One Week to Go . . . Camping Dry Run!

I'm now 10 days out from the 60 mile walk and am continuing to step up my training. Last weekend I did a 4 mile uphill bike ride on Beartooth Pass, which is in Montana just outside of Yellowstone (suffice to say it was a BEAR, no pun intended).

I've been asked to give a speech at the 3 Day walk on Saturday evening about my experience with breast cancer and the journey I've been on. Of course I accepted the invitation so now I have to come up with my speech! I'll be blogging more over the next week as we get closer to the event, and also during the walk in the evenings as there is internet access for participants. The opening ceremonies are on Thursday evening, August 26 and the walk starts bright and early on Friday morning.

More later but I wanted to post this brief update! Here's a photo of me on top of Beartooth Pass getting ready to do the climb, 4 miles uphill at 10,000 feet. If I made that, the 60 mile walk will be a piece of cake (NOT). Also including some pics of the wildlife at Yellowstone and photos of camping - a FIRST for me. Maybe they won't be able to call me the Starwood Queen anymore!

Elk resting in the shade along the roadside at Yellowstone




Buffalo grazing in the meadow at Yellowstone




Dennis setting up camp for the Diva - a far cry from the Westin!



Setting up camp for the night in "Bear Country"



Gathering firewood - no Duraflame logs allowed!




Waking up from a not-so rested night's sleep but still all in one piece

4 Month Post-Surgery Checkup

I had my first quarterly checkup with the oncologist last week and all of my blood tests, including the one that measures the "tumor markers," came back with glowing results! The doctors will follow my progress for 6 years, taking blood tests on a quarterly basis to ensure that there are no cancer markers in my body.

Of course, this will be accompanied by annual mammograms per the usual guidelines. (By the way, another friend of mine scheduled her WAAAY overdue mammogram this week - so I'm now up to 40 women who have done so!!!

I'm feeling great physically, emotionally, and mentally and am now 3 weeks out from the Susan G. Komen 3Day Walk for the Cure. The Pink Divas will be documenting our progress on the walk with photos and videos so stay tuned - it's all happening the last week of August, starting with the opening ceremony on the evening of Thursday, August 26th. The walk begins at the crack o' dawn on Friday, August 27 and concludes with closing ceremonies on Sunday, August 29th.

Now I just need to keep on walking . . . and stock up on blister bandages from what I've been told!

Even Dogs Can be Divas

Our "Cuticles, Cupcakes and Cosmos" fundraiser today was fantastic. The Pink Divas raised almost $1,400 in support of our Susan G. Komen 3Day Walk for the Cure!!!!

THANK YOU to everyone who came out today, and a special recognition to our donors and our hosts at Doorway 2 the Sole Salon in Cherry Creek for donating the manicurists' time and skills to make this day possible. Diane and her girls rock! Here are some highlights from the day, including Sadie (my dog) getting her first "pet"icure, and a few minutes later almost snitching a cupcake off the tower.

Our Awesome "Manicurists for the Cure" Patty, Diane, Suzanne, and Casey



Sadie Trying to Poach a Cupcake - Caught in the Act!




Sadie the "Canine Diva" getting her first "pet"icure



Our Youngest Client (Diva in Training)



Bet You Can't Eat Just One!




Bill's very first manicure . . . just goes to show it's never too late to start being a diva!



Needless to say, a good time was had by all and everyone ended up looking fab, although a few calories heavier after the cosmos and cupcakes. We are now $1,750 away from our fundraising goal. It so so graatifying to know that we've touched so many people, and best of all I met two more women today who were overdue on their mammograms, who have promised to schedule them.

Cuticles, Cupcakes, and Cosmos

On Sunday, July 25 the Pink Divas will be holding a fundraising event called "Cuticles, Cupcakes, and Cosmos." For a $35 donation to our team fundraising for the Susan G. Komen 3Day For the Cure, participants will receieve a fabulous manicure, a cosmo (prepared by moi!), and some yummy cupcakes made by my teammates Sandy and Nan (former owners of Classic Cakes of Aspen).

For everyone in Denver reading this blog post, come one come all! The event will be held in Cherry Creek at Doorway 2 the Sole Salon, 3rd and Columbine, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

We'll also have door prizes from local merchants that will be raffled off every hour. See you on Sunday!

Exciting News!

I learned over the weekend that I've been chosen as one of 10 cancer survivors to be a flag bearer in the opening and closing ceremonies at the Susan G. Komen 3Day for the Cure in Denver next month . What an honor! I believe there are over 800 people registered to participate in the event.

We're coming down to 6 weeks pre-event and my training is going really well. I did an 8 mile training walk on Saturday and felt great afterwards. Also, I bought a new mountain bike last week and participated in a 10 mile Moonlight Ride on Saturday in downtown Denver. What a blast! Here's a photo of me with my new mountain bike!




One more bit of positive news - I had my stitches removed from my last surgery today and everything is healing up well. It's great to be back to normal (whatever that is).

At Last . . .

Today Dr. Brown performed my final reconstruction surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital. I was a little nervous and apprehensive the evening before, lots of emotions bubbling up to the surface. I arrived at the hospital around 7:00 a.m. and while waiting in the pre-surgery room I reflected at how much has happened in my life over the past 16 weeks. My mastectomy surgery took place almost 4 months ago to the day so there was a deja vu quality when I checked in at the registration desk.

The surgery (outpatient) went well, took about 2 hours and was performed under local anesthesia. When my son Will picked me up later that morning, I have to say that I had the most amazing feeling of completion. My life is so blessed to be cancer-free and I have so much ahead of me to look forward to. I thank my lucky stars for such great doctors, my friends, my health insurance, and of course my family. Without the support of my friends and my sons, I'm not sure how I would have gotten through this ordeal.

My mother used to tell me that God never gives you more than you can handle. I really believe that's true, and once you face and conquer some serious challenges, it makes you stronger and certainly more empathetic towards others.

As the song does, "The future's so bright I've gotta wear shades!" After a few days resting up, I plan to resume my training this weekend for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk. Eight weeks to the countdown!

Training Update

It's been a few weeks since I've posted an update on how my training for the 60 mile walk is going. This past weekend I did a LONG hike - I think it was 8 mles or more but my trusty pedometer isn't working well. I'm averaging 3-4 miles a day, and am trying to step up my pace.

I did a beautiful, peaceful walk along the Potomac River while visiting my friend Liz in DC two weeks ago. So my progress is steady - the biggest issue I have is finding the time, so on weekends I try to take advantage of the situation. Don't you hate it when works gets in the way of real life?

Yesterday I went for a 20+ mile bike ride up in Ft. Collins. I was puffing and panting at the end but amazingly I'm not sore today. Thank you Dennis for making me do that!!

In Vegas for most of the week so I will have to hit the gym at the Westin since it's 108 degrees in the shade. You know what they say, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas."