Now that 2013 is over, can I take a nap?

When I was a kid, I spent every New Year's Eve reading through old diary entries. Now that I'm a grown up, I have a blog to scroll through when I'm feeling nostalgic. Without even having to look through a year of entries, I can tell you that 2013 has been one of the busiest, most exciting years of my life. Stressful at times, but for the most part, quite rewarding. Here's a brief look back at the past year.

In Spring 2013, I testified for the Oregon State House of Representatives and Senate in support of a bill to ban minors under age 18 from using indoor tanning beds.

Testifying for the Oregon State House Health Care Committee.

Ultimately, the bill passed, and I was invited to the signing ceremony with Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber. The new law goes into effect in January 2014, so I'll be following closely to see how tanning salons handle compliance with the new restrictions.

Oregon teen tanning ban bill signing ceremony.

Meanwhile, I was also pretty busy planning the 2nd Annual Portland Melanoma Walk, which took place in May 2013. The event raised nearly $40,000, which was more than double our original goal!

Portland Melanoma Walk 2013.

More Portland Melanoma Walk.

Throughout the year, I got to travel to some pretty exciting places, including New Orleans, the Dominican Republic, Washington DC, Boston, and Sonoma Valley.

New Orleans in Spring 2013.

My best friend's bachelorette party in Sonoma.

Jessica's wedding week in Punta Cana.

Chelsea's bachelorette at the Oregon Coast.

Wine tasting with Tim and his family in Napa.

Several very important people in my life got married in 2013, including my friends Jessica, Chelsea, and Liz, my cousin Jameson, and my brother Andrew.

The bride and her MOH.

 

My brother's wedding in August 2013.

Me and Tim at Chelsea's wedding.

And let's not forget: I survived a three-mile run while being pelted with paint.

Me and Debbie at the Color Run in Fall 2013.

Earlier this month, as 2013 began to wind down, I started wondering whether it would be possible to "outdo" myself in 2014. How could I possibly schedule more than 10 trips or beat my fundraising goal again? While there are never any guarantees, I have a feeling that 2014 has some pretty exciting things in store for me. My philosophy on life these days can be summed up by a short quote from Louis Pasteur: "Chance favors the prepared mind." After years of preparation, I'm definitely ready to make my mark on the world.

With that, I wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe New Year. 

Cheers,
Katie

Guest post: Never give up hope

A few weeks ago, I was approached by a fellow health advocate who asked if he could share his experience about being a caregiver to someone with cancer on my blog. I've been very fortunate to have others help spread my story, so I was more than happy to dedicate a post to a different but also very scary disease: mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is typically caused by exposure to asbestos. Cam's wife, Heather, was diagnosed with mesothelioma seven years ago. Doctors said she had only 3-12 months to live, but Heather is still alive today. I think it's important to show how cancer (or any disease) impacts not only patients but their caregivers as well. I hope you find inspiration in Cam's story.


Never Give Up Hope
By Cameron Von St. James

On November 21, 2005, my wife, Heather, received a devastating diagnosis: malignant pleural mesothelioma. We had just celebrated the birth of our daughter, Lily, just three months earlier. We thought we’d be happily celebrating her first Christmas together as a family. Instead, our lives became chaotic. I became a caregiver for a cancer patient, and my family started down a long and difficult journey to rid our lives of this disease.

My role as a caregiver started before we even left the doctor’s office. When the doctor gave us the diagnosis of mesothelioma, Heather was so shocked that she could not speak. He gave us the choice of a local university hospital, an excellent regional hospital that didn’t have a mesothelioma program, or Dr. David Sugarbaker, a mesothelioma specialist in Boston. My wife looked at me. Her eyes were pleading, “Oh God, please help me!” I made the decision for her: “Get us to Boston.”

Cancer threw our normal lives into complete chaos. Before the diagnosis, we both worked full time. Heather quickly became unable to work. I was only able to work part time, in order to care for her and Lily. Heather had to concentrate on fighting the cancer. I became the one who made all the doctor appointments, travel arrangements to and from Boston, working, and taking care of our baby full time. I was overwhelmed with all the work, terror that I would lose my wife, and concerns about how we would pay for all the treatments and travel without bankrupting our family.

