Full Circle

To my faithful blog followers, family and friends....I'm here to catch you up on what's been a VERY busy and eventful 6 months since my last blog entry.  It's utterly amazing to see how God has brought me FULL CIRCLE in my fight to defeat breast cancer and move forward.  Since there is so much of the daily stuff I could share, I'll try to stick with the summary of the these last months:

Nicole and I at LMI

Toward the end of senior year, I asked to shadow and train in mammography to see if I liked it and could handle it.  It was a blessing to be able to train at LRMC under Margaret a veteran mammographer and breast cancer survivor and now a special lady in my life.  She truly has a passion for helping women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.  It was an honor to learn from her and sweet Cathy.  I also began attending a breast cancer support group that they lead at LRMC that's open to the survivor and their family members.

I started back on the worship team at my church, Bushnell Assembly.  I had taken a needed break during my treatments.  A little embarrassing leading a song and have your scarf fall off of your bald head.  I'm not that brave.  Its great to be able to do  something I love again and lead people in worship especially side by side with my sons.








I was thrilled to be able to once again write and direct our Easter Production of "THE CHRIST", a creative passion of mine.  This is a unique drama and music adaptation of the life of Christ which encompassed about 100 of our church family to make it happen.  It was a lot of work but I loved every minute of it and felt it such an honor to tell His story.  My church and family were wonderful to work so hard to make this a reality.



Prop making.



Everyone's favorite Last Supper scene in frozen and moving shots.

 

Thanks to my son for his moving portrayal of Jesus.















And to my husband for being willing to play a pharisee!

Then May brought an event I've worked and waited for almost 4 years.  GRADUATION from radiography school with my A.S. degree.  FINALLY!  With having to take the year off for my treatments and surgeries, it seemed to take forever, but felt good that I finally was able to complete it thanks to the support and constant encouragement of my family and friends.  I passed my registry boards, another stressful thing I'm glad is behind me and was blessed to be hired as a mammo tech at Lake Medical Imaging in the Villages one of my clinical sites.  Feels amazing to earn a paycheck for a change for all the hard work.

Isn't it amazing how much has happened in a year?  I'll share more about my life and feelings as a mammographer in an upcoming blog.  There's much I have to say on that, but wish for now to simply end by encouraging any woman who might read this to BE ENCOURAGED.  God is not through with you yet.  Keep up the fight, live in the NOW (a favorite theme of Carmen from my bc group) with joy and courage.  I don't know what's around the corner, but I know God is there and he wants to use me in the NOW!

A Word From My Oncologist - Dr. David Wright

I often recommend and refer new breast cancer victims to my oncologist because Kenny and I both fell in love with him.  His kind spirit and loving manner made such a difference in the battle we were facing and we truly believed he was God-sent.  I found this video and wanted to share it for any cancer victim who might like to learn a little about Dr. Wright at Florida Cancer Specialists in Tampa, FL.  

THE COMFORTER HAS COME

As is with most of you – life’s been quite busy since my last blog with Christmas fast approaching.  I’ve tried hard not to get into that harried mindset of the holidays, but rather stop and smell the “pine” and enjoy life.  Even as a cancer survivor, it’s still a challenge to do that some days.  School has demanded most of my attention and energies especially as this semester ended with finals in physics and pathology and my case study on breast cancer I presented to the class.  But grades were good and I’m now several days into my much needed Christmas break.  I was enjoying my last clinical rotation working at LRMC three days a week, but the 7 a.m. part…not so much.  When break is over I will be going to Express Care in Leesburg for a quite different setting.  From what I understand from the others who’ve been, you ARE the x-ray tech and it can be either slow or very busy.  But there are other good learning opportunities there with CT and venipuncture practice and the people are great, so I’m looking forward to the change of pace. 

One other school related note – toward the end of my senior year, I’ve decided and requested to do a learning rotation through mammography which is a branch of radiography for us.  This is obviously an area that is dear to my heart and can have a huge impact on a patient’s life, like it did for me – sometimes the difference between life and death when breast cancer is found early rather than late.  More to come on that.

