She Went From Fine to Dead in Three Weeks

My sweet friend, Ann, a long time survivor of ovarian cancer was a published author of a nonfiction book on the subject of her ordeal and survival of that cancer. Her book was organized to help the cancer patient, her caregivers, and family. It was a fantastic compilation of biblical scriptures and uplifting advice from someone who had lived the disease and come out on the other side healthy!

She lived over a decade with much energy, fervor for life, a generous nature, helping others, and caring for her ailing parents and disabled husband.She gave me inspiration.

We, both, being writers, would set regular coffee dates and sit in out of the way booths with our laptops, paper, pens, books, and espresso-filled coffee concoctions. We laughed, shared the happenings in our lives, then we’d write for a bit and read the resulting masterpieces to each other for a quick critique or kudos. It was fun.

Then, I moved to Dallas to attend mortuary school and lost touch with Ann. When I finally moved back home, Ann and I didn’t get back in touch again. Our lives were full and changing. However, we “knew” the other was “there,” and that was somehow enough.

On November 4th, 2015, a fellow writer friend told me that Ann had suddenly passed away from cancer that had gone undiagnosed until it was too severe to treat. She was diagnosed, went into hospice care, and died within three short weeks. I didn’t know about it until she was gone.

I realize that true friendship doesn’t have to mean you see each other often or talk every day. You just have to know the other is nearby and just a call away. I knew that about Ann. I loved her, and I knew she loved me.

I wish I had taken the time to see her just for a coffee date, though. It would have been such a blessing to me now. I’m going to pay more attention to the people I love. I’m going to make it a point to tell them I love them. Life is too unstable, uncertain, and fleeting to assume anything.

Thank you, Rebecca Ann, for teaching me that lesson. God bless you my dear.

 

America’s West Coast is Frying With Radiation – Fukushima?

From this site: http://ukiahcommunityblog.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/fukushima-28-signs-that-the-west-coast-is-being-absolutely-fried-with-nuclear-radiation/

From Activist Post

 

 

The map above comes from the Nuclear Emergency Tracking Center. It shows that radiation levels at radiation monitoring stations all over the country are elevated. As you will notice, this is particularly true  along the west coast of the United States. Every single day, 300 tons of radioactive water from Fukushima enters the Pacific Ocean. That means that the total amount of radioactive material released from Fukushima is constantly increasing, and it is steadily building up in our food chain.

Ultimately, all of this nuclear radiation will outlive all of us by a very wide margin. They are saying that it could take up to 40 years to clean up the Fukushima disaster, and meanwhile countless innocent people will develop cancer and other health problems as a result of exposure to high levels of nuclear radiation. We are talking about a nuclear disaster that is absolutely unprecedented, and it is constantly getting worse. The following are 28 signs that the west coast of North America is being absolutely fried with nuclear radiation from Fukushima… 1. Polar bears, seals and walruses along the Alaska coastline are suffering from fur loss and open sores…

Wildlife experts are studying whether fur loss and open sores detected in nine polar bears in recent weeks is widespread and related to similar incidents among seals and walruses.

The bears were among 33 spotted near Barrow, Alaska, during routine survey work along the Arctic coastline. Tests showed they had “alopecia, or loss of fur, and other skin lesions,” the U.S. Geological Survey said in a statement.

2. There is an epidemic of sea lion deaths along the California coastline…

At island rookeries off the Southern California coast, 45 percent of the pups born in June have died, said Sharon Melin, a wildlife biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service based in Seattle. Normally, less than one-third of the pups would die.   It’s gotten so bad in the past two weeks that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared an “unusual mortality event.”

3. Along the Pacific coast of Canada and the Alaska coastline, the population of sockeye salmon is at a historic low.  Many are blaming Fukushima.

4. Something is causing fish all along the west coast of Canada to bleed from their gills, bellies and eyeballs.

5. A vast field of radioactive debris from Fukushima that is approximately the size of California has crossed the Pacific Ocean and is starting to collide with the west coast.

6. It is being projected that the radioactivity of coastal waters off the U.S. west coastcould double over the next five to six years.

7. Experts have found very high levels of cesium-137 in plankton living in the waters of the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and the west coast.

8. One test in California found that 15 out of 15 bluefin tuna were contaminated with radiation from Fukushima.

9. Back in 2012, the Vancouver Sun reported that cesium-137 was being found in a very high percentage of the fish that Japan was selling to Canada…

• 73 percent of mackerel tested

• 91 percent of the halibut

• 92 percent of the sardines

• 93 percent of the tuna and eel

• 94 percent of the cod and anchovies

• 100 percent of the carp, seaweed, shark and monkfish

10. Canadian authorities are finding extremely high levels of nuclear radiation in certain fish samples…

Some fish samples tested to date have had very high levels of radiation: one sea bass sample collected in July, for example, had 1,000 becquerels per kilogram of cesium.

