Skip to main content

Lung Leavin' Day 2014 - What's YOUR fear?

One of the things that I love about blogging is the opportunity to interact with my friends and fellow bloggers. Because of my blog, a fellow blogger Heather Von St. James reached out to me with a special request -- to spread the word about a day very special to her, a day that forever changed her life. After reading her story, it resonated with me. She was diagnosed with mesothelioma when she was around my age, having just given birth to a sweet baby girl.

One important thing cancer taught Heather is the importance of acknowledging these apprehensions that prevent us from living life to the fullest extent. 

8 years ago on February 2, Heather underwent a risky surgery to remove a lung... and it worked! She now celebrates her "Lung Leavin' Day" with her family, when each year they get together and write their fears onto plates and smash them into a bonfire.

I love Heather's approach to life and about verbalizing her fears and literally smashing them into a billion pieces. And burning them up. Take that, fear. *fist pump*

Want to participate virtually in some good-ole fashioned plate smashing of your own? Go to her virtual Lung Leavin' Day page, type your fears on a plate and smash it to oblivion. I participated.

Want to read more about Heather and her experience with mesothelioma?

-Interview about Lung Leavin' Day with the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance: http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/staff/lungleavin-day-2014-our-interview-with-heather-von-st-james.htm

-The surgery she underwent to remove her lung: http://www.mesothelioma.com/treatment/conventional/surgery/extrapleural-pneumonectomy.htm

-General mesothelioma information: http://www.mesothelioma.com/mesothelioma/


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How to be a Housewife (Without Feeling Like a Slave)

Now, don't get the wrong idea here... I'm not sending a passive aggressive message out there to men (do men even read blogs?) that women hate doing house duties. We love it - right, ladies??? (wink, wink) And I'm not complaining either. (Although I do despise laundry, I love a clean house; so it's a double-edged sword.) One thing I'm BIG on is positive thinking . Sometimes, it is hard to be positive if you are feeling overwhelmed with dishes, laundry, cleaning, cooking... oh yeah... LIVING IN and maintaining a home. So, I thought sharing my thoughts on this topic could maybe help some disgruntled wifeys out there. 1) Don't hate, delegate - I'm a huge fan of starting young with manageable tasks around the home. There are a bunch of lists floating around the interwebs of chore lists for kiddos, and a lot of them are pretty dang silly (one suggests letting a 2-3 year old put dishes away, um no!)  -- but my favorite one is from Kids Activities Blog.  2) B...

How Not to Raise an Asshole

Guys, you know how I am. I tell it like I see it. And these days, I see a LOT of two things: asshole adults and asshole kids who will grow up to be asshole adults. Not raising an asshole requires work , so if you aren't interested in some blood, sweat and tears, then close your browser, and don't forget to write a rude comment on your way out. Let me preface this by saying: these suggestions are being made from my professional side, not my parenting side--- let's be real, the verdict is still out on whether my kids will grow up to be assholes or not (just kidding... over my dead body will they be entitled, dependent adults)... but still, the important distinction of point-of-view needs to be mentioned. Here are some ways not to raise an asshole: 1) Teach them how to do stuff. You know how kids don't come with an instruction manual? Well, neither does growing up. Kids learn from example how to do almost everything - show them how to do things! Don't just...

Caldo de Pollo - Paleo Style

Caldo de Pollo is a delicious dish that is absolutely perfect for a cold, wintery day like today has been in Chicago. It is a basic chicken soup, but let me tell y'all - it is far from basic-tasting!! Other than a considerable amount of prep work because of cutting up all the vegetables, this is a relatively easy one pot recipe (which translates to a quick clean up - extra points given there!). Traditional caldo de pollo is served with rice, but my version is completely paleo. Let me tell you that I honestly didn't miss a grain of rice one bit. Without further adieu, I present the yummy recipe for paleo-style caldo de pollo! Ingredients for soup: - about 2 lbs worth of chicken (I used organic skinless, boneless breast tender strips) - 3 liters of water - 7 chicken bouillon cubes (opt for low-sodium for healthier option) - 3 zucchinis - 1/2 white onion - 1 bunch of celery - 4-5 carrots - a package of sliced mushrooms - 1 floret of broccoli - 2-3 garlic cloves...