Eagle Wings

This is the kind of story you need to read about.
I am going to treatment today and this inspires me.

Not many people get a picture of this proud bird


Snuggled up next to them!



Freedom and Jeff


Freedom and I have been together 11 years this summer.


She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings.


Her left wing doesn't open all the way even after surgery,


It was broken in 4 places.


She's my baby.



When Freedom came in she could not stand


And both wings were broken. She was


Emaciated and covered in lice. We made the


Decision to give her a chance at life, so I took


Her to the vet's office.  From then


On, I was always around her. We had her in a


Huge dog carrier with the top off,  and it


Was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to


Lay in.  I used to sit and talk to her,


Urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay


There looking at me with those big brown eyes.


We also had to tube feed her for weeks.



This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still


Couldn't stand. It got to the point where the


Decision was made to euthanize her


If she couldn't stand in a week. You know you don't


Want to cross that line between torture and


Rehab, and it looked like death was


Winning.  She was going to be put


Down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in


On that Thursday afternoon. I didn't want to go


To the center that Thursday, because I couldn't


Bear the thought of her being euthanized; 


But I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone


Was grinning from ear to ear. I went


Immediately back to her cage; and there she was,


Standing on her own, a big beautiful


Eagle.  She was ready to live.  I was


Just about in tears by then.  That


Was a very good day.



We knew she could never fly,  so the director


Asked me to glove train her.


I got her used to the glove,


And then to jesses, and we started


Doing education programs for schools


In western  Washington . 


  We wound up in the newspapers,


Radio (believe it or not) and some


TV.   Miracle Pets even did a show


About us.



In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with


Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I had stage 3,


Which is not good (one major organ plus


Everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of


Chemo.  Lost the hair - the whole


Bit.  I missed a lot of work. When I


Felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey


And take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would


Also come to me in my dreams and help me fight


The cancer. This happened time and time again.



Fast forward to November 2000



The day after Thanksgiving,


I went in for my last checkup.


I was told that if the cancer was not


All gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last


Option was a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they


Did the tests; and I had to come back Monday for


The results.  I went in Monday, and I was


Told that all the cancer was gone.




So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and


Take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty


And cold. I went to her flight and jessed her


Up, and we went out front to the top of the


Hill.  I hadn't said a word to


Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me


And wrapped both


Her wings around me to where I


could feel them pressing in on my back 


(I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she


touched my nose with her beak and stared into my


eyes, and we just stood there like that


for I don't know how long .  That was a


magic moment.  We have been soul mates ever


since she came in.  This is a very special bird.



On a side note:  I have had people who


were sick come up to us when we are out, and


Freedom has some kind of hold on


them.  I once had a guy who was


terminal come up to us and


I let him hold her.


His knees just about buckled and he


swore he could feel her power course through his


body. I have so many stories like that..



I never forget the honor I have of being so close


to such a magnificent spirit as


Freedom.



Hope you enjoyed this!

But they that wait upon the Lord


shall renew their strength;


they shall mount up with wings as eagles;


they shall run, and not be weary;


and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31







Cancer is  a strange cell.


You can go along for years in remission


and then one day it pops its head up again.


If you ever have it you will never be free of it.


Pray for the day there will be a permanent cure

Cheap Therapy and a full nights sleep

I slept all night last night.  This is a biggie for me.

This is a first since Sept 2011 when I found out I had cancer.

My friend Cathy called me around 8:30 and we talked for almost two hours.  I call it good cheap therapy.  We cry, and we laugh, we laugh a lot, and cry some more.  But we always hang up feeling better.

She knows what I am going through, because she has been there, done that, and got her pink slip !

She is a true survivor.   We both have been to dark places in the past as well and have come out on the other side in the light.   We have talked each other thru the tough stuff life throws at us.   She always makes me see the positive and she makes me laugh.

We met in highschool and have been friends for life. 
She has been the one I could cry to about this whole experience.   She has picked me up off the floor many times with her spirit and made me fight.

Cathy - I love you my sweet friend.
You are the true meaning of friendship !

I put on my lipstick and blush every day because of you !

Who Dat Sunday

It is a WHO DAT Sunday.  What a great game by the Saints !

I am making this  recipe later this week before chemo so I will have something to eat.   A good friend brought this to me for dinner with some cornbread a few weeks ago and it was really good.
It comes out really light - sort of like a soup.

It was Yummy !!! It is a throw in the crockpot recipe. Which means EASY COOKING for me !

Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

1 can black beans

1 can corn, undrained

1 can Rotel, undrained

1 package ranch dressing mix (I use one1/2 the mix and add more in as needed)

1 tsp cumin

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 8 oz package light cream cheese

2 chicken breasts

Drain and rinse black beans. Place chicken at bottom of pot, then pour out whole can of corn (undrained), rotel, and black beans. Top with seasonings and ranch mix. Stir together. Place cream cheese on top. Cover with lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Stir cream cheese into chili. Use 2 forks to shred chicken. Stir together and serve.  Yum !  Makes about 4 hearty adult servings.

Today is Sunday and I am still struggling with bone pan and now neuropathy in my feet and in one of my hands.    $#%^#%  Taxaol !!!!!    It is an off and on again thing........ you feet tingle like they are asleep and they feel numb or they burn.    This could go on for hours or days.    It is a strange feeling.    It keeps me up at night and makes me walk funny.   My nails still feel strange...and now I am really upset at the fact that my nails may fall off as I continue to go through treatment.  One more thing I will have to loose to this crappy cancer.

It is a beautiful day so  I am going to a health food store to pick up some supplements that are supposed to help with neuropathy and nail issues.

Happy Sunday every one....

Dark Circles

I feel like an alien today.

My hair is starting to grow back on top of my head.   Little brown and blonde sprouts of hair poking out every where.

My eyebrows and eyelashes are almost gone  :(  .....and I have dark circles under my eyes that no make up is ever gonna cover.   I saw on TV were Maybelline has a dark circle eraser for the eyes...maybe when I go to CVS to get my weekly meds today I will look for this.

My fingernails feel strange (plese dont let them fall off please dont let them fall off please dont let them fall off)....a side effect of  dose dense Taxol chemo is that your nails will fall off.  :(   So far the toenails look good....I cant wait to get a pedicure when treatment is done...I hope they wont fall off.     This treatment also has messed up my eyesight (I believe it is from all the steriods) - so I see better with out my glasses right now...how strange is that !   My doc says this will straighten out a few months (ha) after I stop treatment.  

My taste buds turn off and on at will with this treatment.   I had a grilled shrimp salad from Juliens on Friday that was truly wonderful.   But today they are on "off" and everything taste like cardboard.

It is 9 days after treatment.  I started running fever and having bone pain last night so I believe my counts are low right now.   I was hoping to feel better at this point because I have another treatment this Thursday.  The dose dense treatments are wearing me out.  I only have two more to go  so I am hanging in there.

On my agenda for today !

Pick up weekly meds
Put gas in my car
Watch the Saints game
Walk the dog if the weather holds out

Walking the Dog and a guest blog from David Haas

I am trying to get out more when I feel good.  This evening I took my Trixie out for walk around the neighborhood.   I have really been to sick to do this in a while.  I know how important it is that I do this when I can (weather permitting of course).   It is good for the dog and it is good for me.

Many people ask my - why do you work so hard while going through such an aggessive treatment ?  Why dont you just take medical leave ?    This is my way of forcing me to get up, get dressed and keep active.   Those who know me understand I have a very stressful and fast paced job.  I like it that way.  My doctor encourages me to work and stay busy as much as I am able.   There are some days I am just not able to....but it is important to be around supportive people and to MOVE when you are able. 

Attached is a great article from my guest blogger David Haas.   I met David through the various internet cancer support sites that I visit.

Here is his website....http://haasblaag.blogspot.com/

and a great article he wrote about benefits of fitness and eating healthy during and after a diagnosis of any kind of cancer. Each different cancer has its limitations, but if one can keep a healthy body, they can have a better chance to overcome this awful disease.

Physical Fitness Beneficial to Cancer Patients

Not too long ago, cancer patients were told they should rest as much as possible and not partake in physical exercise because it was believed to have an adverse effect on a patient's health. Over the years, things have changed and as physicians and cancer researchers have increased their knowledge, they have found that participating in physical fitness activities is actually beneficial to those dealing with cancer, such as breast cancer, stomach cancer or mesothelioma.

According to Cancer.org

Too much resting can actually contribute toward the weakening of the muscles, a decrease in your range of motion and loss of function. While these issues would be detrimental to anyone, they become even more so for the health of a person with cancer. If physical activity results in shortness of breath, pain or a rapidly beating heart, then it's important to reduce your activity level. But if this isn't the case, being physically active can provide you with many benefits before, during and after your cancer treatment.

