2012 Colondar is now on Sale

Get yours at www.colonclub.com

Its a Wrap

Well It truly was amazing to spend a whole week with 12 young colorectal cancer survivors in one of the most magical places I know of:

A view from the back porch, where lots of morning cups of coffee and talks of colon resections, ostomy reversals, chemotherapy side effects are all discussed, and a place where in the evening slushies are enjoyed as we all reflect on the trials we have been through with the common thread being colorectal cancer. It is hard to believe that all these amazing people:

Have battled cancer.  Such amazing people, each of them have their own story of survival!  You will be able to meet each of them when the 2012 Colondar is released at the beginning of September.  

I am so glad to have added 12 new amazing people to my family. 

What next? After diagnosis,surgery,CHEMO?

Tattoo !

 I often talk to families, survivors, etc... about What Next? How do  I live after surgery, chemo, etc.....

There are so many things you can do!  Raise money for your favorite cancer organization so that others may not have to  go through what you have been through, one day hoping that the last penny you earned will be the one that finds the cure.....Surrounding yourself with great people who understand that living life to the fullest each and every day is truly the way to survive......Find others who have been diagnosed with the same cancer as you at the same age as you and fought the same battle as you and find out that you truly are not alone...... 

I am so blessed and happy to say that  I have accomplished all these listed above and I am so proud of the survivors that  continue to be a part of my family and have celebrated life not being inflicted by a terrible disease known as cancer and playing victim but by pulling up our pants and raising awareness of cancer in crazy out of the box ways. 

Check out www.colonclub.com and apply now to be a 2012 Colondar model.

It's a NEW YEAR

I am so glad to see the new year! 2011? I cannot even believe it is here as many of you probably feel the same.  So many great things to reflect on this past year. I  am so thankful for this past year and being able to reconnect with friends, spend time with family and be given the gift of a whole year of surviving.

Please do not forget to begin your year with the 2011 COLONDAR, it is beautiful and so inspiring as you will be greeted each month with a beautiful young colon cancer survivor and their courageous stories. You can click on the link at the upper right hand of my blog and get yours, you will not be disappointed as you read about all of my heroes.

Life Is Better Than Good!

Well I have been celebrating life so much, I am so thankful for these folks and how they have helped me KICK ASS CANCER to the curb, as a matter of fact this is what we think of colon cancer:

Yep you are definately seeing us wearing our UNDY"S over our clothes as we ran the UNDY 5000 here in Atlanta, a great 5K to raise awareness for colon cancer and the importance of screening and early detection. These rear's are from Virginia, Indiana, Georgia, Florida and ohhh we are missing the cutest fanny of all from California! But no doubt the celebration of a 10 year survivor and  a 5 year survivor has been the best year end gift for me.

And these two ladies?  You have no idea how much they mean to me.  On the left is my virtual Aunt Susan, she is a prayer warrior, let me tell you, supported me daily with her prayers and lifting up my healing to our Savior. And well the one on the right is my Mom, you have no idea how much love, support, etc.... that goes into supporting a family member, going through chemotherapy, multiple surgeries and trying to raise 3 kids and run a household.  And guess what they ran the 5K with all of us and finished!  It was such a relection of time for me, for each 1K that I walked,ran, etc... represented a year of healing and thankfulness.
LOVE TO ALL OF YOU, and Merry Christmas.

5 Year Cancer-Free-Versary

I have been waiting for 1,825 days to celebrate this day.  I cannot believe it is here! It is a day that I always hoped  I would reach after being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer at the age of 37.  Yep, guess I totally exposed myself here (42 years old now) but loving absolutely every minute of it.  Just wanted to give a big thanks to this guy:

He has never missed a surgery, a colonoscopy, a Chemotherapy infusion, or doctors appointment with me. Thanks for standing by me and making this dream come true!  Happy 5 year Cancer Free Versary! You are the best.

2011 COLONDAR

It is officially here, the 2011 Colondar.  ORDER yours today at www.colondar.com

12 Days And Counting

Well here are 12 of the  most wonderful colon cancer survivors that I added to my family this summer.

