This is a compensated campaign on behalf of Samsung Home Appliances U.S.A. All opinions are 100% mine. Six years ago, my life was rocked with a Cancer diagnosis and I really didn't know what to do or who to turn to. Being a teacher and a lifelong student, I decided to become proactive about my health and my mental state and I researched cancer support groups online to connect with others who were going through the same struggles. One of the angels whom I met was Mike Tufo. He was a Synovial Sarcoma Survivor and we would chat online during the wee morning hours about all of the concerns that were keeping us up at night. He was an amazing man who loved his sweetheart Dianne and their four sons. I can still recall how he would comfort me and give me hope during those dark early days when I was first diagnosed. While he was fighting for his own life, he still found time to support others and be a mentor. Unfortunately, Mike passed away on December 1st, 2009 after 19 … [Read more...]
Celebrate The Women Of Steel In Your Life! @SamsungTweets #Samsung #Sponsored
Early Detection Saves Lives! #PhilipsBCA @PhilipsHealth #Giveaway #Ad
This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Philips Healthcare. However, all opinions expressed are my own. My Mammography Story: Many of you have virtually held my hand recently when I went through my first mammogram screening and callback scare. Although it was terrifying to worry about possibly being told I have breast cancer, I am aware that early detection saves lives and the earlier, the better. That is why Philips is taking action to fight breast cancer by raising awareness through education, empowerment, and encouragement. I never imagined that I would be getting my first mammogram at age 36 but, this summer when I had my yearly gynecological appointment, I shared on my health screening form that my paternal great-grandmother had died of breast cancer. As a result, my gynecologist gave me the option of having an initial mammogram screening before age 40 due to the family history. Believe me, I was very scared but I knew that it was better to be … [Read more...]
I Had My First Mammogram!
This past week, I scheduled my yearly appointment at they gynecologist to get a pap smear before going back to work in September. Prior to being examined, I answered a series of routine questions about my health and the medications that I am currently taking in order to get my doctor up to date on everything. One of the questions asked if there is a history of breast cancer in my family and I remembered to jot down that my paternal great-grandmother died from it. It never occurred to me that this would bring up the whole issue of having a mammogram with my gynecologist. After all, women don't have to start having them until they are forty, right? Apparently I was wrong because my doctor explained to me, as we debriefed in her office after my physical exam, that she likes to schedule an initial mammogram consultation for patients who are 35 if they have any kind of family history of breast cancer. I was faced with the following choice: Have a mammogram now and … [Read more...]
Let The Girls Shoot!
As many of you know, my older son is very athletic and his favorite sport to play is basketball. Currently, he is playing on an intramural team since his regular season for the school Bantam team has finished. Today, as I was sitting in the bleachers watching the game, I noticed that whenever one of the girls on either of the teams had possession of the ball, the coaches would call out to the male players, "Let her shoot!" Now, I'm all for being a gentleman and chivalry but, am I the only one who thinks that this is sending the wrong message out to all the kids about gender equality. By telling the boys to back away and allow the girls to shoot the ball they are saying, in essence, that the girls are not as skilled at basketball as they boys are and that a special set of rules applies to them. I wonder if professional female basketball players would be offended if they were playing on the same team or against their male counterparts and this took place. It sends the … [Read more...]
Global Motherhood Unites Mothers Around The World #InspireCare #Latism
These photos represent a few of the many programs supported by Johnson & Johnson and its partner organizations to serve the health and well-being needs of communities and people around the world. To read more about these programs and others that help us care for those in need, please visit our website:http://www.jnj.com/connect/caring/. Being a mother is the most important role that I have. At the end of my life, I want to be remembered for having been a good mother above all of my other accomplishments. Most of us have had women in our lives who nurtured us and taught us the meaning of "motherhood." In most Latino homes, grandmothers are not only the matriarchs of the family but also some of the first women who teach us what being a good mother is all about. My situation is no different. My paternal grandmother raised me during a time when my mother was incapable of handling the responsibility. I have always affectionately referred to her as "Tata" and she has … [Read more...]
You Said What About My Kids?!?!
Today I took my sons to the park with my husband. This was just like any other ordinary trip to the park with the family except for one specific incident... It was a beautiful day and the park was full of happy children and their parents. I immediately found a bench to sit on which allowed me to supervise my boys from all angles of the park. My husband and I sat down and proceeded to laugh and talk as the boys climbed on the Jungle Gym and made friends with the other kids. After awhile, my husband ran into another parent from my sons' school who has coached intramural basketball with him in the past. The two men stood and talked a good distance from me as they watched the kids organizing a game of baseball, my boys included. As they were talking, another man sat a few benches away from me with his son. I only noticed them when they came in so I wasn't paying much attention to the conversation he was having with his son. Eventually, his son walked over to the … [Read more...]
72 Days…
I hate to give any additional attention to the topic of Kim Kardashian's divorce, however, I just couldn't help myself. Besides being disgusted at all of the media attention that this whole issue is getting, I can't help but to be stuck on one point in this whole thing. News reports indicate that comments have been made to the effect of that they tried to keep the marriage together for all of 72 days since the wedding. As someone who has been married for 12 years next week, the first thought that comes to my mind is, "Are you freaking kidding me?" Anyone who has ever been married can tell you that marriages are a lot of work. Let me correct that, they are a hell of a lot of work. I've often compared them to plants when discussing the whole issue with my friends and family. You have to water, nurture, and care for a marriage much like you do for the plants in your home. If you don't, they will just wither away and die. Feelings will die, weeds will grow, soil … [Read more...]