Speaking of differences in outcome, there was a major study finding reported recently on the hormone-therapy drug, Tamoxifen, which I currently take every day.  The standard protocol currently is for women to take the drug for 5 years after chemo to surpress the effects of estrogen and therefore, HOPEFULLY, limit the chance of a reoccurrence.  This is for women whose cancer is  Estrogen/Progesterone positive (ER/PR+).  This new study showed that women who took Tamoxifen for 10 years showed even greater results, assuming their side effects are tolerable.  This is being heralded, cautiously I’m sure, as good news in the breast cancer world.  Since I am on the early end of my 5 years, I’ll have plenty of time to think about extending my regimen and see if further info. changes in this regard. 

My husband and I were heartbroken to hear of a local friend who was recently diagnosed.  She and her family are dear Christians and serve the Lord.  Our hearts ached and in many ways made us feel like we were reliving those emotions all over again as we reached out to our friends like so many did for us.  Kenny and I both had this driving desire to comfort them and be there for them to ease their fear and pain, and do you know what that was?  That was GOD, not us.  GOD was comforting them and reaching out to them.  Left to our own inclinations, we’re all pretty self-centered and selfish most of the time.  Knowing what they are going through and the road that lies ahead for them has caused us to shed private tears.  Yet we know, as they know, that our God is faithful, ever-present, and a comforter to those in need, AND a rewarder of those who seek him.  She WILL be an overcomer and stronger for it!  CANCER STINKS, BUT GOD’S LOVE IS SWEET! 

Praise be to the God and Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  2 Corin. 1:3-4

I believe God’s comfort and love reaches out to everyone, even to those who don’t know him or accept  his plan.  God IS love, his very nature is COMPASSION and therefore comfort.  You don’t even have to be a “believer” to be a recipient of this benefit.  After all, the Bible says he loved us before we even knew or loved him.  He can’t be anything different.  Even in his righteousness or judgment, he is loving.  And he will use anyone and anything to comfort others.  That’s why when tragedy happens, believers and non-believers alike are comforted and used as comforters to reach out and help those in distress.  This is a “God-thing” whether they know it or not.  He even used a donkey in the scriptures, so he can surely use a willing “non-believer”.  So where does the difference in being a child of God come in, whether on the receiving end of comfort or the giving end?  I believe, it’s in privilege – intimacy  – accessibility – and of course, longevity (eternity).  It’s like a benevolent king who cares for the needs of his people, who’s compassionate to all and giving of his resources.  He does this because it’s his nature.  But oh to be a child of the king who lives under his roof, who has constant access to him as “father”, who obeys him out of love, who will always have a place within his family to live with him forever, who bears his name and walks with the authority behind that name, and who even suffers for his namesake.  This is where the difference lies, and the neat thing is, God wants everyone to be that child.

SPECIAL VIDEO FROM MY SISTER-IN-LAW, MICHELLE

6 MONTH FOLLOW-UP

YESTERDAY, NOV. 8TH Kenny and I traveled to Tampa for the whole day for follow-up appts. with all three of my doctors.  First, we saw Dr. Wright, my oncologist at Florida Cancer Specialists.  After settling into the familiar waiting area, I felt a surprising rush of emotion flood over me.  I teared up, felt short of breath, and wanted to dart to the restroom to break down in private., although I reeled it back in and buried myself in a magazine quickly.  While this was, I'm sure, a normal reaction, I felt so silly as I looked around at the many others in the heat of battle as I was several months ago.  My tears should be tears of joy and they are.  Best news of all was that my bloodwork came back clear.  PRAISE THE LORD!

Seeing Dr. Wright was like seeing family again.  He once again took lots of time with us as I asked his opinion on my long list of daily supplements, as well as letting him feel and put my mind at ease about a questionable hard bump on my chest wall (just a rib, by the way!)  We also discussed and I decided to leave my port in indefinitely for now for easier access of my veins.  I'm trying REALLY hard NOT to allow my arms to be needle-stuck if at all possible due to risk of lymphedema.

He was so glad to see I was doing so well, as he asked me a series of questions.  "Are you experiencing this symptom...no; how about this...no; and what about this...no.  How's the neuropathy...better and I don't notice it so much anymore.  How about the hot flashes....WELL YES...but living with that too.  If that's the worst, then I can deal with that."

SECOND APPT. of the day was with my surgical oncologist, Dr. Cox's resident.  He began..."Sometimes at this stage, patients experience extreme fatigue, are you suffering with that...no; its usually attributed to phycological depression rather than physical...are you dealing with that....no."  PTL.  I've certainly had those periods, but I'm grateful to be beyond that right now.