Maintain Physical Ability

If you weren't bench-pressing 100 pounds before your diagnosis you're not likely to start now but you can maintain your current physical ability level or see slight improvements. This is crucial to your health and well-being, as well as your emotional strength.

Maintain Muscle Mass

Physical activity helps you maintain muscle mass which is vital to your range of motion and your ability to move and support your body. Muscles that aren't used begin to waste away and can even atrophy, which leads to pain and decreased range of motion.

Keep Your Balance

Your sense of balance is what keeps you standing upright and prevents you from falling and injuring yourself. Exercises such as yoga and Pilates help build balance, while also increasing your stamina and strength. Both exercises are also peaceful, which is good for your mind.

Decrease Certain Health Risks

Participating in physical exercise decreases the likelihood of some health risks. In addition to lowering the risk for heart disease, exercise also lowers your risk of osteoporosis, depression and anxiety, and it can lessen feelings of nausea and fatigue.

Provide Independence

When you're feeling unwell, you have to rely on others to help you with things you previously did for yourself. This can be difficult to accept sometimes, but participating in physical activity can help you maintain some independence, which is important to your emotional well being, too.

One Resolution and let me hear from you !

Every New Year's Day, I make resolutions. Does "lose weight" or "exercise more" sound familiar? I thought so.  But this year is a bit different for me. There's nothing quite like ringing in a new year with a cancer diagnosis. Suddenly those old resolutions seem lame. Not that losing weight or working out is lame. Being healthy is always a good thing. It's just that my old resolutions don't seem to matter quite so much anymore  This  year I have just one resolution: Enjoy my life.

I have learned what I expect in life isn’t necessarily what I will get. I have also developed a greater appreciation for husband, family, friends, pets, my many material/non-material blessings, ordinary days, simpler things and life in general. I have learned we must all be more adaptable because change will surely happen. Our own expectations must adapt and change as well. This doesn’t mean we must settle for less or set smaller goals. It just means we should appreciate what we have right now as well.

Cancer forced me to see these things a bit more clearly. I still make plans for the future and have expectations for where I hope to go from here. I’ve been forced to make a few alterations, just like Jimmy Stewart’s character, because as he discovered, it really is “a wonderful life” that we’ve been given.


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Happy New Year.

Nicki Boscia’s Beyond the Pink Moon Facebook page:

If it didn’t Bring you Joy,
Just Leave it Behind.

Let’s Ring in the New Year
With Good Things in Mind.

Let Every Bad Memory Go
That Brought Heartache and Pain.

And let’s Turn a New Leaf
With the Smell of New Rain.

Let’s Forget Past Mistakes
Making Amends for This Year.

Sending You These Greetings
To Bring you Hope and Cheer.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year

I am a little late on the new years post.   I am glad this year is over with and I am almost done with chemo.   I am so ready for some feel good days...and shopping. I miss shopping and just going out to eat...and just feeling good...normal.  Taking my dog for a long walk- little things that I am just to tired (or in pain) to do right now.

 I made it thru #6.   I am still having  the bone pain and it forced me to lay low all weekend....taking pain killers and trying not to get dehydrated.     Even though the meds help keep the pain somewhat at bay......  it is still very depressing to lay around all weekend snoozing on the sofa and trying to stay ahead of the pain.  Thank goodness for HGTV and the cooking channel...easy to watch when you are snoozing on the sofa and dont feel like moving.

My sweet sister in law Annette sent over a bunch of food on Sunday that she had cooked.    I did not think I was that hungry...but one bite of food led to another...and it was wonderful. I could taste it....it was delish.    I felt better and I slept better and I am sure it was because of some good home cooking.  Thanks for  doing this for me...it means so much,   I did not even have to ask...my other sister in law Judy just brought it to me.  Nothing like home cooking showing up at your front door.
I got up really early this morning and went to the grocery store.   I needed a few things (Milk, bread) - - I like to go when the store opens  and the store is empty.       I know this is pushing it...but I need to get out of the house and keep moving and try to work thru some of the bone pain.    It also helps with me with my  overall mental state as well.     It is better to go early....... Less chance of germy crowds and no waiting in lines.   A 30  minute trip WORE ME OUT.   So it will be nap time this morning.
But I am proud that I was able to do this for myself.  Little things take on a big picture when fighting cancer.

Here is to a Happy and Healthy 2012.  I do have a few things on my to do 2012  list (besides the health issues) - I will bog about them later.  

Sofa is calling me !