Quiet Angel Publishing Blog

Through my journey with cancer, I have tried to look at the positive side.  I have looked for humor in a situation that it is really hard to come by.  I have laughed at myself with no hair, with some of the silly things I did during my “Chemo Brain” period and just at the weird stuff that no one tells you about.    It was my way of keeping sane!  That is why I started”Mirror Makeovers” to help others with the process I used. Yes, maybe it seems silly to draw pictures of hair on the mirror, but I did this to make myself laugh, to cheer myself on and to remind myself to deal with my emotions.  It even works now with hair.  Emotions are a very hard thing to deal with, and when you are faced with something so huge and difficult, they run rampant and you have to contain them somehow, or you will go nuts.

But today, I was brought back to the realization that sometimes, there is no humor, sometimes it is just the plain ugly truth, and sometimes it is just “Medusa Days”.  “Medusa Days” are the days, you just want to hide under the covers, not speak to anyone, and when you do you just want to turn them into stone!  Trust me; I had these days that is why Medusa is a part of the book.  And to those who I might have come in contact with on those days…I am truly sorry.

So I know this is only my second blog, and there will be lots more and hopefully funny ones, ones to make you get away from reality for a minute and laugh, but today, today is a serious one.  Today is about my dear friend Sylvia.  Sylvia is one of the kindest people I have ever met.  She is uplifting, fun, happy and just contagious.  I had the pleasure of meeting her when I was searching for gals to be in the video, and what a pleasure it has been.  Sylvia is Debbie (our lead actresses) cousin, and even though she only had small parts in our video (next to Michelle in the support group and toasting Debbie at the picnic), she was there every shoot to help, encourage Debbie, and just filled with enthusiasm.  She was amazing.  The time that comes to mind the most was the paddling scene in the Dragon Boats.  Sylvia paddled with us and just giggled the whole way.  She made the whole rest of the boat giggle as well.

But in the short few weeks since our completion of the video and our launch last week, Sylvia has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has lumps that are being scrutinized in her breast and a spot on her liver as well.  She has spent the last weeks going through the rigors of test, CT scans and the fear that comes with all of that.  And yet, she is still positive, still sends emails in an upbeat tone to fill us all in on her progress, she is amazing.  So in my blog today, I ask whatever or whomever you believe in, whether it be God, a higher being or just your good thoughts, please pray, give a nod to the sky and think your happy thoughts for my friend Sylvia and while you are, please ask that in the true fashion of Medusa, that all cancer can be turned into stone and ended forever…I know I will be.