Letter to a friend going into surgery…beginning the journey.

I’m glad next week is a quick in and out. How long does the procedure take? Is it general anesthesia or something else? I had a friend that insisted on getting the anesthesia that doesn’t wipe out the memory of the procedure. Maybe you know what that is. I didn’t care…just knock me out!

I always looked forward to pre op. Honestly! By that time I knew that when I went to sleep I’d wake up knowing more, having the cancer removed, the next breast work stage completed, or hysterectomy, or…So each time I felt I was moving towards better health. I love to go in & do something like wear deer antlers around Christmas, with the jingle bells on them…..had a friend that got to wear her pair into the surgical suite.  She got more jolly : )

Things will improve in someway after a day in surgery….my longest was 6 hours or so. Hey, to me it was a much needed rest from anxiety & unending sleeplessness over my health crisis  and  intense marital separation. So I felt in good hands, confident and had faith that all was going to be well…eventually…just another step in the right direction. one step at a time….small victories along the way.

I’m hoping Mass General lives up to it’s reputation in all ways. I’m super vigilant in hospitals because of my experiences in Miami, FL…home of the “Hospital Circus”.

Tweet This Post Buzz This Post Facebook MySpace

Can we eat to starve cancer?

William Li presents a new way to think about treating cancer and other diseases: anti-angiogenesis, preventing the growth of blood vessels that feed a tumor. The crucial first (and best) step: Eating cancer-fighting foods that cut off the supply lines and beat cancer at its own game

Here’s the link    http://www.ted.com/talks/william_li.html?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2010-06-08&utm_campaign=newsletter_weekly&utm_medium=email

Tweet This Post Buzz This Post Facebook MySpace

Comment on Crazy Sexy Cancer site (I hope)

VMJ-Giving ThanksLink below

I’m 3 years out after Chemo…2 years from my last surgery and divorce. I’ve got a low key blog on vickirichards dot net. I’m a musician and have gone back to my hospital , used my post rehab arms, tingling neuropathetic (not pathetic : ) fingers to play for patients and staff. Music therapy in this way help me during and after. When my brain seemed to return and my strength and heart I just had to do this for the women coming after me—

My first “give back” recording is done and available: Cleansing Waters: Pura Vida

It’s made for people in the process, sitting in the “suite” with the port open and flowing. Guided Imagery plus 3 tracks of supportive, ambient soothing music. I’ve given out 100 of these and wish I had the budget to get this into every Chemo Suite as an option to help your body accept the chemo as life giving rather than the toxic “Red Devil”.

I’ve got side effects sure, but a new life.

And am grateful. Humor is so useful! My Story was in the Kripalu Retreat Ctr Magazine as I went there, post everything, to recover with great organic food, gorgeous nature.

I’d like to know where “rehab/recovery” facilities are for those of us that had to go through alone? I needed more attention and could have literally died from lack of supervision, malnutrition, IF a great friend hadn’t stepped in.

Rally your troops, and your inner strength is there. A connection to something spiritual is so helpful. Find Beauty in 1 thing every day and know that the difficulties: “This too Shall Pass”.

Wishing you best health & recovery. I did it!!!

My daughter said this about Cancer…”f*#$& that shiz”. She has the heart of a lion and I loved that kick in cancer’s caboose

Link to “http://my.crazysexylife.com/group/wemadecancerourbitch?commentId=2001521%3AComment%3A590792&xg_source=msg_com_group”>

Tweet This Post Buzz This Post Facebook MySpace

New recording “Nectar”

Just had a new recording come out that was in progress for 3 years. It’s Jorge Alfano’s “Nectar”. There a couple of very sweet cuts, plus all the musical diversity & artistry in playing and producing he brings in. Jeff Deen brings tabla, set, Hapi and much much more.
Title track Nectar ….I think the love is palpable. We recorded first take, sat back and found it was so complete. We were stunned and intoxicated by the music, in that moment. Magic moments in music and spirit!
That 3 yr period …they waited until I recovered from one surgery after the next. From the physical and the emotional of sep/divorce, to the next, the long chemo..
It’s very meaningful to me that I kept getting back up and rising to play.
From Chumba Wumba : “I get knocked down but I get up again. Ain’t never gonna keep me down” (repeat)
That they were there to encourage, drive me to play, bring me in to play for the making of the healing medicine sand mandala by Tibetan Monks in Miami. It all helped keep me going. That’s not on the album jacket….it’s the inside story of healing with music and love. Prayer and friends.

Tweet This Post Buzz This Post Facebook MySpace

Shedding the snake skin

Here it is, lovely Spring in the Berkshires when a girl’s thoughts turn to….
Shaman healing practices from Peru.
Love is always in the air & I bet you thought that’s what was coming, right?
Childhood traumas, ingrained patterns, unhealthy habits..over the decades where does that damage hide? in the body, mind and spirit. Is a disease triggered by some of this stored memory? What causes the chemicals that never before affected the cells to suddenly spark them?
This week is a beginning in learning a wee bit about Peruvian Shamanistic Healing Practices. Removing small deposits, long held boo boos caused by early childhood injuries or one kind or another. A parent said something, or didn’t do something.. so many things we can choose from.
i figured being a “victim” of a disease was enough to survive . Cutting, chemo, counseling all help survivors. Then when things have settled into some modicum of stability..perhaps noticing the origins of patterns that no longer serve us is a beginning of another type of healing.

Tweet This Post Buzz This Post Facebook MySpace

Cleansing Waters CD available on Projekt Label

The new recording Cleansing Waters Pura Vida is now available on the Projekt website. So are my other 2 or 3
click or cut and paste in this address for downloads & CD…

http://www.projekt.com/projekt/product.asp?sku=TSM04001

Amazon doesn’t post a photo and I’m having trouble accessing. At some point in the future my website will link to Om Store.

Tweet This Post Buzz This Post Facebook MySpace

Re Vitamin D & Breast Cancer

Hi Friends,

I get Life Extension research and by now probably everyone knows the latest on Vitamin D. If not…let me share a link:

http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=8973&Section=VITAMINS&source=DHB_091106&key=Body+Title

Be Well!

PS I lived in FL for decades and tested as being very deficient in Vit D… I guess the sunblock worked!

Tweet This Post Buzz This Post Facebook MySpace

My new CD is out! Guided Imagery and Music during Chemo and after

After about a year in progress the new CD is complete and packaged. The first 10 (now 7) requests for this for a friend or family member in treatment …free.

I just want this to get into the ears to sooth along the jagged trail we  walk during the cancer battle.

This guided visualization focuses on rinsing away unwanted cells. It’s peaceful but directs the mind, focusing on specific areas of the body.  Waterfalls, ambient sounds, and 3 tracks of ambient instrumental music follow. Drawn from my resources as I went  through the process: Mindfulness Meditation, Vipassana, Chinese Healing Chi Kung, shiv Asana -yoga. read by Elizabeth Russell.

Should be on iTunes and Amazon and my website soon. Give it to a friend!

Tweet This Post Buzz This Post Facebook MySpace

Dating and When Love Comes Knockin’ & Departing

Not going into lengthy details. Post trauma dating and relationships:

Just when you think you’ve assigned recent romantic relationships to the “history” section, a word or thought sneaks in thru the side door. I need a better lock.

I know that I could use the john Kabat Zinn Mindfulness recording for meditation. Learn to let the thoughts come and go…..I used that recording to help during the chemo/cancer/divorce period of my life. Also Sharon Salzberg lectures, Pema Chodron’s writings. Clinging to what was or what might be is useless and yet, so very normal for many of us.

The good fight becomes the dance of acceptance & release. Working on it

Be in the Now! And the now changes  Until then,  I’m thinking of Dark chocolate. Now!

As L Redmond says..Stop focusing on that man. Just go play your violin! It is the best medicine.

She’s so focused. What an inspiration.

***My new recording , guided imagery and music During Chemo and after should be shipping to me today! It’ll be up on iTunes shortly. And on my site.

Rehearsal with new musicians yesterday…..it’s too much fun! Best medicine for me and those listening.

Tweet This Post Buzz This Post Facebook MySpace

good news, another 3 months

I got an “All Clear” today at the oncologist. every 3 months the thought of cancer comes up at the office. I see the chemo suite  there and never want to return. watching the tubes fill with my now healthy blood.

Maybe all that Kombucha tea Layne got me drinking and the dark chocolate are working : ) Oh, organic foods at the Co op & Kripalu, walking…yoga….reading Carolyn Myss, reviewing notes. Talking with friends on the phone or email….and playing music all helps me stay on track fro health preservation.

In the Berkshires, the MD takes time to speak “with” me, not at me. How refreshing!

Tweet This Post Buzz This Post Facebook MySpace