired of them, too. <br />
<br />
Last night, the girls and I slept at my parents' home. Actually, I passed out cold on my parents' couch. My hubby, Bill, is rushing home from Seattle where he was at for a week for the birth of his second grandbaby. And I am typing away, getting ready to shower, hung over as hell, and wanting this fog to vanish. Or do I want it to vanish? Lucidity at point, is kind of over-rated. I rather like the loopy "not sure where I'm at at this moment or why" feeling. I suppose addicts and alcoholics hit up substances for a reason. I GET IT!!<br />
<br />
And this is my BIGGEST PITTY PARTY to date in the 4.5 years since diagnosis. Let's sum it up-- diagnosis in January 2012 (of which my then-husband accused me of LYING about it), three stem cell transplants, hospital stays, a wicked divorce,-- stress, stress, stress. I handled it all with those two boxing gloves on. Hitting hard. Warrior. Strong, Resilient. WINNER.<br />
<br />
Oh, Lord, let that Lizzy return soon.<br />
<br />
Well-- I just bought a new dress and am hoping to drive into the canyons with my daughters today to get some lunch... A good sign? I hope so! And I'm really trying to focus on my future trip plans, which MYELOMA BETTER NOT TRY TO TAKE AWAY FROM ME. <br />
<br />
xoxo,<br />
<br />
LizzyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-19624717243882397872016-06-30T06:27:00.002-07:002016-06-30T06:27:50.657-07:00Hair, oh crazy unrecognizable hair... From baldness to THIS. To dye it, or not?My latest via <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/" target="_blank">Myeloma Crowd</a>. (Spoiler alert: I took the plunge and dyed. Is this the right decision? Who knows.)<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: black;">To Dye or Not To Dye. A Million Dollar Question</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: black;">BY LIZZY SMITH for Myeloma Crowd</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: black;">My hair is finally growing back after many months of baldness. During the time of “no hair” I wore wigs or caps, no exceptions. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-820tAm70MWQ/V3Uba6Q-9oI/AAAAAAAAXgU/LjGLEv6voVkEPDa8iXxp1rV3YgJqzIBMwCLcB/s1600/liz%2Bwig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-820tAm70MWQ/V3Uba6Q-9oI/AAAAAAAAXgU/LjGLEv6voVkEPDa8iXxp1rV3YgJqzIBMwCLcB/s320/liz%2Bwig.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: black;">And then about 45 days post melphalan, I started seeing the first signs that my hair was growing. Hooray! Last month, we went to Costa Rica and Nicaragua and I just couldn’t wear a wig in the heat and humidity so I went natural—either the small amount of hair on my head was good enough or I wore hats to keep my scalp from burning.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AOKISeUlQFw/V3Uaudr930I/AAAAAAAAXf4/jbwUkm4F7U08lTgZrw8_C1KX6seye1T7QCLcB/s1600/lizzy%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bsun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AOKISeUlQFw/V3Uaudr930I/AAAAAAAAXf4/jbwUkm4F7U08lTgZrw8_C1KX6seye1T7QCLcB/s320/lizzy%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bsun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And when I came back, it was still a bit chilly so hats were the simple, and most comfy, choice.</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: black;">Today, I have maybe two inches of hair and I have ventured out, even among people I know, with it as is. I’ve been stopped a few times asking who does my hair. So apparently I don’t look like Cancer Girl anymore—some people think I did this on purpose. It is different than my long hair. I’ve had to start developing a new “brand” on how I see myself and how others might see me. Short hair is stronger, more angles, harsher. Ok, fine. I think it ages me but perhaps I’m just getting older, (and I’m happy to age, because that means I’m still alive). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: black;">But… my hair is coming back all sorts of grey and I don’t like it. I desperately want to color it light blonde—like Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NV7hyWCOQYc/V3Ubuk814-I/AAAAAAAAXgc/o4y81qylWS0zDRKSpTaTB3RQJJj1-9L0gCLcB/s1600/mia%2Bfarrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NV7hyWCOQYc/V3Ubuk814-I/AAAAAAAAXgc/o4y81qylWS0zDRKSpTaTB3RQJJj1-9L0gCLcB/s320/mia%2Bfarrow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: black;">But what is concerning me is the toxins I may be exposing myself. Pre cancer diagnosis, I colored my hair about once per month. I also got Brazilian blow-outs, which make one’s hair super silky, shiny, and straight. Did this contribute to getting multiple myeloma? When I did my first tandem stem cell transplants and my hair grew back, I colored my hair about once per month. No Brazilian blow-outs this time—I decided the toxic risks were too great. I also switched up all my haircare products, like shampoos, conditioners and hairsprays, to organic-type products. No parabens, at a minimum. There are a surprisingly great number of products that fall into this category.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: black;">But now it’s time to decide… color or not? Grey or blonde? Are hair dyes toxic enough to cause cancer? I did a little research and found <a href="http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/intheworkplace/hair-dyes" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">this from the American Cancer Society.</span></a> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: black;">Here are excerpts that summarize findings…</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">It’s not clear how much personal hair dye use might raise cancer risk, if at all. Most studies done so far have not found a strong link, but more studies are needed to help clarify this issue.</span></blockquote>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Most of the studies looking at whether hair dye products increase the risk of cancer have focused on certain cancers such as bladder cancer,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkinlymphoma/index&source=gmail&ust=1464107762877000&usg=AFQjCNFC8zDGAMfUR8C_eVhXIWAKUhSqNA" href="http://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkinlymphoma/index" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">non-Hodgkin lymphoma</span></a>, leukemia, and <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/index&source=gmail&ust=1464107762877000&usg=AFQjCNFg55IkyhO9HPiikN2dM9m4DH8jRw" href="http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/index" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">breast cancer</span></a>. These studies have looked at 2 groups of people:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">People who use hair dyes regularly</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">People who are exposed to them at work</span></li>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bladder cancer:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Most studies of people exposed to hair dyes at work, such as hairdressers and barbers, have found a small but fairly consistent increased risk of bladder cancer. However, studies looking at people who have their hair dyed have not found a consistent increase in bladder cancer risk.</span></blockquote>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Leukemias and lymphomas:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Studies looking at a possible link between personal hair dye use and the risk of blood-related cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma have had mixed results. For example, some studies have found an increased risk of certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (but not others) in women who use hair dyes, especially if they began use before 1980 and/or use darker colors. The same types of results have been found in some studies of leukemia risk. However, other studies have not found an increased risk. If there is an effect of hair dye use on blood-related cancers, it is likely to be small.</span> </blockquote>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Breast and other cancers:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Most studies looking at hair dye use and breast cancer have not found an increased risk. For other types of cancer, too few studies have been done to be able to draw any firm conclusions.</span></blockquote>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Many people use hair dyes, so it is important that more studies are done to get a better idea if these dyes affect cancer risk.</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">For me, all of this is… clear as mud. So am I going to color my hair? Well, vanity won the day. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here I am at the salon "before."</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-27dVY2NB5-Y/V3UcKF4JAfI/AAAAAAAAXgk/PoVudob4BIMXH-uxScS68BWiJFxxEDE_gCLcB/s1600/lizzy%2Bbefore%2Bhair%2Bdye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-27dVY2NB5-Y/V3UcKF4JAfI/AAAAAAAAXgk/PoVudob4BIMXH-uxScS68BWiJFxxEDE_gCLcB/s320/lizzy%2Bbefore%2Bhair%2Bdye.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">...And after</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I love it. And I’m now on a quest to find a good hair color that is non-toxic and one that my stylist will agree to try on me. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #454b54; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Until then, when I can't figure out what to do with it, bandanas and baseball cps rule the day.</span><br />
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To read the original article on Myeloma Crowd, click <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/to-dye-hair-of-not-does-coloring-your-locks-cause-cancer/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-12709642462258085632016-06-29T14:44:00.004-07:002016-06-29T14:44:56.945-07:00An email to the "other woman" My latest via Divorced Moms. In this instance, the "other woman" needs a good bitch slap.<br />
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An Email to the "Other Woman." Fu*k You. You Deserve the Asshole <br />
By Lizzy Smith for Divorced Moms<br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> June 29, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636028330290410333635719580236003412Fotolia_85654546_XS.jpg"><img alt="635719580236003412Fotolia_85654546_XS.jpg" height="238" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636028330290410333635719580236003412Fotolia_85654546_XS.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px;" width="423" /></a>Just last week, a friend of mine, “Becky,” received an email from the “other woman." Granted, when this woman ("June") became part of the picture, Becky and her husband, “George” were in the midst of a horrible marriage. He was addicted to prescription pain medications and he had all the personality traits and behavior of an addict—explosive outbursts, blaming, sorrow, stealing money, hiding, lying, and more. Becky and George had two young daughters and their relationship was toxic for everyone. Becky was going to file for divorce and she was getting all of her ducks in a row so she could kick George out of the house soon. She was saving money, had selected an attorney after interviewing several, she had her “single mom’s budget” carefully figured out, and she was getting emotionally prepared.<br />
<br />
And then Becky found out that George had a profile on a dating web site. That was the final straw. Becky moved out of their home, taking the two children with her. Everyone’s life was in turmoil. The children were confused and hurt. Becky was unable to eat or sleep. And George… he had a new girlfriend already (yay for him! who needs to recover from a relationship when he can just hop into another one instead?) That's right, George had moved on in a matter of days, and he loved throwing it in Becky’s face. “See what a catch I am?” he texted her once. “I already have a new girlfriend and you will never find anyone as great as me. You’re a single mom—hahahaha.” Mature, right?<br />
<br />
Flash forward to a week ago when June emailed Becky. June had just kicked George out of their home. She wanted sympathy and understanding from the one woman who knew her hell—Becky.<br />
“George is a sick man,” June wrote. “I am done with him.” And June spent the next several paragraphs telling Becky of some of the horrible things George had done in their time together. He lied, used pills, stole her msedications, screamed and accused. He blamed June for his addiction. He promised to get well (but he didn’t). Gosh, this was all sounding so familiar, thought Becky. June was describing her marriage almost to a T.<br />
<br />
She needed a couple days to process this new information. She was initially … thrilled. She felt vindicated. George wasn’t really a great man and father who was just in a bad marriage with her. George was still an addict. His behavior hadn’t changed a bit despite a new relationship. The bad marriage and divorce weren’t Becky’s fault after all, as George had tried to convince her it was. In Becky’s world, everything seemed right again.<br />
<br />
Then Becky became angry. She had so much to say to this woman.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/an-email-to-the-other-woman-fuk-you-you-deserve-the-asshole" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-1796348668409757472016-06-23T07:04:00.000-07:002016-06-23T07:04:10.679-07:00Custody Transitions. Fabulous Reource for Easing Anxiety <span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> </span><br />
