Angelina Jolie Shares Her Second Surgery With The New York Times

Angelina Jolie has stepped forward for a second time sharing her experience with doing everything she can to prevent cancer.  This time she journals of her heartfelt decision to try and prevent ovarian cancer.  Please select this link from the New York Times and share it with those you love.

Her words speak reality, uncertainty and hope.

I am one of thousands of grateful women who thank her for raising awareness of ovarian cancer and how we can strive to prevent it. 

God Bless Angelina.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/opinion/angelina-jolie-pitt-diary-of-a-surgery.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1409232722000&bicmet=1419773522000


FOR BRCA EDUCATION AND SUPPORT:
http://www.penncancer.org/basser/
www.facingourrisk.org

Here are more links from news media about Angelina Jolie's decision:

KLG and Hoda on the Today Show
http://m.today.com/klgandhoda/klg-angelinas-decision-surgery-personal-brave-2D80565927

Time,com
http://time.com/3756167/angelina-jolie-ovaries-removed-cancer/

NBC News
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/angelina-jolie-has-ovaries-removed-stop-cancer-begins-menopause-n329031

Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/24/angelina-jolie-ovaries-surgery_n_6928748.html

BBC News
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32030154

CNN
http://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2015/03/24/mxp-sot-angelina-jolie-ovaries-removed-questions.hln


Peace and Blessings

Servivorgirl

I Didn't Know I Loved Gorillas So Much

Tonight something entirely unexpected happened after watching a "60 Minutes" segment, I knelt down on my knees sobbing.  It wasn't just one of those short hard cries that somehow finds a way to end with a giggle or sigh of relief.  No, this was one of those deeply sorrowful tearful, painful, agonizing moments when no solace could be found, except through God.

My cat doesn't know what to do during these rare moments because I cry out loud and can't breathe. It reminded me of the kind of crying that comes when someone you love dies.  I got shocked when I saw my red bleary eyed face in the mirror as I went to grab a tissue. Marilyn was probably hiding under the bed, poor kitty.

How did this evolve, you way wonder.  It was just a normal evening. I had turned on the television and found an episode already streaming on "60 Minutes" about a man who wants to save all the animals in captivity. Wonderful.  His name is Damian Aspinall.  Mind you, the segment had already begun playing and the images I saw were amazing.  I had missed the introductions. 

This man is frolicking with apes and playing with tigers.  Wow. I hear about his mission to end all zoos, including his, and I think "Fabulous"! Truly it is a Godly gift that any human can play with gorillas and live to tell about it.  This man is very special, I am thinking.

We see him teaching gorillas to live in the jungle after being in captivity.  Then this man takes them to a private island where these Godly creatures live freely and are safe. Upon his return, the gorillas are happy to see him, one especially.  The one gorilla loved this man so much he literally would not let him go. I am grinning from ear to ear, my heart is warm and fuzzy. 

Then we see this man has started, but not finished a bridge.  This bridge is the bridge to the real wild. It would allow the gorillas to leave this safe island haven of freedom in Africa. We are told that if they cross this bridge the gorillas will no longer be safe, they might die.  

I do not have the answers but I do know what isn't right.  Those gorillas loved him!  They trusted him and he let them walk the plank.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/zoo-gorilla-family-freed-to-wild-60-minutes/

Dear Damian Aspinall,

Please no longer release the animals that love you, that trust you, into the wild.  Allow them to remain living with joy on your family estate in Africa and pledge your resources to stop animal cruelty and poaching.

Your ideal of closing all zoos is admirable. I pray you have learned that your beloved Gorillas need you to keep them safe on your island sanctuary.  You were given an exceptional gift from God that allows large wild animals to trust and love you.  Please honor that love and trust.

Love, 

Servivorgirl

Cancer.net Mobile APP

How are you today?

I was doing some research on organizing tips, such as for medical records, and I found this great APP from Cancer.Net!  Where was this when I was in front line chemo?  HA

I highly recommend that you take a look at this, whether you are a caregiver or a patient.

It is a repository of sorts for tracking symptoms and side effects of treatments, medications, notes and issues related to your condition and a resource with links to important resources within the Cancer.Net website.

I remember back in 2010 that it was a nightmare keeping logs, lists of meds, notes for doctors and finding resources. It was a job in the most literal sense to manage having cancer.  This APP could have saved me and my family a lot of extra stress, time and effort.

http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/managing-your-care/mobile-applications

I am creating my symptoms tracker. This tool has common symptoms pre-loaded for selection and you can customize symptoms as well. I believe I will need to set reminders to go through them at the same time each evening and rate them, until this becomes a habit.  I have promised some people that I will report how this APP helps me.

I am a little excited about this because having these details readily available to your oncology nurse and doctor could greatly improve your overall treatment experience.  Especially at times when we are really tired and suffering, putting the symptoms into words can be difficult.   I hope you find this helpful.

Peace and blessings

Servivorgirl