And you will all be seeing them all in just 12 days in the  2011Colondar . You can order your Colondar at  www.colonclub.com.  You will be inspired by their stories, journey through cancer and their courage to fight for life! I love you all and I miss you like crazy.

The Colon Club Colondar 2011 Photo Shoot

                                       Erika, Molly, Krista and Suzie

Just home from an amazing week end with colon cancer survivors!  The 2011 Colondar photos have been taken and will be released on September 1st.  I just added 12 people to my family, and cannot imagine what life would be without having met them.  More to follow.....

Humpty Dumpty

Well there is an old nursery rhyme that goes something like this: Humpty Dumpty Sat on a wall; So I decided to sit next to him.  Humpty Dumpty had a great Fall; Exactly 4 1/2 years ago I fell into the world of Cancer.  All the kings horses and all the kings men could not put Humpty together again; But today I sit and celebrate how I was made whole again!  Still Cancer Free and celebrating every day.  However, i have chosen to stay around the world of cancer, supporting, uplifting and helping others as they pick up the pieces, and I am so thankful for this opportunity.

Oh how I wish cancer were just a nursery rhyme, make believe, and how I dream to say "THE END" to this disease  or  that we all will live "HAPPILY EVER AFTER"  never ever having to know what cancer is or how it affects our loved ones.  My prayer is that one day this will happen!

Handmade Goodness

Is this not the most beautiful, handmade, 100% silver piece of jewelry you have ever seen?  This is the colorectal cancer awareness symbol, and I am the proud, honored, humbled owner of this necklace.  I have a very talented, very thoughtful, very gracious, friend who hand made this pendant for me and all those battling, conquering and raising awareness for colorectal cancer.  She is making these with so much love and is donating a portion of the proceeds to The Colon Club. If you would like to purchase one visit the store at www.thecolonclub.com.
 Suzie

Whats 40 feet long and 4 feet Tall?

                                             Suzie and Jacke (MOM) with CoCo

I had a wonderful trip to Indiana last week and met CoCo for the first time ever! LOVE HER!   I guess because I love colons and love to help raise awareness about the diseases that affect the colon.  I was so honored to meet two other young Colon Cancer survivors (one 29, and one 32), and the whole time, yep you guessed it I was thinking Cancer just Stinks.  But  I was also  very humbled by their beauty, grace and wonderful families they have to support them.  I also had the very wonderful pleasure of seeing my fellow Colondar model, Paula, who is off doing wonderful things in grad school, and I got to stay with the most amazing family!  Talk about a family who loves others, and gives back like crazy the Waller/Wilson clan.
Thank you Krista, Jim, Hadley and Harlee for everything.

March is Almost Here

A great day here in my city, Sun is shining and giving hints of Spring being right around the corner.  I am having the time of my life, living and loving my family.  I have found myself amazed at how my prayers have been answered, and feeling as if I truly do not deserve what I have been blessed with.  Not material things, just friendships, opportunites etc....

A short explanation of what I mean.  When I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer at 37 years old, first I was shocked, then I knew I had to do whatever I had to do to survive, I mean I had a husband and 3 young kids, Who was going to take care of them?  Well many of you know that cancer is a down right ugly, nasty, rotten disease. In fact many of us have been affected in some way by cancer, either a family member, friend, or  neighbor and have watched this devestating disease take hold of families and just cause so much emotional and physical pain.
 I have to say to survive cancer is to have gone on a very long journey that you never planned for, prayed for, prepared for, paid for, or desired to go on.  But when the journey comes along and you are battling the unplanned, paying for things you don't even want,  praying hour by hour to make the nausea, pain etc... go away, you ride along and hold your head up to look for the light at the end.   It is hard to see the light many days and sometimes it doesn't appear for weeks.  With all that being said I am living in that light now and want to encourage all of you to fight like hell, look for the light and enjoy it when it arrives.

March is almost here, it is colorectal cancer awareness month, I am going to raise awareness, and fight like hell to continue to live in the light, and fight hard for so many who are trying to get there.  I am so excited as I am going to Visit CoCo in Indiana in March, she is our Giant 40 foot long, Colon that travels around the US to help Raise awareness.

