Great way to wake up

Well, what a way to wake up in the morning. I just found out that yesterday I sold two books internationally. One to Japan and another to Singapore. I would assume the people who bought these have already bought the first book. I love the fact I can see where the books go but it would be nice to who they go to. This would give me a chance to thank these people for their support. Wahoooo international !!! Not bad for only being available for two weeks.

Carol, my sister in law got a big surprise when she opened her book. It was printed upside down. I of course replaced it but what a hoot it would be as she is sitting on the bus or in a doctor’s office to see the weird look on the faces of the others as she is reading a book that looks like she is reading upside down. I would add, “It goes to show you what we from other planets can do, stay tuned and I will show you how I can read it sideways.” lol lol

Something cool to read by the pool – A Hairdresser’s Diary

If you have not already read ‘A Hairdresser’s Diary’ now might be a great time to enjoy this inspirational memoir. You can find it at any of these links. Read the reviews and then write your own. You can get it in e-book or printed form. If you prefer an autographed copy you can now get a digital signature for your e-book on Amazon.ca or .com.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Hairdressers-Diary-looking-reflection-ourselves/dp/1475164289/ref=zg_bsnr_220855011_12

 

http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?keyWords=A+Hairdresser%27s+Diary&categoryId=100501

 

http://www.ahairdressersdiary.com/

Back to the real world

Well I told myself this morning I should get myself out of this winter rut and back into the real world. As everyone else in this great world we have had our share of illness and death in the short few months. I think we are all finally feeling better and on the right track to get on with the day.

I want to share with you my friends that I have 14 chapters written for my new book ( the sequel to ) A Hairdresser’s Diary. I am wracking my brain on what to use as a title but I know one day when I least expect it, it  will come to me.

I would like to take this opportunity to share a chapter from this book with you. I hope you will find it interesting.

 

This is part of Chapter Seven.

Within eighteen months we took a newly built house with only dirt and mud for landscaping and transformed it into a showpiece with a golf course looking lawn with lovely trees and flowers. People would stop as they passed just to feel our grass. One couple asked if they could take their shoes off and walk on it. They could not believe it was real. Ron always cut the grass in both directions so it would be perfectly manicured. Now it was our turn to have others ask us for our advice on landscaping. This pleased Ron and it showed. It was during one of those lawn manicuring sessions that Ron’s life changed and changed forever. At the young age of thirty-five, he suffered severe chest pain. Shadows of his father’s death hung over him. Before the day was over, Ron had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. Fear and uncertainty ruled his thoughts while he waited for hospital arrangements. He still recalls the day when we were all playing and laughing during his fearful wait and he was thinking to himself, “How can they play and laugh when I might die?”

My burning question was, “How could this strong, young man have heart problems?” As we had been with every other challenge that came our way, we were determined to beat this demon and to do it as a family. Our families and many of our friends offered their support. As a family we shed many tears and it was obvious we were all so terrified. The kids had no idea what was in store for their dad all we knew was this was a life threatening and risky disease. Ron and I tried to hide the worst from the kids but we could not protect them from what the future was to bring. Ron always felt his father was too secretive when it came to his health so he was adamant that his kids be fully informed. But we found they were amazingly strong and did whatever they could to make a terrible situation easier on us. We had no time for anyone or anything. Everything else in our lives were put on the back burner as we needed our strength and focus to deal with this ugly monster – heart disease. I must be honest the question that permeated my minds several times during this time was,” Had we gotten too cocky, comfortable or seem to be ungrateful now that things had been going smoothly for us? We had a perfectly manicured lawn but our lived were all but that. Had we as a family forgot how to share or give to others? I did not think so but was this a reminder to rethink? Was there a cost to being happy that I was not aware of? I was envious of those who’s lives seemed to run seamlessly smooth and who had no idea what pain either physical or mental was all about. I felt ashamed that I had these thoughts. I needed to shake off these feelings and get back to reality. I thanked God for giving me the strength to do what needed to be done and asked him to make me less selfish.

Cancer once again raises it’s ugly head

I know this post is really off topic for me and takes you away from my book that I have been promoting, but I though this would be the place I could show my fear without any judgements and from what I am to believe this is what blogs are about.

It is no secret I am 67 and anyone who has read my blog knows about my hairdressing, modeling and make up artistry days and the book I have written about those careers. My health issues are not a surprise either if you read my personal website. The six car accidents, 28 surgeries ect. One of those surgeries a few years ago was thyroidectomy to remove half of my thyroid as it was cancerous.

