October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I don't usually get controversial in these blogs or anywhere on the 'net but I have to speak out this time during Breast Cancer Awareness month.  I suffered (and am still suffering) breast cancer last year.  Thankfully, it was stage 0 and it's gone now but I'd like to share some of my observations.  First and foremost, when you give money to these big corporate "charities" all you are doing is supporting the charity.  If I contacted the NFL & asked them to buy a whole bunch of pink gloves & Nike shoes for their players, would they do it?  Even with health insurance, the treatments bankrupted us and I'm still paying.  I contacted the Breast Cancer Resource Center, all I got was a pink tote bag full of pink crap I couldn't use and didn't want.  When I asked the director how much those bags cost to put together, she told me about $35.  I gave the bag back & asked for the $35 - didn't get it.  I contacted American Cancer Society asking for help to pay medical bills and buy my prescriptions, no help there - they aren't in the business of helping individuals but directed me to my local food bank and maybe I should contact the local churches.  Susan B. Komen organization has so much money they can afford to sue anybody that uses their "for the cure" slogan (and win).  The money collected goes to "research" and while there has been some headway in cancer treatment, for the most part the treatment is the same as it was 25 years ago.  Who is in charge of "research"?  The drug companies.  I rest my case (as the legal community says).  So, if you really want to help fight breast cancer, find someone in need and clean their house, buy some groceries, give them a free ride to treatment and then buy lunch, give them money, gift cards, I'm sure you get my drift.  That person will feel better and so will you - your money will be helping someone who needs it and not the director's salary increase for some big corporate charity.  So many women have to keep their jobs during treatment because of the health insurance factor and it's very exhausting to go through chemo or radiation.  Thank God I had my family and my church, Genesis Lutheran there to help me through with support and encouragement.  I highly recommend a church family for everybody.  Anyway, that's just my observations and I hope somebody in power someday has enough compassion and puts aside greed and money to help those who really need it.

Returning to Normal!

My cancer radiation treatments are over and even though I'm still suffering with burned skin, swelling and fatigue, every day gets better and I hope my energy level gets back real soon. This has been a real test for me, I did not do well through these treatments except for weight loss. But since it didn't kill me I'm figuring it will make me stronger. Thanks to everybody for their thoughts, prayers, cards, and emails, it meant a lot to me. Now I'm looking forward to the next Hill Country Doll show, August 7th, Live Oak Civic Center, 8101 Pat Booker Road, San Antonio, Texas.

Texas Wildflowers!

I painted the cover of this blank sketchbook using watercolors one day sitting in my church's back yard (it's listed in my online stores: www.joyceweaver.etsy.com and www.artfire.com/users/joyceweaver. The wildflowers in our area are the best they have been in a long, long time. I feel so blessed to be living in such a beautiful place. The beautiful flowers have been a real comfort to me during this time as I fight breast cancer. I'll have surgery next week and that should take care of it. God is taking care of me and is keeping me from totally losing my mind and I know I'll get through this, many women have gone through much worse.