THIRD APPT. was to see my plastic surgeon.  He took a double-take when he entered the room as well and was so happy to see us both doing good.  We discussed some "final touches" to my reconstruction, and let me just say...God has a sense of humor.  That's all I'm going to say on that one!

        Thankful that I've had such a faithful, loving and supportive partner through this entire year          
                  as well as two wonderful sons who have loved me through it and made me laugh!  

2012 MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER

           THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED WITH "TEAM DINA" 

                                         LAST SATURDAY FOR MAKING STRIDES.

It was so encouraging to be joined by my my faithful family members, new classmates, old friends and new friends as we pinked up and walked.  A special thanks once again to Cheryl Sirmons for helping organize and promote our team.

 Thanks also to those who donated toward our team goal.  Anyone who'd still like to contribute and help us reach our goal, can visit  http://makingstrides.acsevents.org; (chose by state, FL, chose Silver Springs at the bottom of the list, then Team Dina) 

TO PINK OR NOT TO PINK

Last year's 2011 Making Strides Walk

THE MONTH OF "PINK" promoting breast cancer awareness has ended.  Personally, I've encountered a myriad of thoughts, feelings, and emotions as a result of all the focus on this, my personal cancer.  First, on the sometimes contraversial subject of everything pink, I will give my 2-cents for what its worth.  I'm in no way in the trenches as a breast cancer activist against this or that.  I've just made it into the "survivor" camp at this point in the game, but I appreciate and admire all those who fight to see things done "right" for the benefit of the cause.  I can understand the frustration at all the companies making a profit selling their pink garb and trinkets this time of year, many of them not giving back the proceed percentage to the cause as they might claim.  In other words, your donation dollar goes MUCH FURTHER when you donate directly toward breast cancer as through the American Cancer Society (who sponsors Making Strides), and I plead with each of you who can, to do just that before it becomes a distant memory on your to-do list.

HAVING SAID THAT, I'm fully aware that many of us may never make that conscientious step, but WILL on the spur of the moment, make an impulse purchase of that breast cancer t-shirt, or that pink bracelet or keychain at the check-out counter of our favorite store, or even wear pink at work on designated days.  For these efforts I applaud as well.  As a breast cancer survivor I can tell you, the support feels AWESOME, feeling that your struggle is acknowledged and remembered in even little ways.  I believe ANYTHING that furthers awareness of this deadly disease and shakes each of us out of our self-absorbed busy lives is a positive.  If you wearing pink one day encourages that one woman to make her mammogram appt. that week, or take seriously that lump she's been feeling, or get her diabetes under control...then I don't care where you purchased your "pink"...it was worth it!

Kenny shaving my head last Dec.
Finally brave enough to show you all.

FOR MYSELF, WHILE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGING, ALL THE EMPHASIS HAS INDEED BEEN SOBERING AT TIMES.  Hearing the stories of reoccurrence or death from metastatic breast cancer sticks a knife in my stomach each time I hear them.  This month has brought back memories of this past year and emotions I had recently become too busy to dwell on.  This of course, is a good thing in many ways, but at the same time, I never want to forget where God has brought me from, otherwise I will find myself stressing over or getting frustrated over the small things just like before.  For example, since cancer, I'm more comfortable with myself where other people are concerned.  Less intimidated I guess you could say.  Being a student in the medical profession and still learning, its very easy to get overly nervous or self-conscious, especially the old me.  Now I'm finding myself reminding myself - "HEY, I'VE BEEN THROUGH HELL THIS PAST YEAR AND SURVIVED - WHO CARES WHAT OTHERS THINK, AS LONG AS I'M REPRESENTING MYSELF AND CHRIST THE BEST I CAN WITH HIS HELP."  I'm also reminded daily of why I entered this profession in the first place, not to necessarily advance or climb the ladder of skill as quickly as I can to prove my worth, but to be in a place of encouragement to sick and hurting people.  Do you know that I encounter breast cancer survivors  EVERY DAY I'm working at clinicals?  There are too many to count, but I'm glad to hold a few hands along the way.

