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Andrea Barnett Budin · 06-12-2013, 04:49 PM

QUICK EXPLANATION -- re #13 for me.

When I was dx I was full of certainty that I would survive. Because of my weird spiritual revelation the day before my mastectomy. Did I tell you all about that? Must have. Somewhere...

Anyway, 3 yrs later when "I" caught my metastasis -- throughout my liver (liver enzymes very very slightly elevated, not to worry I kept hearing from docs) anyway, I digress. Who me? It's what I do.

My friend said to me, You'll be fine. I don't know, I offered warily. You did it before, you'll do it again. You don't understand, I explained (I'd been reading up) I have less than a 15% chance of surviving. Maybe for a year. My friend shot back, So there you go!!! You are #13. That's my lucky # and -- I'm giving it to you! You will be among the 15% who survive!

She went out and ordered a rhinestone pin #13 and in a short while gave it to me. I keep it by my sink, to look at and remind me every day.

Then the #13 started appearing in my life, and Paul's. At the bakery, I was #13. The medication to give myself daily injections (SIL doc came and did the honors) was Fed Exed to me. The man came to the door. I ran to answer the bell, left my glasses behind. He hands me the package and the clipboard. That's it. Just sign right here. I could barely see. He tapped the pen at the spot and said, Right here. YOU'RE #13. And on and on 13 kept coming into our lives.

We decided it was the Universe saying, You're going to be fine. You're #13. You're going to live! 13 is a sign. From the Universe!

So that's nice Neddy that you and I share this lucky #. Paul's license plate now has his initials -- and the number 13!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has proved to be a blessing...

ANDI

06-12-2013, 04:49 PM	#36
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Re: Finding your power...! QUICK EXPLANATION -- re #13 for me. When I was dx I was full of certainty that I would survive. Because of my weird spiritual revelation the day before my mastectomy. Did I tell you all about that? Must have. Somewhere... Anyway, 3 yrs later when "I" caught my metastasis -- throughout my liver (liver enzymes very very slightly elevated, not to worry I kept hearing from docs) anyway, I digress. Who me? It's what I do. My friend said to me, You'll be fine. I don't know, I offered warily. You did it before, you'll do it again. You don't understand, I explained (I'd been reading up) I have less than a 15% chance of surviving. Maybe for a year. My friend shot back, So there you go!!! You are #13. That's my lucky # and -- I'm giving it to you! You will be among the 15% who survive! She went out and ordered a rhinestone pin #13 and in a short while gave it to me. I keep it by my sink, to look at and remind me every day. Then the #13 started appearing in my life, and Paul's. At the bakery, I was #13. The medication to give myself daily injections (SIL doc came and did the honors) was Fed Exed to me. The man came to the door. I ran to answer the bell, left my glasses behind. He hands me the package and the clipboard. That's it. Just sign right here. I could barely see. He tapped the pen at the spot and said, Right here. YOU'RE #13. And on and on 13 kept coming into our lives. We decided it was the Universe saying, You're going to be fine. You're #13. You're going to live! 13 is a sign. From the Universe! So that's nice Neddy that you and I share this lucky #. Paul's license plate now has his initials -- and the number 13!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has proved to be a blessing... ANDI __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...