Wipe Out colorectal cancer awareness, coming soon.......

March is the month for colorectal cancer awareness.  I am giving you a preview of some out-of the box things I will be doing in March.  First of all I may just wear this shirt every day

 Washing it may be an option, Just kidding.

And These boxers, well I may dare myself to wear them out in public, but will definately be sporting them in my home, well because i Can.  That little blue star is the awareness symbol for colorectal cancer.

And this toilet paper below, you may have to keep me out of your trees as I toilet paper them to let you know that colorectal awareness month is upon us.

Please join me in March as I raise awareness!

Suzie

AND THE VERDICT IS IN

NO CANCER, almost 4 1/2 years out from Diagnosis.  No explanation needed.

Awaiting Results

Well yesterday was my big SCAN day, drink barium, sit for 45 minutes waiting for it to bull doze through your Colon and then lay on a cold table while they inject Radioactive dye throughout your veins.  Sounds fun?  Well as much as I dislike scans, I also love them?  I love the updates on my health and I hate the after affects of Barium, YUCK.  Colon Cancer takes your Colon, well 1/2 of it anyway and then expects you to drink liquid plumber every  4 months or so just to make sure your Cancer is not back Raging through your body.  You see the relationship here: Love/Hate?
Tomorrow is a visit with my oncologist (who I always Love) She is absolutely a wonderful person/physician and if you all could meet her you would agree. She has never given me false hope/ or false encouragement.  She is honest/ caring/ compassionate and I could go on and on. Maybe I will in another Post.
I will definately update with results tomorrow.  I also need to disclose that I love my CT guy. We have had many scans together over the last 4 years, he said my liver looks Great. Well that is great with me.

Suzie

Well that Flew By

I cannot believe that both Christmas and The New Year have passed. How glorious they have been.  The gift of watching our family spend time together, some of those times in PJ's, yes we did have several pajama days, and I loved them.  The cold weather that has decided to stay put in the South has not exactly encouraged many days outside either.  Except for today, 26 degrees and a tennis match for me.   This is the closest I have ever been to Freezing, well my toes anyway.

I just did not want another day to go by without a post, looking forward to a non-surgical, non-cancerous 2010.

And The Countdown is ON

The Kids are officially out of school, for me that means less laundry, because we have alot of Pajama days.  But it also means more time in the kitchen, 3 meals a day, and if you have a teenage son that usually means many more meals in between.  But I am not complaining, nope not ME.  I am savoring this time, oh boy how good it feels to be alive, healthy and able to do laundry and cook.

I have been telling all my family and friends, that I already have my Christmas gift, that would never fit under the tree, it is Called Life.  The good news I received in October is enough of a gift to last through many many years to come.  At  last I leave you with the below picture, it is a shirt that we have in The Colon Club Store, and it is True, I think I'll wear mine today.

Fun around the Holidays

It is always so hard to fit in all the hustle and bustle around the holidays.  I swear I think we get so busy and squeeze 6 months of activities into 4 weeks, hoping that we all survive.  But I guess since I had some down time in October I am ready for as many activities as possible along with all the good memories that it brings.


I was able to travel out of town with my husband last week, thanks to our parents who stayed home and watched the kids.  We had a wonderful time.  I will post some pictures that I am sure you will have no problem figuring out where are:

Hoping each of you has a wonderful time these next few weeks, Making Memories!

Home for the Holidays

We spent some much needed family time away at the beach for Thanksgiving and enjoyed, not only just our family but extended family as well. The weather was great for a few days and then the Late Fall breeze settled in.  We came home to find it even chillier, but it definately has put me in the mood for Christmas Decorating. As of today I have the mantle, staircase, buffett, the entryway tree completed. Hopefully today I will manage to get the big tree up.

I am feeling great for those who keep checking up on me.   I was able to ride a bike for many miles at the beach and take long glorious walks as well.  So thankful for God's blessing of healing.  Hope you enjoy the posted pics
                                                            Enjoying the sunset

Rebekah:

Griffin: