Soul Sisters Race for the Cure

On a brisk, but sunny Saturday the Soul Sisters team gathered on the IUPUI campus early in the morning. Since the temperature was near 40 degrees, we started the morning by kicking up our heels with Smiley from Z99.5. Jen was so excited when he sang "Hey, Soul Sister" to us...look how Jen is smiling and standing right next to him!

Participating in the walk is truly an awe inspiring event. Everywhere you looked people were smiling, hugging, and yes, even some tears were shed. Even with the tears it is a positive energy! Everyone is positive that we are making a difference and bringing us closer to a cure for an awful disease that affects our mothers, daughters, aunts, friends and unfortunately our sisters.

Barb Davis was our fearless leader and she did an incredible job. The members that walked were Laura Forehand, Angie and Hannah Friddle, Missy Szakel, Jen Sandefer, Jordan Louden, Sherry Fagin,

and Niki and Laurie Gates. Rae Fagin and Alaine Melfi were also part of our team, but were unable to walk. Under Barb's leadership we have raised $2,912, not too shabby for our first time! And you can still make a donation to our team by going to http://race.komenindy.org/site/TR/Race/General?pg=team&fr_id=1070&team_id=38590 .

The Soul Sisters have already planned on walking again next year. We've even recruited some younger siblings to join us.

We are especially excited because Dianne has already said that she will join us next year for the walk. It will be a joyous moment to watch Dianne walk in the Survivor's Parade, and a moment that the Soul Sisters will cherish forever.

Ringling Mote surrounding the stage!

Hi Everyone.. Frank here and I just wanted you to know how amazing Dianne was on the weekend of her 2nd chemo treatment. Here we are at our Friday high profile wedding at the Ringling Museum Courtyard on Friday. Dianne not only worked the job and helped with the setup but also found time to look fantastic in her new wig. The caterers even commented on how nice her hair looked. Dianne said they could "own it too". This is the kind of great attitude she has had from the time she began her battle with breast cancer. Thank you to all that leave heartfelt kindness for Dianne. It helps her and me to know we have caring friends and family out there. Frank

The past few days- wheww.

Hi All, it has been an exhausting few days but I'm hanging in there. Here's a quick run down:

Thursday : Left for the hospital at 7:30 AM for chemo treatment. Returned home at almost 5Pm.

Friday: The band played a very high-society wedding reception at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota. What a fabulous venue - I will post some photos for all of you. The bad part is that it was a difficult venue to set up equipment and it was huge, a bit larger than a football field! We actually played on a stage that was surrounded by a moat - no kidding, a moat. Really cuts down on "Requests from the audience" if they have to swim the moat to get to you. Anyway, we left the house at 1:30 in the afternoon and didn't get back home until 13.5 hours later. We hired a substitute singer to come in and help out for the night, since we assumed I would be exhausted from the chemo, but unfortunately she didn't show up. Our sidemen (band members) helped out a lot with singing and moving the equipment so we all survived the night.

Saturday: Frank drove me to the hospital for my white blood cell booster shot. Then it all came crashing down . I was very sick Saturday night.

Sunday: I spent the day sick and exhausted.

Monday: I had my first day of teaching swim lessons. Luckily, my sweet daughter, Alanna, who is also a certified Infant Swimming Resource instructor, came over and got in the water with me to help out. The first few days after chemo I am literally too exhausted to sit at my desk or talk so Alanna did most of the talking for me and it all worked out fine. It was very healing to have my little "swimmers" back in my arms. Seeing how well they all did after those long winter months out of the pool is so rewarding and re-affirming. I am so lucky to have two fulfilling careers.

Tuesday: I am regaining my strength. Lessons went well today and I strong enough to sit at my computer and type this blog. Any day where you can do something productive is a very good day. So I am thanking God for his blessings and thanking all of you for your caring hearts.

My sisters, nieces and friends walked in the Walk for the Cure in Indpls. last weekend and I hope to have photos from that event to post for you as well.

I hope all of you are well and happy . I love reading your comments and "hearing" your voices through this blog. Thanks again to Ashliegh for setting this up. I love you all. Dianne

Bald is NOT beautiful, at least not yet!

Hi everyone, today we have hit a new milestone. I'm BALD!! My hair started falling out a few days ago so today Frank (have I mentioned lately that I have the best husband in the world) shaved my head for me. I must admit it was a bit traumatic. I guess I have been moving through this Cancer journey trying to ignore that anything has really changed. Even after my lumpectomy and node removal, with my clothes on, you can't see the scars and I look the same. Now, if I catch a reflection of myself, it is very apparent that something drastic has changed in my life. Okay, that's enough of the maudlin stuff, now on to the positive stuff.

Pros
1. Save money on shampoo
2.Save time spent fixing my hair
3. It will be much cooler during the steamy Florida summer.
4. I will learn to be less vain.
5. Frank always said he liked me in hats. (More evidence he is the BEST )

Cons
1 . I'm bald and look like Sinead O'Connor on a very bad day.

But life goes on. I spent time outside today doing some yard work and trying to get my head looking less like a very pale melon. In a few days I will get more accustomed to it. On the good side, I am feeling well and building strength each day.

Next week will be a busy one. Thursday I will have my next round of Chemo. Friday the band is playing a high society wedding reception at the Ringling property in Sarasota so I will try out my new wig.We have hired another female singer to help out since I may not have enough energy to sing the entire night. I'm sure it will all be fine. Frank and I will try to add some photos soon. I hope you are all well and happy. Thank you for your concern and prayers. Love, Dianne

I feel your love and support.

Hello Friends,

First of all, I want to thank Ashleigh Bullivant, my friend and colleague for constructing this blog. And thanks to her dad, Harvey Barnett, for suggesting she do it.

I am feeling very well. I had my first round of chemo 10 days ago. It is a long, 6 hour day, but it may be God's way of teaching me patience. I was a bit sick and very tired for a few days after the treatment but I am regaining my energy and learning how to pace myself.

I have been overwhelmed by the love and support all of you have shown for me and my family. In a way, cancer has been a gift to show me how much love I have in my life. I feel very blessed to have all of you with me. I will try to add an update once a week and know that I feel and appreciate your love and support. Love, Dianne