Dear Lord...

Dear Lord, You’ve done so much for me
Thank You with all my soul
But, I’ve something to ask of thee
Needing Your grand control
I’ve waged this battle and I’ve wonYet, others battle still
For some, their journey’s just begun
Please guide each in Your will.

I’ve walked this road; I’ve felt each bump
I have conquered Your test
I’ve grown much wiser, since the lump
Located in my breast
I see the world much differently
I pray others will, too
So many fight audaciously
Lord, help to see them through.

Dear Lord, I ask with all my heart
Please touch these special lives
Bless them with courage from the start
Bring hope into their eyes
Let their hope shine a hallowed light
That burns forevermore
To honor their spirited fight
And our dreams for a cure.

© 2008 – Jill Eisnaugle’s Poetry Collection (found this and was so moved by the words just had to share)

Relay for Life 2010...

My Success Story

Toledo's The Victory Center for cancer patient support services has selected me to write my success story to The Susan G. Komen Foundation to go along with their grant funding to TVC.

Project Title: Discovering Inner Strength: Support for Women with Breast Cancer

Project Organization: The Victory Center

Brief Summary of Success Story:

My husband and son had just left that day for vacation, when I found my lump by chance when I felt something along my bra band line under my breast. My heart just sunk, and I was in disbelief that my worst fear was now happening to me. I reacted fast and two days later I got in for a mammogram followed by an ultrasound. My 2cm. lump did not show up on the mammogram images and it was thought to be just a cyst but I insisted on a needle biopsy right then and there. Another two days go by, and I received the call from my doctor. I'm 41 and I have cancer.... I was numb; all I can think about is my son and now had to tell my husband who just totally broke down in tears. Two long weeks later, I met with my surgeon who told me that I have a rare and aggressive form of cancer that doesn't respond to hormone therapy and later learned from the Internet that there was a term for it, Triple Negative Breast Cancer. I knew I was in for a fight and had to be strong and stay focused. I opted for a lumpectomy, followed by an intense cocktail chemotherapy every other week for 3 1/2 months and then 33 radiation treatments. Currently, I am on a clinical trial for Bisphosphonate therapy research study as a preventative for bone cancer, taking 2 pills daily for 3 years. I am now a 1 year survivor and what scares me the most is the Triple Negative Breast Cancer's tendency of recurrence, the lack of treatments for it, and the need for more research.

Nearing the end of my treatments I felt lost; I was now unemployed for my employers didn't hold my positions for me…what do I do now? I turned to The Victory Center for support, trying to figure out my new "normal”. At The Victory Center, I was surrounded by people who didn't mind talking about cancer. I immediately got involved in their Breast Cancer support group where their group therapist, Nicole, is very compassionate, understanding and knowledgeable. The support group has helped me rejuvenate my self-image and ease the transition that I've been going through. All the positive energy that flows through the room during group sessions has such an uplifting effect on my mental attitude. I have also taken advantage of The Victory Center's Massage Therapy where I can go and unwind, relax and free my mind of worries for a short while, while the massage therapist works my muscles, easing my tensions and then go home feeling renewed. As a 9 month client of The Victory Center, I see them as my extended family, my sisterhood, my home away from home. I have been proud to represent The Victory Center survivors at various events, my way of giving back by being a voice for TVC. I have not yet participated in TVC's exercise programs but, I am eager to find some energy and time knowing the importance of physical activity and its role in breast cancer recurrence. As I am getting back on my feet again, my new normal is living for the moment, be happy, enjoy life, my family and friends and to reach out, give reassurance and educate breast cancer patients particularly in the area of TNBC. To raise awareness and funding for cancer, I've participated in walks for Making Strides against Breast Cancer, Relay for Life and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. God is Great, Life is Good.

- Melissa Paskvan

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along."

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Striking Out... Bowl Down Cancer Event

Representing The Victory Center and as cancer survivors in the fight against Cancer, Joann and I rolled out the first bowling ball down the lane kicking off the event, Striking Out... Bowl Down Cancer during the opening ceremony on Oct. 2, 2010. Proceeds from this event went to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and America Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Record Breaking Race For The Cure 2010 - "Imagine Life Without Breast Cancer."

I was part of the largest 17th Annual Komen Northwest Ohio Race for the Cure to date! More than 19,000 registered participants including more than 1,500 survivors have helped raise more than $981,000 on September 26, 2010. I had a great time meeting up with some friends from McAuley High School who came out to honor me. I really loved it that a bunch of motorcycle riders lined their motorcycles along Summit St. and revved their engines as we walked past them during the walk. Totally amazes me by how many supporters come up to congratulate me as I'm walking including cheerleaders who all came up and hugged me at the end of the race and handed me pink carnations.

