My Crazy Sexy Life

Good title, huh? Wish I could claim it as my own, but I’m not that creative!

I recently searched on YouTube for other breast cancer videos and found an amazing and heart breaking video called Crazy Sexy Cancer. It was a promo for a tv series from a few years ago about a young woman that had liver cancer and was expected to die soon as there was very little anyone could do for her. It was even more sad to watch because it was from a few years ago and I was certain that she didn’t make it. You can see the video here: Crazy Sexy Cancer

Her name is Kris Carr, I searched her name on line and was wonderfully shocked to find that she’s alive and well, took her health care into her own hands and has become a survivor. She has written books and also has a website for other women about changing her life and surviving cancer, and I think is an amazing example of Courage and Strength. I am posting this information because I know a lot of you are either going through this yourself, or know someone who is, and the Crazy Sexy Life web site is a great source of information and support. Please check it out or send this post to someone you know that might need it. If you join Crazy Sexy Life, make sure to find me and add me as a friend!

You can find the website here: Crazy Sexy Life Website and the blog and support group is here: My Crazy Sexy Life

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Michele, March 10th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Support Sites

Listen to My First Radio Appearance!

Thank you all for being interested in my recent appearance on the Dave Stall radio show, and for your patience while I tracked down the files of the show to post here! I have divided the hour long show into 4 segements, each of them about 10 minutes long. So grab some coffee and listen to what you can!

Segment One introduces a little info about NORRA (National Off Road Racing Association), some of the people I will be volunteering with on the Mexican1000 Rally in Baja in April, some Land Rover contacts Dave and I share, and a little introduction of me on the show. We talk a little about how I became interested in cars and racing. Click here to listen:  Segment One of Dave Stall Show 2/28/10

In Segment Two we talk about how I learned about off road racing, and my last to trip to Baja with a Land Rover Group and Larry Roeseler (Larry is one of the most winning racers of Baja races, see videos on my adventures page for more about off road racing). We also get to talk about Courage Is My Strength, Team Courage, and why we are needed. Click here to listen Segment Two!

In Segment Three we talk about how my health scare developed into Courage and led me back to Baja this spring, NORRAs efforts to help Baja after a hurricane, my radio co-hosting opportunities (lol), and my dream of Team Courage actually becoming a full fledged race team. We also talk about Danica Patrick and women in racing. A very fun segment. Click here for Segment 3!

In the last segment we talk more about Danica Patrick, and more about Courage – how to donate, what we’ll do, he even encourages companies to get involved in our cause. Segment 4!

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Michele, March 9th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Adventure Updates, Charity Updates

Radio Show Update

Wow, I can’t begin to thank those of you that were able to listen enough for your support. It was great to sit at my desk during the interview and watch as emails and facebook postings popped up! It meant so much to me that not only were you listening, you were cheering me on!!

I think the show went great. I was terrified, completely nervous and unsure about what was going to happen. But Dave’s personality was so great that he made me feel right at home, and after just a few moments it was like talking to a friend. Larry Roeseler and Roger Norman didn’t make it, but Pam from NORRA was able to join us in and out as she drove to visit a friend. (there’s more to Pam and the visit to the friend, but it would take forever to explain) The cool thing about Larry and Roger NOT being able to show up is that I had the whole hour! It was great! We talked about off roading, mutual ‘friends’, Danica Patrick, and a lot about Courage. Don’t know if he was kidding, but Dave and I seemed to get along very well and he even mentioned we might be able to do a show together again in LaPaz at the end of the Mexican 1000. I would be thrilled!

None of this would have happened without all of the support from all of you that visit this blog and watch my videos, you are all a testament to the need and interest in my cause. I thank you all so much. And the fact that Pam would even think of recommending me for this show is amazing, and I am deeply grateful.

Yesterday I had 2 new women contact me from my videos, one from New York and one from New Zeland. I am meeting the most amazing women through this journey, and when my new dear friend Jane wished me luck and told me I’m racing for all of us going through this, I cried a little. You are all MY inspiration to keep doing this, and to laugh each day.