Being a caregiver for someone diagnosed with cancer is difficult. You’ll experience emotional upheaval, uncertainty, and an unbearable amount of stress. It will likely be the most difficult test you’ll ever face. Unlike other difficult tasks, though, you can’t walk away. Just remember never to give up hope. You’ll need every resource you have to remain sane and navigate through each day.

Heather and I were blessed with help from friends, family, and even complete strangers. They helped us with everything from comforting words to financial assistance. One bit of advice I can offer to caregivers is that if someone offers you help, take them up on the offer. It’s one less thing to worry about. It also lets you know you’re not alone. There are people who care about you and can help lighten your load, don’t be too proud to let them.

It took years for our lives to return to normal. Heather went through surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy to fight mesothelioma. Despite the odds, she’s beaten this awful disease. Seven years after her diagnosis, she remains cancer-free.

The ordeal taught me that perseverance is an advantage and time is precious. Two years after Heather’s mesothelioma diagnosis, I had learned a lot about dealing with stress and juggling time commitments. I decided to fulfill a dream and go back to school to study Information Technology. I continued to work full time and care for my wife and then 2-year-old daughter. I graduated with high honors and was asked to be the commencement speaker. I told the graduating class that five years earlier, I would have never predicted that I would be on that stage giving that speech after all we’d been through with my wife’s cancer diagnosis. I urged them to believe in themselves, realize that they’re all capable of accomplishing far more than they could imagine, and never give up hope. Heather and Lily were in the audience to cheer me on, and that was the greatest reward of all.

A little hump day pin-spiration

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Give yourself a break

A few weeks ago, I was sitting around a table with seven  women I went to high school with about ten years ago. After years of feeling like I'm the youngest person in the room and a novice at being a grown up, I had an epiphany: Somewhere along the way, we turned into adults. Real adults. We're no longer in entry-level jobs, we're getting married (well, not me, but several of my friends) and starting familes (also not me, but you get the idea), buying cars and houses, and paying for our own cell phone bills.

Although things seem great on the surface, one of the things I think I've struggled with most since graduating from college in 2008 is striking the right balance between my inner child and becoming a responsible adult. Recently, I discovered a gem of a TV show on the CW called Emily Owens, M.D., that reminds me of first-season Greys Anatomy. The main character, Emily a.k.a. Dr. Owens, a huge geek in high school, draws parallels between her first year of medical residency and her teenage years. To make things worse, she matches at the same hospital as her high school arch nemesis and the boy she has a crush on sees her as "just a friend." No matter how old I get, I think I'll still be able to relate to this predictable but endearing storyline. Rumor has it that the CW is cancelling it, which breaks my heart, especially because the most recent episode had a couple great lines that I heard and immediately knew I'd be sharing with you.

As Emily berates herself, her adorable male coworker/friend/crush interrupts her by saying: "No one's judging your flaws except you."

Later on in the episode, as Emily is celebrating her birthday, she takes her friend's comment to heart. She says to herself:

"It's hard not to try and judge your flaws because we're aware of every mistake. We know our inner doubts, our hidden motivations. So my wish for next year is to be easier on myself. Focus less on the bad and more on the good. Really just give myself a break."

Leave it to me to find inspiration from a soon-to-be-canceled sitcom. But there's something about this quote that really resonates with me. As I reflect on 2012 and start making plans for next year, "giving myself a break" is probably going to end up somewhere on my resolutions list this year.

I mean think about it. It's so easy to hate on ourselves. Just today, I've had the following thoughts: my legs are gross and pasty (yes, I am still self conscious about my winter white legs), I need to tone up before I go on vacation in April, I wish I was a better cook, I should be spending more time being productive over my Christmas break than vegging out on trashy TV... the list goes on. We are always are own worst critics.

What are you most critical about? Have you found a way to cope with negative self talk?

Changing the world

Just a quick little snippet of inspiration for your Monday. I started reading the Steve Jobs biography at the end of last week. It's fascinating.

This quote resonates with me because I truly believe that by raising awareness about melanoma, we can decrease the number people who die prematurely from this disease.

How do you hope to have an impact on the world?

With age comes wisdom (and wrinkles if you forget your sunscreen)

Celebrating my birthday a few years ago.