A FINAL NOTE ON A MILESTONE REACHED THIS PAST WEEK.  I've cut off the last tips of my black and green fingernails which symbolized new beginnings yet again.  No more mandatory finger nail polish required or hiding my nails so they don't appear like dirty fingernails.  YAAH!  Once again, it's the little things!

A FAMILY WEDDING

HAPPY TO SPEND A GREAT WEEKEND CELEBRATING NEW BEGINNINGS AT OUR NEPHEW, DEREK'S WEDDING TO FIANCE, ASHLEY.

Our Family, 10/7/12

TIME TO MAKE STRIDES

2011 MAKING STRIDES

MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER WILL BE HELD SAT., NOV. 3RD AT SILVER SPRINGS, FL.  WE HAD A GREAT TEAM LAST YEAR AND PLAN TO WALK AGAIN.  IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN JOINING US, YOU CAN REGISTER AS A WALKER ON "TEAM DINA" AT http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MSABC_FY13_FindAnEvent

WE'RE KEEPING THE T-SHIRTS FROM LAST YEAR, BUT IF YOU NEED ONE, LET ME KNOW THIS WEEK.  THEY ARE $7, OTHERWISE, YOU CAN WEAR SOMETHING PINK, WHITE, OR BLACK.  THE WALK STARTS AT 8:30 AM, BUT WE TRY TO MEET THERE AROUND 8 AM.  CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFO. OR VISIT THE WEBSITE.  THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO STOP THIS DEADLY CANCER FROM EFFECTING MORE WOMAN.

INSULIN CONTRIBUTES TO BREAST CANCER

ZUMBA FOR BREAST CANCER/PARTY IN PINK was held this Saturday at Venetian Gardens and we had a fun time trying to keep up.  Thankfully it was indoors.  My sister, Cheryl, friends, Nicole and Amanda, participated and I was thankful for their taking the time out of their busy schedules for this good cause that benefits all of us women.  Thanks to my sister who's been zumba-ing way over a year now, I've also now enjoyed making this a weekly part of my strident attempt to stay active and therefore healthier.  It sure is a heck of a lot more fun than the old repetitious aerobics and is a great workout.  Our zumba instructor uses upbeat Christian music as well as other music which uplifts my spirit at the same time which I appreciate.

TODAY WAS MY FIRST TIME BACK TO MY GYNECOLOGIST since he gave me my breast cancer diagnosis results August of last year.  Once that happens you get handed off pretty quickly to breast surgeons, plastic surgeons and oncologists.  I filled Dr. Hall in on the past year and was happy to tell him that I'm doing great, feeling better than I probably did before breast cancer, more active, eating better, taking supplements more diligently, etc.  He thought my plastic surgeon did a good job.  I guess he probably sees a lot of bad jobs too, so that was nice to hear.

UTERINE CANCER is a possible, yet rare, side effect from the Tamoxifen pill that I'll be taking for the next 5 years.  This is due to a thickening of the uterine wall.  There's no good screening for uterine cancer except a transvaginal ultrasound which he ordered.  It was already time for my bi-annual pelvic ultrasound anyway, so I'll be taking care of that in the next few weeks.  Dr. Hall assured me that he doesn't see uterine cancer as a result of Tamoxifen very often.  From what I've been told, uterine cancer will affect 1 in 1000 women, and 2 in 1000 women on Tamoxifen, so just slightly higher.  However, I've unfortunately met at least two women personally who did develop uterine cancer while on Tamoxifen.  This is another one of those areas where I have to walk by faith, not by fear, doing the best I can.

Dr. Hall is very big into supplements and also adamant about finding out the chemical or metabolic reasons for our health issues - not just treating them with drugs.  For example, if too much estrogen contributes to breast lumps, benign or malignant, he wants to know why my body is producing too much to begin with.  I can't always follow him when he gets excited explaining the chemistry behind many of the things he prescribes, but I know he's very passionate about it.  He believes, and I researched it and confirmed he was right on, that INSULIN is a leading contributor to breast cancer, not just estrogen as previously believed.  So for women that are diabetic or even pre or borderline diabetic, breast cancer is a greater risk.  It goes right back again to physical activity and diet.  He prefers a low-glycemic diet.  I'm attaching an article below that explains it further.  This article focuses on breast cancer patients' survival rates, but I also read several other reputable articles about lowering insulin levels to PREVENT breast cancer.  You might find it interesting.

