Happiness Is A Beautiful and Important Challenge During Life's Journey

                                                         

I drew this a few days before I suddenly lost my sight from GVHD complications after the transplant.

Hello. I want to share so much with everyone and it has been such a long time since I have, so I will write and share many of my thoughts and some of the past summer's news this week. In the meantime, here is the link to the Amazon Wishlist that folks asked me to put up. If you would like to help me to get through this challenge I am greatly appreciative. I can not make ends meet any longer on my own and your support makes my fight less frightening and stressful. Thank you.

Rebecca's Cancer Fight @ Cape Coop wishlist

A DONOR IS A TERRIBLE THING TO NEED

THE POST BELOW IS FROM APRIL, 2014.
WE TRIED EVERY TREATMENT POSSIBLE ONCE THIS NEW DONOR STEPPED IN TO TRY TO GIVE ME A CHANCE AT MORE TIME HERE.
I FINALLY HAD A MYELOABLATIVE TRANSPLANT, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS A MINI TRANSPLANT, ON FEBRUARY 4TH, 2015.
I'VE BEEN IN AND OUT OF HOSPITAL WITH COMPLICATIONS, AS THEY SAY, SINCE APRIL,
BUT I WOULDN'T TRADE THE CHANCE I'VE HAD FOR ANYTHING.
IT SHOULDN'T TAKE SO LONG(3+YEARS!) TO FIND YOUR MATCHES.
About a week ago we learned that a donor has come forward for me, a PERFECT MATCH!
We are super grateful and I am working even harder to get to transplant, to have MY chance at transplant.
BUT, there are still many many people who do not have matches, many many people who will die because their match didn't know to register. HELP ME FIX THIS! Have a drive wherever you are, contact ME, my wonderful team will take care of all of the details.

Let's all appreciate each other and our loved ones extra this week, heck, this summer, especially. Let's appreciate that we get to exist at all and know other beings and have love and affection, and, yes,even a bit of crazy that can happen among friends and family, let's all keep in touch and in love with each other. I LOVE YOU, EACH AND EVERYONE.

Come and let me help you.

A year ago today I was in hospice care at home. My time was short, because of the nature of the main lymphoma I have to live with. I was so grateful to be where I was, able to see my loved ones OK, able to know that life is so good. Today, I am in partial remission once again, taking a drug that wasn't available to me a year ago, having a chance at even more time, and out of hospice care! I am walking for months now, wearing clothes on most days, able to see with my eyes and not just my heart. Go ahead, complain about anything to me, I love you, I see your challenges, frustrations, pain and hurts. But, for me, my hurts, my disappointments, they pale in the presence of this gift of existence, for me and for you.Let's Help Rebecca Save Lives!

I Shared My Dream On TV! Now YOU can help to Save Lives, maybe even mine!

OK, BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAM!

I Shared My Dream On TV! Now YOU can help to Save Lives, maybe even mine!

I shared my dream of changing the culture of donor registration with television channel 11 PIX in Manhattan- here's a copy of the interview that they aired! (thanks to Save1 Person!)
As always,  here is the link to my Be The Match donor drive-Be The Match Let's Help Rebecca Let's Save Lives!

PLEASE, SWAB, SHARE & DONATE! Let's Save Lives, maybe even mine!

I Shared My Dream On TV! Now YOU can help to Save Lives, maybe even mine!

I shared my dream of changing the culture of donor registration with television channel 11 PIX in Manhattan- here's a copy of the interview that they aired! (thanks to Save1 Person!)
As always,  here is the link to my Be The Match donor drive-Be The Match Let's Save Rebecca, Let's Save Lives! PLEASE, SWAB, SHARE & DONATE! Let's Save Lives, maybe even mine!

Let Me Share My Voice & Visage!

Here is a link for ANYONE ages 18-44 to register, FREE!
Here is our Be The Match web page, which includes that registration link AND updates on scheduled drives AND opportunities to support this financially:
Be The Match Let's Save Rebecca!

Team Be The Match of Northeast: Rebecca Salame - Be The Match Foundation

Team Be The Match of Northeast: Rebecca Salame - Be The Match Foundation

Can you come to Brooklyn this Sunday? Can you send this to all of your NY/NJ/PA friends? My sweet Principessa and I will be there, there is an emergency donor drive(in MY honor!!) all day. Come to me and say hello while you get your cheek swabbed to save a life! This can be done by mail, too, just ask. You can also donate funds to help cover costs, every penny helps! C'mon, LET'S SAVE LIVES! Maybe mine? ;)

ONE DAY!

