-
I Got Nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award
Thank you to Heather Congrove for nominating me for the “Sunshine Blogger Award”. I humbly accept the award and I do ask that you stop by her blog as well. Honestly, Heather is a talented also an “Sunshine Blogger Award” winner as well. She has several different blogs so check them all out. She’s a…
-
The Emotional Toll of Invisible Illnesses: Navigating the Unseen Struggles
Invisible illnesses are often misunderstood. On the surface, you may appear perfectly healthy—smiling, socializing, and functioning like everyone else. But beneath the surface, you’re battling a constant struggle that only you can feel. The emotional toll of living with an invisible illness can be as challenging, if not more so, than the physical symptoms. While…
-
Living With an Invisible Illness: What It’s Really Like
Living With an Invisible Illness: What It’s Really Like Having an invisible illness often feels like living in two worlds at once. On the outside, you may look fine—smiling, working, and interacting like everyone else. But inside, your body may be waging a silent war, battling chronic pain, fatigue, or other debilitating symptoms. The reality…
-
Living With Addiction After A Medical Condition
Living with addiction after a medical situation is a complex and often challenging journey. Many people develop addictions as a result of prescribed medications during recovery from surgeries, injuries, or chronic pain. Medications like opioids, benzodiazepines, and even stimulants can be highly addictive, and for some, the transition from prescribed use to dependence can be…
-
My Experience With Cervical Cancer
I began having several symptoms of something being wrong in my bottom area. I was continually bleeding and had severe pain in my abdomen. Thankfully, I went to the hospital and had several tests which concluded that I had advanced cervical cancer. On December 2, 2002, I started my experimental and aggressive cancer treatment for…
-
You Don’t Look Sick
Have you been diagnosed with a invisible illness like a mental illness or digestive disorders? Do you ever find yourself having to constantly explain your illness to friends and family? Have you ever been told that you don’t look sick? An invisible illness is not seen by anyone, because it is happening on the inside…
-
On The Road to Recovery
Ok, everything you; once loved or cared about is gone! Are you going to lay in bed and cry, while the rest of the world moves on without you? Sometimes, through our bad choices in life we become toxic to others and they decide to remove themselves from our lives to save their own sanity,…
-
A Survivor’s Tale
Katherine Keys has been fighting Mesothelioma for 9 years. When she was first diagnosed doctors told her she had less than 2 years. Katherine refused to believe her time was limited and instead decided to fight the cancer. Katherine is convinced that it was her positive attitude and determination to win that has allowed her…
-
Mesothelioma Awareness and A Story of Survival
By, Crystal S Kauffman, Staff Writer/Heather Von St. James-Guest Blogger/Collaboration Patients and doctors want to raise awareness for cancer that is caused by asbestos, which was used in factory and other places people worked at for many years of their love. So, Mesothelioma Awareness Day was created and was celebrated on Sept. 26th, 2015. Survivors…
-
Celebrating the End of Cancer
By, Theresa Wiza, Guest Blogger Today, July 31, 2015, marks the final day of my relationship with breast cancer. You see, today, I just took my final chemo pill! Today I can say good-bye to cancer and everything related to cancer. It took six years of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and taking a chemo pill every…
-
Wings of Hope Project: The New Patient Bags
Do you have different books lying around your house that may uplift someone’s spirit? The books must be in good condition that you would like to give away. Currently, the Laugh at Cancer Support Community has started to collect books, in order to give them out to a local cancer center in Jacksonville, FL. We…
-
End of Life Communication
—
by
Recently, I learned that my grandfather has terminal cancer, which has invaded his body in several places. First of all, I was stunned and numbed, by the grave news and the thought of him dying. Basically, he raised me most of my life, so I am very close to him. I couldn’t cry at first,…
-
Grandpa’s Sweetheart
—
by
RIP: Ray L. Amon/Grandpa As a young girl, I met my Grandpa on my dad’s side of the family. For those of you who don’t know Ray C. Amon adopted me and my two brothers, as his legal children when he signed our birth certificates. So, legally he is our father and I reconnected with…
-
Wings of Hope Project-Dec. 2014
Wings of Hope Project has started on November 1st, 2014. We will be giving out patient bags to the Shands Infusion Center for Women in Jacksonville, FL. After they are told they have cancer, the patients will receive one of our bags that will let them know that there is some out there that cares about them. Our…
-
Thank You Letter From LiveStrong
This is a letter from LiveStrong.org, who helps us by sending wristband s for the patients.This letter is a thank you for how we have been are blessing new patients. Thanks to all to my donors and volunteers for making this project possible. You know who you are! Our next Giveaway is in December, so…
-
Manic Monday April 21, 2014
Crystal And Laura discussing how to combat and deal with depression, as well as other stuff. Please listen and comment.
-
Wings of Hope Project – September 2014 – Next Give Away
We successfully completed our Wings of Hope Project for March 27, 2014 give away, which consisted of 12 gift bags full of items that will be given to new patients at Shands Infusion Center for Women. We made up a nurses bag and threw some extra stuff in it, so the nurses can give them…
-
Wings of Hope for March 2014
Yesterday, we gave away 12 bags for new patients at Shand’s Infusion Center For Women, plus we threw extras in the nurse’s bag. So, the nurse can make a few more bags. I am excited because we were able to bless so many patients. Come on and get involved for September’s give away. WE Need: small…
-
Touched by Cancer Again
I want to tell you about my beloved Uncle Chris, who is the only uncle that I have ever known throughout my life. He helped take care of me and my twin brother Thomas, as we grew into young children. To me, he is and always will be my favorite person, to hang out…
-
My Best Friend
Your doctor told me it won’t be long, Right now, I have got to be strong. Holding you close to my heart, Now, your new journey is about the start. Do you know what is happening to you? Are you ever sad, angry, or blue? How can you continue to tell your tale? Are you…
-
Blanket of Hope Project Has Been Canceled
After careful thought and consideration, we have decided to cancel our yearly “Blankets of Hope Project”, due to lack of donations and volunteers. Thank you to all who have helped make this project a success for over five years now. Through this project, we have helped many patients and their families, whether at cancer clinic’s…
-
Oh No…My Mommy Has Cancer!
“Shh!” Molly whispered to her little brother Drake, who is four-years-old. “Don’t wake up Mommy! She just got home from the hospital.”Kevin reminded them. Molly stated “Mommy is sick and seems to sleep a lot lately.” “I know but your mother is very sick. Sleep helps her body to heal.” Kevin explained Molly…
-
Learning to Laugh the Cancer Blues Away on a Private Support Community
Jacksonville, FL/Feb. 5, 2014: A private support community has been created to help families who have been touched by cancer in anyway. The networking site Laughatcancer.ning.com has been created to allow patients, survivors, and families to meet other families facing the same devastating diagnosis. However, with the new blossoming friendships and the social networking in this private support…
-
Laugh at Cancer Support Community has Reopened on Ning!
We Are Back! I am trusting God and reopening the Laugh at Cancer Support Community at Ning.com, due to request from Facebook for a private community. The support community will have a new web address http://laughatcancer.ning.com and all are welcome to join us. Come join us is our mission to offer encouragement, laughter, inspiration, and…
-
The Day Cancer Changed My Family’s Life
My wife Heather and I learned that life can change at any second when, on November 21, 2005, our lives tumbled into chaos as the doctor diagnosed Heather with life-threatening cancer – malignant pleural mesothelioma. It was the day that life crumbled and the day that I entered the role of caregiver – a role…
Princess Crystal Says 