October is the month that everything, buildings, ribbons, lights, armbands, the decor at the malls, and all along the interstate turn the optimistic lively color pink. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Celebrating 25 Years of Awareness, Education, and Empowerment. Sydney and I have seen friends win the fight of breast cancer and sadly have lost amazing friends to this illness, even one human being losing their fight is too many.
Sydney began calling October,”Pinktober” in honor of all of those fighting a diagnoses, survivors, caregivers, family members, friends, sadly those who lost their fight and those who have lost loved ones. The color pink is optimistic, bright, full of love and hope. The pink color not only is the symbol of awareness, but to remind the nation and us as individuals that we have come far, but not far enough; nowhere near far enough.
I am dedicating this blog not only to the awareness, but to implore each of you to make a difference, if you know a woman who has yet to have a mammogram, use all your powers of persuasion (even if that means being a pest) to urge her to utilize mammography! Host a dinner, dessert party, bake sale, carwash, or what ever grand idea you have dedicated to breast cancer awareness.
 |
| Pinktober Macarons |
Incase I have not clarified this entire blog will be PINK. The food will be if not all PINK mostly PINK. I optimistically believe the more pink we see the more aware we will become, hopefully that awareness will transpose everyone to make a difference.
I realize I am not the only person who has loved somebody diagnosed with breast cancer, but I can only write about my personal stories. I have known five women who have battled breast cancer, however I was only close to two of these women. Each are/were/ amazing and fought the disease with dignity, grace, and determination.
Sydney was five when a close friend (like a sister) and neighbor was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer, she had two young girls, the eldest was Sydney’s age (they were inseparable) and the youngest was about three. Needless to say she was petrified, and all of her family lived out of the country, but she jumped in and fought the evil disease with the strength of 10 large robust men! In order to respect my friend’s privacy, I will refer to her as “A”.
.jpg)
Since both daughters were at the same school, and the youngest just minutes from my house, I would drive all the girls to school in the morning and bring everyone back to my home in the afternoons. Marshmallows were a fun activity before starting dinner. Each child had an element they were responsible for; the two older girls watched the temperature of sugar syrup and the youngest helped whip the egg whites. For 30 minutes the girls could be stress free, and have fun. Food, especially sweets have a unique way of helping people deal with the roll coaster of life.
I remember one night we brought the girls home, “A” showed me she was beginning to lose her hair, instead of feeling pity for herself she asked me to help shave her head. I can honestly tell you she was even more beautiful bald. I still asked myself if I could have been that brave. She decided the most radically aggressive medical treatment was how she was going to fight back, a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, and reconstruction surgery. As “A” put it she wanted to be able to see her girls grow into adulthood. That was twelve years ago and “A” is considered cancer free!
 |
Five cookies represent five
women bonding together to fight for life! |
The other two women I recently met, both were diagnosed this past summer, within weeks of each other. I am not close to either of these women, to respect there privacy I will give limited information. They both decided to have chemotherapy. One of these woman will have reconstruction surgery, the other will most likely not live to see 2011. I hope against the doctors view that she beats the odds, but the last time I spoke with her, she was tired of fighting.
I have the upmost honor, respect, and admiration for all five women, every women who has/had battled breast cancer and the love ones who could only offer moral support. I am overwhelmed with statics one in eight women will be given the devastating news of breast cancer. Ask yourself do know someone with breast cancer or someone who had breast cancer, I venture the answer is yes. That needs to change. I hope and will continue to do what ever is needed so in the next generation there will be a cure!
** Pinktober” is a word my daughter, Sydney thought up 13 years ago ( when she was 5). The phrase put a smile on “A’s” face, and everyone since!
This is a wonderful opinion. The things mentioned are unanimous and needs to be appreciated by everyone.
Catering Equipment
lovely pictures
I be enduring interpret a few of the articles on your website in the present circumstances, and I unqualifiedly like your line of blogging. I added it to my favorites entanglement period roster and disposition be checking assist soon. Divert contain out of order my put as approvingly and vindicate me know what you think. Thanks.
great share, great article, very usefull for me…thank you
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this post. I am hoping the exact same finest work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities have motivated me to start my own BlogEngine blog now.