ONE DAY!

  Let's do a kindness, please share my links and help me to save some lives, maybe mine? Help me to save some lives- links here!
All I'm asking is for a cheek swab , just to see- are you someone's match?

Let's Change The World

I am doing my best to think of something to do that will be helpful for others who need a transplant donor, to lessen my sorrow and disappointment- something that will have a lasting impact. 
I have some ideas, after all, what good is my life's journey's pain if I can't use it to somehow inspire others to do something wonderful? I AM, though, I AM sad and disappointed, and frightened. 
So, I'm only out and about when I can maintain some cheer for folks and always I'm thinking thinking thinking of a plan.
I want to change the way people think of donation in general, stem cell, bone marrow, blood, organ donation.
I want to make it a cultural rite of passage to adulthood, akin to a first legal drink, a driver's license, registering to vote.
For people to celebrate it, understand it and look forward to being old enough to do it, not for it to be a mysterious and oft misunderstood action.
If registering for these things was more common, more peoples' lives would be saved without so much drama, stress, expense, difficulty and rarity.
Without so much heartache.

I love you, thank you all for your gifts to us of comfort and affection, the telephone calls, texts, emails and gifts have been such a surprise. I am so touched. I treasure you all so much, I can not express it enough. I hold your affection towards me and the emotional support I receive steady in my heart. What a comfort to know that we have been here together, that there are folks like you wonderful souls, in this world. I am still surprised this minute at the affection I'm receiving, just when I am truly in need of it. thank you all for knowing this, and for coming forward. You are helping me get through this horror so much, my sadness would be much stronger if I didn't have your presence in my life. Thank you.

Now, let's all pull together and save some lives, help me to leave a legacy of light!
Here are some links to start with, links in the main about me, but know, please, that my goal is not to find a donor for myself.  More wordiness from me after the links:


My transplant doctor, Dr. Sunita Nasta, in case you want to contact the team for anything

An article from Philadelphia Jewish Voice about my search, with links to Be The Match

The Gift Of Life page that my cousin Rebecca made for me, what a wonderful gift!

A link to Be The Match, a registry in the US

A video about my search

And this,
A list of registries all over the world


I want to get 10,000 people to register to become donors before I am gone, that is a small enough number and quite doable if we all pull together! 
My genetics are very rare, and finding another match for me will be difficult, but imagine, finding matches for others- so they do not suffer this way- what a gift we can give.
 I do not want just certain people to register, I want you to ask and cajole EVERY PERSON whom you are in contact with to register, and if they can not register, ask and cajole them to get someone to else to. 
If you have a job, if you go to a church or synagogue, temple or mosque, if you are in a knitting group, chorus or other social activity,if you are in school, if you are a member of a museum, if you shop at a store or a farmers' market, if you do ANYTHING that involves others, ANYTHING AT ALL,  PLEASE consider making a drive in that place, PLEASE. I will help you to figure out how to go about it, just ask me, I will learn and then help you to learn.

I  am not giving up on my journey, I am full of hope for many tomorrows, this is just the next step for me in my love of helping others, I see this need and the answer came to me and now I am doing this, and I am asking YOU to help me. 
I have no money to achieve this, but I do have a heart that cares and a mind that is quick, and a story that just may open the heart of others to do something that they might not otherwise feel comfortable doing, well, let's do this, let's SAVE SOME LIVES!
PS: Didn't I look good yesterday? Just back from chemotherapy, too!

THE TRANSPLANT IS OFF 

Late this afternoon, while we were packing for the hospital(I was 

scheduled to go Friday morning for the transplant), the team called and 

notified us that the transplant has been canceled because the donor has a permanent medical  issue that had not been disclosed. 

The transplant team discovered it today during the final preparations. 

The donor just really wanted to be a donor, and meant well. 

My transplant doctor is flying to Atlanta tomorrow morning for a conference where my chemotherapy oncologist already is- 

they have ordered some more of the chemotherapies I was on until last week, for the weekend, and they are going to give me as much chemotherapy as they can, for as long as they can. 

We are going to get some radiation for my fingers on my right  hand, and we will just hope for the condition of my face and arm to not deteriorate too rapidly. 

