A Year Ago I Was Diagnosed With Cancer And Today....I'm A Survivor!!

Today I am a one year cancer survivor! One year ago, to the day, I received some pretty bad news from my doctor. I was told I had thyroid cancer. It is a day I remember quite vividly....kind of like how those of us that have had children can so vividly remember the birth of each of our children...only this memory is not a happy one. I remember the exact time my surgeon called me to deliver the news.....6:30 pm. I remember the shock I felt inside as he delivered the news over the phone and hearing those words "You have cancer." I remember hearing my surgeon tell me that I would need a second surgery and then treatment to rid my body of this cancer and the helpless feeling of not knowing what that would feel like.

I remember not being able to control my emotions and completely losing it in front of my sweet boys and husband the second I hung up the phone. Lastly, I remember the calls I made to  my parents, sister and brother, who were all out of town, and listening to the shock in their voices as they discovered their daughter and sister would have to fight cancer.  I cried a lot that day...more than I had ever cried in my adult life! It's a day I would love to forget, but, I can't, because it changed my life forever. It also changed the lives of those in my family forever. Some of these changes have been hard to accept but many of the changes have been gifts, and that is what I hold onto and celebrate.

While I was crying one year ago, I am jumping up for joy and celebrating today!! I am FINALLY feeling pretty good and, so far, all tests I've had show no evidence of cancer. My biggest tests are coming up in March but I'm optimistic!! Cancer has taught me many things and the aftermath of cancer and the treatment to keep it away continues to challenge me. I will never let it get the best of me, though, because I am a fighter. I AM A SURVIVOR!

My talented friend, Lara Kiniris, who has an amazing company called The Calligraphy Girl, made the cancer ribbon at the top of this post in honor of my one year survivor anniversary. The ribbon contains words that describe my journey with thyroid cancer over this past year. Some of these words include: Faith, Hope, Love, Fight, Live, Breathe, Kick Cancer's Butt, Support, Livestrong, Overcome, Stand Up 2 Cancer, Struggle, Radioactive, Isolation, Family, I Am Blessed, and Survivor, among many other words. I feel so lucky to have this beautiful ribbon because it will remind me of the journey I've had with cancer and how blessed I am to live each day of my life....a true gift!

Some people might think it is strange to celebrate the anniversary of being diagnosed with cancer. For me, however, it is not a celebration of a diagnosis but rather a celebration of life. I am celebrating making it through a tough journey. I am celebrating feeling good. I am celebrating a new appreciation for my family, friends and my health. I am celebrating being a SURVIVOR!!

"The Free Dictionary" defines "survivor" as follows: "to carry on despite hardships or trauma; persevere. To live, persist." I prefer my personal definition of "survivor" which is: "A person who has looked cancer in the eye, has kicked it's butt with the love and support of family and friends, and has learned to enjoy every second, minute, and day of her life to the fullest!!" You are looking at one happy woman who is ready to celebrate many more years of being a survivor! Happy One Year Cancer Survivor Anniversary to Me:-)

~Anna

::UPDATE:: After A Near Death Motor Vehicle Accident A Year Ago, Julie McClure Has Come A Long Way

Many of you may remember one of our "Feel Better Campaign" recipients from last year, Julie McClure. She survived a life threatening motor vehicle accident on December 17, 2011, which came very close to taking her life. You can read more about her story HERE. We were very excited to receive an update from Julie recently and wanted to share it with all of you. This last year has been a long road for Julie and she has undergone too many surgeries to count but she is finally walking again and just beginning to continue with her goal of becoming a nurse practitioner. She is an amazing woman with great strength and determination.

Julie with her husband, Michael, last year

We donated our "Annie" gown to Julie as a part of our "Feel Better Campaign" and many of you also helped Julie by sending good thoughts and prayers and some made donations which allowed us to give Julie a second gown!!! She has loved her gowns and she recently wore them again for more surgeries to her arm and leg. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she continues to heal from her injuries.  We hope you enjoy this little update from Julie as much as we did!! Keep up the great work Julie. You are an inspiration to us all!!

"Thank you for taking the time to follow up on my progress! I have thoroughly enjoyed your gowns! I got to use them again just a few weeks ago when I had another surgery on my left leg! I know I was the best dressed patient in that hospital!!! 

As far as my progress... In the last month I have had two more major surgeries. One on my leg and one on my elbow. I had been having trouble walking so they decided my leg had healed wrong and they needed to break it and reset it. Well when they got in there during the surgery they discovered the fracture just hadn't healed! They put in a rod and ever since then I have been gradually able to put more weight on it! I am almost to where I can walk some without my cane!"

Julie with her sweet niece to cheer her up!

"During my elbow surgery they had to free my impinged ulnar nerve and take out all the metal in my elbow because I couldn't move it at all! The surgery, although painful, was relatively successful. The doctor was pleased and expects a decent recovery of motion. I am diligently working to get my elbow moving!"

Julie holding up all the metal that was removed from her elbow!!

"It is a slow process but it is starting to move! I am currently working hard at physical therapy and elbow therapy three times a week to get stronger and stronger! I start back to work part time in January and hopefully I will also begin back to grad school to finish up my Nurse Practitioner schooling! Still praying that will work out!

Thanks for all your prayers they have meant so much!"