11. Some experts believe that we could see very high levels of cancer along the west coast just from people eating contaminated fish…

“Look at what’s going on now: They’re dumping huge amounts of radioactivity into the ocean — no one expected that in 2011,” Daniel Hirsch, a nuclear policy lecturer at the University of California-Santa Cruz, told Global Security Newswire. “We could have large numbers of cancer from ingestion of fish.”

12. BBC News recently reported that radiation levels around Fukushima are “18 times higher” than previously believed.

13. An EU-funded study concluded that Fukushima released up to 210 quadrillion becquerels of cesium-137 into the atmosphere.

14. Atmospheric radiation from Fukushima reached the west coast of the United States within a few days back in 2011.

15. At this point, 300 tons of contaminated water is pouring into the Pacific Ocean from Fukushima every single day.

16. A senior researcher of marine chemistry at the Japan Meteorological Agency’s Meteorological Research Institute says that “30 billion becquerels of radioactive cesium and 30 billion becquerels of radioactive strontium” are being released into the Pacific Ocean from Fukushima every single day.

17. According to Tepco, a total of somewhere between 20 trillion and 40 trillion becquerels of radioactive tritium have gotten into the Pacific Ocean since the Fukushima disaster first began.

18. According to a professor at Tokyo University, 3 gigabecquerels of cesium-137 are flowing into the port at Fukushima Daiichi every single day.

19. It has been estimated that up to 100 times as much nuclear radiation has been released into the ocean from Fukushima than was released during the entire Chernobyl disaster.

20. One recent study concluded that a very large plume of cesium-137 from the Fukushima disaster will start flowing into U.S. coastal watersearly next year…

Ocean simulations showed that the plume of radioactive cesium-137 released by the Fukushima disaster in 2011 could begin flowing into U.S. coastal waters starting in early 2014 and peak in 2016.

21. It is being projected that significant levels of cesium-137 will reach every corner of the Pacific Ocean by the year 2020.

22. It is being projected that the entire Pacific Ocean will soon “have cesium levels 5 to 10 times higher” than what we witnessed during the era of heavy atomic bomb testing in the Pacific many decades ago.

23. The immense amounts of nuclear radiation getting into the water in the Pacific Ocean has caused environmental activist Joe Martino to issue the following warning…

Your days of eating Pacific Ocean fish are over.

24. The Iodine-131, Cesium-137 and Strontium-90 that are constantly coming from Fukushima are going to affect the health of those living the the northern hemisphere for a very, very long time.  Just consider whatHarvey Wasserman had to say about this…

Iodine-131, for example, can be ingested into the thyroid, where it emits beta particles (electrons) that damage tissue. A plague of damaged thyroids has already been reported among as many as 40 percent of the children in the Fukushima area. That percentage can only go higher. In developing youngsters, it can stunt both physical and mental growth. Among adults it causes a very wide range of ancillary ailments, including cancer.

Strontium-90’s half-life is around 29 years. It mimics calcium and goes to our bones.

25. According to a recent Planet Infowars report, the California coastline is being transformed into “a dead zone”…

The California coastline is becoming like a dead zone.

If you haven’t been to a California beach lately, you probably don’t know that the rocks are unnaturally CLEAN – there’s hardly any kelp, barnacles, sea urchins, etc. anymore and the tide pools are similarly eerily devoid of crabs, snails and other scurrying signs of life… and especially as compared to 10 – 15 years ago when one was wise to wear tennis shoes on a trip to the beach in order to avoid cutting one’s feet on all the STUFF of life – broken shells, bones, glass, driftwood, etc.

There are also days when I am hard-pressed to find even a half dozen seagulls and/or terns on the county beach.

You can still find a few gulls trolling the picnic areas and some of the restaurants (with outdoor seating areas) for food, of course, but, when I think back to 10 – 15 years ago, the skies and ALL the beaches were literally filled with seagulls and the haunting sound of their cries both day and night…

NOW it’s unnaturally quiet.

26. A study conducted last year came to the conclusion that radiation from the Fukushima nuclear disaster could negatively affect human life along the west coast of North America from Mexico to Alaska “for decades”.

27. According to the Wall Street Journal, it is being projected that the cleanup of Fukushima could take up to 40 years to complete.

