Third Annual YBCS Conference

This week I had the honor of representing the young women with breast cancer in Louisiana population at our latest Young Breast Cancer Survivor Advisory Council.  I have had the privilege of playing this role since the beginning of the Council.  It blows my mind that people would possibly want my opinion on things. I absolutely love it.  This is the Council that oversees SurviveDat, the young women with breast cancer support group.  I have met some of the most amazing women in the support group and by participating on the Council.  I don't know if I've mentioned this yet but we have expanded to include a support group in New Orleans and Covington plus groups in Mississippi (SurviveMiss) and  Alabama (SurviveAL).  An incredible feat we are proud to have accomplished.

This past April, I was a recipient to a scholarship that allowed me to attend the Third Annual YBCS Conference, in Birmingham, Alabama.

This was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  My mom and I hopped in the car and drove the six hours to Birmingham.  I swear my mom is Super Woman unveiled.  She gets pulled left, right, left, right to be my chauffeur.  Anyway, the first night we relaxed.  A couple of the girls and I went out to eat and visited and I really enjoyed myself.  I let my mom stay and rest after that trip.  She wasn't really up for it.  After that we went back to our respective rooms to rest for the early morning schedule.

The day was amazing.  I'm sad it's only a one day conference, but I know with time it will get bigger.  There were break out sessions, booths, a chosen speaker, and Barefoot Soul Yoga Dance!  That last one kicked ass.  Well, if you don't know, I am on oxygen.  I took my oxygen off and got down.  It was so much fun.  I almost felt normal.  As soon as it was over I had to rush and get oxygen.  It was worth it.  There were moments the leader showed us what to do and free dance at times.  It was something that broke the smile out of me.

When it came time to leave I felt refreshed, and ready to conquer the world.  If only those feelings last forever.  It was worth the trip and if you ever get the chance to participate in the Annual Conference, do it.  I wish I was still there.

Even if only one life is changed because of this group, it's worth it.  I know way more than one life is changed because of the group, especially mine.  I couldn't make it without the girls.  They are all such beautiful people, inside and out.  So if you have a friend diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age, send her our way.  If needed you can contact me but I do have a link in the blog.  SURVIVINGDAT!

shannon xoxo

Pondering

So here I sit, pouring through resource after resource.  Trying to figure out what title they go under, do I list local organizations in that help certain cities or states only?  Do I include different organizations that sell things that raise funds for different organizations, do I include agh! just so much stuff.

The next post I was going to post was SurviveDat, a group I literally work one on one with, and sit on the board.  Honestly, I hadn't visited the website in a while.  The last time I had visited there weren't many resources listed and I just never went back to look.  I don't go looking at websites too often, unless it's Amazon.  I've got that on my phone.

I make it to the website and click on the resource tab.  They have been working like ants!  There are so many resources on there, and they are organized so well.  Honestly I have been doing more of the support group stuff then anything.  I just got a scholarship to attend their workshop in Birmingham and am so excited about that, but I guess I have been a little into myself for awhile.

I can't blame cancer for everything.  I mean, I don't think so.  I look back and wonder if I could do things differently.  I've tried so many different things, diets, pills, different programs, and really none of them worked.  Cancer would still grow.  I'd get a job, then get cancer again, lymphodema acts up, chemobrain comes out in full force, and I get asked to stop working.  Sometimes, I get so sick that I just stop working.  Just stop.  Decide I can't focus on anything, they would be better without me.

My battle has had so many ups and downs; as with anyone's battle.  Good news predates a mountain of bad news.  It's just been that way.  I'm not complaining, really, just being honest.  I battle major depressive disorder, along with anxiety, and sometimes get frozen and unable to do anything.  I miss being confident in myself.  I really miss that, I don't know when I lost it but I did and I haven't been able to find it since then.

This is all reasoning I am giving for not knowing what was on our website.  I mean it's amazing.  Good job, guys.  Ya'll are doing great.

So my dilemma is this; do I continue to list resources?  SurviveDat is doing a great job of it.  So are a lot of other websites.  Should I just post links to those websites?  What do I do with this, this great idea that already exists?  Then I think, there are more then just SurviveDat, I could just be a different website, an additional resource.  Ugh.  Confusion.

So this has made me down on myself and made me question my excitement and my point.  Should I just keep this as a blog dedicated to young women with breast cancer, and that's it?  Guest bloggers, different kinds of stuff like that?

My brain hurts.