May 31, 2015

Stay Focused.  Do What You Gotta Do.

When I prepare the blog on Sunday night, I use internet images to post pictures to go along with the week.  This is one of the fighters I found, and I think she is kind of cool.

The blog will pass over 15k views this week.  I appreciate the support of everyone over the past year.  I appreciate the sharing of this blog with those who think it may help cancer survivors or their families and friends.

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As I have done the past year, I have included readers of the blog with steps in my treatment.  Without going into great detail, I had outpatient surgery in order to begin a new medication to battle my disease.  It was a decision I made to give me a greater chance of responding to cancer treatment.  The recovery has been painful and emotional, which is standard for anyone going through this disease.  This last week was another battle in the war that I will continue to fight for as long as I live. 

I appreciate the support from everyone who checked in with me this week.  While I continue to be stubborn (I prefer "independent"), I may not need anything, but I appreciate hearing from you.  Thank you for the help, and the visits, and the ice cream.  Thank you for the emails, calls, and texts. Thank you for wearing your Team Sosa shirts and letting me know I am not alone.   

Love, Sosa

May 24, 2015

Hello Everyone and Welcome Back,

I am happy to report that I found time in a very busy schedule to find a solution to my computer issue. Apparently, five years is "old" for a laptop.  So, I found a good deal, and purchased a new one.  I would not have been able to have a good deal if friends hadn't provided me with sound advice and a portable hard drive. Thank you for that.

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I included the picture of the ribbons and the colors in today's blog because I am not sure if the readers were aware of some of them.  It is really interesting to learn there are designations out there for supporting different cancers.  Maybe you didn't know this, or maybe you did. Maybe you saw the magnet on a car or a ribbon on a lapel.  There is support for so many people that may not even know.  This might be a good conversation starter for families and friends who are facing cancer in all its forms.
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This week, I have been very busy with work and life. Its exhausting sometimes, and I realize I have to pay attention to my body and abilities.  Facing cancer is hard every day, because it facing the disease, and mortality, and everything that goes with it.  Going through treatment is a different kind of hard, because it is side effects, and trying to adjust to those side effects on a daily basis.  Its a new normal and I have to be aware of what I can say yes or no to doing.  And heed the advice of those who remind me not to do too much.  And only do what I can.  As time passes, I start to feel better and keep engaging in lots of activities.  But, then something happens and my body provides the slow and painful reminder.  But I keep my head up, and take the meds I need. And sleep.
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Lastly, lots of my friends are travelling the world this week.  Big things are happening to them in Spain, Italy, and Peru. I wish them well.

Love, Sosa

May 17, 2015
Due to technical difficulties, I do not have my normal blog entry.
So no pictures or images this week.

My laptop is now considered "very old," and must be fixed.

Luckily, it is a fixable problem.

......

I would like to say Thank You to everyone who contributed to the Two Week fundraiser for the Cancer Support Community. Your contributions raised $500 for the organization. Thanks to those who joined me for the walk on Saturday. Over 150 people walked and they raised $70,000.

Have a good week. Hope to be up and running soon.

Love, Sosa

May 10, 2015
Happy Mother's Day

This has been an incredibly busy week for me, and I am exhausted.

First, besides work, I spent a few days in Las Vegas, visiting with family and watching Fresno State softball win the Mountain West Championship.  Our girls played some great games and head to Oregon for the NCAA regional.  First game is Thursday versus North Dakota State.  I am very grateful to have met the players and their families this season. 

Second, I started some fundraising for the Hope Walk for Cancer Support Community on 5/16 in Walnut Creek.  This is a fundraiser for an organization that provides FREE support services to patients and their loved ones.  This includes support groups, exercise classes, therapies, and children's services.  The walk is on Saturday and you can pay $25 to support a good cause.  Tax deductible, of course.
Love the large, heavy bag of pennies a coworker produced from her desk for me last week.  Wonder what else I can find.................

And finally, the picture above is from today's Giants game versus the Marlins. Along with the other honorees, I was welcomed onto the field and they announced all of our names.  There was a video on the Jumbotron, and we were all very lucky to be part of it.  I am pictured with Lou Seal and his mother, Louisa.  I have a Team Sosa shirt in my pocket, which came with me onto the field.  I touched the dirt and took a thousand pictures.  Friends and family were in attendance all over the park.  I also saw the Honorary Batgirl winner. 

And they took us to the ninth inning, and won in walk-off fashion.  I would not have it any other way.

Love, Sosa

Very Early Monday, May 4, 2015................

