Pinkie Promise

Cancer is not contagious, but germs are.  

Paranoia is creeping in, well not quite.  But caution is, and I need an  ongoing tape to remind by boys to wash their hands, put up the seat, put down the seat, and need I say it again (YES!) wash their hands.

Pages from
Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: When someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids

I still love to hold those 11 and 13 year old hands... but please use soap!

Pinkie Promise
Archival digital print from the book
Available
11" x 14"

Wondering

Pages from
Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: When someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids
©2011McVickerHersh, LLC

There is a lot of that going on around here.

This is an illustration from our book of my son Wondering.
I know he thinks a lot about whether he will get cancer, especially since I am a BRCA 2 carrier.

Fortunately, these days, there is help and information available.  FORCE is one such organization that offers support and information about hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. Sharsharet is another wonderful organization that helps young Jewish women, in particular, facing breast cancer as it has been found that women from Ashkenazi Jewish population are at higher risk for  the BRCA gene mutations.

A lot to take in, a lot to take on, but so much better when we don't do it alone.

Just Like MeatLoaf

2 out of 3 aint bad...

I want you

I need you

But there aint' no way I'm ever gonna love you

Don't be sad

'Cause 2 out of 3 aint' bad

   

-Meatloaf

That's how many of my drains were removed yesterday in NY at my follow up plastic surgery appointment.

Have to wait another week to have the 3rd removed. (yuck)

Otherwise, I am healing well.  Also, met with my surgeon extraordinaire, Dr. Kimberly Van Zee. There is something to be said about going someone who only focuses on the breast, or whatever specific  concern you have. Their eye, their experience, and in my case, a woman.  

More on that later, but I feel pretty good, optimistic, and ready for the road ahead.

For now, I am home resting, ready to pop in the movie Harold and Maude. 

Forget the popcorn, Meatloaf anyone?

Fancy Cakes, 2007
14" x 11"
Digital print on hand made paper with inclusions
©2011NanciHersh

Accessorizing

Pages from Book
Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: When someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids

Am home from the hospital now.  Back with my family, surrounded by flowers and cards, and in my own bed, makes me a happy camper.

My follow up doctors' appointments are Thursday. I will get my drains removed (will spare you the details) and possibly, find out what my next course of action is.

Eight years ago, I didn't need chemo.

This time, I will need to consider accessorizing.  Thankfully, my dad is a milliner!

Nobby Shoppes in Linden, NJ is the last of his string of stores.  At one time, his Nobby chain included 10 shops in New York and New Jersey. Growing up, I was immersed in the colorful world of hats, handbags, leggings and more.  Always one to supply me with my fashion needs, Dad, in true form,  had a shopping bag of turbans and scarves, ready for me to sort through when I got home.

Until then, at the suggestion of my sister in law, have done some accessorizing of my own...

Found a new use for my Wedding draw string purse...

a friend in Hawaii made it years ago to match my wedding mules

Wedding Mules #3, 2011
5" x 5"
acrylic on canvas
©2011NanciHersh
from the
Walks thru Life: Shoe Portraits Series

Perfect Timing

Pages from our book
ButterflyKisses and Wishes on Wings:  When someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids
©2011McVicker&Hersh, LLC

As we turn to this page in our book, it is coincides perfectly with real life.

I head into NY today in preparation for Wednesday's surgery.  Radiation is most likely further down my path.

One step at a time. Surgery.  I am ready.  My sister in law is coming down to stay with the boys.

Hope SHE is!

cells- the good, the bad, the whatever

\

Pages from
Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: When someone you love has cancer... a helpful, hopeful book for kids 

What I understand now is that our body is always making bad or cells that have gone awry.  But most of us can fight it off.  Cancer is when our body is not able to fight them off- an immune deficiency. Never really thought of it that way.

In any event, I am in a good place mentally, and when I look at these two illustrations I am reminded of the warm summer day when I had Griffin at age 5 jump up so I could do this drawing on our patio, and Nate at age 3 modeled for the illustration on the right with his microscope.  

They were little then, 5 and 3 respectively.   Cutie pies. Still are, just as feisty, and just as cute.

My butterflies...