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" 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B4IXRwC5B3bDhRbe8taCDGKkqHpL2R1+SEJLgifan+8fJaX9n2nn0LYwOeNnWOzqXssZuGdxvQOEOPdlCpuhbK6raKNJgJc+o0QDBiZcZ3Q0EzuiU9FL3PRYf+s/RKSLwyg94J80ppG5UlRjP2j6dr2MUX0DhUL2Pa5t5mABBwgtficjiJ4Ki0b+0kOIbVs5B4seCPBwHqrr9r1MmxNIybWYT3teB5keK5HYPbHf6KxcFmM69S10spz2jerJ/pJVzTqMqtxYbp3PYW+LXCfJclsNpNOo2oBN0zEls/zDEdRitJateLlMmlS7QyvxdHM3cSeWHMu3BczU1tWrI8yaDR+WWeIaQq5uo9lDi4uqkTN0vho5SBejqZWDp69W4Fx2rTeMwWNgYRDYxAy37us1eldNV7TG3qX7s3Rda0C9EwGgcApoXUdbdZ9HURDvsrY980y7vvGSshrS+zVKrfsr6bgWEPDPZDmYtOAjEFww4LBwnaNZzTLTBRRbhzdueovah7DH+6Y6xiEqrUuOcAGkEziJzAKz9Sq4gAkkDIE4K7sNsu02gNEgZnelaOlg6juyaSHadve1wc0Na4ZOaCCDxHBNmtvLGHeSW4k7ySTmnTpF/wCHwP1Rf4g/l4KKfwa9PgFAhzr10NDBJjfnCbZN1zt7zdA6mSo2lbWSBd7JJN67gHDdPmoVO3PDbs4A3hI39VNMx5OqjCbi0dI1c1WpVaTa1S8Yd2QDDXCmbpDxGMua7uV7T1dsrbxFBnamZxjMG7J7OB3QuMVLbULr19wMyIJAaZmW44Y4q/p6+W4Numox2686m291wgT1G5MlsczJPVNs6Zo/QNmom9TpNnKTLyI4F5Mdyn2mcIBJ5R4mVyqn+0K2BoBFFxE9pzDJkg4hrg3llvTuh9e7XtCahbUaZNy61kSfuuaJEc5Twk4SUkU5IrJFwfubfTOlxZgDUAxMAAyZjnHkstpTXuo0fuqTBul5LvIEeqkaT1vFRkNpuBIIIL4aJz9nGp33enHEaS9kdVdLrMr9yiPQ4Y70TLdrfbKuBrFg4UwGeY7Xmqh1qfBN4pko1TKUpfU7LoRjDaKo7jYGwxn5GT1ujH1HgpOAHJc+0PrfaW0adNthrWhwbAqCWU3AYNN8sImAJxxjmrPSNt0nUZS2AoUHOaTVD+2WGcGtMOBwz7K666nGorc4b6bJqaNgs9ruwfZsc2vbd75BHhPgqix6PtlMtq2nSL3tp4mmxgYwgfdJBF4coUHTOhn0mbQ2i0VWlwllV5eGTMFvCJjvWfN1UJQcUaOn6aUckW37lNKEpKC5Z3ASomkvZHX5KXCiaR9kdVKFlwVxW2/Z3YYvWnEOBuUzlGALnDrIHceKxJXSdSR/k2czU/rcPknRnyOkaunpWqPvA9R9IlPDTlT3WeB+qrERKjSii2I1qqVLVZqlHASJaBhLmm82e8Lkdg9sd/ouviVzvWHR+xthgdmpL2983h8U+IQ1SLcUt6GkzbPYd+t6dlM2z2HfrelNb4KkoBAowmKQIIIIJAVfaOtQbTb2ATGJwE4mNyoVd6OrMFNocyTjjPMpZLY3dB+Y/wBCX/iH4B4/2Q+3/gH67kn7RT/hjxQ+00/4YVelfynW0r4IOmq7XNaAy6b07soP1VSrLTNVpuhrbpxJ8lWqyKpHE6z85gQQQTGYIqXo32j0+ailStG+0enzUMlcliomkfZHVS1E0j7I6qEPLgrirDQNg21dlOJbIL/yAiZ65d6ryulaqaIFGiCR+8qQ5/IZtb3T4ymKJSpF2wYADCAMBkOQRpIMJQUmYr9YKZdQcG5yyPial6aaDZ6gO5p8RiPOFMefqqLWu13aYp73mT+UGfMx4FDew0FckZNEggkOgGomkfZHX5KbKh6TPZHX5IREuCtK6dqhTu2OkON53i9zh6hcwK65oejcoUme7TYD1uifNOjLl4Jii07Yx1V9IO7bA0kcnbx5dJHFSKlQNBc4wGgkngAJJ8FytmmHi0m0j2i4ug72nC4eV2B3BBXGOo6qFRa3WK/SbUGdJ0/yu7JHjdPcraw2ttWm2qwy1wkcuR5gyEu1Ub7HM95pHiIQyIumc5gpm2DsO/W9Pgpm2HsO/W9Ib3wVBRhEUYTFIEECiQSGVvLHqiXU2ObVuyxpILZxLQTBBGE8lgn5Hou12QQxo4NA8BClB354XcHRlDqc/wDjN+E/VD/w5/8AFZ8J+q1rzETvIHn/AGS0UP8A8l1H837I5frZog2fZS4OLr8kCMrkDPmVQLoH7RaE0WP9148HNI9QFz9DE7ksn4pcgQQQCgAFStGjtHp81FKl6LPaPT5hQ+CVyWEKJpEdkdVNvKHpM9kdVCLJcDmrGi9vXaCOwyHP6A4N7zh0ldRVRqvor7PQAI7b+0/rub3DDrKtU6MM5WwTj3D1P08kpJajcpEE4DE5Dy4lc8tmkDaKj6u4mGDg0ez9epK0mu2ktlQ2bT2qvZ6N+8fCB/Msbo09jvSyNGBb2SIQhLk8EJPBIagryiaSPZHX5KWoukGktEAnHgpREuCJo6xmtVZSA9twB5D7x7hJ7l14LLakaHuNNd4hzxDQcwzj1d6AcVqk5iyO2ZbXvSlykKDT2quLuTAf+REdA5YFWOmbS+vWfVLXQTDRBwaMGjwx6kqFsXe6fAqLLoRpGq1B0lD3Wdxwf2mfmHtAdRj/AClbgLmOrNF/2qlAI7RxIwi66fESO9dOapRTlVMwWl6NytUb+KR0d2h5FVtsPYd+t6ttYHzaKnIgeDQPkqm1jsGPRJ7muP0lQjCXsXe67wKAou90+BTWIIRJzYu90+BQ2LvdPgVFhQ2/IrtlmPZHLBcXdRd7p8Cu002w0DkmRTm9iv05bdmwPG5zPC+L3kCrJj5ErOa4YUWjOXjya9Wmg61+k13FrZ6jA+YKkRx/CmQNeac2Spyunwe1cvC65rPTvWWsPwOjqASPMLk+xd7p8ClZZi4Gygl7F3unwKAou90+BUWW0IKlaMPaPT5hMGi73T4FStHUyHGQRhwhDJXJPvJIE1KIzmrT/qCUpGi6N60UBGVQO+EF3yUIef0s6FKQ44x49Ebd/X5BDf3Kw54C7h/YJt9UNDnOMNaCS45AASf16o6hj9YDu3qi1qs1epSLKXayL2jA3eAG8zjGeHNBKVsxWndJm0VnVDIbkwcGjLvOJPMpejj2O9QDRd7rvAqwsDSG4gjHokZsgqZJvIXkEEpaHCsdBaO2tTH2G4u58G9/oCoew5rbaHsIpUw3fm78xz8MB3KY7leaWmJNGCoNY9LFo2VMw4jtHeAdw4E+nVWtvtIY0uOQ8zuHisRWYXOLnHEmSmk6KMOPU7GIQTuw5obDmq7NlMsdVh/mB+Vy2QWR1YpRXGP3XfJa4KyPBjz/AFGF04P8xU/N8goMKz07Rm0VDO8f0tUHYc0jNUF+FDUIQnNhzR7DmixqY0hCd2HNDYc1FhTGSF1OMFzL7PzXSNrDRx3J4bmbqPYz+ujuwwDc/wD4uRapWg7Mt913k7H1lJ1ppzTZjm4+Q/uo2q4uue2cwD4Ej/km/wC1Eabwml0k0upPEQS1wHwlc4C6bWOAXP7fY7tR7ZycY6TI8lEw6d8ohQhBT2w5obDmq7NVDMIQnthzQ2HNFhQzCutU6U1591jj3kgehKq9jzWg1RowajuTR/UfkFK5K8u0GaJuZ6/IKv03b9i1juLxP5YN6FYtCyOsdUvq3Zwp4DrmT6DuTydIy4oapGtpvBEjfiOYORHJGs/q7b8BRecR/pu/4n5eHBXwfuOHoeilOxZwcXTMlrNo+4/aNHYfnydvHfn4qkhdGtNna9pa4S12BHzHMLEaQ0Y6k+6TIzaYzHHqkao04Z6lT5IMIJ3Yc/JILP1CgvotdF0C+q0QSAQXYbhjj6LYvMBZnUq00nF1Bz2sqk3gDLJaAAIJzdJdgNwWqtdA0ovEEddwic+oVijp2MeaTm7+DL6ftUkUwcsXddw9fFU6gVXy5xJOJJ/0yczxGaZfUPP/AGs9cVLxNvk042oxpFqgqqnO6T3X/PBLeX7wR0YB54qOz5H1mj1fP79vR3oVrAuearvi1U8ZkuHtzmx33cN66F0U6dOxj6h3IyusFEtrFxyfBHcAD5jzCrVZa0UG1XdivTL6be0x1VrIBJxvXh2jHs45DLflaFacGG9yBaf6hj4qOy3uX4sq0pFwjVXUvjOQP5APIEplrwciPidPngjs+S3WXKNVTXCPv/Ez1TZJ3ERzJcf9oR2X8hrLhdB2cxuA81zfV60Um1mvquAY0OJMnAgGOySSTPLOFvrBpCjXp7Si4OAziWubycDiDvxGKlQ0mTqJ20is1wd/pN/Of6APmqnQ1S7WZ+Ihp/mw9YUfXK237TcaZFNoaeyfa9p0ESN4HcqvR1pbTqse77rmk9s4QRjdICO27sth+XVHUK4WW1koRUD/AHh5t/sQtFVqUWM2tSo25AN9zoBnKDvlZDXDTVnq06bKD2vIcSQ28IERicM58lOnUqM+F1MiIKnYCfd76hPkElzyM3t/kh3qZS9nybtZdSjlUjGnMlx632+iXtW7g3rtHHyhHZ8hrLcLYaJsWypwfaOLuvDuXMq9sLMQ7tZtAblzkqd/5ra/ep9bgn1hPHA+TNnyX+E6DpO17Jhdvyb1PH17ljSZxJMqkrawWmqQ2pVLmkjs3WAeTZSwSfejmIHkQolhfuyenaSZcLR6I0uH/u6p7WQJ+9yPP1WHFXcA0/GfSfVN3jucR0Ef1lQsTXuWTSmqZ1NreBw4Z+CY0hYxVYWnqDwPH6qDR1hs4pNfUqsY4tBc0kXgd/ZGOazuntdrwLLKCJwNRwg/yNOXU+G9SoOWxh3ixvziRgZGGGaYdmqLR9QmW9rDHAgRPGVOvcx/s+qHgp8m+OXUrI9tsjXntETxDr56QYT1J1Qth9SpUAEAVA8gCZAbJMBIq2gNMAuPKLvm1w9EQeIvQR/NeP8AuBV9uqF7avVW45fZGTfjd6QgWnMTHAMvf1Ivt+6874WDz/siqD70TzLj6ABRQ1C2gcWN6y0+UInAcWu6XnHzBCKlaGkwS8HlEeZKS+1NnC+fzER5ICmOMe5uILmxlk2OhaQU7WtTnjtOLh+J1Zw8CY80xTbvgA/hc4InW05S/pLfWJQQ4qXsR3aPpnIdzIHkXFLp2BgMwR+YOd6ADzS2uv43QfzOc5Je4tzMD8GCm38i9mN8IfLGzgQejD6mUJO+83q5seGCaNamRiap6kJNOD7LRH4s/IKCyh5tcZC58EnyOKS53J46AUx5pRqFowkdHEeRkJAtc4S8/wA0f0gIog01O36Ne1oraPqlwa0OeysTJAALuy8HE4pA0lZKBJsVB1IkQXVnVahPK7eiO9Z4s4BveMfEyiFoaPaD+52HlCZyZV2It2Kq3nEkl7ySSTiwYmTmipsAyEnhDHn6pIeHey34iHerZ80ZcGiTH8oLfRwSlvgubPpCm5jKdqsxrsbN2L9N7QfdIOHkp1O0aHZiLDWc7g+qfO9V+SzArEie1H/sd+vNJpuDsoB5tnzLkyk0VSwRe7J9tqNfUc9rHU2Ey2mAHho3C9jPgo7p+7fI5tuj1amyAMXNDu+76BEKjXHssx4lx9EpYlsBue6eTy4+EFM1qNdxPtRuxu4dME84xi4gjhcB8yUKDr3sgR1c30JUp0RKOpEB1jqD2mxzP1R/YiRg9pO6CI88VOqC7iWt7hePi5CnUvZOJHAiP6XBTrZX2IkJmjnyDJwIOH1mFMfGZud5JP8AtTpA/hsPPH6fNJdIxm7ybJ9XR5KHJvkaEIw4HKb3H2CT0d/3CRbKdW7hePV49MAm6bw/AY/mDfkE5sOTJ/L9T8lHA7RVCi4mMJ6j5J+jYse3BHBrhJ8YhTKzy32i4flI/wCoQo1QcoP52z53kzk6K+yuWN07M1s3QBxvODz4BqXd/L/9bk68k7mDmGyfVMGoPff4D6pbssiklSP/2Q==" 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<b>Co-parenting</b>. Just this word is enough to give many of us moms hives. We must cooperate, however-- and cooperating with our child's father is not only imperative, but it is in our child's best interest. After all, if the court has ordered it, if you try to impede cooperating in any way will not bode well for you.</div>
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And if you are co-parenting, this also likely means that you have some kind of shared custody arrangement with your ex. But how best to manage the transition of a child going from one parent's home to the other? This can be Hell, both for parent and child. Many parents I know say that it takes at least a day or more for the child to "settle" into their other home. Some children suffer tremendous anxiety and emotional outbursts. I know some parents who cannot even help with the custodial switches on their own-- they require a friend, family member, or someone appointed by the court to pick up or drop off a child. Don't know that a child doesn't sense this tension and that it doesn't emotionally hurt. </div>
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So how to make that transition work best for your child? One resource is by helping a child visually understand which days are "switch" days. And, hence, today's article, which is written by Katie Bettridge, co-parenting expert and CEO of Enlightened Littles (<a href="http://www.elittles.com/" rel="follow">www.elittles.com</a>). I think you will find this an incredibly valuable resource. Best of luck!</div>
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<strong>The Birth of Elittles. A Personal Co-Parenting Story</strong></div>
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"The judge came to a decision. Your parenting time will begin Fridays after school and end before school on Monday mornings."<br />
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My heart sank. I couldn't speak. I couldn't breathe. Oh my god. I was the weekend parent. Of my own child. That wasn't enough. Not enough time to raise my child. Not enough time to enjoy watching him grow up. Nothing could fill the void that I felt. I had lost my boy. My baby.<br />
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Like many of you, I too understand the gut-wrenching heartache that often comes with sharing custody of your children. After 10 years of co-parenting, I finally have it mastered....I think. For me the first decade was a brutal trial-and-error series of lessons that tested my very essence, patience, sanity, strength and resilience. It challenged everything I thought I knew about what it really means to be a loving parent.<br />
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From sippy cups and footsie jammies to band practice and elementary school - the years quickly flew by and somehow we found our own unique stride. There were, of course, many bumps along the way. What I found made it most difficult at the beginning was having such a young child that didn't understand the new parenting schedule. How can you expect a toddler to understand that a judge, a stranger, now dictates how often he can see each of his parents? Despite explaining many times and in many different iterations that "...both Mommy and Daddy love you so much, that we've decided to share time with you....etc.", he was still very much confused by the new parenting routine. Tortured even, starting each and every day unsure of which house he would reside in, which parent he would be with, or when to expect the stressful transfer/exchange days.<br />
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My son's confusion around the new parenting schedule was evident in his demeanor. I noticed that he seemed very anxious and stressed, which made his ability to relax into his current home difficult for him. Being too young to read or be able to interpret events on a typical written calendar, I created a Parenting Time Calendar just for him - with the use of "Mommy" and "Daddy" icons to represent which day was a "Mommy" day for him and which day was a "Daddy" day. Almost immediately, he took to the calendar and seemed liberated by finally knowing what was coming up for him. His little Parenting Time Calendar quickly became a mainstay in our home, and I noticed that when he would look up at his calendar and see that it was a "Mommy" day, he could relax into my home that day knowing that there wouldn't be a stressful transfer that would interrupt the comforts of home and play for him that day. Even transfer days seemed a little less stressful for him, since he could see those days coming up for him in his week on the calendar. Since then, I've been on a mission to develop a lovingly enlightened line of tools and toys to help 'littles' understand big things. Our "My Two Homes" Co-Parenting Calendar has been invaluable to my child, and it is my greatest hope that your family can benefit from them as well.<br />
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<strong>If you end up purchasing any of the items on Katie's web site (I do NOT get a "cut", I assure you!), simply type "BLOGLOVE" at checkout for a 10% discount.</strong><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-76566814567199554302016-06-23T06:56:00.002-07:002016-06-23T06:56:49.478-07:00Our summer kick-off road trip! Discovering America (or at least Cody & Yellowstone)My latest via Divorced Moms. I am so excited to start our summer with my daughters. One more amazing memory-creator.<br />
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Chucking It All, Roadtripping & Accumulating Memories <br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> June 23, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636022852851287327635229737255011709Fotolia_42653616_XS.jpg"><img alt="635229737255011709Fotolia_42653616_XS.jpg" height="240" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636022852851287327635229737255011709Fotolia_42653616_XS.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px;" width="426" /></a>I have written about this before but I promise you this: road trips ROCK. I used to HATE them. After all, who had time to drive when there was an airport nearby and I needed to get back to work. <br />
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But I have since changed my tune. When my daughters and I get in the car and start driving, and I force them to put away their electronic devices and stay awake, we have real conversations. We laugh, share stories, and talk about life. And, yes, there is the lovely downtime for the non-drivers. Taking in the scenery, listening to music, napping... And, seriously, the USA is amazing. There are fascinating places in almost every corner of every state and if you are flying over them (or skipping a trip completely), you will miss out.<br />
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And so it goes that my daughters and I are packing up and leaving town for several days. We are following my best friends, Julie and Shane, up to Cody, Wyoming and Yellowstone. We will hike, float rivers, perhaps go to a rodeo (I haven't decided yet if I can stomach one), and check out the Buffalo Bill Museum. Serious bonding and exploring time with my children and best friends. I am really excited. When we are done, the girls and I are driving home. Julie, Shane and their children are continuing on. They are driving across the United States in a quest to see as much of the country over the summer as possible. Their itinerary leaves me green with envy. Neither Julie or Shane are wealthy. They are school teachers so they have time. And they made some HUGE life-changing decisions to make this happen. I'll let you hear Julie tell it from her own lips (or, in this case, fingertips)...<br />
