Race For Life! Cancer Research Uk

I had a wonderful time with my youngest Sophia doing the 'Race for Life'. We raised £307 for Cancer research UK which my youngest is chuffed to bits about. I am going to book another two places for next year because she enjoyed it so much. I think this time I will do some extra training to help me run with her. She ran the entire course only stopping for me to catch up with her. It was more like the Tortoise and Hare race. Sophia had so many of the other ladies doing the race applauding her stamina as we puffed and panted, she was encouraging us to chase her. At the end of the race we came in at 35 minutes. As the other women who were chasing Sophia came in they high fived Sophia. It was raining hard, but that did not stop the laughter. The average for the race was 30 minutes for 5 km race. So next year we will do it in 30 minutes or below. Not only that, but I think I will do something extra special to create some smiles.

 

 

Read More

A Simple Life Without BC

A friend contacted me via my FB page yesterday. One of her friends had passed away of BC and she wanted advice on what to look for. My breast cancer hides the true reality of the disease. There was no chemo or drugs. So visually with my clothes on I was like every other person walking and talking. It was the perfect diagnosis to have with the type of cancer I had so I was told. My treatment was hidden from view beneath clothes and a smile. She could not see my tears, torment or frustration, but with her other friend it could not be hidden. Her cancer had been caught to late it had spread to her stomach infecting major organs. It is sad that she had to experience let alone see the true reality of this dreadful disease. That it took the death of her friend to make her pro active and try to understand. Now I personally can see why pink has become a deadly colour. Whilst it is a bright cheery it is masking something that is sinister.

I reply with how I found my BC that if she wanted one on one advice she was to contact Macmillan cancer support. When advising anyone on cancer I personally prefer referring them to a knowledgeable organisation because even though I have gone through breast cancer there is a lot I still do not know.

On my journey home from dropping Sophia off at school I look into some ones garden. In the garden is a massive dandelion clock. Part of me wants to make a wish and blow its seeds away in hope, but another part of me is reminiscing. Dandelion clocks hold a fairy tale attraction just like a mushroom rings. As a small child I would shout, ‘Don’t step in a mushroom ring a family of fairies live there and its bad luck’. Well maybe at some point I stepped in a mushroom ring without me knowing. I look at this dandelion clock and the urge to wish all the bad would dissolve away is so strong. Yet part of me is mesmerised with its delicacy that I would sooner watch the wind knock it about. As a BC survivor I so wish I could return to a simple life without the worry. As a BC survivor sometimes you cannot stop the fear of what ifs.

Read More

Concentrating On The Here & Now

This next month is going to be an excellent month with only positives. I have cupcakes to bake and sell to raise money for  Race 4 Life. The cupcake sleeve designed by me have been agreed and is based on the ‘Hungry Caterpillar’ children’s story book.

This will be taking place on the 9^th and 10^th of May at my youngest daughters primary school. The children in her class will be helping to design/make their own sleeves with pieces already cut out and put together. All the children have to do is stick them on where they want to put the pieces. 

Other people are helping me with getting sponsors on Sophia’s sponsor web page. I have designed a small poster to pass round with the link printed on it. I just need to tread the streets and get people to sign our sponsor sheets also.

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/sarahmendoza0770

In between that I have around twenty costumes for three different productions to design and sew. The first production is being performed at her Majesty’s Theatre very soon.

 I have had to design wing like attachments for nine black leotard bases. These have to be detachable so the leotard can be used again. I have already started on the design and they are looking good. The second production I have to design and sew several fishnet type crop tops with only one sleeve. The over locker will come in handy for that particular job because of the neat seams required. The third production is five simple black cloaks. All these I will photograph and add to my portfolio. Something I did not keep track of before which is my bad.

I have also been told I have a part in a movie only small, but this gives me a chance to see what ticks on a film set. After doing the extra roll on the music video it has given me new found confidence to pursue rather than sit back. The director of the movie asked me to do a couple of auditions and he was pleased with both. I can honestly say my three years at my previous theatre position has not gone to waste. It proves I was learning new skills without even realising it. Never say a old dog cannot learn new tricks I say. The director will be moulding a speaking part for me and if I perform well in the film who knows what other projects I can be involved with. It still could end up on the editor’s floor, but at least I can use the experience as a positive.
The script is interesting and I can see how it is written and how they put it together with an end result. My curiosity to this side of the process of film making is very strong because I have tried to write several scripts for stage. To me it is all a learning curve with valuable skills and networking to be used to the max.

The medication Metformin I have been taking for two weeks with no side effects. This is excellent news because I can be awkward with medication. I have made my next appointment with my diabetic nurse to see where we go from here.
So that leaves me with my plastic surgeon appointment on the 16^th May with my fingers firmly crossed that all goes well.  Even though they would sooner I had a silicone nipple. I am determined to get the surgery to complete my reconstructed breast. Hopefully I will continue to move forward without further occurrences of BC, but who knows. All I can do is concentrate on the here and now.

Read More