Dear Friends,

My journey with cancer has made me realize how important friendships and family are to keep them near and dear to your heart. Thank you so much for supporting me, tons of you have really reached out and contributed to helping me heal faster and with a great attitude because of the love I have felt from so many wonderful spirits.

I am off to the races, my energy is coming back, Feb. I finish my herceptin and then really just maintaining my hormone replacement therapy for the next 5 years to keep my cancer from returning.

I wish you all a Happy Holiday season. The best gift for me has been all of your love and support and I can't say enough about how much that has meant to me.

My business has been flourishing and I keep getting referrals and appreciate all the support of my partnerships and friendships developed from years of being in the business. It makes me so happy to be doing what I love and lucky I am for that.

Happy thoughts as I wish you and yours a Happy and properous 2012! God bless.

Hey everyone,

Long time to visit on here and update everyone.

My surgery for ovaries taken out was a success and all healing well. Things are coming around, my energy is renewed and coming back and well on my way.

Looking forward to celebrating with all of you to welcome 2012

"It has been my philosophy of life that
difficulties vanish when faced boldly."
- Isaac Asimov

Here is my wise one

Dawn Surgery tommorrow.

I am getting ramped up to have my ovaries taken out. They do it by laprascopy now so it is less invasive.

Thanks to all of my friends and family who have been through this walk all year with me, almost a year now Dec. 6th, so finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Loving thoughts to you all. My appreciation and gratitude remain as I am forever changed by everyone's outpouring over me during this past year.

See pics too. Love you. Dawn

Dawn surgery Nov. 3rd.

Hi Dear friends and family,

I am having surgery Nov. 3rd at CHOMP to get my ovaries taken out. A one day overnight and then I have a couple weeks to recover. I am glad to finally get this done. I am focusing on living life large and celebrating my recovery. Thanks for your support always.

Celebration.

Hi there everyone,

Celebrating at Disneyland was a nice time with family. So far a month has gone by and doing well. Next step is ovaries removed surgery and then a year of herceptin until Feb. 2012 and hormone replacement treatment as I have been joined into menopause.

I am off to the races again. Bye for now. God bless you all. Dawn

Dawn radiation conquest.

Hi everyone,

Yeah, I am done with this behind me on radiation mode another week until I will start feeling better and better each day. Hip Hip Horray.

Thank you to: Dr. Nancy Rubin my oncologist, words can't describe how much she has done for me in her expertise always with my best interest at heart. She is a friend for life!

Dr. Silk and Dr. Alexander will do my reconstructive surgery, so well on my way to the next step of this process.

I will have herceptin every 3 weeks and arimidex (for hormone replacement) a year or more on that.

My husband and daughter my biggest supporters deserve thanks as do all my many friends who showed up, family and friends have been instrumental in my recovery. You know who you are and I will reach out again individually since it is a long list.

As my client Mary rah rah cheerleader friend has been cheering, those little things are huge boosters to my day. My parents write me cards and send me e-mails weekly, that has been helpful for me to know they are there.

Happy thoughts to you all and thank you again and again. Dawn

The loves of my life. Things are looking up in my feeling close to the final stages of radiation and relaxing at home this weekend with my family.

Sure do feel blessed for all the people in my life who have made my journey with me.
So many that I will thank you all individually.

4 days left, yeah. Aug. 9th. Lily starts Kindergarten at Olson Elementary next Wed. It will be another 2 weeks for the radiation to subside as it continues treatment after the laser.

I am getting there. Thanks all for your support. Hugs and chat soon. Dawn

Sorry I have been out of touch lately, just been dealing with last days of radiation. My treatments have been stalled this week due to severe burning under my arm where they took lymph nodes. I am hanging in there, now Aug. 10th is last if all finishes up.
Keeping busy with Lily school, Chip's new job and my work. I plan to play catch up with all my lovely friends once this is out from under me.
Thanks again dear valued friends. Hugs and happy thoughts. Dawn

Dawn 3 more weeks Radiation.

Hi everyone,

So far so good. I am now going into 4th week of radiation, starting to turn pink however tolerating it well.

See pics. We are all finally starting to feel some sigh of relief that I am beating this.

Thanks for the outpouring of love throughout this journey. I am pleased with all of the support which helped me stay strong.

Happy 4th and Summer. Dawn, Chip and Lily.

Jenny & Jason (my niece and nephew got married)

Hi everyone,

Sorry it has been awhile as I had my nieces wedding and that was exciting and lovely.
My health is good, my surgery 4 weeks ago went well, they got the cancer and took 8 lymph nodes. I am healing up over the course and started radiation this week. That is going on for 6 weeks total. I am shooting for Sept. reconstructive surgery, phew.

I have to say through this experience I had several people willing and able to support me and that made a huge difference. I was overwhelmed with generous hearts from everyone close to us. Thank you from the deepest part of my soul, you touched my life in a huge way. I have such a long list, I am sending out individual notes to you.