Vote 4 The Victory Center daily in the month of October to help them win $250k grant

www.thevictorycenter.org

Keep the votes coming for October, I want this win of $250,000 Pepsi grant for the Toledo's The Victory Center so they can build a bigger facility for cancer patients support services. I'm a BC survivor and patient of Victory Center and I support this project! I would like to give back to The Victory Center by getting your votes. Click link below:http://www.refresheverything.com/newhome4thevictorycenter or from your cell phone Text* 102523 to Pepsi (73774) Victory Center has done wonderful things for me: support group, massages, facials, reflexology and event outings. Thank you, Melissa- Triple Negative Breast Cancer Survivor

Goals

• Purchase a facility suited to the 30% growth we're experiencing.
• To provide over 6,000 services yearly to local cancer patients.
• Have 4 treatment rooms and 2 large multi-purpose spaces.
• Equip our new facility with an improved media and educational center.
• Continue to help men, women, and children diagnosed with cancer.

http://www.thevictorycenter.org/

FIND THE CURE

Find the cure.
A safe cure.
One that does not cut.
One that does not burn.
One that does not poison.(●)(●)

Getting Psyched For The Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure In The Morning In Toledo, OH

"Each morning when I open my eyes 

I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it. "

 - Groucho Marx

Warriors In Pink - View Video

My friend and classmate, Elise Jones celebrating my victory at Cleveland's Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Sept. 11, 2010.y ... very touching Elise, thank you and love you sister!

Warriors in Pink - View Video

My Pink Warrior Friend And Classmate, Elise Jones

Elise Destinedforgreatness Brooks Support Breast Cancer Awareness, race for the cure today CSU Wolstein Center! I'm there ..hey Melissa you're my Shero, to my Aunt Barb Kimbrough we love you and miss you

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    Melissa Stukenborg Paskvan Thank you Elise, post pics please..... love you!
    I'm walking The Komen race on the 26th!
    

    Sunday at 5:39pm · ·
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    Elise Destinedforgreatness Brooks I did a video for the Ford I'm a warrior booth I'll try to post tommorow. I supported the race but didn't participate! I will next year definitely! My shirt and scarf are warrior wear! I also walked around with a pink sign that said in memory of and I said my aunt and in celebration of my classmate and friend Melissa!
    

    Sunday at 6:30pm ·
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    Melissa Stukenborg Paskvan awwww! You're so sweet! I like you're scarf and bandana pic, I'm going to add it to my blog. Can't wait till see the video.
    

    Sunday at 8:45pm ·

Hope...

‎"Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark." ~George Iles

Warriors In Pink

www.toledowalleye.com

Toledo Walleye's "Pink in the Rink" 2010

Benefiting Susan G. Komen Foundation

Warriors in Pink - "Click" to see video

www.ford.com/warriorsinpink

"Video of my last day of radiation treatments."
http://warriorsinpink.electricpulp.com/story/i-won-t-back-down-tom-petty?sms_ss=blogger   

1 Year Ago Today, My World Came Crumbling Down...

Reflecting back on August 6, 2009 of what I was feeling for my world was about to crash down when I got that phone call from my doctor saying my lab results came back positive for breast cancer. I couldn't talk, couldn't ask questions, I was stunned with disbelief that my worst fear was now reality. First thing I thought, was my son... the possibility of him being without his mommy and how do I tell him that I'm sick?

I never cried, I wasn't angry but, I was really scared, scared of the unknown.... Suddenly, nothing else mattered, I couldn't see pass "today"... Am I going to die? How much time do I have? How bad was my cancer? Did it spread? Is it in my lymph nodes? Is it treatable? Will I lose my breast? Will I have chemo and radiation? ...and OMG, am I'm going to lose my hair?... Questions that weren't answered for 2 weeks. Can you imagine all the fear racing through my head and trying to keep myself together for we have not yet told our son? I think my husband was more worried than I was, I had to stay focused. I knew I had to be strong, and I knew I was in for a long fight ahead of me.

Today, "Life is Good" is the normal and, I now live for the moment. I am a survivor!

"I Promise Suzy... Even If It Takes The Rest Of My Life"

(L) Suzy Komen (R) with sister Nancy G. Brinker, Founder and CEO Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Beautiful pic, beautiful woman that inspires me to fight harder for all us women. Thank you Nancy for her continued legacy and for making such a tremendously huge impact in the breast cancer awareness and research movement...... Still clinging on to hope that they find a cure to end breast cancer forever!
I'm approaching my 1 year survivorship end of August.

Today marks the anniversary passing of Susan G. Komen on August 4, 1980. Her sister, Nancy G. Brinker, founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure continues her legacy in a "promise" launching the breast cancer movement globally to protect all women and and do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.

Every Year We Win The Fight Against Breast Cancer Through Early Detection...

One year ago yesterday I discovered my lump through early detection and it changed my life forever. One year ago today, I demanded that mammogram to be done ASAP and got in the next day. Today, I look back at everything I've been through this past year and I actually amazed myself on how hard I fought to win this fight and the amount of strength I have proven to myself, family and friends and people I've met along the way. Now, it's that time again to get my mammogram scheduled and I hope you do too.