28. Yale Professor Charles Perrow is warning that if the cleanup of Fukushima is not handled with 100% precision that humanity could be threatened “for thousands of years“…

Conditions in the unit 4 pool, 100 feet from the ground, are perilous, and if any two of the rods touch it could cause a nuclear reaction that would be uncontrollable. The radiation emitted from all these rods, if they are not continually cool and kept separate, would require the evacuation of surrounding areas including Tokyo. Because of the radiation at the site the 6,375 rods in the common storage pool could not be continuously cooled; they would fission and all of humanity will be threatened, for thousands of years.

Are you starting to understand why so many people are so deeply concerned about what is going on at Fukushima?

China’s “Cancer Villages”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

China’s environment ministry appears to have acknowledged the existence of
so-called “cancer villages” after years of public speculation about the impact
of pollution in certain areas.

. . .  widespread production and consumption of harmful chemicals forbidden in many
developed nations are still found in China.

BBC’s Martin Patience in Beijing says that as China has experienced rapid development, stories about so-called cancer villages have become more frequent.

And China has witnessed growing public anger over air pollution and industrial waste caused by industrial development.

Media coverage of conditions in these so-called “cancer villages” has been widespread. In 2009, one Chinese journalist published a map identifying dozens of apparently affected villages.

In 2007 the BBC visited the small hamlet of Shangba in southern China where one scientist was studying the cause and effects of pollution on the village.

He found high levels of poisonous heavy metals in the water and believed there was a direct connection between incidences of cancer and mining in the area.

Until now, there has been little comment from the government on such allegations.

Environmental lawyer Wang Canfa, who runs a pollution aid center in Beijing, told the AFP news agency that it was the first time the “cancer village” phrase had appeared in a ministry document.

Last month – Beijing – and several other cities – were blanketed in smog that soared past levels considered hazardous by the World Health Organization.

The choking pollution provoked a public outcry and led to a highly charged debate about the costs of the country’s rapid economic development.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Chinese tumor experts have confirmed that cancer has overtaken cardiovascular diseases, to become the top killer in the country.

Figures provided by the National Cancer Registry of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, reveal a more worrying ratio of cancer patients than that given by the World Health Organization. Every minute, 6 Chinese are diagnosed with cancer.

Many medical experts point to smoking as the main cause of 560,000 new lung cancer cases every year. Among female cancer patients, 17 percent are suffering from breast cancer. (see video here: http://english.cntv.cn/program/china24/20130204/108309.shtml)

Investigative journalist Deng Fei used the term in 2009, when he published a map pinpointing dozens of toxic villages in China.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cancer is now the country’s “top killer,” according to a recent report by China Network Television. Nevertheless, Ma Jun, a leading environmentalist in China, told The Telegraph that, despite China’s environmental problems and growing cancer rate, the government typically avoids making a connection between pollution and disease.

Environmental lawyer Wang Canfa told the AFP that this new environmental report is likely the first time the term “cancer village” has been used in a ministry document.

Campaigners have lauded the new report — which not only acknowledged that pollution could pose a risk to human health and the environment, but also outlined a plan to stop the use and production of dozens of toxic chemicals — as a step in the right direction.

“I do think this shows a positive development,” Ma told The Telegraph. “The recognition of the existence of problems is the very first step and the precondition for us to really start solving these problems.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(re-posted from bbc.co.uk, english.cntv.cn, and Huffington Post. Not my original writing. Photos by Google images)

 

 

 

What Do You Choose?

 

Choices – that’s what life is – choices

 

What do I want . . . for lunch, to do on my day off, to watch on TV, to stand for, to leave for my children, to weigh, to do with my hair, to do about politics, etc

Who do I  . . . love, trust, respect, care whether they like me, help, learn from, teach, laugh with, cook for, clean up after, believe, get to fix my car, etc

Where do I  . . . call home, go when I die, want to eat, shop, go to school, try to find a job, dance, sing, cry, etc

When do I . . . call it quits, speak up for my beliefs, tell the truth, tell a lie, begin living the life I’m supposed to live,  stop denying/abusing and start facing, get a turn to be happy AND secure financially at the same time, etc

Why do I . . . second guess myself, think others have more rights than I, assume things, not feel pride at who I am, want to go back to being ignorantly in the dark and not a responsible woman, love cats so much, seem captivated by mermaids, love the ocean, love fried oysters, love to write, love to love, etc

 

Just look how many choices there are in life. These questions only covered a fraction of what our minds process daily. Just taking care of our basic needs is a balancing act!

 

I am exhausted at the end of some days just by how many things my mind had to organize and compartmentalize. Being a college student and a woman in the throes of perimenopaue is hard enough. On top of it all, I must deal with good friends who are either divorcing, have financial troubles, or are physically ill. Life ain’t easy! How easy it would be to accidentally jump the tracks! But I want to BE here for the friends and family I love. I want to make a difference in their lives – even if I’m “busy.”

