Things have been tough recently. Most of you know this. Yet in the middle of all of this there are some beautiful things. Like my friend Karen dropping over dinner and wine or Katie sitting with me while I cried or my kids' teachers and school principal offering support or a fellow hockey mom, Daphne - who I barely know - dropping over a bag full of food. These gestures are perfect little gifts that I hold on to. They prevent me from completely getting lost in all of this. Recently I found support where I least expected it -... More »

I have sat here staring at a blank screen for the last 30 minutes. I decided I wanted to write about something else today. Something other than my mom's cancer. But nothing came to me. Nada. It's not like nothing else has been going on in my life. I mean, come on. I have two busy kids and I run my own business. You'd think there would be tons of fodder for a good post. But I got nothin'. So then I started thinking about why I have absolutely nothing to say. It boils down to this - right... More »

I tiptoe through my day.Afraid to ask.Afraid to know.It is my constant. The weight of it.I won't think.I won't plan.There are no answers. My heart suffocates.I ache.I fear.It is unthinkable. I pull myself up.I hope.I love.I get strength from you.... More »

We have come so far in the last 200 years when it comes to modern medicine. But what I have learned this week is that we still have a really long way to go. There is no cure for cancer. There is no totally effective treatment for melanoma. What works for some doesn't always work for others and the doctors don't really know why. This week my mom had some large lumps appear on her back near the scar from her surgery to remove the initial melanoma. The lumps appeared very quickly and grew rapidly. We were convinced it was... More »

My Mom: Jen. Come here. Does my scar look lumpy? It has been feeling a bit lumpy. Me: Let me see. (Lifts shirt to see scar on shoulder) My Dad: How long has it felt lumpy?! Why didn't you say it was lumpy?! You need to tell someone if the scar feels lumpy! Jen, does it look lumpy?! Me: Oh my. Well. Yeah. It looks lumpy. I'll keep you posted.... More »

This is the final week of the intensive Interferon treatment for my mom. It has been a wild ride and I know we will all be happy when it is over. But, this is by no means "it". She has 11 more months of Interferon self injected 3 times per week and we are waiting to hear whether she will have a 4th surgery and/or Radiation. So, yes, this is the Final Stretch in one sense but in another it is merely the First Step in her treatment. For me this has been all encompassing. This time has taught me... More »

There are very few brands I really respect. And even fewer brands I admire. However, as many of you know, the Dove brand is one of them. Having worked in marketing for many years I know how hard it is to lead the way to change. It takes an exceptional brand and some brave marketers to challenge the status quo and make a difference. In my opinion Dove has done just that. I am a big fan of the Dove Real Beauty Campaign and the Self-Esteem Fund. Yes, I know this is marketing and yes, I know they are... More »

It's funny, right now my life is completely focused on one thing - my mom. I am honestly having trouble focusing or even caring that much about anything else. It is amazing how things that seemed so important a few weeks ago suddenly just don't. I think one person only has the emotional capacity to take on so much. There is limited space for this stuff or else you would go crazy or crawl under a rock or something. It would be overwhelming. That is how I feel. I am at maximum capacity so the rest just gets a more... More »

Wow, this is hard. I know my mom is sick because of the Interferon treatment but, as a wise mom at hockey said to me, "suffering is suffering". It's true. No matter the reason, when someone you love is in pain it hurts. My mom has been experiencing extreme side effects from her treatment the last few days. The worst are the severe headaches, like migraines, which cause nausea, vomiting, and pain beyond belief. The pain is so bad that even a slight movement causes her head and stomach to lurch. Lying flat offers no relief and sleep is... More »