As of 12 a.m. this morning, I am 26 years old. How did that happen? It feels like five minutes ago I was sipping my first legal beer. Birthdays have always been a huge stressor for me: Another milestone, another opportunity to over-analyze my life and criticize myself for not doing more. Because I still struggle with this feeling a little bit, I've decided to give myself (and you, my lovely readers!) the gift of motivation to live each day like it really counts. Yesterday, I contacted a few of my "mole mates" (a.k.a. my melanoma buddies) to ask if being diagnosed with cancer has changed the way they think about birthdays. The result? Poignant, useful advice that's worth a read whether your life has been touched by melanoma or not. Thank you to everyone for sharing!

How has melanoma changed the way you think about birthdays?

 

"I'm one of these that loves to celebrate every birthday, small and simply, but celebrate nonetheless. Until melanoma I celebrated on the day (Sept 3rd) and on my half birthday (yes, I celebrate March 3rd, too). NOW, everyday is my birthday. I just don't add a year to my age with each passing day though. I've become cognizant that I really am not guaranteed to see another Sept 3rd, so I relish each one I do see, but more than that, I've come to appreciate each new day like I never did BC. And every day is a new gift to be opened and enjoyed. So, I have lots of birthdays and lots of presents. Even on those days when they aren't the "best of days." I know a new day is coming. Melanoma changed my attitudes about a lot of things!" -Rev. Carol Taylor, Stage IIIb melanoma survivor from Attitude of Gratitude

"In August 2003, shortly after I turned 50, I was told I wouldn't see Christmas. Every subsequent birthday has been a gift. I turned 59 last month, and have every intention of becoming a Social Security and Medicare on the next generation. I've paid for the Social Security and Medicare benefits of the WW II generation. Now it's YOUR turn!" -Rich McDonald, Stage IIIc melanoma survivor from Welcome to The Hotel Melanoma

"Cancer has changed everything. At first my goals were 3 months at a time (of course I was told I had 6-12 months to live and I was told on my 50th birthday so it's even more special). Every birthday of my kids, and family was such a gift. Making it to my 51st was incredible, you appreciate everyday. There's a saying, "I look forward to getting old, so many of my friends did not have this opportunity," and its so true. I know how very blessed I am to be here. Really everyday is my birthday." -Mark Williams, Stage IV melanoma survivor

"Cancer has CERTAINLY change the way I feel about birthdays. I relish every one of them!!! I guess I've felt that way for a while because my brother died at 49 so I've had perspective since I was 34 but after cancer is totally different! Every birthday is a gift from GOD. I feel that way with not only my birthday but with my kids birthdays. They were on 12 and 14 when I was diagnosed so each birthday they reach is a huge achievement. I need to be here for them so every birthday they have is one more year I was blessed to be in their lives!!!!" -Diane Melius, melanoma survivor

"Cancer has definitely changed the way I view birthdays. I used to have a love/hate relationship with my birthday after my 18th. I felt like I wasn't where I needed to be at that particular moment. I was scared of becoming 'old' because I felt like life was rushing by! How was I really turning 23 when I wasn't engaged and entering the career I always wanted? Then I got that diagnosis and thought, 'I may not live to blow 30 candles off my cake.' Fear. That's what I felt in those moments (and still today!). I can't tell you how many people joke with me, 'Getting old is no fun!' or 'Don't get old!' Now, I politely smile and say, 'It's better than the alternative.' So many people do not have the privilege to grow older. I consider it a blessing. Truly." -Chelsea Price, Stage III melanoma survivor from Adventures With My Enemy... Melanoma

"I've always loved birthdays and have never dreaded getting a year older. I was happy to turn 30- I was married and pregnant with my first child, so life was great! My 33 birthday, however, was a blur. I had been diagnosed with Melanoma 3 months earlier and was living in a fog. I couldn't think about the future because I was not sure I would be in it. Thankfully, by my 34 birthday was much different. I had a new appreciation for the year that had passed and looked forward to the year ahead. I was once again planning for a future and living each day more joyfully because I knew it was a blessing. So, to sum it up, while I have always loved birthdays, I now treasure each one. Another year older? Heck yeah!!" -Anne Stokes Bowman, Stage Ib melanoma survivor


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