I am just getting in from attending a concert in San Jose.  For the third time, in so many years, me and my godbabymama saw New Kids on the Block.
We keep getting closer and closer to the stage...  I was very happy to be able to attend this year, and stand for a majority of the show.  And scream, of course.
Looking back, there is absolutely no way I would have been able to see them last year.  Ironically, they did not come into the Bay Area last year.  As if they knew I was unavailable, of course....My ears are gonna be ringing for a few days.............
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This is a very busy week for me, as I head to Vegas to watch Fresno State Softball secure the first division championship in six years.  And, on Sunday, I will be on the field at AT&T Park as part of StrikeOut Cancer.  I am among honorees who were selected by the Cancer Support Community to participate in this cancer awareness event.  I would love to meet with you if you plan to attend on Mother's Day.  Its going to be an emotional day for everyone involved in the event.  And there will be a ballgame too.

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Last, but not least, I am fundraising until only May 15th for the Cancer Support Community.  There is a Hope Walk at Heather Farms in Walnut Creek on May 16.  I would love anyone and everyone and their dogs to come walk with me.  This is a fundraiser, so it costs $25 to walk.  If you can't make it, I will be around to collect donations of any amount.  Maybe you have some change in your car?

The Cancer Support Community has provided free services to patients and their loved ones for over 25 years, and not just in the Bay Area.  The organization is in most major cities.  I cannot stress how important support is to the journey that I have been on.  Cancer patients depend on the support of others, whether its family, friends, or medical professionals.  Some of the best support is from others who understand treatment because they survived it. 

You never think you need this service until you need this service.  Please help in any way you can.
http://www.cancersupportcommunity.net/events/hope-walk/

Sunday, April 26, 2015

http://www.cancersupportcommunity.net/

http://www.cancersupportcommunity.net/events/hope-walk/

Thank you to everyone who continued to vote over the past month for me to be a Batgirl with Major League Baseball.  I was a finalist, among ten women, who competed to be a part of the San Francisco Giants on Mother's Day.

Unfortunately, I did not win the Batgirl.  However, I have wonderful news to share.

During the past year, I visited the Cancer Support Community in Walnut Creek on a weekly basis.  I benefited primarily from the support group where I learned so much about the journey that cancer has become in my life and the lives of others.  The Community provides therapeutic classes to encourage wellness and healing, and education on how cancer can affect so many different parts of one's life.

The Cancer Support Community, along with Strike Out Cancer and Genentech, selected me as an Honoree for the Cancer Awareness event at AT &T Park on Mother's Day.  I join a group of survivors who will be interviewed to share our stories and be featured on the big screen before the game on May 10.

I was very surprised to be asked, as I will be stepping onto the field as a survivor.  Last year, was so long of a year.  And Giants baseball helped me through. Myself and another Giants fan who went through treatment last year, relied on our team to get us through the longest summer.  And the championship means something else to us.

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The links above are to the very first Cancer Support Community Hope Walk in Heather Farms.  This is a fundraising event to contribute to the nonprofit organization that provides entirely FREE services.  I will post more information next week as part of my THREE WEEK fundraising drive.  I will be stopping by different work locations and call on people for their spare "Change for Cancer" awareness.

I hope that readers share this link and encourage others to join in this walk event in Walnut Creek on May 16, 2015.  Its a Saturday morning and its a great way to participate and get some exercise.

So many people's lives are touched by cancer.  This is a small way to do something of support. Its easy to walk on a Saturday morning.  Its easier to contact me and donate any amount to contribute to the Cancer Support Community. 

I will be providing prizes such as Team Sosa T Shirts, pink bracelets, and raffling off Giants tickets, as part of this THREE WEEK fundraiser push.  I will sell cookies, too!

I need your help to contribute in any way.  Please share this blog and contact me or check out the links to the Cancer Support Community.  Come walk with me for $25. Bring your friends, family, and dogs, out to Heather Farms.

For example, $25 donation provides two weeks of services for anyone. 

Love, Sosa

 

April 19, 2015

 

Me and my parents at Fresno State Softball

Cancer Awareness Weekend

GO TEAM SOSA

 



We wore our Team Sosa shirts as part of the weekend's activities.  Louisville Slugger also gave away mini pink bats, similar to the one I received from Team Sosa last year.  There were lots of survivors out at the field this weekend, wearing lots of pink.

The community at Fresno State Softball has offered me support in many ways since last year.  From the parents, to the team, and from the fans that I have known all my life, there is new meaning to coming home.  I am very grateful to participate this season, after I missed last year. 

Thanks to Team Sosa, I am a finalist with the MLB Honorary Batgirl and I will find out this week if I won.  I appreciate everyone who took the time to vote, and everyone who spread the word within their communities to vote for me.  I also hope you took the time to read and vote for the stories of the other nominees who are cancer survivors like me.