And a huge thanks goes out again to those of you that listened, it was unfortunate timing that we were on at the same time as the US/CA hockey game, so thank you for feeling we were that important!

And the biggest thanks goes to the Martineau family, so many of this wonderful family were right there, listening and emailing during the show, and calling before I could completely hang up. I’m so happy to be a Martineau! I love you all!

Right now the radio station doesn’t have access to the download of the show, but we are working on it and I will post it as soon as I can get it.

Hope you all had a great weekend, and I wish you the best in the week ahead! Going back to Denver on Tuesday to see if we can start back up with the expansion treatments, but I think I’m almost done. It is absolutely unbelievable how much the incision has changed this week, it doesn’t look anything like it did in the last video. I will post a new one after Tuesday’s visit.

Take care and love you all!

~M

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Michele, February 28th 2010 | Posted in Adventure Updates, Personal Updates

Amazing Updates!

It’s been a wonderful few days here! First of all, and most exciting, is that I have been invited to be on a radio show to talk about Courage and our developing Team Courage (our fledgling off road race team) and my upcoming trip to Baja to volunteer at the Mexican 1000. The show is hosted by Dave Stall “The car guy” on KCBQ radio in San Diego (where many off road race teams are based). I will be calling in from home, and the show will be live on Sunday the 28th! TOMORROW! The show is on at 1:00 PM Pacific Time. You can listen live at their website: http://kcbq.townhall.com/

Other exciting news is that our website has been updated and is almost complete! We still have some items to be added to our Shop, but we can now take donations to help women facing this challenge without insurance, we can accept donations for our Team, and many items are already posted in our shop! HOWEVER, the shop link on the blog is currently incorrect, if you would like to see what we have to offer, please visit the shop through our site, or from this link: http://courageismystrength.com/shop.php

Our donations page can be found at http://courageismystrength.com/donate.php We are a non-profit group and donations are tax deductable!

Our Team Courage page is also now looking quite…well, you’ll just have to look at it to see for yourself! http://www.courageismystrength.com/teamcourage.php

We are now getting between 25-45 visits to our site each day, and hopefully this weekend we will pass the 300 individual visitor mark this weekend. Our visitor maps count each visitor but does not show how often that person visits. I’m so proud to say that most of our visitors return frequently, and are getting to the site by word of mouth! Most of our visitors are entering our web address into their browser, not finding us by accident. Thank you to all of you that have passed on our information and cross posted this site to other sites. The exciting advancements we are making would never happen without you!

I will update you tomorrow about the radio show, in case you can’t listen. I believe the show will be archived for listening later!

Wish me luck, and hope I don’t ramble! :)

~M

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Michele, February 27th 2010 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Adventure Updates, Charity Updates, Personal Updates

Three Weeks Post Op, Surgery Difficulites

This post was a little too long, so the video had to be separated into two videos. Lots of information!

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Michele, February 25th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Medical Updates

Thoughts From My Heart

Happy Valentines Day!

It’s been almost a month since my surgery, and only 2 months since I started this site and blog. I never could have imagined how this blog and the videos would change my life, but they have. I have been reminded of the amazing friends I have, especially the ones I thought were long lost but are still standing beside me no matter how much time passes between each “hello”. Selina, Renee, Lara, Sherry, Kelley, Alicia, Allison, you ladies lift my heart each time I hear from you.

And speaking of old friends, Marcy, Mark, Bobert, Heather, Ron, and Jeff, you were all life savers, rescuing me from the anxiety pre-surgery with a great evening out the night before. And I’ll never forget Marcy sitting beside my bed the day after surgery, reading my get well cards to me even though I was almost drugged out of my mind. You’re a great mom, and a wonderful friend. Thank you, and I love you. And Bobert and Heather, thank you for stepping in and letting Jamie and Jon crash at your house, and for giving Jamie a wonderful grass rash. He was very proud. I don’t have the words to thank you enough for what you did. I love all of you so much.

I’ve also met so many new friends, Liz, Kay, and Jane, even though we haven’t met I know you’re there for a good hearted laugh. And my dear Kay, my heart is with you as you go in for this same surgery next week, I’ll be holding your hand in your hospital in the UK all the way from Colorado.

And Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be complete without Jon and Jamie. Jamie has been tough watching what the past few weeks have brought. And Jon has never complained about having to constantly make sure I’m safe from injury, has cooked every meal the last 3 weeks, and taken care of everything – including still having to help me wash my hair – and has never complained or even seemed to mind.

This Valentine’s Day is just a great day for me to think of you all, and all of the silent friends that read this blog, and I hope you know that you are all a part of what makes my life wonderful.

Love you all!

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Michele, February 13th 2010 | Posted in Uncategorized

The Story of Courage….Video Contains Medical Nudity

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Michele, February 5th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized

A Great Weekend So Far!

Hi Friends!

Yesterday’s trip to Denver was a success, I was able to have all 4 drains removed from my chest and the pain has been reduced tremendously and I have a much better range of movement. I have taken myself off most of my pain meds, they seemed to be making me more sensitive to pain and of course very groogy. I feel much better and only use them now to help with the pain laying down and trying to sleep. I have a few more days of shots in my stomach, on Monday I will go in for a blood test…the magic number is 2! If my number is 2 or above I will be okay to stop these awful shots for my blod clot. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Tomorrow I hope to feel well enough to get more posts ready, but today has been a small success in that our PayPal donations button is now working! Oh, even better, we will have 2 new sponsor buttons next week, one from a winery and another from a photographer. Thank you so much for everything, Renee!

I have lots to share with you soon! Things like “10 Things No One Told Me About A Mastectomy”, “10 Things No One Told Me About Breast Reconstruction”, “One Very Important Thing To Remember When Driving To Denver Every Week”, and of course a few photos to satisfy the couriosity. It’s okay to wonder, and I promised to show each step of the way. Even though it may not be pretty.

I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend so far, and thanks as always for your support!

3 Comments

Michele, January 30th 2010 | Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Medical Updates, Personal Updates

A Week Of Silence

So much has happened in the last week that I don’t know how I’ll catch up with my updates, but I have learned so much and have so much to share.

First, let me assure you that I am doing okay. There have been some bumps in the road over the last 7 days, but today is a wonderful day and I’m finally feeling myself. I will post some additional posts and videos this weekend, but all in all the surgery went very well and I’m on the road to recovery.

The most exciting thing to have happened is that a woman found my videos on YouTube and contacted me, she is getting ready to have the same surgeries I have just had and has questions for me. I am so excited to have been so fortunate in just a few weeks to have caught the attention of someone that may be able to have a better experience by having a ‘friend’ that has been through it before. I can’t wait to talk to her this weekend and share our stories. Read more…

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Michele, January 29th 2010 | Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized

Off To Denver!

Good Morning! It’s a little overcast here this morning, so we’ll probably run into snow over the mountains as we make our way to Denver today. We will be staying with great friend in Boulder tonight and having dinner with some old friends. Check in time is 7am tomorrow, and I can’t imagine what it will be like.

I am taking my new laptop with me, and maybe will be able to post sometime this weekend, but we’ll see how that actually works out.

I wish I could tell you how I feel today, but I really can’t. I feel so many things right now. Although my body does not define who I am, it is a part of who I am, and it’s frightening and sad to think of the changes that will be happening tomorrow. Plus I hate hospitals and needles and everything else I’m going to be in close contact with tomorrow. But I know I am fortunate to not have cancer, and I am willing to do what it takes to keep it that way. But I am frigthened and sad. I am also thankful for all of my friends that have been reaching out to me and that are there for me. And thank you J.H. for checking on me after every update, I have seen you from my blog dashboard and know you’re there. Old friends like you make the world a better place, and it makes me feel so special that after so many years you’re kind enough to check in on me from way up in Toronto. Thank you so much, old friend.

So I’m off to go fininsh packing and to try to be ready to hit the road at lunch. Thank you for everything, and I’ll check back in soon! Tally ho, y’all!

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Michele, January 21st 2010 | Posted in Uncategorized
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