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<strong>Our Homeless Summer</strong><br />
We are off! It doesn't seem real yet. I mean, I am driving and heading toward Utah but it doesn't seem like I am going to be gone for the next two months. Everyone keeps asking where I am going to live when I get home. I don't know! For real, I DON'T KNOW. What I do know is that I will be living at Lizzy's in Utah for the next four nights and then in Cody, Wyoming. I have an idea where I will be "living" beyond that but I prefer not to think so far in advance. Right now is plenty enough to handle. One day at time. :)<br />
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<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/chucking-it-all-roadtripping--accumulating-memories" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-47770489961304435242016-06-13T19:17:00.001-07:002016-06-13T19:17:31.163-07:00Not Shoving "Square" Children Into "Round" HolesI just got back from Long Beach where I went to my best friend's sister-in-law's memorial. I am so lucky to have such close friends. I really think that few people are blessed with friends like I have in Julie and Shane. We have been through a lot together. I trust them with my life, and the lives of my children. How awesome is that? And as we gathered for Sherri's memorial, it was amazing to be surrounded by so much love. Nothing in my life matters more to me than the relationships I have with others. I am finally, at long last, living the life I always wanted. Surrounded by people I love and trust, traveling, and working on issues I am passionate about (cancer, health and wellness, and survivorship). Cancer sucks. I hate it. I wish I never had to deal with it. But life handed this to me and there have been upsides. I hope to high heaven that those of you who are healthy never need to get a devastating health diagnosis to do the same.<br />
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Peace and love,<br />
Lizzy<br />
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<b>She May Not Live The Life I Pick For Her. And So What? </b><br />
<b>By Lizzy Smith</b><br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> June 14, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636014650057399023635735336845864387Fotolia_83967251_XS.jpg"><img alt="635735336845864387Fotolia_83967251_XS.jpg" height="239" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636014650057399023635735336845864387Fotolia_83967251_XS.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px;" width="425" /></a>I have learned so much about me and life in general in my grown-up years. I thought I had it all figured out and then - bam! - another Life Lesson hits me smack in the face. I wish I could get a re-do but since I can't, I can try to take my life's learnings and incorporate them into my daily grind. Because if I don't, what's the point?<br />
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The latest is this past weekend. I flew to Long Beach for the memorial gathering of my friend who just passed away from ovarian cancer. Over the course of five days, I hung out with people who are like my family. One afternoon, my best friends (who are married) Julie, Shane, two of their daughters and I drove to Huntington Beach and went to a Farmer's Market. There were some very interesting people selling their fruits and veggies, organic herbs, various oils, and services that ranged from acupuncture to hypnotism and everything in between. I talked to one woman who was particularly fascinating, with her long flowing hair and skirt. A free spirt, she was. Well traveled, educated, and living a life that did not include windowless office cubicles and hours sitting in traffic every day (not that there is anything wrong with that!). I envied her. How come she got to travel the globe and live a life I envied and I didn't?<br />
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Later that day, Julie and I talked about The Meaning of Life. She and her husband have recently made some super huge life changes, which include selling their house and most of their furniture and downsizing in a ginormous way. Not only did shedding all that "stuff" save them a lot of money, but it also saves them a ton of time taking care of it all.<br />
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"When you and Sherri got sick, I realized that I was living a life I didn't want," Julie said. "I want to travel and live. I do not want all the trappings anymore. I don't think I ever did." Julie and I are so similar in this respect (which is why we are best friends)-- we both are on a quest to see the world, as much of it as possible RIGHT NOW. We want to create memories and strengthen relationships. How did I end up so off course for so long?<br />
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Expectations. That's why.<br />
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<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/she-may-not-live-the-life-i-pick-for-her-and-so-what" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-72642593315052135492016-06-09T07:20:00.000-07:002016-06-09T07:20:36.503-07:00Fabulous ideas for the guy in your life for Divorced MomsI am on my way to the airport to catch a flight to Long Beach for my friend Sheri's memorial service. She died last week from ovarian cancer. I am also going to spend time with the people I love beyond measure, my best friend Julie and family. Until then, I leave you with my latest post via Divorced Moms. <br />
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Peace & love,<br />
<br />
Lizzy<br />
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<b>8 Super Nice Things to Do For Your Guy (Without Breaking the Bank) </b><br />
<b>by Lizzy Smith for Divorced Moms </b> <br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> June 08, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636010027913058605635564941128223045Fotolia_48338788_XS.jpg"><img alt="635564941128223045Fotolia_48338788_XS.jpg" height="195" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636010027913058605635564941128223045Fotolia_48338788_XS.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px;" width="346" /></a>With Father’s Day fast approaching, here are ideas to get your creative juices flowing for the guy in your life.<br />
<br />
<strong>Offer to entertain his kids while he has “guy time”</strong><br />
<b><br /></b>
I am constantly amazed at how many women don’t like their guy to go out with his friends (or do anything without her). This is a really bad idea. Show your guy you trust him and recognize his need to do things he loves sans you. (Make sure before you offer to take care of his kids that you know them and that he—and their mother-- is comfortable with the idea.) There are plenty of cheap things to do with children—go for a hike, bake cookies or make dinner, rent a movie you all like and stay in, go to a local public swimming pool or lake. Have suggestions for the kids but ask them what they’d like to do so they get the final say.<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>Give him a massage or foot rub</strong><br />
You need not be a great masseuse but it doesn’t matter—it’s the thought and human (non-sexual) touch that matters. You can either make this romantic by lighting candles and putting on soft music or put on a good movie or sporting event while you give him a massage.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/8-super-nice-things-to-do-for-your-guy-without-breaking-the-bank" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-2261323844286067742016-06-06T16:12:00.002-07:002016-06-06T16:16:50.161-07:00The Lion, The Gazelle & The Pesky Myeloma Cell. I can't wait for a cure, can you?I am really proud of this post because it is a very hard topic to explain (high risk myeloma disease). Plus I am in the video below!<br />
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<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/lion-gazelle.jpg?690be3" itemprop="image" title="The Lion, the Gazelle & the Pesky Myeloma Cell. High Risk Disease and What to Do About It"><img alt="" class="attachment-main-slider size-main-slider wp-post-image no-display appear" src="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/lion-gazelle-702x336.jpg?690be3" height="336" title="The Lion, the Gazelle & the Pesky Myeloma Cell. High Risk Disease and What to Do About It" width="702" /> </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/lion-gazelle-pesky-myeloma-cell/" target="_blank"> The Lion, the Gazelle & the Pesky Myeloma Cell. High Risk Disease and What to Do About It</a></h1>
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<span class="posted-by">By <span class="reviewer" itemprop="author"><a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/author/lizzy-smith/" rel="author" title="Posts by Lizzy"><span style="color: #19232d;">Lizzy</span></a></span> </span> <span class="posted-on">on <span class="dtreviewed"><time class="value-datetime" datetime="2016-06-03T21:34:20+00:00" itemprop="datePublished">June 3, 2016</time> </span> </span> <span class="cats"><a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/life-with-myeloma/" rel="category tag"><span style="color: #19232d;">Life With Multiple Myeloma</span></a>, <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/myeloma-101/" rel="category tag"><span style="color: #19232d;">Myeloma 101</span></a>, <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/myeloma-crowd-research-initiative/" rel="category tag"><span style="color: #19232d;">Myeloma Crowd Research Initiative</span></a></span></div>
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BY LIZZY SMITH for <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/" target="_blank">Myeloma Crowd</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.<br /> It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.</em></div>
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<em>Every morning a lion wakes up.<br /> It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle<br /> or it will starve to death. </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Not long ago, I heard <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/first-myeloma-crowd-round-table-held-salt-lake-city/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">Dr Rafael Fonseca of Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona use this analogy when describing myeloma cells</span></a> and, especially, the myeloma cells that survive treatment.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Dr Fonseca said something like this:</div>
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The lion knows that he doesn’t need to be the fastest, he just needs to be faster than the slowest gazelle. And, likewise, the gazelle knows that he doesn’t need to be the fastest gazelle in the heard to survive, he just needs to not be the slowest.</div>
</blockquote>
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And so the contest between the lion and the gazelle begins, which is a lot like the contest we patients wage against bad cells when we discover we have myeloma.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Think of myeloma cells as a big huge heard of gazelles. For this analogy, the gazelles are bad, they are cancer, and we need to kill them.</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_15294" style="width: 712px;">
<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/gazelles.jpg?690be3" rel="attachment wp-att-15294"><img alt="gazelles" class="wp-image-15294 size-large no-display appear" src="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/gazelles-768x432.jpg" height="395" sizes="(max-width: 702px) 100vw, 702px" width="702" /></a><br />
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Think of this heard of gazelles as myeloma cells. They are BAD!</div>
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The lion is the treatment being used, like bortezomib or melphalan. The lions are unleashed and they start picking off the gazelles in grand fashion. Lots and lots of gazelles. Even better, doctors unleash a heard of lions by combining drugs, so the lions might be named Bortezomib, Melphalan and Dexamethasone… Together, they are far more powerful than alone.</div>
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<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/lions.jpg?690be3" rel="attachment wp-att-15295"><img alt="lions" class="wp-image-15295 size-large no-display appear" src="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/lions-768x512.jpg" height="468" sizes="(max-width: 702px) 100vw, 702px" width="702" /></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text">
See these lions? For this analogy, lions are GOOD. They are the medications and treatments used to pick off the bad gazelles. We will name these three lions Bortezomib, Melphalan and Dexamethasone.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And when the lions are done, there are still gazelles left. They are hiding– quiet and undetected. And those gazelles are the smartest, fastest, and wiliest of the bunch. They are also typically the most aggressive, mutated and hardest to find of them all (remember, they survived the lions). Sooner or later, they will breed and be back. This time, we’ll need fresh combinations of lions– new lions who are smarter and faster than those gazelles.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_15296" style="width: 650px;">
<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/gazelles2.jpg?690be3" rel="attachment wp-att-15296"><img alt="gazelles2" class="wp-image-15296 size-full no-display appear" src="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/gazelles2.jpg" height="360" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" width="640" /></a><br />
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After Bortezomib, Dexamethasone and Melphalan are done, some gazelles survive. And they are the smartest sneakiest, and evilest of the bunch. Sooner or later, they will reproduce and come back in full force, stronger and more resilient.</div>
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<div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_15299" style="width: 235px;">
<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/lion2.jpg?690be3" rel="attachment wp-att-15299"><img alt="lion2" class="wp-image-15299 size-medium no-display appear" src="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/lion2-225x300.jpg" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" width="225" /></a><br />
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A new, better arsenal of drugs, therapies or combinations is needed. </div>
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Better yet, a cure!</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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Such is the nature of myeloma, and why myeloma patients who may not begin as “high risk” will eventually have high risk disease as time progresses.</div>
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<strong><br /></strong></div>
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<strong>So now what?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And this is why we must find new treatments, better protocols and a cure. The time is now; we cannot wait. The <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/mcri" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">Myeloma Crowd Research Initiative </span></a>is funding two promising clinical trials that may be cures. These trials are launching <em><strong>now</strong></em>. But in order for these trials to stay on track, we need your help.</div>
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<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>What can you do?</strong></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Consider supporting the <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/mcri" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">Myeloma Crowd Research Initiative (MCRI)</span></a> by starting a fundraising page. It is easy and takes just minutes. Click <a href="https://give.crowdcare.org/fundraise/create?eid=59507" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">here </span></a>to get started. Next, share your fundraising page with family and friends via email, Facebook, Twitter or any other social media you use. Ask them to donate to your page. Small amounts add up fast.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Make a donation in any amount to the MCRI effort. Simply click <a href="https://give.crowdcare.org/checkout/donation?eid=59507" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">here</span></a>. Or you can mail a check to Myeloma Crowd/CrowdCare Foundation, 3315 Mayflower Ave, Suite 1, Lehi, UT 84043.</li>
</ul>
The Myeloma Crowd is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. Tax ID 45-5354811. Your donation is fully tax deductible to the full extent of IRS guidelines.<br />
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I am a myeloma patient diagnosed in January 2012. I am 48 years old with two children ages 16 and ten who need me. I want to be here for them, to raise them, to be there for weddings and grandchildren. I have a new husband and a full life ahead of me. I cannot idly wait for someone else to do the work to cure me. I want to speed this process along. My life and the lives of other myeloma patients depend on it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Please join me in getting involved in our own care. I promise you that it is empowering to know that we can be part of the solution. And, besides, I can’t wait for a cure. Can you?<br />
<br />
Read the original article <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/lion-gazelle-pesky-myeloma-cell/" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-20242643090403666632016-06-03T05:57:00.002-07:002016-06-03T06:01:19.127-07:00The case for living life NOW<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="263" src="https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1238792_10200778198042680_1181410544_n.jpg?oh=63f5cd82e76c5cea6524e8f357923adf&oe=57D3AD3B" width="400" /><br />
<i><b>Sheri is the woman sitting to the right of me (I'm wearing the pink T and white skirt). This photo was taken three years ago when I had flown out to Long Beach to attend my best friend Julie's dad's funeral. It was a weekend filled with all kinds of emotions: mourning, sadness and love. My hair was still short-- just growing back from my own cancer battle (multiple myeloma) and the two stem cell transplants (and massive chemo that went along with it). One evening, we moms took our kids to Knott's Berry Farm and while they were on the rides, we hung out. Sheri died yesterday from ovarian cancer.</b></i><br />
<br />
<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="225" src="https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12033216_10205941626072071_7068424969079570720_n.jpg?oh=8e3ba63e32b6e82499984f0032d251b4&oe=57DD825B" width="400" /><br />
<b><i>This is Sheri about six months ago when we thought she would beat her cancer.</i></b><br />
<br />
Profanity alert: FUCK YOU CANCER. You are evil and hateful and some day, we will BEAT YOUR FUCKING ASS INTO SUBMISSION. <br />
<br />
My best friend Julie's sister-in-law, Sheri, died yesterday from ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed 15 months ago and fought a very hard battle. She did chemo, had surgery, got sepsis, almost died on the operating table. And each time, she fought back. It was a miracle. Perhaps she'd beat it. And then she didn't. <br />
<br />
Truth: "Life is normal, until it's not." My life, too, was "normal" and then it wasn't. And since that day where my life took that dramatic, scary, awful turn, I never looked back. I ran to safety (my parents' home) and fought cancer and fought to build a new and better life. And each day, I swear to you, I do my best to LIVE. I treat people the best way I can. I really put myself out there to help others, even when it's not comfortable or convenient. I cut out people who are toxic. And I run towards... love, fun, peace, and meaning.<br />
<br />
I am flying to Long Beach next week to hang with people who are more than "friends." They, too, are my beloved family. I want to be with them and mourn with them. I cannot be here living life like it's normal when it isn't. Not right now.<br />
<br />
One thing I've learned is that life does carry on. Even in the darkest depths of grief and sorrow, life continues. People go out to eat, laugh, go to work, watch TV, pick up the kids... Everywhere around me, life is moving forward. Nothing stops when our world stops or ends. And sooner or later, we crawl out of our dark place and join the living because what is the option? <br />
<br />
And that's where I travel, write, be with friends, and nap. The glorious, luxurious nap. I've started building time in for a nap nearly every day. I love "my time" in the afternoon, channel surfing until I fall asleep with the soft noise in the background. I read, I learn, I try to improve myself. I walk outdoors, sometimes alone, sometimes with my husband or a friend. I laugh and shop. Today, I am waiting for my friend Madi who will be here in a few minutes and we are walking along the beautiful trail behind our homes that follows the Jordan River. We reconnect, we embrace life until the moment we can't. And when that happens, all we have are the memories we created and the relationships we've made. The impressions we've made with others, and how we've made the world or someone's life a little better.<br />
<br />
And that is the meaning of (my) life.<br />
<br />
My latest via <b>Divorced Moms</b> is here. And now, my advice to you: TODAY do something you LOVE and something that MATTERS to you in a BIG way. <br />
<br />
Peace and Love,<br />
<br />
Lizzy<br />
<br />
<b>Find Joy & Happiness NOW. Life is Too Precious & Short to Wait </b><br />
<b>BY LIZZY SMITH for Divorced Moms</b> <br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> June 02, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636004772646581079635386079985881695Fotolia_64328844_XS.jpg"><img alt="635386079985881695Fotolia_64328844_XS.jpg" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636004772646581079635386079985881695Fotolia_64328844_XS.jpg" height="219" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px;" width="390" /></a>I say this all the time because it is true: "We carry on with our lives until one day, one second, everything changes." Just.Like.That. One second and life will never be the same again. It can come with warning (“I’m unhappy, I want a divorce, and I’m moving out.”) or without (“You have cancer.”). It can be an unexpected death, the discovery of an affair, a devastating diagnosis, making the decision to cheat on your husband, or getting in an accident.<br />
<br />
Today, I got the very sad news that my friend Sheri died. She was just 50 years old. Some 15 months ago, Sheri was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer. She had surgery, radiation and chemo. For a time, we thought she would beat it. And then she took a turn for the worse about a month ago. This time, hope was fading until there was none left.<br />
<br />
Life for me, too, was chugging along at an expected pace. I was working, married with kids, and had all the entrapments consistent with that life—a mortgage, a long commute, 15 days of vacation... And then, “You have cancer.” Just like that, nothing was ever the same again.<br />
<br />
So today, while I mourn the passing of my friend, and while I know I’ll be shedding loads of tears, I turn to the biggest advice I can give anyone: LIVE. Life is so short and precious. If you are in a bad marriage, <em>leave it.</em> If your boyfriend is an asshole, <em>ditch him. </em>If you have friendships that aren’t healthy, <em>end them.</em> If you hate your job, your city, your house, or your life, <em>start changing it.</em> It can be incredibly hard and overwhelming. Where to begin? Baby steps, one day at a time. Try this:<br />
<ol>
<li>Write out what changes you want to make in your life</li>
<li>Prioritize which changes are most important to you. Pick the ones that will make the biggest impact (i.e. divorce, sell the house, stop eating sugar). In fact, you might just want to pick one.</li>
<li>Make sure the changes you write out are specific (sell the house) and actionable. Goals that are too broad usually never happen. For example, if your goal is to “get healthier,” be more specific. Fill in this blank, “I want to get healthier by_______________.” It could be eating five servings or fresh organic fruits and veggies each day, eating out at restaurants less than once per week, exercising a minimum of 30-minutes per day six days per week, and getting at least eight hours of sleep per night. Now <em>that</em> is something you can write out on a checklist, post on your bathroom mirror, and do! (If you’re committed enough.)</li>
<li>Make out a detailed list on how to accomplish your goals and start (literally) checking them off.</li>
</ol>
Since this is for divorced women (or those considering a divorce), I’ll pick “Ditch My Guy” as an example. This could be your husband or boyfriend. Here are some things that should make your list:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/find-joy--happiness-now-life-is-too-precious--short-to-wait" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-76122350642836568672016-06-02T06:29:00.000-07:002016-06-02T06:29:23.243-07:00This myeloma warrior starts on new wonder-drug Daratumumab (Darzalex). Crossing fingers & saying prayersLast summer, I heard of <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/darzalex-relapsed-refractory-study/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">Daratumumab </span></a>(Darzalex), a potential ground-breaking new wonder drug in treating myeloma. What is Daratumuab?<br />
<blockquote>
This is a human CD38-directed monoclonal antibody indicated for the treatment of patients with myeloma who have received at least three prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor ( like bortezemib), an immunomodulatory agent (like lenalidomide) or who are double refractory these agents. (<a href="https://www.darzalex.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Darzalex&utm_content=Darzalex&utm_term=darzalex&gclid=CKGLkeSwic0CFQpzMgod5b0PYA&gclsrc=ds" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">www.darzalex.com</span></a>)</blockquote>
That was me. So when I was told “no”, it wasn’t approved yet, I begged and demanded. To no avail. And with my myeloma numbers growing, we could wait no longer and I had that dang transplant, but first, I started it off in the grandest way I could think of: <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/myeloma-survivor-lizzy-smith-enters-stem-cell-transplant-3-with-a-skydive/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">I went skydiving</span></a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/skydive.jpg?c5700e" rel="attachment wp-att-15256"><img alt="skydive" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-15256 no-display appear" height="169" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/skydive-500x281.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
And the next day, I checked myself into the hospital for <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/12772-2/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">a really tough process during November and December</span></a>. And I shaved my hair and lost my eyelashes and eyebrows (not to mention I threw up every day for weeks and weeks, ate no food at all for five days, and lost way to much weight). It pretty much sucked.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/hospital.jpg?c5700e" rel="attachment wp-att-15257"><img alt="hospital" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-15257 no-display appear" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" src="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/hospital-333x500.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
Flash forward to today. I am doing well. <a href="http://lizzysmilez.blogspot.com/2016/04/eliminating-chemicals-in-costa-rica.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">I went to Nicaragua and Costa Rica for Spring Break</span></a>. I took a couple trips to <a href="http://lizzysmilez.blogspot.com/2016/03/myeloma-weekend-in-miami-thanks-cure.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">Florida</span></a> and <a href="http://lizzysmilez.blogspot.com/2016/03/girls-weekend-in-vegas-venturing-out.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">Las Vegas</span></a>. I’m running/walking again. I bought a bike yesterday. My daughters are out of the school and we’re going to have some amazing times together.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/siena-mommy.jpg?c5700e" rel="attachment wp-att-15258"><img alt="siena mommy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-15258 no-display appear" height="225" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/siena-mommy-500x375.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
And then…it was time to confront myeloma again. Last week, I had my three-month check-up with Dr. A. We ran the Minimal Residual Disease test and it was positive– 10 myeloma cells per million (just 10! While I wish it were 0, this is still a terrific response, says my doctor). Still in remission, but with those detectable numbers, he was able to convince my insurance company to get me on Daratumumab, which he says is not typically used as a maintenance therapy. Well color me happy, I want it! Anything to give my body the arsenal it needs to FIGHT.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/lizzy-take-that.jpg?c5700e" rel="attachment wp-att-15259"><img alt="lizzy take that" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-15259 no-display appear" height="225" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/lizzy-take-that-500x375.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
Yesterday, I left the house at 7am for the 45-minute drive up to Huntsman Cancer Institute (plus 15 minutes for a coffee-run) for a 12+ hour day.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/dara1.jpg?c5700e" rel="attachment wp-att-15261"><img alt="dara1" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-15261 no-display appear" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" src="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/dara1-375x500.jpg" width="225" /></a><br />
<br />
The first infusion is a very long one. I had to check myself into a hospital room so I could be monitored closely for any reactions. We accessed my port, drew some labs, and briefly met up with my PA and Dr A. Nearly two hours later, the Daratumumab began. Finally! Fighting cancer is so time consuming!<br />
<br />
Was it eventless? No. About 30-minutes into the infusion, I felt a very slight tightening in my throat. We had to suspend the infusion until that went away. The nurse gave me an Ativan because I felt anxious, and more Benadryl via IV. That made me sleep, though not for long! I woke up completely congested. I had never felt anything that intense in my sinuses– total blockage. I felt like my cheeks were going to explode. I also lost my voice, barely able to whisper. They rushed me in some nasal spray. I used up almost half the bottle within maybe 10 minutes. Finally, relief. I fell back asleep for a few hours.<br />
<br />
That was the end of the drama. They sped up the rate of infusion and I ate lunch. Then dinner. I watched TV. I wrote a few articles. I did a little shopping on-line. And then I was ready to start climbing the walls. When was the day ever going to end? Turns out, 8pm, almost on the dot. I popped five steroid pills (as part of my regiment, I take five after infusion, and five more the following day). And then my mom and I drove home. A long, grueling, boring day. But worth it!<br />
This regiment will include weekly infusions for three months. After that, it’s bi-weekly infusions, followed by monthly infusions. I am praying hard that this is effective and keeps me in remission for a long time. At least long enough so that<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/more-on-car-t-cell-therapy-hope-in-treating-multiple-myeloma/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;"> Car T Cell Therapy </span></a>trials are easier to get into. Because that is really what I ultimately want.<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>So now what?</strong><br />
<br />
How can we patients and our supporters make this happen? By contributing to the <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/more-on-car-t-cell-therapy-hope-in-treating-multiple-myeloma/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">Myeloma Crowd Research Initiative</span></a>, which is funding two of those clinical trials. <a href="https://give.crowdcare.org/fundraise?fcid=517625" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">I started a fundraising page</span></a> (and you can, too, by simply clicking <a href="https://give.crowdcare.org/fundraise/create?eid=59507" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">here </span></a>to get started) and have over $2,500 raised. And I’m not done yet, I’m still working on adding to that amount. Look, I’m not a rich person. I have loads of medical bills and co-pays. I’m on disability through Social Security and my employer’s long term disability insurance plan. But by asking our friends, co-workers, family or whoever to contribute via an email or Facebook post is easy.<br />
<br />
One evening, <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/muscles-myeloma-heres-learned/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">I held a dinner party at my house </span></a>and invited fellow myeloma warriors that I know and neighbors over. They contributed some money for the dinner (I donated food so all funds went straight to MCRI) and everyone got cool door prizes that I gathered up from local businesses (I just asked the restaurants and carwashes that I frequent for a donation and almost no one turned me down). Last summer, <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/local-candidate-aims-to-raise-funds-to-cure-multiple-myeloma-while-building-a-stronger-community/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">my daughters held a lemonade stand sale</span></a>. So get creative. Every dollar helps us find what we all want and need: a cure! (Or at least better treatments.)<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>Daratumumab (Darzalex) Clinical Trials</strong><br />
<br />
To find a clinical trial using Daratumumab (Darzalex), click SparkCures link here:<br />
<a class="sc-button sc-button-default" href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/sparkcures-multiple-myeloma-clinical-trial-finder/?treatment=daratumumab">SparkCures Clinical Trial Finder: Daratumumab (Darzalex)</a> <b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-45793168260371034862016-05-28T08:06:00.000-07:002016-05-28T08:06:05.563-07:00It's the "official" summer kick-off weekend! My biggest advice? Wear sunscreen!!!My latest via <a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/its-the-start-of-summer-now-stay-sun-safe-with-these-tips" target="_blank">Divorced Moms</a>. It's all about sunscreen and it's really super important, especially for the cancer patient. Those cancer drugs can make is incredibly sun-sensitive and a sunburn can cause incredibly dangerous side-effects than can even mimic graft-vs-host disease. This is no laughing matter. So before you head out for the day, put that sunscreen on. Wear a hat and a great pair of sunglasses. (BTW: hats and sunglasses are literally my favorite fashion accessories these days, maybe even more than a handbag. So have fun with it!)<br />
<br />
<strong>It's The Start of Summer! Now Stay (Sun) Safe With These Tips </strong><br />
<strong>by Lizzy Smith for Divorced Moms</strong> <br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> May 28, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636000439599842131lizzyinthesun.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="lizzy in the sun.jpg" height="352" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/636000439599842131lizzyinthesun.jpg" width="626" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing above Lake Nicaragua, about a two hour drive from Grenada. It was so hot and humid. Considering it was freezing cold back home in Utah and I had spent 25 days without leaving my hospital room, I was in heaven. The heat and fresh air was a Godsend. It was healing-- mentally, physically and emotionally. Dang I deserved this trip!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I recently came across a shocking study from the <a href="http://www.jaad.org/"><em>Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology’s:</em></a> most Americans do not know how to properly apply sunscreen. You can read it <a href="http://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(16)01506-1/fulltext">here</a>. Even those with a history of skin cancer are not as savvy as one might think.<br />
<br />
Ok, I guess I am a bit guilty of this, too. While I'm really committed to putting sunscreen on often, I sometimes forget about my children. When we were in Costa Rica and Nicaragua several weeks ago, my 16-year old wanted to get a good tan. I argued with her incessantly about putting on enough sunscreen. She did, but after awhile, I gave up and let her be responsible. She came home looking like a leper. She was peeling on her face and she looked frightening. She was self-conscious about it, too. Thank goodness we had three days before she had to return to school and the worst of it was over. Still, we both learned a lesson-- applying sunscreen properly and often was not debatable.<br />
However you look at it, getting a sunburn is bad. It's bad for the skin, good for skin cancer, and it hurts. Avoid this at all cost.<br />
<br />
A few summers ago, I went on vacation to Washington, DC and it was literally 105 degrees, sunny and humid. I never left my hotel room without a hat on my head <em>and</em> an umbrella. I also reapplied sunscreen multiple times throughout the day. I remember one afternoon standing an hour outside on a hot sidewalk under the blazing sun waiting to get into the National Archives. I purchased that small umbrella from a street vendor and it was a lifesaver! I carried it with me during the rest of the trip and, these days, if I know I'm going to be walking in the sun, an umbrella is in my backpack ready to be used at a moment's notice.<br />
<br />
In summary, make sure you get outdoors and enjoy the weather (this is good for you!) but stay in the shade and perhaps do your outdoor activities in the mornings or evenings when the sun is at its weakest. Also, consider wearing protective clothing, like swimsuits with rash-guards, hats, sunglasses and tops with sleeves. And never leave the house or hotel room without properly sunscreening.<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Benefits of sun exposure</strong><br />
There are numerous benefits to some sun exposure. First, we get fresh “real” vitamin D. The warmth and light of the sun is also a natural mood booster. (Got depression? Get outdoors, get some natural sunlight, and see if you don't feel a bit better "that fast.") Personally, I am a big fan of summer for these reasons. I love going for walks and hikes, hanging out poolside or at the beach with my kids, and reading a good book on my deck. But… I also use precautions. Gone are the days that I visit tanning salons (I cannot believe I used to do this regularly), use baby oil as a sun enhancer, and spend hours laying out during maximum sun intensity (typically between 11A-2P). I used to go on beach-type vacations and pretty much ruin them because my number one priority was making sure I went home with a Big Huge Impressive Tan instead of doing fun stuff. Dear Lord, how dumb. These days, I nearly always wear a hat, sit under an umbrella or in the shade, don sunglasses that block out UVA and UVB rays, and apply sunscreen liberally. I still manage to get tan but I can’t tell you the last time I burned (or even got pink). Hooray!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/its-the-start-of-summer-now-stay-sun-safe-with-these-tips" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-39589230574861416982016-05-21T02:20:00.001-07:002016-05-21T03:41:00.638-07:00Adults who throw epic temper-tantrums. It's a mental disorder. Can it be fixed?<img src="http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/images/1HT09336/tantrum.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Early this morning, I came across this article on <u>CBS New York</u>. I post it below in its entirety because I know that there are many of my readers who are suffering in abusive marriages that include the bizarre adult tempter-tantrum. You'd think this ends around the age of four or five when children better develop their language skills. Throwing themselves on the ground, screaming, putting holes in walls, or worse, are done. But they're too often not-- some adults continue this pattern at the horror of those privy to watch it. And there's nothing cute or funny about it. It is scary, volatile, and dangerous. Many women (and men) are paralyzed to leave their husband, or desperately wanting to but fear and other factors keep them staying. Some have left men like this but continue to be bullied, harassed and abused. And they can still find themselves victimized by the adult temper-tantrum.<br />