~ Julie McClure

You can continue to follow Julie's progress on a Facebook page that was set up for her last year here: Praying for the McClures and their families

A Beautiful Baby Daughter and Beautiful New Mom In Her "Annie" Designer Hospital Gown

We received this testimonial from Andrea, who recently gave birth to the most beautiful little girl! Just look at those cheeks! Thank you Andrea for taking the time to tell us how much you loved your "Annie" designer hospital gown! It always means the world to us, especially coming from a fellow RN! 

"I had my daughter, Caroline, almost three weeks ago, and I really loved my Annie & Isabel gown. I ended up having a C-section and had to stay in the hospital for four days, so it got a lot of use :) The gown was much more functional than a regular hospital gown and I absolutely loved it. I got many compliments as well!"

-Andrea

The Comfort of an Annie & Isabel Hospital Gown for Surgery

At the end of September,  we received an email from a customer wanting to purchase a gown for an upcoming surgery. The surgery was just a few days away and she knew she would need to be hospitalized for a few days and wanted something more comfortable and stylish to recover in after surgery. She chose to recover in our "Susan" gown.  

There are some customers that we just can't stop thinking about once we send out their gown and Estrellita was one of those customers. She told us in an email that her surgery would be more complicated because she has a severe allergy to anesthesia medications......not something you want to be allergic to when you  need surgery! We sent good thoughts her way on surgery day and followed up with an email to her about a week later.We couldn't help but worry when we didn't hear right back from her. She finally emailed us, a week later, with the great news that the surgery was a success and that she had just required a few more days to recover than expected!!! That is the kind of news we like to hear:-)

We hope you continue to feel great and enjoy those cute boys of yours Estrellita!!!  

Following is a nice testimonial that Estrellita sent to us:

"Customer service was amazing!! I was so touched by your kindness and your fast response. I received my gown quickly and it surpassed my expectations. My Annie and Isabel gown is beautiful, and it really lifted my spirits when I got to put it on after my surgery! My nurses LOVED the gown and said they noticed a spring to my step and lift in my energy when I put it on. I felt better when I LOOKED BETTER! =D Thank you so much! My friend will be having surgery soon, and I will be getting her a gown! In addition, it looks like there are more abdominal surgeries in my future, so I will have my cute gown to help me thru each time...Thank you for your advice, prayers, excellent customer service, and kindness!" ~ Estrellita

Happy Birthday Grandma Elizabeth

Today is our grandmother, Elizabeth's, birthday.  It is a special day for our family history because she would have been 100 years old today! She would hate that we are telling you this because she never told ANYONE how old she was.  She would often "fudge" about her age and she would always get away with it because she looked so great! She was always beautiful and very stylish.

She was a gorgeous baby...

stunning woman....

beautiful mother.....

and loving grandmother.

Growing up, I always felt a special bond with my grandmother because our birthdays were only four days apart and always close or on Thanksgiving.  Each year we enjoyed celebrating our birthdays and sharing a birthday cake on Thanksgiving.....birthday memories I will always cherish.

We lost our beloved grandmother to breast cancer on November 6th, 1993...just before her 81st birthday.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer four years prior and succumbed to the cancer due to metastasis to her bones.  Our grandmother was so strong and tough during her battle with cancer and hardly complained throughout her journey.  We miss her dearly but our company has been a blessing for us because we are reminded of her strong spirit on a daily basis, especially when someone purchases the Elizabeth gown:-)  We always hope that her strength will transfer to all our Annie & Isabel warriors who wear her gown.

Happy Birthday Grandma.  I miss blowing out those candles with you but know you are always with us in spirit:-)

Love,

    Anna

Prayers Needed For Our Newest Feel Better Campaign Recipient

The beautiful couple pictured here is Heather and Sean Brown. They were excitedly expecting a new baby boy at the end of October but, on September 15th, 2012, things changed drastically for this family. Sean was serving our country in Afghanistan when his wife, who was 34 weeks pregnant at the time, began to experience back pain and a headache. She went to the hospital, started having seizures, and it was discovered that she had a massive brain bleed.

Heather's sweet baby boy was delivered via emergency c-section and now Heather is in the fight of her life. Heather is in a coma and needs as many thoughts and prayers as possible to help with her healing. Her loving husband, Sean, was able to make it back from Afghanistan and has been by Heather's side. This past week, Sean was able to finally re-unite Heather with their new son, John. In Sean's words, when baby John was placed on Heather's chest, "Heather instantaneously, as soon as she touched John, made a grimace on her face as if she was fixing to cry, like she knew." This has brought great hope for Heather's family as they continue to pray for continued progress in her recovery. 

We decided to make Heather our next "Feel Better Campaign" recipient and, at the request of her family, sent her the "Susan" gown. We hope this gown can provide some comfort and strength to Heather and her family:-)

WE NEED YOUR HELP TOO!! Please join us in sending healing thoughts and prayers to Heather and her family.

Please "LIKE" and "SHARE" our Facebook post to spread the word about her story.

A Facebook page was set up by a friend of the family to help support them and we would love if you would go and "LIKE" their page here -> "Bringing Home the Browns". They have already received a tremendous response on their Facebook page but the more people to support them with thoughts and prayers the better.

Thank you so much for always rallying behind our Annie & Isabel warriors!! We know it means the world to them.

"Just a Little Heart Attack" - MUST SEE VIDEO

Having a heart attack is no laughing matter, but this video from, Go Red For Women, raises awareness in a pretty hilarious way.

Elizabeth Banks has a heart attack for the #1 leading cause of death in women today. Please watch, pass on, and save someone's life.

love,
your nurses
Selena & Anna