I had the breast cancer scare only to be blessed with the final results that it was not. But the 5 weeks waiting was like torture. I am not complaining,I promise you just trying to give you a little background.

Now I am getting to the point I am trying to build up to. Four years ago I found a small lesion approx half the size of a regular pea on my back, about waist-high. It was bothering me as my underwear, slacks, skirts, belts ect would set right on that area. I went and complained to my family Dr and was told it was just a mole and try to wear things lower or higher than where this thing was. So I did the best to avoid rubbing it. But it started to grow and bother me so once again I was asking to have it investigated. For 2 years I was just sluffed off and told to cover it but it was not looked at again. Now you might ask why didn’t you insist? well the answer to that is from the above part of this story I mentioned I have a lot of health issues, so many on fact my Dr will only discuss three per visit. This was always put on the back burner even when I made a special appointment for him to look at it, my dangerously high blood pressure, my chronic pain, my arthritic flair all took president.

Three years ago I insisted as it was getting very large now the size of a quarter. Frustrated at my constant insistence he stood back without getting close enough to see a doorway he said,”It is a fungus ” and he gave me cream. Well the cream did not work. For the next three years I tried so many times I cannot count to get him to check it out. My hubby was getting angry and frustrated as well. Now it was 3 in x 4.6 in.  I decided on my next visit no matter what it took I would not leave without him checking it out. So when I go tot the office I was taken in earlier as the patient before me did not show. The Dr nurse ( his wife) came in first I again showed her. Her response was to get the Dr to look at it . I told her I have been trying to do that for years. So when she was walking out the door and he was coming in she said, “Oh by the way Chris get the Dr to look at that thing on your back. He just grunted, “Oh that hing on your back again?” I could tell he was irritated.

So when we finished everything else I asked once again. He told me to make a special appointment just for that. I told him I was not leaving until he looked and that he could give me the appointment of the person who missed theirs and charge OHIP double I did not care I was not leaving. Annoyed he looked and stated he needed to take a scraping and that I would put him behind. All the time going on about me not making a special appointment. In doing the scraping I was in need of a dressing as it was bleeding that only annoyed him more. On his way out the door he said, “I won’be calling you with the results make an appointment for two weeks.

I did and went only to find out the results concluded I needed a biopsy. It was not what he assumed just a rash.

I went for the biopsy and the diagnosis was cancer. The specialist said his main concern was not the cancer because carcinomas are the most common cancers but it was the size. The treatment for one so big was very difficult and worrisome. Also where it was because. I have already had three back surgeries any treatment would put pressure on my damaged and painful back.

I was so angry ! Cancer is always scary but I had already had thyroid cancer . It was the neglect, of my family Dr of 26 years. How could he be so uncaring. I had the specialist who did the biopsies make the appointment with the cancer clinic as I don’t trust my Dr anymore.

Well I went to the cancer clinic yesterday. The treatments for the cancer was going to start with not less than 30 daily radiotherapy treatments. The oncologist said the pain and the sickness this would bring me due to the size, the position and my already not great health would be like torture. He said it would be at least three months before I would get any relief. The fact my back is so bad that the position I would have to lay in would make my pain worse and once they start the procedure they cannot stop. He said it would be like a third degree sunburn on top of a third degree sunburn every day for no less than 30 days. The radiation could cause another type of cancer far worse than I have now. I was physically ill when he was talking. Ron finally asked him what the alternative was and he said surgery (this will be my 29th) The Dr said it is the only way to be sure they have it all and I will be healed up in a month not three and the pain will be far easier to deal with than having full body pain constantly. He said my fybromyalgia will flare until it is unbearable I will be nauseous  – the list goes on. I opted out for the surgery. The only other problem now is that the cancer lesion is so large they will have to do reconstructive repair and replace the skin from another part of me to fill the hole. BUT THIS CANCER WILL be gone. All of this is because when I first found it I could not get my Family Dr to pay attention and he kept sluffing me off until a few weeks ago I got angry and insisted. It COULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND I  WOULD HAVE ONLY HAD A COUPLE STITCHES. I am not sure when this will be done but the  plastic surgeon at the cancer clinic when available they will call me. I ask for your prayers.

I am at a loss of how the person whose hands you put your life in can be so callous. You might ask.”Why don’t you get another Dr?” There is a Dr shortage in the great country of ours.