We are also going to try to get me into a study for a new experimental drug.

Please do not be sad or angry or frustrated, 

I have had some extra "good" time, and we all must be grateful for that. 

Who knows, another donor might show up before it is too late. 
If you haven't gotten tested to be a stem cell/bone marrow donor, now is a good time! 

Imagine how you felt hearing that I lost my donor, imagine how my daughter and I feel, tell your loved ones, your acquaintances, how important it is for people to register.

I almost got a chance at more time, imagine if everyone was a donor, I would have multiple donors waiting and this would just be a momentary glitch.

 PLEASE SHARE THIS LINK, PLEASE ASK EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO REGISTER AS A POTENTIAL DONOR, LET'S SAVE A LOT OF LIVES!, MAYBE MINE! 

I need a donor and so do many other folks.

Rebecca Salame's Gift Of Life Stem Cell Donor Drive 

I probably have at least 3-6 months of decent time, let's be happy.

It's OFFICIAL(finally, whew!). 

I go into the hospital December 7th and receive the transplanted stem cells on December 13th. We have decided that I am going to undergo a "mini" or nonmyeloablative transplant. This kind of transplant involves less invasive and less system suppressing treatment in preparation for the actual procedure, so I will, hopefully, have an easier time AFTERWARDS. I am receiving very careful and caring treatment, at every hospital and clinic and office. I am grateful, and I know that I am very blessed. B"H.

Enjoy these lovely flowers with me! My friend Kristee sent them to me ages ago, and Elissa snapped photos so that I could remember them and get enjoyment from them always. I haven't been sharing because things are not fun, and I prefer to remain upbeat with everyone. 

However, I DO realize that not sharing my burden is actually not friendly, and that sharing makes us closer, and I DO want that, so I am making the attempt again. I wrote an update to one of our "CTCL" groups this week, in place of an update here I'm going to share that email with all of you. As you will see(those of you who know what is going on here daily at the Coop!), I don't share EVERYTHING. I'm honest but I don't think that it does any good to tell everyone exactly how bad things are. Unless a member of the group contacts me personally I like to keep to the basics and generalities. I will do my best to write again, soon. Here's the message I shared:

Hi, Folks.

Just an update on my journey in case anyone is keeping track for their own future prospects.

The transplant has been set back a few times for various reasons, just now the chemotherapy has stopped working and the Cooper team is trying to get a handle on some protocol that will get me to more of a remission.

GOOD NEWS: the donor and I are the best of all possible matches- even down to blood typing. 

I really couldn't have a better chance donor-wise than I do have. 

I am hoping that the schedule issues are just temporary, although I am stoic about it, 

if it isn't meant to be, then, perhaps, something else will come up for me to attempt.

I'm currently walking, driving, using my hands, wearing clothes- it has been a gift to have so much remission activity. 

I believe that if nothing comes of this effort for a transplant I can still survive for multiple months longer if I am careful with infections and illness.

I've had shingles in my right eye again and hence have seen a new eye doctor. 

I HAVE developed cataracts in my eyes, from past radiation we assume, but they are very minor and the doctor seems to feel that I could wait years to have surgery.

I have some scarring from tumor activity on my right eye- it is my troubled eye, indeed, poor little orb!

The scarring keeps my lower lid a tiny bit droopy and a skin graft isn't a good idea in my case, so I need to be diligent about using eye drops for extra lubrication- every 90 minutes when I  am awake is the guideline I've been given. 

My eye is sore much of the time so I am trying to be diligent about the drops.

I'm feeling really good and then awful in the physical sense- it's so unpredictable but I am so much better than I have been for years and in fact, the past few years seem like an impossible dream when I am typing and walking and even folding clothes and writing.

Today my daughter and I sketched together and the other day we played cards and I truly forgot that I hadn't been able to do these things just a few short months ago!

I have skin on almost my entire body and it is not great skin but for me it is perfection.

I'm really feeling good and can not fathom not feeling this normal again, but I suppose that is what is ahead, regardless of transplant or anything else, stage 4B is stage 4B and it is not going to disappear.

No remission activity has been lasting, the weeks I am not on chemotherapy the tumors rear right back up, aggressively.

Anyway, I want you all to know that it is not normal to get to this stage at my age, if you are diligent once you are diagnosed at early stage the odds are that you will NEVER progress this far, and I want you all to be so, diligent, and take care of your bodies.

If you are diagnosed before stage 4, then you are truly ahead of the game and the odds are with you.

Please, also, know that I was diagnosed at 2B vs 4 in June 2006(I was left at this "staging" and that has enabled me to have many experimental treatments),

 and it is 2012 now and I am STILL HERE.

Six plus years at stage 4 is possible!

We only have this one chance with these bodies, and life is such a gift, please, my fellow CTCL folks, listen to the following advice that I am spewing at you from this place:

Eat with care, you are truly WHAT you put into your body, and exercise if you are able, sleep well and long daily, follow treatment regimens, keep your skin clean and moisturized- and, finally, if you have stress- find ways to manage it. 

I truly believe that my happiness at being alive has helped me to remain here as long as I have with such a challenging case! 

In short, LIVE as well as you can.

FINALLY,

I've had many treatments and if anyone ever needs some quiet advice or anecdotal sharing of my experience, feel comfortable in contacting me via this email or my telephone.

PS: Neulasta pain SUCKS but it is totally worth it, my white blood counts bounce back after each week of chemotherapy!

Rebecca

age 49, stage 4B, diagnosed June 2006, had symptoms  since 1989, diagnosed at stage 2B vs 4, have undergone most treatments, including TSEB, multiple chemotherapies and biologics, lots of spot radiation, undergoing a chemotherapy mix of vincristine, etoposide, cytoxan and prednisone with neulasta right now in preparation for a stem cell transplant with a 10/10 donor(perfect match!) at UPenn. 

The Stray Tomato

                                    It's wonderful, and immense!
                   Luscious pearls of golden sun have come to us all summer- such a gift!

More Than Salt

                                         
Have you ever wanted to read a positive thought during your day?
Been busy, or just been surfing the internet, and wished that for once you could just go to a site that is dedicated to just sharing positive thoughts in a simple fashion, no hunting for the uplifting, no gobbledygook wrapped in any rhetoric, just a quick thought that gets to the point, states the truth and makes no excuses for it? Do you know what I mean? Just a click and then 
                >BAM-POP~KABLOOEY!<  
you're there, basking in a moment of truthful and positive reality?
Reading words that cut to the center of everything and remind you to be aware?
Well, I think a lot of people feel the same. And so does my daughter. AND, I think that I have the message to share that fits everyone's true need. So, Elissa did a little clicky-clackity on my laptop a few weeks ago and now I'm on Tumblr. Here is the link, for you, with my love. More Than Salt
See you there for positive thoughts from the daybed!

A Kitchen Plan, A Transplant Dance

This is our current kitchen setup. The lower cabinets are unusable and the interiors are damaged beyond repair, they just hold up the sink.
There are a few holes in the flooring, but we don't mind- it is wonderful to have a floor, and we know it!



The refrigerator is funky, the interior of the freezer is odd, but we can not imagine buying a replacement, why spend the money on something unnecessary, yes?
BUT, it is so difficult to use this partial kitchen, I've wearied of it over the past few years.
As well, now that I can no longer use my hands, the cooking and cleaning is left to Elissa- she is ill equipped to handle the limitations of a kitchen with no cabinets and no dishwasher, sweet soul that she is. 
She braves it every day though, my little trouper, and she is becoming quite the accomplished home cook as well!
I bought a dishwasher on Craigslist two years ago, for Elissa's birthday.
A lovely machine, maybe ten years old, in excellent condition, with a steel interior!
I promised her that we would someday have a kitchen and the dishwasher was the first step, it sits under a window, waiting to be installed, lovely old thing.

I am hanging on for a stem cell transplant, August is our target date, and we have a 10/10 match- perfection in transplant speak, very exciting news, I know! 
I've been deteriorating, but now I am steadfast in my desire to BE here for that transplant, and we are doing everything possible to get to the magical moment!
Well, I just don't want to leave Elissa with this mess of a kitchen, just in case. 
I've been hunting for used cabinets everywhere, and I even had Elissa drive us to the local Habitat For Humanity Re-Store about a month ago, to see what they had. 
Believe me, getting me bandaged and out of the house to do that bit of shopping was an ORDEAL, but, it seems that I was meant to be at that charity shop on that day, because the nicest man working there handed me a telephone number as we were leaving AND  I called the number AND spoke with this lovely woman named Debra Behnke AND she worked some magic AND it seems that we will be getting a basic kitchen set up from some kind folks in our small town!

