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."

WOW!

I'm totally blown away, I just learned that I was nominated for and received the "Spirit of Cisco" award for my efforts in raising awareness for breast cancer!

The award was announced on a Cisco TV broadcast today by our US Channels VP, Wendy Bahr. What a way to start my week! Woo hoo!! What a journey this has been since February. I'm still continuing to train for the Susan G. Komen 3Day Walk for the Cure and I'm now up to 30 women who have gotten their overdue mammograms - thankfully all of them had a good outcome! So far I've raised over $5,000 and I'm the top fund raiser in Denver!! Thank you to EVERYONE who has donated in my name to this worthy cause.

Just so everyone can see how healthy I am, here's few photos from my son Andy's going away party on Memorial Day weekend to wish him Bon Voyage for his summer internship at Yelp! in San Francisco . . .

Cupcakes anyone?

George and Sadie resting up for the party

Andy and his proud Mom



Will and Mom getting into the spirit of things

A Banner Day

Today was momentous for more than one reason.

First: Andy, my 21 year old son, was offered an internship in San Francisco for the summer. I'm elated that he has such a fantastic opportunity to start his business career as he has one more semester to complete before he gets his degree from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado. Go Andy! (But I'll miss you, except for the dirty cothes and towels you leave strewn all over my bathroom.)

Second: Will, my 19 year old son, got a job with Denver's largest catering company for the summer. Cooking is his passion and I'm sure he'll have a blast. It sure beats mowing lawns.

Third and perhaps Most Important: Today my fundraising for the Susan G Komen 3Day Walk for the Cure reached over $5,000!!!! Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the tremendously postive impact my breast cancer diagnosis could have had. Here I am 3 months later, feeling and looking great, training for the 60 mile walk and I can honestly say I've emerged from the dark tunnel of the past few months. Each day just gets better and I'm so grateful for everyone's support, belief in me, and continued prayers.

What a great way to begin the summer!