 

Now for some strategies on HOW TO DEAL!

Do you think we are put here to serve a higher calling? Perhaps some of us are naturals at nurturing, teaching, fixing all things mechanical, listening. Others may be able to give monetary help, offer prayer, or spend an afternoon a week with someone who needs a friend.

The point is that no matter how “busy” we are, if we choose to make time to help someone else . . . we are 100% better for having done it, and the other person is, as well! THAT is what life is about – not plodding along day after day to make our wages and to live for the week-ends.

There is SO much more to us than we ever give away! Instead of feeling fatigued by having to give of myself, I am energized! Try it, please. You’ll make new friends, learn some things about yourself and others, and much more. Remember Forrest Gump? He took every opportunity to say YES to whatever came his way. Remember the movie Yes Man? Same idea. Remember Pay it Forward? Let’s get off our ever-fattening American butts and improve a few lives around us.

It’s all about our choices. I choose to be helpful, loving, trusting (even if I get hurt sometimes), and present in my life.

What do you choose?

 

 

So Popular A Blog Post, I Am Re-posting The Link

 

I’ve posted two comments recently that I received on my blog post called Merry Christmas Nathan Norman!

Here is the link to that heart-warming and heart-wrenching story:

https://everydayclimb.wordpress.com/2012/09/30/merry-christmas-nathan-norman/

We love you, Nathan. Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas, Nathan Norman!

 

Rustburg, VA – The scrap book of Nathan Norman’s life is filled with his battle against cancer, a fight that started in January of 2009 when he was just a year old.

His mother Dawn Norman remembers everything about that day.

“At 5:30 in the afternoon we received the call.  It’s never good when the doctor’s office calls you after hours.  He just kept saying on the phone there’s been an abnormality, I’m so sorry there’s been an abnormality, Dawn Norman remembered. “I said, ‘Are you saying our son has cancer?'”

It started off as brain cancer then progressed and now he has a tumor in his spine too.  Surgery and chemo haven’t cured Nathan.

His latest scan in August showed the tumors are growing again, and fast.

As he begins a new round of chemo – one to stabilize his tumors in hopes that there is a miracle drug released soon – he had one request for his mom and dad.

“Nathan has asked when we got home if we would put up our Christmas tree and our lights.  He thought that would make him feel better cause he didn’t feel good,” Dawn said.

“You think … you know what?  Does it matter if people think we are crazy? Does it matter?  Bobby Norman said. “Absolutely not.  If this is his last Christmas and he can spend it celebrating for four months, absolutely.”

Video of Nathan: http://www.wset.com/story/19657190/boy-fighting-cancer-with-the-spirit-of-christmas?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=7774424

The spirit of Nathan’s early Christmas, the will to heal this sick little boy is spreading.

“We have started having friends that put up their trees and outside lights and sending pictures to us,” Dawn said. “Some people have designated their tree as being Nathan’s tree.”

Gleaning for the World showed up with a Santa’s sleigh for the Norman’s front yard too. It was filled with presents for the entire family.

Then, the Christmas cards started showing up, from friends, family and people they don’t even know.

“Every day he goes to the mailbox and receives 20-30 cards – Christmas cards! In September!” said Dawn. “I don’t even know where people are getting Christmas cards this time of year.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever had Christmas cards in my whole life,” Nathan said.

Nathan is using the occasional dollar bill he gets in one of those cards to help make Christmas bags for his fellow pediatric cancer patients at Duke.

“It was surprising because it was like, how do they know? How did they find out?” Bobby said.

That support is giving the Norman’s the faith to face whatever the days ahead may bring.

“When you ask Nathan are you scared he’ll say, ‘No, God is with me.’  His sister asked him, ‘Nathan are you scared you might got see Jesus soon?’ As a mom I’m saying no. No one is going to see Jesus.  Everybody is staying here. We’ll see Jesus when we are old,” Dawn said. “But Nathan said no he is not scared to see Jesus he would just miss Mommy and Daddy.”

“As a parent you grieve over the path God has chosen for you.  After this third progression he has had for two weeks I couldn’t get through the day without bursting into tears,” Dawn admitted. “But you have to move on and you have to enjoy the day.”

“We are enjoying what we have and what we know right now and what we have today is Christmas on September 26, 2012,” Dawn said.

“If he asks us to leave it up all year we may leave it up all year because I mean  in all honesty every day should be like Christmas,” Bobby said.  “I mean we should always have the spirit of Christmas in us.”

Send Christmas cards to:

Nathan Norman
81 Dunivan Drive
Rustburg, VA 24588

This entire article was taken from the following original news site: http://www.wset.com/story/19657190/boy-fighting-cancer-with-the-spirit-of-christmas