Insulin Levels Found to Affect Breast Cancer Survival

December 6, 2010

Women treated for breast cancer who have elevated levels of circulating insulin face substantially higher mortality rates than their peers with lower levels, according to a new study authored by a Yale School of Public Health researcher. The research is published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Patients with amounts of an insulin marker known as C-peptide greater than 1.7 ng/mL were at a two-fold higher risk of breast cancer death compared with women with C-peptide levels lower than that. Women with type 2 diabetes had an even greater risk of breast cancer death compared with women without type 2 diabetes.

The findings suggest that treatment strategies that reduce C-peptide levels in women treated for breast cancer—which could include dietary-induced weight loss, increased physical activity and insulin-lowering medications—should be explored, according to Melinda L. Irwin, an associate professor at the School of Public Health, a member of Yale Cancer Center and the study’s lead author.

“There is growing evidence that weight and physical activity affect breast cancer outcomes, and our findings suggest that the mechanism linking lifestyle factors and breast cancer may be the insulin pathway,” Irwin said. “Our findings are timely in that therapeutic trials of insulin-lowering medications in women treated for breast cancer are being conducted. Previous research of ours conducted at Yale also showed that a daily brisk walking program decreased insulin levels. Women treated for breast cancer who are overweight or not currently exercising should definitely seek lifestyle counseling and/or talk with their physician about additional therapeutic options.”

Meanwhile, a separate research paper by Irwin that appears in the same issue of the journal found that overweight and obese breast cancer patients have lower levels of a crucial hormone called adiponectin that regulates several metabolic processes — which, in turn, decreases their chances of survival.

The finding is believed to be the first association between breast cancer survivorship and levels of adiponectin, a protein hormone that controls processes such as glucose regulation, the breakdown of fatty acids and energy intake. Levels of this hormone are related to body mass index, with overweight or obese breast cancer patients generally having lower levels of adiponectin and also elevated levels of insulin resistance (known as hyperinsulinemia).

The researchers followed 527 women from breast cancer diagnosis for an average of five years after diagnosis. A blood sample was collected every two years, as well as weight and height measurements and data on physical activity and diet to evaluate how lifestyle factors and hormones affect their breast cancer prognosis. They found that breast cancer patients who had higher levels of adiponectin survived longer.

Breast cancer patients can increase their adiponectin levels and lower their insulin levels markedly through behavioral and lifestyle interventions that promote physical activity and weight loss, Irwin said. Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven Hospital offers weight, diet and physical activity counseling for patients. Irwin is also currently recruiting women being treated for breast cancer into weight loss and exercise trials.

“Within the next couple of years, I hope the research continues to show a strong and clinically meaningful benefit of weight loss and exercise on cancer outcomes, and in turn will force second party payers/insurance companies to consider reimbursing for lifestyle counseling for cancer patients much like they do for patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” she said.

CAN YOU BELIEVE ITS BEEN A YEAR SINCE MY MASTECTOMY SURGERY?
Many of you have asked me lately how its going, so I thought I'd give an update.  Things are going real well and I'm grateful!  Life has resumed with much more normalcy than I imagined, and yet I'm forever different - but in a good way I'd like to think.  Radiography school is in full swing and going well with about 8 months remaining.  Its nice to be back with the patients.  My schedule is as follows:  Monday is Radiation Physics class at CTAE in Ocala.  We usually get out by noon which allows time to do the online work for that class in the afternoon.  Fridays we have two other online classes to work on:  Radiographic Pathology and CT Basics. Then Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I'm currently working clinicals at Lake Medical Imaging at Lake-Sumter Landing in the Villages.  Its a beautiful facility (you know the Villages!) and 90% of the patients are great - and unlike the hospital are "walkie-talkies"- they can walk in on their own and tell you what's the matter.  No catheter bags, hospital beds, slide boards, poop, or MRSA, well....

I will be rotating back through LRMC and the Villages Hospital at some point which, despite the aforementioned negatives, is exciting and different in its own way.
(One correction - as of NEXT week, I'll have clinicals on Wednesdays too.  I've actually been doing only Tuesday and Thursdays for the last 3 weeks.  My school has been so good to work with me in starting at a slower pace.)

