<?xml version="1.0"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>MIKKI's Journal RSS Feed</title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/mikki/journals/rss</link><description>MIKKI's Journal RSS Feed</description><item><title><![CDATA[NEVER EASY]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/mikki/journals/7834</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/mikki/journals/7834</guid><description><![CDATA[ I just read a message from a sweet young lady that I befriended on this site.  And my heart broke for her and her family.  She wrote me twice to keep me informed about her mom's condition.  Final condition, the battle is over for her.  But that don't mean the WAR has ended.
 There seems to be no adequate way of expressing your heartfelt sympathy in times like these.  We do our best.  But sometimes all we can do is hold a person.  Pray strength into the family.  Remind them to be KIND to one another during these difficult days.
 But you know in all the sorrow I felt in her short note to me, there was some envy there as well.  She told me her father and mother laid down together and went to sleep.  SHE NEVER WOKE UP.  Even with all the pain and struggles of her last months here, her mom still had the most supportive BRA one could ever find.  A HUSBAND that was there in sickness and in health.
 People cherish your family, friends, and neighbors.  You never know when it will no longer be there for you to lean on or to ask forgiveness.  WE never know what the last moments will be.  I would love to have a moment knowing that the person that loves me the most, is there when I need them the most.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[NO MATTER WHAT GO WITH YOUR INNER VOICE]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/mikki/journals/7796</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/mikki/journals/7796</guid><description><![CDATA[On last month my friend went thru all the test that you have to have before Chemo can start.  She had the bone scans, the pet scans, the ct and all of that.  Well the call came thru that there was no cancer to be found in her body whatsoever.  Well this was great news.  BUT, and there is always a BUT when GOD heals.  BUT the doctor says that her tumor was a very rare tumor.  One that is progestrine feed.  She would like for her to take Chemo as well as some UNTESTED meds.  This form of advice given is a way for the doctor to cover themselves.  
I say all that to say this, for those of you that have the faith to believe when you are healed you are healed.  Do not allow the enemy to come in and cause doubt.  For when GOD heals he HEALS.  And that means no chemo, no radiation, and no pills.
For lack of a better reason, reoccurance is the terminology that is used.
REMEMBER friends to listen to your INNER VOICE (holy spirit) and go with what you know is best.  
May GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY  HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[More Than SUSTAINING]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/mikki/journals/7690</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/mikki/journals/7690</guid><description><![CDATA[It has been awhile since I have written anything in my journals.  That is only because we have been so busy living.  We have not taken one minute for granted.  We have been just going about life and enjoying all the little things that life affords us.
Well, my best friend that was diagnosed in JUNE has had her lump removed.  They we sure that they were going to do a partial removal of the left breast.  Well, I have to tell you that we had one miracle after another with all of this.
First, her tumor was a sizable mass that was very deep. But since her first diagnoses she begin seeing a nutrionist and eating healthy.  She got rid of the leaky tooth in her mouth and started doing supplements as well as uprooting her entire diet.
Well, the mass began to move and by the time she had interviewed several oncologist and surgeons, it was right under the skin.  It was visible.  
Upon first pictures taken you could see the tenticles (roots) where the mass was getting it's blood flow.  But when the doctors went in to remove the tumor all they had to do was make a 3 inch cut and remove it.  It had clean borders and NO roots.  This procedure was done at one of the many hospitals we have here in Houston. Well follow up was with MD ANDERSON.  There we went thru days of testing and scans and blood work.  
On yesterday she had oral surgery schedule in order to be prepared for Chemo and radiation.  You know how you have to make sure that your body is clear of all infections and so on and so forth before you start this ordeal.  We were looking at 24 weeks of radical chemo and radiation.  
She had been taken back to be put under for this 8 hr procedure she was having on her mouth when her cell phone rings.  It is MD ANDERSON on the line.  They had gotten all her test results back and had reviewed them and reviewed them again.  There IS NOT one trace of CANCER in her BODY.  Therefore they said they have nothing to treat.  NO CHEMO   NO RADIATION    All they want to do is follow up with her every 2 to 3 months to keep a eye on her.
LET ME BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU   It was not only all the life changes that she made.  It was also her FIGHT to SURVIVE.  IT IS her FAITH in GOD (her higher power) that made the difference.  AND I KNOW that there are miracles out there for everyone of our loved ones and family members that is dealing with this devastating disease.
WE ARE MORE THAN SUSTAINING in this fight against cancer, we are WINNING.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[REMEMBER YOU]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/mikki/journals/7600</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/mikki/journals/7600</guid><description><![CDATA[Today my friend and my sister are undergoing breast cancer surgery.  As I post this I know the outcome of my friend's surgery, but my sister has not began as of yet.
Barb (friend) is over; her ovaries are out, as well as the mass in her breast.  They did not have to go in as deep as they once thought, due to the fact that the mass had risen to the surface.  Also no lymphnodes were involved.  
The only reason I am writing this from home and not the waiting room is, I FORGOT ABOUT ME.
In my zeal to be there for everyone and do all I can for those I love and care about, I forgot to take better care of me.  I pinched a nerve on Sunday moving my lady up to a better position in her bed.  Now my hip is out of whack and I am cheering from the sidelines.
So even though we care and want to do all we can for our loved ones that are dealing with this terrible illness; remember take a little time for yourself, so you won't get benched like I did.  So you won't feel like you let them down because you can not be physically there.  Even though my thoughts and prayers are there, it is just not the same.  I guess there are some wild horses out there that could keep me away.  LOL
]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Watching and Praying]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/mikki/journals/7576</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/mikki/journals/7576</guid><description><![CDATA[As a friend and sister of breast cancer patients and survivor, all I can seem to do is be supportive with prayer and whatever I can do to make things easier.  If it means washing their face after a session with the throne, I am there.
I feel that prayer on thier behalf is a mighty helpful tool.  I never show fear or sadness.  I try my best to make light of hard situations.  I find joy in the things that are there and not pain and suffering in the other.
It is hard when you are not going thru it to understand.  But you can still bear burdens of your loved ones.
I just do my best to show them love and be there when and if they need me.  
And to remind them that they are still beautiful.  Even my sister when she had her head shaved, she was still so beautiful.  I thought it was so funny that her barber had said the same thing.
On the day that she looked in the mirror and saw her back, because that was where they took the tissue from in order to do the reconstruction surgery; she let out a cry that scared me.  I went into her room to find her looking at her back and asking what had she done to herself.  I told her she opted to live and not die.  I told her she opted to stay around for her youngest child and her grandbabies.  I told her she was still a very beautiful woman.  And that I loved her and that I was glad she decided to stay here with us.
It tugs at my heart when I think about it now.  And now I have another sister getting ready to go thru this and my best friend and boss.  I know that faith and support from loving friends and family helps get everyone thru this.
I pray that all patients have a support group that encourages and loves them thru it all.]]></description></item></channel></rss>