Finding our 'mojo' was this weeks blog topic ... and I've been procrastinating about writing it ever since I read Cindy's frank and honest posting. I can see how it would be difficult to 'feel' like a woman when you 'look' like a boy - I didn't have that problem. I still looked like a woman even though I was minus one long leg and a hip and pelvic bone on the right side of my body. I do remember wondering if my husband, Rick, would still love me after losing so much of me to cancer. I'm happy to say he did and he does! Finding my mojo again wasn't hard because apparently my husband didn't know it was missing!
It was quite funny when Rick and I went to the hospital for one of my regular CT scans about two years after my surgery and we started chatting with a young man in the waiting room. His wife was going to have the same operation I had. When I went in for my scan the young man candidly told my husband that he was going to make an appointment after his wife's surgery to become a 'eunich'... He explained that he loved his wife so much he was willing to give up his sex drive for the rest of their lives seeing as he was sure that she would no longer be capable of having or enjoying sex after losing her leg, hip and pelvis. Rick started to laugh... and he said, "You may want to cancel that appointment partner!" He was overjoyed when my husband told him that not only was intimacy still possible and enjoyable but we were thinking of having another child as well. Funny how we're put into certain places at just the right time to make a difference in someone's life. (And what a difference my husband made that day - he saved a man from losing his mojo!!)
Today in the grocery store parking lot an older man approached me with a smile...(have you ever noticed that kids and seniors have the complete freedom to approach strangers with unabashed frankness?)... We chatted about the gold medal Olympic hockey game we'd both watched and then out of the blue he said, "I used to have a one-legged lover in Yugoslavia. I loved her very much. She was the best lover I've ever had." What do you say to that? At that point in our conversation I was relieved when my husband came back from putting the grocery cart away. I just smiled and said, "My husband feels the same way I'm sure!" I'm glad I gave him the opportunity to bring back a fond memory...even as old as he was he still had his mojo working in his memories.
Maybe the lesson we need to take from these experiences is to go out and make some 'mojo' memories with the one we love while we've got it going because one day we'll be the ones approaching strangers in a parking lot and saying, "You know you look just like this person I used to love..."
Monday, March 1, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
So this is blogging...
Can blogging be used to share hopes dreams and fears? I hope so because I have a fear of computer lingo. Does anyone else have trouble navigating through all the technical jargon of PDF's and JPEG's? I wonder if I will ever understand the 'secret' code my son uses to load programs onto my desktop (and how did a vertical computer screen get named for a horizontal object like a desk top anyway?) Such things are beyond my understanding but that's why I have children - to make the transition into the world of computers just a little easier. I am however, eternally grateful for my grade 10 typing class! Thank you Mrs. Maxwell wherever you are...
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Breast cancer for me is "A Gift Without The Bow."
Welcome to Author to Author's Blog! I want to introduce myself to everyone, to let you know who I am, where I have been, and where I am going. Glenda and I hope you all will enjoy visiting us, tell others about our blog, and also come back to read more.
My name is Cindy Papale, and I am a breast cancer survivor. My life totally changed in July, 2000 when I heard the words for the first time, “your biopsy is positive for breast cancer.” Because I worked for a breast surgeon for eleven of my twenty-seven years at the University of Miami my first thought was: How bad is my cancer? Then I thought am I going to die.
I was diagnosed with a stage I, multi-focal, invasive left breast cancer. The first procedure I had was a lumpectomy followed by a modified radical mastectomy, and three months later my right breast was removed prophylactically. I had no breasts for the first five years as I had many concerns about going under anesthetic, rejecting the implant, and worrying how they would look. After having the opportunity to meet an artist/photographer and his friend who is a body painter I decided to be daring and have my body painted so that I could inspire other survivors and to let them know that they too, can still look beautiful after having both or one breast removed. AS THE COOL PAINT BRUSHED ACROSS MY BODY I FLASHED BACK TO THE DAY I WAS WHEELED INTO THE OPERATING ROOM TO HAVE BOTH MY BREASTS REMOVED. HAVING MY BODY PAINTED HAS TRULY BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SHARE MY DREAM OF HOW THE BEAUTY OF BREAST CANCER CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I hated not feeling like a woman, but I overcame this one day after interviewing a young girl for the book I was writing. After talking about breast reconstruction she decided to “flash me her breasts” and told me that I should get a pair. What a shock that was. Needless to say, it is because of her that I now have size "B" boobs!
For me having had breast cancer is “A gift without the bow.” The not- so- great part of the gift is that I eventually lost both my breasts. The best part is that I was able to choose the size breast I wanted and to give back the blessings I received by speaking to high school and college age students letting them know that being proactive with their body is important, and if they felt uncomfortable with the doctor they are seeing it is okay to question someone of authority. Seek a second opinion if they have to, but be proactive!
After speaking for two years to the students, I wanted to do more. I decided to write my book ‘The Empty Cup Runneth Over,’ which is a treasure trove of information to help inspire, empower, and educate young women and men about breast cancer. To date, I have spoken to hundreds of thousands of students as well as to middle school students.
Visit http://www.theemptycuprunnethover.com/ for more information. I will tell you be ready to be on my site for at least a couple of hours. The inspirational videos, radio shows, and other survivor stories are amazing, not to mention all the exchange links of fantastic information.
Currently, I am writing a movie screenplay and book based off my movie. Be ready for that soon as well.
Cindy Papale/author of The Empty Cup Runneth Over/breast cancer survivor/associate producer
http://bit.Ly/empty
My name is Cindy Papale, and I am a breast cancer survivor. My life totally changed in July, 2000 when I heard the words for the first time, “your biopsy is positive for breast cancer.” Because I worked for a breast surgeon for eleven of my twenty-seven years at the University of Miami my first thought was: How bad is my cancer? Then I thought am I going to die.
I was diagnosed with a stage I, multi-focal, invasive left breast cancer. The first procedure I had was a lumpectomy followed by a modified radical mastectomy, and three months later my right breast was removed prophylactically. I had no breasts for the first five years as I had many concerns about going under anesthetic, rejecting the implant, and worrying how they would look. After having the opportunity to meet an artist/photographer and his friend who is a body painter I decided to be daring and have my body painted so that I could inspire other survivors and to let them know that they too, can still look beautiful after having both or one breast removed. AS THE COOL PAINT BRUSHED ACROSS MY BODY I FLASHED BACK TO THE DAY I WAS WHEELED INTO THE OPERATING ROOM TO HAVE BOTH MY BREASTS REMOVED. HAVING MY BODY PAINTED HAS TRULY BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SHARE MY DREAM OF HOW THE BEAUTY OF BREAST CANCER CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I hated not feeling like a woman, but I overcame this one day after interviewing a young girl for the book I was writing. After talking about breast reconstruction she decided to “flash me her breasts” and told me that I should get a pair. What a shock that was. Needless to say, it is because of her that I now have size "B" boobs!
For me having had breast cancer is “A gift without the bow.” The not- so- great part of the gift is that I eventually lost both my breasts. The best part is that I was able to choose the size breast I wanted and to give back the blessings I received by speaking to high school and college age students letting them know that being proactive with their body is important, and if they felt uncomfortable with the doctor they are seeing it is okay to question someone of authority. Seek a second opinion if they have to, but be proactive!
After speaking for two years to the students, I wanted to do more. I decided to write my book ‘The Empty Cup Runneth Over,’ which is a treasure trove of information to help inspire, empower, and educate young women and men about breast cancer. To date, I have spoken to hundreds of thousands of students as well as to middle school students.
Visit http://www.theemptycuprunnethover.com/ for more information. I will tell you be ready to be on my site for at least a couple of hours. The inspirational videos, radio shows, and other survivor stories are amazing, not to mention all the exchange links of fantastic information.
Currently, I am writing a movie screenplay and book based off my movie. Be ready for that soon as well.
Cindy Papale/author of The Empty Cup Runneth Over/breast cancer survivor/associate producer
http://bit.Ly/empty
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
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