OUTSIDE OF THAT, I go to zumba with my sister on Tuesday nights, try hard to walk or ride bikes about 4-5 nights a week, choir practice on Thursday nights and just started helping with the 10 1st and 2nd grade girls on Wednesday night church.  Its hard for me to wrap my head around the thought that just a few months ago my life consisted of chemo and couch and doctor visits and which scarf was going to cover my bald head for that day.  For all you current breast cancer patients, BE ENCOURAGED to know that the strength, the eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair has come back.  In fact I REALLY miss not having to shave my legs.  That's probably the only thing I miss about cancer.  The neuropathy has dramatically improved as well as the arms and the chest I do believe, or my body has gotten used to the rest I guess.  

IRONICALLY, MY SHORT HAIR seems to be all the rage with my patients.  I've gotten SO many compliments on the short style and even the gray (eek!).  I've felt weirdly obligated for some reason to respond that its "growing back from chemo" to which most of them are very surprised.  I guess they just think I'm bold and trendy - imagine that!  Sometimes I just say "thank you".  So many patients have been very kind and supportive.  Only if they inquire further do I share briefly that I've survived recent breast cancer, doing real well, blessed, and glad to be back to work.  After all, its supposed to be about them and their health need, but I hope it encourages them.  My first week back, one older gentleman, not even my patient, actually called me out front and asked if he could give me a hug.  His wife had died of cancer and he said that this was his way of encouraging any cancer survivors he might see.  People are good and after all, we're all in this "cancer-fighting" world together.  And of course, GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!

JUST A NOTE:  I'm participating in two upcoming events to fight breast cancer if anyone would like to join in, let me know.  Zumba To Fight Breast Cancer at Venetian Gardens Sat., Sept. 22 10-noon.
and Making Strides for Breast Cancer at Silver Springs, Sat., Nov. 3, 9 am.

      

BACK IN SCHOOL

I'M HAPPY AND THANKFUL TO TELL YOU ALL THAT I'M OFFICIALLY BACK IN  RADIOGRAPHY SCHOOL.  Today was our first day of the second year of the program.  After a one year medical leave, I joined  in with the new class of seniors (who were juniors last year).  Everyone has been so welcoming and gracious and I'm sure I'll come to love them as much as the friends I had to leave behind.  The faculty of MCSRT has been super in helping me get back in the swing and I'm forever grateful.  Class today went well starting two classes:  Radiation Physics and Pathology.  Lord help me!  Tomorrow I start clinicals back up at Lake-Sumter Landing's branch of Lake Medical Imaging.  I've probably been the most nervous about this part, but feeling much more confident and have been studying like crazy.  There's just SO MUCH positioning-wise to remember - you can't imagine!  I'm hoping the chemo-fog won't hinder me, but I'm going for it nonetheless.  I also purchased two layers of Dr. Scholl's for my croqs, so I guess you could say I'm "double-gelling"!

ITS HARD TO BELIEVE, about six months ago, I sat on my futon crying my eyes out at how much I'd "lost".  I felt like I'd lost myself and who I was and what I'd been working for.  Kenny, my forever encourager, tried to tell me I would start again, but at that point I didn't even know if I wanted to...the thought scared me to death.  My confidence had gone down the toilet.  It felt like a million miles away and the furtherest thing from my mind.  Cancer can be all consuming and demands your full attention, courage, and emotions, if you let it.  Sometimes when you can't see things for yourself, you have to trust someone else who CAN see them.  By the way...love the cartoon above!  Sometimes we may even have to be dragged?...drug?  Both sound wrong.

I'M ALSO OFFICIALLY "SCARF-LESS" AS OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW.  Going for the bootcamp basic training look at this point.  My friends and church family have been so gracious and sweet with the compliments which does make an awkward situation a lot easier and I'm grateful.  What doesn't kill you makes you stronger...and a lot less vain. LOL!  My dear brother in Christ, Jim, who prayed for me every day this year came up to me in church last Wednesday night with a precious little tiny girl by his side.  He said to me, "I wanted her to meet you."  There she stood in front of me with her little shaved head on what would be her first week of school.  She bravely said, they had to shave my hair 'causa lice.  I told her that she and I had the same hairdo, then I rubbed her little head and told her how beautiful she was and that it would grow back before she knew it.  She smiled and I smiled too.