Just for fun...

[VirginiaGirl]

It really is interesting to read about everyone and see that in spite of all the diverse backgrounds there are many commonalities, too! I am 41, and have just hit my 2 year survivor mark. My husband, Jim (who is 54), and I have been married for 10 years, and we have a blended family. My stepsons are 27, 21 & 19. They are all smart, handsome, loving young men. The oldest is staying with us for a few months and helping out, the other 2 are in Albuquerque and not sure where they'll be in a few months! Then we have a 9 year old girl together, who adores her older brothers and they adore her. How lucky could I get? This cancer journey has definitely brought us closer, and made my marriage so much stronger! Jim & I used to fantasize a lot about where we'd like to live, what we'd like to do in retirement - including buying & running a campground, living & boating by the water, etc. Now we don't talk about it much, life plans focus on month-to-month right now. Jim is an art therapist/teacher commuting 1 1/2 hrs each way, so he's trying to get a job closer to home for next school year even though it will mean a big paycut. I have worked in mental health the last 15 years, including with mentally ill women, as an in-home therapist, at the juvenile detention center, and for the last 6-7 years as the school social worker for the alternative high school for kids who've been long-term suspended or expelled from area school systems for drugs, weapons, fighting, etc. This has been my dream job, and I haven't been able to figure out what else I might want to do if the day comes to move on. Sometimes I think I'd like to be able to stay home, but then I go to work and talk to the students, and I get so completely out of myself and my own worries. It's definitely challenging, but I laugh A LOT! (Plus, I find out more local hangouts to put on my list of Places My Daughter Will Not Be Allowed To Go When She Gets Older!) My co-workers & boss have been phenomenally supportive, too, I wouldn't have made it without them. And, I'm very grateful for the support and valuable info I've received on this network from all you great people!
Blessings and Peace,

[Colleen007]

What a great thread...and some very inspiring stories! I graduated from Northeastern University in Boston with a degree in business administration. I have worked for the past 10 years (up until my diagnosis and subsequent disability leave) as a client manager at a major financial services company in the Boston area. I loved my job, but since I was diagnosed at Stage 4 while 34 weeks pregnant with my daughter, I have remained out on long-term disability. So, my latest "job" is concentrating on getting/being well and being Mom to my now 16 month old daughter and 6 1/2 year old son. I met my husband on a blind date in 1995 and knew on the 2nd date that this was the man I was going to marry. Next month, we will celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary and my husband and I will also both be celebrating our 40th birthdays next month.

[cafe1084]

I think I've mentioned most of my stuff in previous posts, so I'll just put it all together this time. I'm 36 years old and have 3 sons- Gabe 14, Andy 13, and Adam 8. They are the reasons I get up every morning! I have always worked in healthcare, except for a stint in a meat packing plant when I moved out to Nebraska for a very long, cold winter. I was a nursing assistant in high school and after. I was an LPN for 13 years, working with pediatric and adult ventilator patients, hospice, physician offices, hospitals, and long term care for most of those years through a staffing agency. I loved my job and I was great at it, but decided to settle down and landed in a nursing home/rehab facility. I took the staff development/Infection control/restorative position the year before I completed my BSN and that is what I continue to do. Ive started taking classes toward my master's degree. I expect to be a nurse practitioner in a few years. I have been a yo-yo dieter for many years, finally losing and keeping off 80 lbs 6 years ago. I have had lots of trouble carrying pregnancies to full-term, having had 2 2nd trimester miscarriages before my oldest son was born and one after my 2nd son. Some other symptoms have led me to the self-diagnoses of PCOS since my doc wouldn't give it to me lol...and I think Im a super duper type A personality and I never relax....and I think alot of this has contributed to my current condition.

My kids and I go to the Outer Banks NC for vacation every year with my family. We love roller coasters and spend alot of time outdoors in the summer. The 2 oldest sons dad passed away 4 years ago in a body shop accident and the youngest lost his dad 3 years ago to alcoholism. My sons are all very active in boy scouts, chorus, and sports.

I love to read and I write poetry. I love to cook and spend time with family and friends. I have been dating a guy for 5 years who had Hodgkins Lymphoma as a child and I thank God each day my children are healthy and happy. I have too many interests to really be great at any of them, but i love them all the same. I have 2 cats who "followed" my kids home from school...fatty the cat who may hold the record for heaviest house cat, sasha the cat who is aloof and spiteful...can't get rid of her because no one else would put up with it! Then we have Spring, a lab mix who was dumped in
a mine shaft as a puppy with her 3 siblings and her dead mother and we were lucky enough to adopt her from this great lady who has devoted her life to animal rescue and placement.

I thank God everyday he opened my eyes to all that I have and all I would miss if i weren't here.

[aaklwalker]

What an inspiring bunch you all are. I am a commercial property manager. I manage shopping centers in the north Dallas area. I am 43, have been fighting this for a year and was just diagnosed stage IV. I have the most fabulous family a gal could ask for. My husband is a rock - I have been able to continue working because he has done everything else , cooking, cleaning and remodeling our house at the same time. I have a 23 year old son who married a wonderful girl last month and a 19 year old daughter at Texas Tech.

[cmljungren]

I have enjoyed reading the posts on this thread! I'm a faithful lurker and have learned much from this forum. Thank you to all who contribute their knowledge and experience! I've been inspired many times by all of you. :>)
I am a RN and have worked in the ICU setting. I took a little over 12 yrs off to stay home full time with my 4 kids. Through my treatment I realized that nursing essential hasn't changed....yes new equipment/meds...but the skill of nursing is the same and I felt despite my long "break" I could return! SO, in Jan 2006 I started back to work in the PACU (post anesthesia care unit...fancy name for recovery room!). I love my job and have found a way to give back and pay forward all the wonderful support I received during my treatment.
I am 42. As I mentioned I have 4 kids....14 girl, 11 boy, 9 girl ,7 boy. My husband and I have been married for 18yrs.
I love to get together with girlfriends and enjoy a good meal/good wine and conversation. I enjoy reading and have been crafty in the past but with kids and work...all hobbies are on hold! Mostly I drive kids to and fro, manage the house and family and work.....that sums it up!


It has been nice to "meet" all of you!!

[janet11]

Hey aaklwalker. My younger daughter (23) graduated from Texas Tech last year and her husband graduates in May (*smile*).

I also work in North Dallas -- for IBM. I'm a computer nerd -- no 2 ways about it. I'm 58 and have been married 10 years. Yes, at 47, I married for the first time. It does happen (*grin*). I married a widower with 2 beautiful daughters (ages 12 and 14) who are now MY daughters in everything except blood. Oh yes, the elder is now 25 and she's also graduating college this May. Yippee (*laugh*).

[caya]

I am 48 years old, diagnosed in Oct. 06 ( breast reduction, plastic surgeon found the tumour). I am married to my husband Allan for 24 years, and we have two lovely daughters. Amanda is 21 and at the Univeristy of Western Ontario in London, Ontario studing media, and Cassie is 18, will graduate high school this June and will be attending university somewhere in Canada for journalism.
I have a degree in English/French, worked for Cartier ( the jewellery company) at the Canadian Head Office in Toronto as the public relations assistant for nearly 2 years in the early 80's when I graduated. For the past 15 years my husband and I have run a ladies shoes import/distribution company, selling better grade shoes across Canada. We have represented the Bandolino brand in the past, and currently have the Van Eli and Sesto Meucci lines for Canada. I am lucky in that we work mostly out of our house, we have a warehouse that we share that does all our shipping, so I can do the paperwork from my home office. I accompany my husband to trade shows etc. where we see our customers to help him sell.
I took singing lessons as a teenager and performed in many vocal competitions and musicals when I was younger, and now sing in a choir that performs at retirement homes, hospitals etc. I took a leave from the choir for now (until I finish the chemo). I enjoy reading, walking, baking.
This site has been a great help.
Hugs to all,
Caya