I definately see what you might be talking about right here
Very thoughtful arrangement of information. I never thought that is was this straight up after all. I had disgorge a favourable amount of my sooner looking as a replacement for someone to legitimatize this subject-matter apparently
What beautiful pictures, are you a professional photographer? Very helpful information
Thank you, no I am not a professional photographer
They are good ideas we will attempt out and about, My business is glad I ran into them. With thanks.
Fantastic post ! I must learn once you update your blog, where can i subscribe in your blog?.This aided me a good deal. I had been little aware of that but your article provided obvious notion
thanks
Thank you for sharing your experiences with breast cancer, with all the races and walks, people forget we still have not found a cure. It is wonderful of you to take the time to remind everyone we still have a long way to go. I have been cancer free for only 6 months and your blog touched me. I will be back
wow! great site, this webiste google search engine lookups, when I was browsing the web I found this because I am interested in the article that here, thanks for sharing.
What a great article. Thanks for taking the time to write it.
We simply couldnt leave your site prior to letting you know that people truly loved the quality info you provide to your visitors? Is going to be back soon to check up on new stuff you post!
This blog is touching, it takes a special person to bring attention to the plight of others.
Excellent web-site, wherever do publish all the info on this item? Now i’m satisfied My partner and i think it is however, i’ll always be reviewing back immediately to see how many other content articles you’ve got.
Most of the information was retained through my friends and helping them, between going with them to treatments, doctors appointments, and many nights of just “hand holding” while listening to them talk. The quotes I researched on the Susan B. Komen web-site.
Wonderful blog! I definitely love how it’s easy on my eyes and also the data are well written. I am wondering how I might be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your rss feed which need to do the trick! Have a nice day!
I have finally found a well written blog, that combines beautiful photography, word, and information.
Thank you for sharing your stories, It gave me something to think about
Beautiful site, it help those fight this battle.
How refreshing, great blog and content
I was just diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, reading your post helped me. Thank you for taking the time to write it and your pictures are wonderful.
Useful blog website, kept me personally enthralled through it’s entirety, I am seriously interested to find out another recommendation of it.
I’d prefer to exchange hyperlinks with your site is this kind of feasible?
Very fine, I would send out this post to my acquaintance.
After battling with breast cancer I was touched by your insightful post. I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated reading about other women and their bravery
GREAT BLOG! You are one of the best writers I’ve seen in a long long time. I hope you keep writing because people like you inspire me!
It a shame that so many food sites over look October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. My many thanks for sharing your lovely food and stories!
Appreciate this post, it is done with care and heart; Thank you
Hello.This post was extremely interesting and informative, particularly because I was investigating for thoughts on this matter last Monday. Thank you
This is my first time i visit here. I found so many intriguing stuff in your site particularly its discussion. From the tons of responses on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the great work. My best wishes, Anne.
Could you please publish us more news about this issue? You are my favorite and i appreciate your manner of writing.In addition to I would enjoy to advise to my friends this page .
Yes, it would be my pleasure.
It is admirable that in today’s society that there is a human being caring enough to post an article, without any gain. Thank you for your touching post and I hope you will continue to have a conscience.
Hi I like this article and it was so informational and I am gonna save it. One thing to say the Indepth analysis you have done is trully remarkable.No one goes that extra mile these days? Well Done!! Just another suggestion you caninstall a Translator for your Worldwide Audience !!
I can see that you are an expert on Pinktober! I am starting up a blog in the near future, and your article will be very useful for me. Thanks for all your help. With best wishes
Good for U. I think its one of the most informative post in this theme. Lookin’ forward.
great post I subscribed to your blog!
Thank you for taking time to talk about breast cancer; we do need more medical advancement. Btw the pink treats were a wonderful idea
I’d like to thank you for the time frame you took in publishing this kind of article. This has become an inspiration to me. I’ve passed this to one of my buddies.
This is such an important issue, thank you for bringing attention to the cause through food.
In fact, what an amazing website and informative posts, I’ll add one way link – bookmark the following web page? Take care, Reader.
Great site, joined
I gotta thank you for being a person who cares about other’s troubles. Your writing is inviting and makes me want to make a difference. Will you be doing more on to bring attention to breast cancer? You are the type of person to make a difference.
Great post!
I believe your weblog is nice! I found it on Yahoo. I believe I will come back on day, thank you.
It is always a pleasure to see good pages like this one on the site, but from what I have read so far you seem compassionate