<img src="http://krylyn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Adult-Tantrum.jpg" /><br />
<br />
My former marriage was as described. Four years later and remarried to a man who never yells or screams at me (or anyone else, for that matter), I nonetheless will experience flashbacks from my prior life. Sometimes I have nightmares. And when that happens, I feel those raw emotions of anger and sadness surface. I have a sign above my rearview mirror that reads: "This is God. I will be handling all your problems today." I read it many times per day and it reminds me that I am not capable of handling all the curveballs thrown my way without His help. I then turn things over to Him. "I can't deal with this today," I say. "You take this one." And I am able to feel peace, calm, and love.<br />
<br />
Anyway, for my readers who contact me and share their pain and duress, this is for you. Maybe it will give you hope, empathy, and understanding, too. Now what to do with it is another story.<br />
<br />
Much love,<br />
<br />
Lizzy<br />
<article class="article-bucket content"><div class="story">
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<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Adults Throwing Temper Tantrums</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)</strong> — People usually associate temper-tantrums with children, but adults are being caught now pitching a fit.<br />
<br />
CBS2’s Dick Brennan reported that more and more adults are being caught on tape throwing temper-tantrums. They kick, scream, fall to the floor, and throw things — and it doesn’t take much to set them off.<br />
<br />
Adults throwing tantrums are also being caught on video thanks to today’s technology. But could there be something more going on?<br />
<br />
“Most of us are able to get angry, and express our frustration in a constructive way,” <a href="http://www.therapyatwork.net/" target="_blank">therapist Diane Kolodzinski</a> said.<br />
<br />
But for others, Kolodzinski said something as simple as spilled milk is literally enough to send them over the edge.<br />
<br />
“They go zero to 100 really fast,” she said. These adults who throw these temper-tantrums could be suffering from a condition called intermittent explosive disorder.<br />
<br />
“The people who have this disorder cause a lot of suffering,” <a href="http://bpfamily.org/staff" target="_blank">Dr. Igor Galynker</a>, a psychiatrist, said. “They themselves suffer, and they make a lot of other people suffer when these people are subject to aggression.”<br />
<br />
Galynker said as many as one in 20 people now suffer from the disorder.<br />
<br />
“A person who has intermittent explosive disorder feel they don’t have control,” Galynker explained.<br />
Experts said what differentiates the disorder from a bad temper is the disproportionate response.<br />
<br />
“Yelling, screaming, throwing things, hitting the wall,” Kolodzinski detailed. “They could hit the other person or push them.”<br />
<br />
Cursing at someone who cuts you off while driving is pretty typical, but chasing the car down and ramming it could be the behavior of someone suffering from the disorder.<br />
<br />
One man, who started a vlog about living with the disorder, said he was relieved to finally find out the root of his overreactions, and even more comforted to learn it’s treatable.<br />
<br />
“When I got a grip on the illness, I started to work hard to do something about it,” he said.<br />
<br />
Experts said treatment typically includes therapy and learning techniques to self-soothe.<br />
<br />
“There is definitely hope out there and help out there, if you reach out,” Kolodzinski said.<br />
<br />
Experts said those with the disorder may also experience a sense of relief after an episode, followed by remorse or embarrassment.<br />
<br />
To view the complete article, click <a href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/05/19/adult-temper-tantrums-disorder/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
</article><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-69547902432243642772016-05-20T12:07:00.001-07:002016-05-20T12:07:35.147-07:00Got kids? Travel with them! My list of child-friendly trips to fit most any budgetI love nothing more than traveling. (Have I said this already?) And now that my daughters are heading into summer break (hooray!) it's time to start making plans. In the meantime, here are some of my favorite trips to take with your kids. My latest via Divorced Moms.<br />
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<strong>10 Fabulous Trips To Take With Your Children </strong><br />
<strong>by Lizzy Smith</strong> <br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> May 20, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/635993676516061605switzerland.jpg"><img alt="switzerland.jpg" height="343" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/635993676516061605switzerland.jpg" width="610" /></a><br />
<em>Here we are in Lugano, Switzerland! It was so beautiful.</em> <br />
<br />
When I received a cancer diagnosis in January 2012, it was a life changing moment. In an instant, things were never the same for me. In many respects, this was good. Pre-diagnosis, my life was a disaster and I was desperately unhappy. I spent way too much time commuting to work, buying stuff I didn’t want or need, putting up with an extremely abusive spouse, and focusing on the inconsequential. Fast forward a year later. I had survived treatment and it was time to rebuild my life and live it with passion. I decided to live BIG and GRAND, create memories, and have fun. As part of that new mantra, I became obsessed with traveling and taking my daughters with me.<br />
<br />
To shake things up, I try to plan four trips per year: 1) somewhere in our state (Utah), 2) a state we have never visited, 3) a national park, and 4) a foreign country. On these trips, it is imperative that we learn something new, eat a different food, and have fun. Oh, right-- and get some rest. So far, my favorite cities in the world are Moscow, London and Buenos Aires. My favorite state to explore is Utah. The most awesome fashion and shopping is Milan. The best food is in New Orleans. A place I’ve never wanted to leave was Lake Como (Italy). The best snorkeling is Belize. The most incredible museum is The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. But this could all change because I’m not done exploring.<br />
<br />
When it comes to traveling with children, though, there are some really terrific kid-friendly options that I highly recommend. So if a trip is in your budget, here are my favorites to take children of most any age:<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>1. A cruise</strong><br />
<br />
Pretty much any cruise is a terrific option for kids. The ships all have kid’s clubs where you can drop your children off for large chunks of the day. I never let my kids go to their clubs while the ship was in port, but you could. Plus, with unending food 24 hours per day, you never need to worry about feeding them. You can find a cruise to fit almost any budget. I personally love Europe and exploring via a cruise ship made this possible and easy with kids in tow.<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>2. Jackson, Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park</strong><br />
Jackson is an amazingly fun and beautiful place to visit. The town is charming, and there are endless things to do, like rafting, horseback riding, and hiking. Plus you’re not far from the entrance to Yellowstone National Park, a place that should be on everyone’s Bucket List. I took my kids on this road trip when they were ages four and nine and they absolutely loved everything about it. We saw tons of wildlife, Old Faithful, drank Mulberry Milkshakes, and took trams up the mountains for the best hiking trails. Depending on the time of year you go, hotels super expensive and sell-out quickly. So either plan ahead or consider staying in nearby Victor or Grand Targhee (Idaho).<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>3. Washington, DC</strong><br />
What makes Washington, DC rock is that many of the attractions, museums and monuments are FREE. This makes a visit to our nation’s capital somewhat affordable. I took my daughters when they were ages seven and 12 and they also learned a lot. My youngest daughter still talks about visiting the place where President Lincoln was shot and where he died. We visited all the main monuments, Mt Vernon (Washington’s home), the U.S Capitol and Supreme Court, Library of Congress, Arlington National Cemetery, the National Archives and several of the museums that make up the Smithsonian. Nearly all of them were free or just a few dollars. We sat outside at the Iwo Jima Memorial and watched spectacular 4<sup>th</sup> of July fireworks. We also rented a car and drove to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (a very quaint town) for a private tour of the battlefield. We stayed in a hotel near Georgetown where we could walk to many sites or take the metro. Washington, DC is definitely a “must visit.”<br />
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<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/10-fabulous-trips-to-take-with-your-children" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-9649706820092435302016-05-16T16:38:00.003-07:002016-05-16T16:42:46.237-07:00Here's how to FIGHT for your mental sanityI've experienced some of the toughest curveballs that life can throw you. Here are 10 really dumb things to do when you're under duress. My latest via Divorced Moms column.<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>10 of the Dumbest Things You Can Do When Life Gets Tough </strong><br />
<strong>By Lizzy Smith</strong><br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> May 16, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
Life can be really super tough at times. A friend of mine is going through some really horrible things in her life. She is struggling with just getting out of bed in the mornings. This is one of the worse things she can do right now-- become sedentary and isolated.<br />
Last week, I was in the midst of anxiety myself. I wanted to find medication to make it go away. Instead, I went to the salon and bleached my hair. I looked at myself and I was a new person! The visual imagery was a huge ego boost. I felt more confident and some of my anxiety waned.<br />
<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/635990379864391844lizzybefore.jpg"><img alt="lizzy before.jpg" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/635990379864391844lizzybefore.jpg" height="196" width="228" /></a><a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/635990380776148220lizzyafter.jpg"><img alt="lizzy after.jpg" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/635990380776148220lizzyafter.jpg" height="200" width="185" /></a><br />
<em><strong>Me before hair. After chemo, I lost all my hair and wore a wig. But I'm done with that and it's just me and the short, grey hair. I felt like an old lady. The next day, I got it bleached. I felt like a whole new person-- edgy, fun, strong and bad-ass.</strong></em> <br />
<br />
The next day, I went for a walk/run. I am still very weak from some wicked chemo back in November and December and I am fighting to get stronger. On this run/walk, I felt fantastic. I pushed myself harder than I have in months and instead of wanting to whimper, I felt strong and empowered. Was it the new hair that gave me strength? Maybe.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I sent my struggling friend an email pep talk with some tips on how I have coped with some really stressful events in my life, which include a horrific divorce and cancer. They work surprisingly well. Here are, according to Lizzy Smith, the 10 worse things you can do when life gets tough:<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>1 Get inadequate sleep</strong><br />
Getting the proper amount of sleep is essential for your mental and physical strength. If you’re getting too much or too little, that’s not good. Too much sleep can be a sign of depression or a whole host of physical ailments. Too little sleep can leave you irritated, sick, and prone to making really bad decisions. To aid in getting proper sleep, make your bedroom conducive to rest. This means make sure it gets dark enough (buy room-darkening shades if you must), and you have a comfortable place to sleep. Other ways to make your bedroom a peaceful place is to clean it up, put fresh linens on your bed, and diffuse essential oils that are calming to the senses (lavender is my favorite). I also love a good hot bath before bedtime because it helps make me sleepy.<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>2 Isolate yourself</strong><br />
It is tempting to throw a (solo) pity party when life goes awry. But the less you fall into this behavior, the better. Go out with friends, walk a dog, volunteer at your child’s school, join an exercise class (like yoga)... Whatever you do, get out of the house and interact with others.<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>3 Let yourself go (physically)</strong><br />
When I look awful, I feel awful, too. Make an effort to get out of bed, take a shower, put on clean clothes that are flattering, and do something with your hair. For a terrific pick-me-up, try a new hairstyle or color. Visit a makeup counter and learn some new makeup techniques. Buy a new perfume and use it. If it fits the budget, engage in some retail therapy. But a new outfit outside your comfort zone. Bright, bold colors lift the spirit so if you need to start with small steps, try a new color on your toenails and get braver from there.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/10-of-the-dumbest-things-you-can-do-when-life-gets-tough" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-90235269236520693152016-05-14T09:20:00.001-07:002016-05-14T09:20:14.715-07:00Mormon girls need the protection of Priesthood holders? At an overnight camp? Eeeew<img src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/a5/66/2c/a5662c504bb2384b9a64813c299dfb59.jpg" /><br />
Today I'm still annoyed over an exchange I had with a woman in the Mormon church (who on a personal level I really like). She sent around a request asking Priesthood holders to sign-up for overnight stays at the Young Women's campout. For those of you not familiar with the Mormon church, each summer the Young Women's group goes for a 5-7 day camp-out. The camp the girls head off to in our neck of the woods is near Midway, Utah. It is quite a compound with security (non-paid Mormon missionaries, typically), nice cabins and showers, and cooking facilities. And apparently, at least two men who hold the Priesthood (as young as 12 year old boys, mind you, have the Priesthood in the Mormon church) must be at the camp 24-7. For why? Let's find out! Here's my email exchange with "Molly."<br />
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ME: Can you clarify that the boys coming to girls camp or men being invited to girls camp... For real? I'm kind of frightened. Actually, it's ok, my daughter is opting out of this camp. Are moms required to be at Scout Camp too? I'm totally not ok with this and am disturbed that grown men are sleeping at an all girls camp out. If this were co-ed, totally different story. Sorry! Please pass my comments to the [all-male hierarchy]. I can't imagine I'm the only one who feels this way!<br />
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MOLLY: Hi Lizzy, we will miss your daughter but totally understand. I will pass this on. All of the Young Women's leaders will be there, which this year consists of almost as many women leaders as young women. I can totally appreciate your concerns about having men in an all girls camp. A few years ago near the Heber Camp there was a huge group of nudists in the are so, for me, I'm happy to have some added security. The men do sleep completely away from the girls in their own tents while the girls sleep in the cabins. Thanks for letting me know your concerns. I'll also address them with our YW Presidency.<br />
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ME: If there are problems, proper security should be hired. And as a mom, I'd be happy to carry a gun. I think the "male requirement" is highly inappropriate. Besides why aren't moms at Scouts Camp? That aside, I appreciate all your efforts. I think there is far more danger of men sleeping near girls than nudists, personally. Plus, I think it sends a message that girls can't take care of themselves, even when they're adults. Thanks for listening.<br />
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Ok, here are my biggest issues:<br />
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- Note that they weren't asking for STRONG MEN to take care of the girls and women at the camp-- they were asking for PRIESTHOOD HOLDERS. So either there is an assumption that Priesthood Holders are all awesome and the other men aren't OR there needs to be spiritual guidance of men over girls at a campout. Either way, messed up.<br />
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- I think it is FAR more likely that a man and a teen girl might make a "connection" and sneak off into the woods than a bunch of nudists making it to camp, running around naked, and raping/murdering helpless women. AND if this is truly a concern, why is there not armed security? And why would I send my daughter somewhere so dangerous?<br />
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- Why are women not equally invited to an all boys' campout?<br />
<br />
-Are women and girls really free to be open, honest, and themselves when they know men are lurking?<br />
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-What are we teaching women and girls about their own spiritual authority and their own ability to take care of themselves?<br />
<br />
<img src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/aa/46/c0/aa46c0c9a7945b44136e433e42d59352.jpg" /><a data-ved="0ahUKEwiKkJGi-tnMAhXIy4MKHcoNDVEQjRwIBw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiKkJGi-tnMAhXIy4MKHcoNDVEQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fldsquotesyoungwomen.blogspot.com%2F2015_07_01_archive.html&psig=AFQjCNF0YXQkNueud9SRRoY8Hnai7NgcuA&ust=1463328623435579" id="irc_mil" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk;irc.il;" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" height="393" id="irc_mi" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cczjhCD4mnQ/VBPcMJA6zrI/AAAAAAAAAX4/jG6B83f2_e4/integrity22_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="491" /></a><br />
Oh my gosh, the Mormon church has SUCH a long way to go when it comes to its patronizing, condescending attitude towards the female gender. It's seriously disturbing. (And don't you just love the Disney princess-type themes above? Seriously, how old are these girls that head off to Camp? I'll tell you: between 14-18. My 16-year old was "over" the princess-thing at about 8 years old.)<br />
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Lastly, as a side note, I took my 10-year old to get her hair trimmed up. As I was talking to the young stylist, she mentioned that she wanted to go on a mission for the Mormon church next summer. I asked her why girls served just 18-month missions while the boys served two solid years. I wanted to know what the new generation was being taught. Expectedly, she said, "Well, the church wants the girls to come home earlier so they have the opportunity to get married."<br />
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I bit my tongue. I wanted to SCREAM, "Really? At age 20? What's the RUSH? And if you don't come home early from a mission, you might not have the 'opportunity' to get married? At, what, still child-bride status?" YES, the boys and girls are still being fed this shit that getting married super duper young is a fabulous idea. I "get" why the church teaches this-- get them married young before they have a chance to (basically) potty train and, BETTER YET, get them pregnant right away, too, (after getting married in the Mormon temple). This way, the church has a better chance of keeping these very young people so devoted to the church, so engrained, so unable to make true choices and mature, that the chances of them leaving the church are tiny. And they'll likely raise their generation the same way. Those tithing dollars (mostly spent on lavish buildings that are closed 97 percent of the time) and donated hours keep rolling in. All at the expense of our children.<br />
<br />
I think my head might explode if I say more so I'll leave it here.<br />
<br />
Lizzy<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-37154878787817795032016-05-13T06:20:00.000-07:002016-05-13T06:29:04.587-07:00Jenny Ahlstrom & Lizzy Smith are featured in The Daily Herald - Let's CURE myeloma!Jenny and I were the COVER story in The Daily Herald talking about our fight to beat myeloma AND to help find a cure. Read on. Now let's get to work!<br />
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<a href="http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/north/lehi/myeloma-patients-in-utah-take-curing-cancer-in-their-own/article_02d08369-1170-5b7b-95f2-ae42bbd7158d.html" target="_blank">Myeloma patients in Utah take curing cancer in their own hands</a> </h2>
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<span class="asset-byline" data-original-title="" id="author-popup-0aff1e82-da84-11e5-bd95-a79b54ed2147-asset-02d08369-1170-5b7b-95f2-ae42bbd7158d" rel="popover" title=""><a href="https://www.heraldextra.com/users/profile/Braley%20Dodson"><span style="color: #4d4d4d;"><strong>Braley Dodson Daily Herald</strong></span></a></span><strong> - May 6, 2016</strong> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle Clough, RN, administers a chemotherapy injection to treat Lizzy Smith's multiple myeloma on Thursday, May 5, 2016 at American Fork High School. photo taken by SPENCER HEAPS, Daily Herald<br />
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<em><strong>Researchers haven’t cured myeloma yet, so local patients are taking the task of<br />finding a cure into their own hands.</strong></em> </div>
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Myeloma is a plasma cell cancer that begins in the bone marrow. Most people who are diagnosed with myeloma are over the age of 50, men are more likely to be diagnosed than women and blacks have almost twice the chance of acquiring myeloma, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.</div>
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“The goal is to have patients involved in accelerating their own cure,” said Jenny Ahlstrom, the founder of Myeloma Crowd, a website providing information, support and resources that is part of the Lehi-based Crowdcare Foundation. “Most of the time you sit back and a doctor says you can have this treatment or this treatment.”</div>
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“The goal is to have patients involved in accelerating their own cure,” said Jenny Ahlstrom, the founder of Myeloma Crowd, a website providing information, support and resources that is part of the Lehi-based Crowdcare Foundation. “Most of the time you sit back and a doctor says you can have this treatment or this treatment.”</div>
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At 48, Lehi mom Lizzy Smith isn’t the typical myeloma patient. “When I was first diagnosed diagnosed, I didn’t even know what myeloma was,” she said.<br />
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After being diagnosed in 2012, she moved from San Diego to Utah to receive treatment. Until she met Ahlstrom on Twitter and got involved in Myeloma Crowd, she thought she was the only female in Utah around her age that had myeloma.</div>
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“It’s really overwhelming when you’re not feeling well and you don’t understand your disease,” Smiths aid. “It’s like drinking from a water hose, but it’s so important to know something about your disease.”<br />
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Because everyone’s myeloma is different, they said patients should educate themselves on their type of myeloma and have a plan for when they relapse, something that almost every myeloma patient will experience.<br />
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“A lot of people just put their head in the sand and say, 'I don’t want to know, I’ll figure out when it happens,'” Ahlstrom said.<br />
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Smith relapsed about a year ago, but is in remission again. Ahlstrom, who was diagnosed in 2010, has yet to relapse.</div>
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For patients that want to get involved in medical trials, it’s often difficult to get understand the medical jargon explaining the the research, so Ahlstrom sits down with the researchers and has them explain the trials in patient-friendly language. The explanations are then posted on <a href="http://myelomacrowd.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4d4d4d;">myelomacrowd.org</span></a>. As part of its research initiative, the group also crowdfunded $187,000 to fund two medical trials for immunotherapy treatments, something that’s not usually likely to receive funding.<br />
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"We are sharing information, we are funding research, we are really moving the bar for our disease," Ahlstrom said.<br />
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For those recently diagnosed with myeloma, they recommend seeking out a specialist and for the patient to educate themselves about the type of myeloma they have, since patients typically have multiple types of multiple myeloma in their blood.<br />
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This Saturday, Myeloma Crowd will host a roundtable from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.,. at the DoubleTree Suites, located at 110 W. 600 S. in Salt Lake City, to educate patients and caretakers on myeloma and treatment options. Time will be dedicated for questions. Registration begins at 8 a.,. and costs $25.</div>
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-------------visit <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/">www.myelomacrowd.org</a> <article class="clearfix card author popup-content" id="card-author-0aff1e82-da84-11e5-bd95-a79b54ed2147"><div class="card-container">
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<time class="asset-date text-muted" datetime="2016-05-06T11:45:00-06:00">For the full article, click <a href="http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/north/lehi/myeloma-patients-in-utah-take-curing-cancer-in-their-own/article_02d08369-1170-5b7b-95f2-ae42bbd7158d.html" target="_blank">here</a>.
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</article><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-53669953134920885672016-05-12T11:43:00.000-07:002016-05-12T11:47:54.554-07:00Consent, rape & reporting. The conversations we must be having with our childrenMy latest via Divorced Moms. A critically important topic, whether we have sons or daughters.<br />
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<strong>I Was Raped & Never Told. Who Would Believe Me? </strong><br />
<strong>by Lizzy Smith for Divorced Moms</strong> <br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> May 12, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/635986749106755720635477056998671909Fotolia_70885927_XS.jpg"><img alt="635477056998671909Fotolia_70885927_XS.jpg" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/635986749106755720635477056998671909Fotolia_70885927_XS.jpg" height="203" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px;" width="361" /></a>During my freshman year in college, a friend, “Suzie,” went out on a date with a fellow student, “Joe,” that she recently met. They drank a little, drove up into the canyon, started making out… And then Joe forcibly raped her. Suzie came back to our dorm visibly shaken, with bruises showing up on her arms a few days later.<br />
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“Joe raped me,” she told me in the middle of the night. I stayed up with her while she went from crying, to silence, to rage. As an 18-year old totally unprepared for sex and what it meant (I was still a virgin with limited experience), I did not encourage her to report the crime. I wasn’t even sure if it was possible to be raped by a date. After all, I thought that rape was a crime committed by strangers, at knifepoint, under the threat of physical harm. Dates didn’t rape you, especially if the girl put herself in a position that enabled it.<br />
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The next day, Joe called Suzie and she went out with him again. This time, the sex was consensual. Over the next year, Suzie and Joe had a drama-filled relationship until summer break when we all went home and Joe transferred to another university. Suzie’s rape was forgotten. During the remainder of our college years together, I witnessed Suzie go from an innocent virgin to a very promiscuous girl. What role did Joe play in her future decisions and beliefs about sex, her body, and her self-worth? Likely, quite a lot. We both grew up in religions that taught us that sex was for marriage only, that it was better to die defending our virtue than allowing ourselves to be raped, that once given (virginity) we could never get it back, and that our dress and physical appearance could contribute to boys’ lusts and behavior. That is quite a burden to carry, I assure you.<br />
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A few weeks ago, Suzie and I were talking about sex among high school and college students. She reminded me that her first sexual encounter was at the age of 18 and it was rape.<br />
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“Why didn’t you report it?” I asked her.<br />
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“Who would have believed me?” she asked.<br />
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I wanted to cry. “Why didn’t I encourage you to report it?” I asked.<br />
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“I have always believed that I am responsible for the things that happen to me. I should not have been drinking. I should not have gone up into the canyon with Joe. I led him on, I went too far. Part of that was my fault,” she said.<br />
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“No, Suzie, rape is not your fault. You had a right to say no at any time and be heard. And you had a right to report it. It was a crime,” I said. And, left unsaid, <em>as a friend, I failed you</em>.<br />
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<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/i-was-raped--never-told-who-would-believe-me" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-69375776544800561302016-05-11T12:37:00.000-07:002016-05-11T12:37:33.277-07:00I did it! Rockin' the short 'doWhy does hair matter so much? It does, though. And the biggest struggle (besides fighting for my life and confronting my mortality head-on) has been hair loss. The first time I lost my hair, I ALWAYS wore a wig. This time around, I pitched the wig far earlier in my hair re-growth. But every time I look in the mirror, I see a woman who is/was SICK. That short hair represented cancer and chemo and treatment. Illness. Close to death's door. Today, I bleached my hair. If I'm going to have short hair, I'm going to OWN IT and ROCK IT. <br />
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I have to admit, there are times that I look in the mirror and I am terrified by what I see. It is a reminder that life is not normal, that I am not the same, that I am broken. And I HATE IT. What cancer does is it robs you of your sanity. Every time I sneeze or get a bruise or my shoulders hurt, I think "Does this mean something BIG and BAD?" <br />
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...And then I talk myself off a cliff. Breathe. I am alive. I will WIN. I will OVERCOME. And I will LIVE every day as if this is all I have. Because maybe today is my last. And, really, perhaps it's your last, my dear reader. None of us ever know. Because life is normal, until it's not. And when that day comes is anyone's guess.<br />
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So today, rock on, warrior.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-57322545084643694482016-05-08T17:21:00.000-07:002016-05-08T17:21:09.250-07:00How to teach our children to love their bodiesHere's a fabulous article from my favorite guest writer. I'm dealing with trying to parent my daughters through the tough teen and tween years. Developing a positive body image is part of that and it is HARD. Here, Chris offers up an important, wise and timely article, from a guy's perspective.<br />
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<strong>From A Guy's Perspective: Body Image Issues & Good Parenting </strong><br />
<strong>by Lizzy Smith and Chris</strong> <br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> May 09, 2016 </span> </div>
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<div class="justifyMe" id="justifyMe">
<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/635983496172404747635540158910907927Fotolia_61309990_XS.jpg"><img alt="635540158910907927Fotolia_61309990_XS.jpg" height="240" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/635983496172404747635540158910907927Fotolia_61309990_XS.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px;" width="426" /></a>My favorite guy guest-writer opines about one of my favorite topics du jour: body issues and how to deal with it as parents. Chris is wise and hearing from the male side of the aisle is always interesting and helpful. And on this one, Chris does not disappoint.<br />
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<strong><u>The Unmanageable Body Image</u></strong>by Chris, guest blogger<br />
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Many of us struggle our entire lives with body-image issues, mostly involving shame, embarrassment, or simply wishing contrary to fact and reason that some feature was different. How, as parents, can we hope to give our children enthusiasm, take away the hurtful words of peers, or simply ignore or suppress these feelings, when we continue to make the same kinds of judgments about ourselves, and we give credit to the judgments expressed by others?<br />
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<strong>A child’s feelings can be as fragile as a moth’s wings</strong><br />
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Feelings of some diminishment of self-worth based on visual appearance and comparison to others are near universal. They aren’t universal. There are people who care nothing about their own appearance or what others’ judgments may be about their appearance. They’re the exception, maybe an enviable one, but not part of my own experience as a person or as a parent. I also can’t deal, within a few printed words, with manifestations of self-doubt that take the form or harmful behaviors like self-mutilation, such as cutting, or eating disorders that can destroy health. If a behavior based in body self-image is getting in the way of not just enjoyment of life but also getting in the way of doing the things we need to do to be productive and social people, then professional intervention is called for.<br />
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As a parent, the key is probably to model the behavior we want to see in our children, and to seek professional help if these negative thoughts begin to get in the way of the rest of life.<br />
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The challenge is that as adults we’re often continuing to harbor our own self-doubts. It should come as no surprise then that our children are unlikely to confide in us their own doubts about themselves. I remember at age five looking in the mirror, being upset with what I saw, and telling my mother that my head was too big. It seems completely silly today, but at age five, it was a personal crisis. Ultimately, and likely very quickly, I got over that worry and grew a body that fit my head in more pleasing proportion, and probably never again mentioned to my mother any dissatisfaction with my physical body. So my concerns ended there? No, not even close, but I began to learn acceptance. I grew up with two parents in the house, and I’m sure that I never mentioned anything like that to my father. He would have considered anything short of a compound fracture (broken bone protruding from the skin) to be frivolous.<br />
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How do we help our children become comfortable not just in their own skins, but with their own skins?<br />
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<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/from-a-guys-perspective-body-image-issues--good-parenting" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-17808790379513338792016-05-06T06:08:00.000-07:002016-05-06T06:08:41.321-07:00Setting boundaries: Sticking up for ourselves is a really good ideaOh, heart be still. This is one topic I am beyond passionate about-- setting boundaries! This holds true for all relationships in our lives-- human or otherwise. Because if we put up with horrible behavior, or behavior that hurts us, we pay a huge price for it. My latest via Divorced Moms.<br />
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<strong>Ready To End Up With A Jerk? Let Him Treat You Like Shit </strong><br />
<strong>by Lizzy Smith</strong> <br />
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<span class="colourMeInverse" style="color: #5bc236;"> May 06, 2016 </span> </div>
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<a href="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/635981099200129017635649157438286545Fotolia_62674579_XS.jpg"><img alt="635649157438286545Fotolia_62674579_XS.jpg" src="http://cdn1.divorcedmoms.com/cm-dm-imgupload/635981099200129017635649157438286545Fotolia_62674579_XS.jpg" height="193" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px;" width="344" /></a>Tonight, I am horrified. I just spoke with a friend, “Dana” at a support group. Here was her question:</div>
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“I’m dating this guy that I’m super into. He is dating and sleeping with other women and has told me this. This really hurts and I’ve tried to be ok with it but I’m not. It really hurts. Am I being selfish for wanting monogamy?”</div>
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I almost fell out of my chair. And then I REALLY almost fell out of my chair when I heard others in the support group hem and haw. Many of the comments were a variation of “maybe.”</div>
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Are you fucking kidding me? I wanted to scream. But I thought better of it. Instead, I tried to be somewhat civil but I apparently came on too strong. I told her that…</div>
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<ul>
<li>You are NOT being selfish EVER for expecting a guy to treat you well.</li>
<li>If a relationship hurts, you (EVERYONE) should RUN and NEVER look back. That is true for a guy one is dating, a friend, an employer, neighbors, a religion… Because relationships that hurt are abusive.</li>
<li>You should set high standards and boundaries and know that if those people (or entities) in your life violates them, hanging around is a really bad idea.</li>
<li>You owe no one apologies for sticking up for yourself.</li>
<li>You should trust your instincts and not be afraid to act on them.</li>
<li>If he’s sleeping with other women, he’s just not that into you. Because if he was, he wouldn’t be out there looking for better. (I mean, if that’s ok with her, she either has super low self-esteem to put up with this or then she’s not “that into him” either.)</li>
<li>Expecting monogamy is not all that high a standard to expect. (Sure, initially, if one sleeps with a guy super fast, you can't expect monogamy. But if you've been dating for awhile and he's still sleeping with others <em>and not even making an effort to hide it from you, </em>that says a lot for where he thinks your relationship is heading. If you're totally hip with that, proceed. But then again, why are you in a support group?)</li>
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<a href="http://divorcedmoms.com/blogs/lizzy-smilez/ready-to-end-up-with-a-jerk-let-him-treat-you-like-shit" target="_blank">Keep reading...</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953522783320403886.post-84923433232072229802016-05-05T21:44:00.001-07:002016-05-05T21:44:50.406-07:00Here's what I learned from joining Muscles for Myeloma (Thanks for the opportunity, Myeloma Crowd!)My latest via<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/" target="_blank"> Myeloma Crowd</a>. Enjoy!<br />
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<img alt="LIZ-AND-PARENTS" class="attachment-main-slider size-main-slider wp-post-image no-display appear" height="336" src="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/LIZ-AND-PARENTS-702x336.png?1dc28f" title="Muscles for Myeloma – Here’s What I Learned" width="702" /> <br />
<h1 class="post-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/muscles-myeloma-heres-learned/" target="_blank">Muscles for Myeloma – Here’s What I Learned</a><span class="s1"><br /><a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/author/lizzy-smith/" target="_blank">BY LIZZY SMITH</a></span></h1>
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<span class="s1"><a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Muscles-for-Myeloma-Logo-300x300.png?1dc28f" rel="attachment wp-att-12566"><img alt="myeloma" class="alignleft wp-image-12566 size-full no-display appear" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Muscles-for-Myeloma-Logo-300x300.png?1dc28f" srcset="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Muscles-for-Myeloma-Logo-300x300-150x150.png 150w, http://www.myelomacrowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Muscles-for-Myeloma-Logo-300x300.png 300w" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="s1">On Saturday, Salt Lake City’s Muscles for Myeloma Team participated in a 5k. It was a beautiful day and I finished the race! I started off with thousands of others and thought… what if I try to run this thing? I did. And then I walked. For me, it ended up being a run-walk combo. Before getting multiple myeloma, I ran five miles a day. So not being able to run three miles without walking was disappointing. Did I deserve the medal they were handing out post-race? The answer was YES! For heaven’s sake, I completed my third stem cell transplant (yes, THREE) just a few months ago. I was moving and improving, hooray for all of us who do our best. I may still be weak but each day, I’m getting stronger. One day at a time, one step at a time.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Leading up to Saturday’s race was about two months of <a href="http://give.crowdcare.org/muscles2016" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e54e53;">Muscles for Myeloma</span></a> where I joined my fellow myeloma warriors and supporters from around the country as we vowed to get moving and get fit. Since I was eight weeks from getting discharged from the hospital, just getting to the fitness center was a big goal for me. But I did it most every day, walking the track with my dad, then going to Florida and walking along the beach with my husband. And as the weather improved, power walking through the tulips at the lovely Thanksgiving Point gardens nearby.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">On Friday night (the day prior to the race), I hosted dinner at my house for our Muscles for Myeloma team, neighbors, and family. It was fabulous getting together with people I love and admire.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Here’s what I learned from this experience:</span></div>
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<li class="li2"><span class="s1">Local businesses rock! Over the past month, I stopped by restaurants, carwashes and bakeries and asked for donations to use as door prizes at my dinner. I was so touched by their generosity. I gathered up some 45 gift cards and more from the likes of: Harley Davidson Timpanogos in Lindon (they donated a backpack stuffed with goodies), Paradise Bakery (100 cookies for the buffet table), Kneaders, Cubby’s, Mr Hotshine Carwash, Avenue Bakery in American Fork, Culvers and Zaxby’s. </span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s1">Small donations add up. Every person who came to my dinner Friday night made a monetary donation, which totaled over $500 that went straight to the Myeloma Crowd Research Initiative (<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/mcri"><span class="s2"><span style="color: #e54e53;">www.myelomacrowd.org/mcri</span></span></a>). These funds are supporting two important clinical trials that just may be our cure!</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s1">“By the yard it’s hard, but by the inch it’s a cinch.” This is one of my dad’s favorite sayings and it is true! Even if you’re not feeling strong or well, try to get a little exercise every day. When I started out, a mile was HARD! But I am improving and can easily walk/run over three miles. I will continue my quest to do a little more and be a little better every day (or at least most days).</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s1">Myeloma warriors are amazing people (and so are those that support us). Cancer is really horrible, but cancer survivors are amazing and I am blessed to meet so many new friends who inspire me.</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s1">Empowerment is possible. Even as a cancer survivor, feeling powerful is possible. I feel it every time I exercise, or raise funds for myeloma research, or learn more about my disease so I’m better able to defeat it. I am not one to sit on the sidelines, I need to do something! And getting involved with the Myeloma Crowd gives me a purpose in life.</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s1">Life can still be awesome, even if one has cancer. I live life in ways that I never did when I was healthy. Each day is a blessing. Each bit of good news is something I celebrate. And as new drugs are approved, new combos are tested, and progress is made, I feel hope. </span></li>
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<span class="s1">While the initial Muscles for Myeloma campaign has ended, <strong>the program is staying open indefinitely due to popular demand. </strong>We have some myeloma friends who are joining summer and fall events and have suggested that fitness is never over. We agree! So far, we’ve raised over $20,000 for the MCRI! Now before we rest on our laurels, let’s keep moving. Let’s keep focused on staying as healthy as possible, combating this disease each day, and finding strength and hope through each other.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">And if you want to donate, click <a href="https://give.crowdcare.org/fundraise?fcid=517625" target="_blank">on my page</a>! Your deduction is tax deductible and will help us CURE Myeloma. The<a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/mcri" target="_blank"> MCRI</a> is funding two clinical trials that may be curative and they are happening now! I promise, it is NOT going into the BIG BLACK hole called "cancer research." You can track this one! Thank you, my dearest supporters.</span></div>
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Read the original article <a href="http://www.myelomacrowd.org/author/lizzy-smith/" target="_blank">here</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752853644934935657noreply@blogger.com1