SO- Many folks have been asking how they can help us. 

My loved ones all know that I have trouble accepting help and gifts, but I have recently worked on this flaw in my heart and I am learning to graciously and gratefully accept the helpful kind of affection.

This kitchen is something that I can not do on my own, especially in the condition I am now in, so by helping us get a kitchen, well, it is a mitzvah of great import, in my mind.

You can contact  Debra Behnke, she is lovely and easy to communicate with, and ask how you may assist- by funding the kitchen repairs- or help in putting in things, or you can offer her supplies, you can write to her via post or email, or you can telephone her- whatever form of help you care to give is welcome and appreciated!

Salem County Office of Disability Services
ATTN: Debra Behnke 
Administration Building 
94 Market Street 
Salem, NJ 08079
Telephone: 856-935-7510 x8316 or x8311 or x8598
Email: Debra.Behnke@salemcountynj.gov

Please Help

Please click on the link and HELP.
Not just for me,
but because we can save SO many lives with this registry.
Gift Of Life Friends of Rebecca Salame

Health Update

I'm sharing again, in case you want to know my health condition. It's NOT PRETTY, don't feel that you must read it if you don't want to know the details- we can still be friends and have fun again sometime soon!

 Rebecca's Caring Bridge Journal

A New Journey

Hi, I miss this blog!
I've had a rough summer and have made some challenging decisions regarding health care in recent weeks.
If you are wont to take a walk with me on this more difficult part of life's journey, you can visit this site and we will share it all over there.Rebecca's Caring Bridge Page
Otherwise, stay tuned to Cape Coop, we may not blog much but we'll certainly return for a visit soon!

Of Salads and Hope

 Last month I was given the opportunity to re-attempt a chemotherapy that I hadn't tolerated on my first go around a few years ago.
As this biologic drug sends triglycerides sky high the doctors put me on a cocktail of drugs to counteract that effect.
Of course, a low fat, low animal product diet is suggested- and as I've been eating a mostly vegan diet for years this hasn't been a big change for me- but I decided to completely give up all animal products except for honey and fish- and I've brought La Principessa along for the adventure of a mainly RAW diet!.
It's not difficult to eat fresh fruits and vegetables- a little chopping or peeling and you're good to go, but I ADORE making messes in the kitchen so I've been experimenting with unusual(for us) flavor combinations.
This AMAZING salad is my latest creation and Le Principessa couldn't get enough of it- I had made an IMMENSE bowl of this salad- she ate the entire bowl in one night!
Here's the recipe-if you can call it that.

                                                                 Fruit Salad Salad
(Super easy- mindless, really!)
spinach- chopped- one pound or so
watermelon- cubed- 2 cups
peach-sliced into slender ears-2 peaches
black grapes- cut in half- a cup
red onion- slivered- half a large onion
balsamic vinegar/lemon juice
olive oil
fresh basil-chopped- 1/2 a cup
Japanese soy sauce(optional)
salt
black pepper
For the dressing: Blend an acid(I used balsamic this time) with some olive oil and chopped basil. 
This is a personal thing- the ratio of acid to fat- I like it half and half but my daughter only likes a little oil- we do things her way at the Coop! Here I used 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a half cup of balsamic vinegar. This week I also added a dash of Japanese soy sauce- we use the light sodium version but, of course, it's still high in sodium- not good for most folks, however here at the Coop we enjoy very low blood pressure!

Next: Get your progeny to wash and prep the fruits and spinach according to your taste.
 









Final steps: Mix the spinach and fruits in a large bowl and pour the dressing over it.
 









 
I put pepper at the table because my daughter doesn't care for pepper- I liberally pepper mine.
Yeah, I'm spicy like that. ;)







 
This week I also put pink Hawaiian salt on the table- just sprinkle a few grains atop your own bowl of salad. 
The salt grains almost melt- but not quite- you get a lovely tiny crunch here in the rare bite- and the salt has a flavor distinct from the kosher salt that we usually have. SO delicious!




You can add slivered carrots or jicama, almonds, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, whatever you like! Please know that the amounts are not set in stone- I don't measure salad. You just go with what you feel like eating.
We're having some legal and health challenges this month(and next) at the Coop, so we are spending most of our time facing those difficulties and trying to remain of good cheer- I'm not feeling up to blogging much right now, but one more post is coming- next week!