The lesson learned through this is to enjoy each day to the fullest, yes it is cliche however it is really the truth in a nutshell.

Don't sweat the small stuff and be kind and forgiving in heart and you will reap so many rewards, like I have received over this course since being diagnosed in December.

My life is very busy with constant appointments, so please know that I will make it around to you, just bear with me until August where I should loosen up.

Thanks for being so wonderful. Lily is great, she is at a cabin with my friend Pam for a week having a blast. That was a gift she will remember.

Bye for now. Dawn

Dawn's big day coming up.

Hi everyone,

I have had tremendous support and outpouring of friends and family, thank you!

Today I did the paperwork, got my port needle in for Thursday preparations. I am definately ready to get this over with and be on to my life again.

May 12th, approx. 12pm at CHOMP. Thanks for your support.

So far with the positive MRI reading I am doing well and will be back to myself again soon.

Lily is graduating June 3rd from Pre-School and a party for her, My neice is getting married June 4th, so all that is what I am looking foward too.

Talk again soon. Love to all. Dawn

MRI shows clean.

Great news to everyone who has been praying for me and in my corner. I have endured the chemo and it is amazing modern science. I am thrilled to say the MRI shows my tumor is gone only a small fraction they call plaque in the area around where it was. Wahoo. The Single Mastectomy surgery is scheduled at CHOMP 12pm May 12th and I will be overnight, 1 day. My surgeon Dr. Vrelenden was confident and I am such good hands.

The next step will be 4-6 weeks after that for my radiation (daily for 6 weeks) and then Dec. for reconstructive surgery after all the cancer is dealt with.

What glorious news, I am having my last chemo treatment next Monday April 25th, and taking a little time to go out of town with my family before the surgery.

Thanks for staying in contact with me & the encouragement has been a lifesaver. Bye for now. Dawn

My niece gets married June 4th, so that is exciting time for us to be a part of her big day.

Upcoming Surgery.

Hi all,

I am doing well, I got through two weeks of work being on my feet and that went well. I am pooped out now though. I am on Monday chemo's now until May 2nd, then I go right into surgery looking like week of May 9th, if that is the case they may cut my last chemo out to give me more in between time.

Busy as you can imagine with all appointments, visits, tests, to get prepared for the big surgery.

Otherwise, nothing new to report. Just getting emotionally ramped up for this next step. Glad I am getting through the hard times of chemo's.

Thanks again all for your support. Talk more soon as I have the CHOMP date on the calender. Happy thoughts. Dawn

Dawn check in.

Sorry it has been awhile, I had some issues with anemia & not feeling so well- getting closer to the chemo end, last treatment is now May 2nd. I have to schedule middle of May my mastectomy, and will have a 2-3 week period where I can't drive, so will tough it out with help from friends and family along the way. Otherwise good.
Lily has started a soccer league and is on the field as of today, what a great opportunity at Carmel Middle School, I was given a scholarship to help us out. Thanks to a great group of people.

I travel for next two weeks on business trips, so will be busy and cutting chemo out next week so I can work.

I am getting geared up for my niece Jennifer & Jason's wedding June 4th, in Grass Valley.

After the surgery, then 6 weeks later I get (6 full weeks everyday radiation), so will be a tiring out period through June/July-August I hope to get my reconstructive surgery done by end of the year. All still up in the air on timing as I progress through each step.

Thanks again for all who have been supportive. Talk soon. Dawn

#6 chemo done.

Hi everyone,

I completed another day of chemo, MY last one is on April 25th, yeah, yippie. I am almost there. Thank you friends;
Kathy, Susan P, Audrey Sanchez, Chip, Bert, Lily, Becky & Jon, Dano, Pam, Lauren, James Threlkeld, Esin Voskay, Opal, Wendy K (from Ohio), Kelly Newlon, all have been so supportive last few weeks. Nice to hear from everyone regularly.

I am doing well. Getting some relief with the new chemo. I then look foward to the next phase of (2) surgeries and getting 6 weeks of radiation out of the way. I am in such great care at Nancy Rubin's office and top notch caregivers.

Nighty night. I will be trying to get into my Facebook and update too, if you want to be friends, please friend me.

My hero- Lily in cape costume.

Chemo down to 8 more treatments, end of April, yeah for that. This one is allowing me to function fairly well. I do walks now everyday!

To all of my friends and cohearts and those who have been instrumental in supporting me through this cancer battle, I say Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am getting closer end of April, then I get surgery in May and complete a 6 weeks radiation cycle. Then it is a 1 year & 1/2 of herceptin to keep the cancer at bay. All is positive in my response to the chemo. You are all loved and I am thrilled with my supporters and fans! God Bless.

Good week.

Hi everyone,

This week went much smoother for chemo, Yeah for that. I am still very exhausted but my other symptoms are better. I have 9 more weeks, end of April, May mastectomy, then radiation for 6 weeks, my tumor has really shrunk before my eyes...

I want to thank Yvonne deGroen for being a special friend from the heart, she came to visit me and that was special.

Pam Ajir paid us a visit and that was lovely to see her, been way too long.

Lily is doing great in school and ready for kindergarten this coming Fall.

We are gearing up for a major storm and snow in the mountains, possibly even in town. Should be a wild ride.

Thank you all again for keeping in touch, each day I am blessed with kindness in so many generous ways. I look forward to healing and being back on top of life. God bless.

Happy Valentine's Day! My daughter Lily's school made me a card I just had to share, it was a collective of all her classmates and teachers in a larger kiddy get better card. That made me tear up.

Good news sharing.

Hi favorite friends and family,

Thanks for stopping by. Latest news; I got results of BRAC1 & BRAC 2 test which give either a negative or positive reading on whether my left breast will be prone to cancer and if Lily has the genetic marker as well. The tests came back completely negative for any traces (along with clean MRI), so I can choose to do a single mastectomy and only ovaries removed rather then hystarectomy. I am pleased.

I also had my first of 12 week chemo Taxol/Herceptin, so far the ability to function is way better then the A/C that did the big power hit. My tumor really shrank down dramatically in the last week and my oncologist was so pleased with the outcome so far.

I hope everyone is off to great weekend. I will be watching our local AT&T Golf ahhh here in beautiful Pebble Beach. Talk soon.

Last of the A/C chemo to start herceptin/taxol

I received my last of the first chemo...gone (forever) once in a lifetime of this hard A/C chemo yesterday and it went as well as it could. I will be resting and I am anemic energy wise for a couple more weeks. Next step: I go into another type of chemo Taxol/Herceptin which goes right to the HER2 positive and Estrogen + (only about 20% have both of these things +) herceptin was designed to attack the cells of my particular strain of cancer. So far the tumor itself seems to have shrank some, the determination was at this point a single mastectomy, surgery with ovaries removed and then radiation, then reconstructive surgery later on. Nancy my oncologist feels this is the best course of action to focus on getting that cancer all out. My BRAC test still hasn't been confirmed, however MRI showed no sign on left breast.

My business has been sustaining, everyone supportive and I couldn't be happier on that front. New clients have enlisted me and so far have been very happy.

Lily turned 5 on Sat. and had a great group of friends, memorable experience.
Thank you to all who contributed to this day, special thanks to Megan Beron as she has been escorting me along with my brother-in-law Bob, Megan helped do the party favors, the baloons, and everyone pitched in to help.
Those in attendance; Linae, John, James, Michael, Uncle Bob, Megan & Emily, Molly and Bella, Jasiynha & Nichole, Nichole & Hera, Grandpa Bert, Grandma Susan, Cousin from afar (Jenny & Jason, engaged to marry in June), Teachers: Ms. Guddie, Ms. Elena & her daughter Cheryl, Daddio, me, (In spirit Aunt Kathy, Auntie Gayle, Kathy, Mariella, Katrina, Pam, Kelsey and Kaitlyn), my parents, My Aunt Sue, Uncle Jon, Aunt Becky,)Thank you everyone!

Chemo #3 and updates.

Hi everyone,

I still continue to have generous people surrounding me. I get my MRI today of the left side to make sure no cancer and direct whether I will have a single or double mastectomy, I anticipate good news.

Lily turns 5 this Sat. and is ready to roll. She has full of energy and has a great heart and kind spirit and is a joy every single day to us.

My treatments so far to date have been showing positive signs of shrinking the tumor and lymph nodes. I get the 4th treatment of A/C next Thursday and find it a pretty tough experience initially, I am of strong mind and spirit myself though to make my way through this last of the hardest treatment out the gate. I am almost there with that and then hopeful that my next chemo series of 12 weeks will be more tolerable and I can somewhat function, a little more myself.

I have been able to get out and enjoy some days with our weather being nicer so that is good and again the support of everyone has been so helpful to my physche.

Next post will be pictures from Lily's big day.

Morale Support incredible.

So today I am feeling better apart from hemroids still and mouth sores, but got medications for them yesterday. I have good news on that my lymph nodes spot there has almost disappeared, she says remarkable progress, my tumor has shrunk also but at slower pace.

I get chemo #4, Jan. 27th, so that will be my last of the yucky version, then the milder chemo may allow me to work more. I look forward to feeling better or almost anyways.

Thank you again, so many have dropped by: Linae, Lauren Siring sent me a lovely prayer shawl handmade by her in laws, Lee neighbor gave me beautiful hats, my mom sent me nice wigs that will do the trick, Susan Pearson brought me dinner, did my hair, and Lily, what fun, wow, I look like Shinaed O'conner the bald headed military type. Funny stuff.

I was blessed with a friend in SD Barb Greenhalg who is doing a cancer walk in my name, way cool.

Lily turns 5, birthday invites going out next week--please earmark Sat. Jan. 22nd her big day, she is looking forward to it at Chuck-E-Cheese's, Salinas (12-2pm), yeah Lily!

Loving thoughts to you all. Dawn