Monday, October 24, 2011

Don't PINK - help a victim!

October is a tough month for me! As a 6 year breast cancer survivor I am so saddened and frustrated by all of the well-intentioned people who are being used by organizations like Susan G Komen with all of their walk/run for the cure events.

FACT: Komen donates BIG $$ to Planned Parenthood, the nation's #1 abortion provider.

FACT: abortion increases your chance of breast cancer.

FACT: Planned Parenthood provides 0% of mammograms in this country.

FACT: Komen sues other cancer charities who try to use the word 'cure' and the color 'pink'.

Do this cancer survivor a favor - DON'T walk/run for the 'cure'...don't buy PINK. Donate to a real cancer patient and then you'll know your money is actually doing some good - instead of paying sky high salaries and funding abortion clinics!

Just think for a minute: pink blenders, pink yogurt, pink ribbons, pink shirts, pink pots, pink phones, pink EVERYTHING and what good does it do????? We are all AWARE of breast cancer. We all know that breasts fit into bras. We all know some people call them boobies - but really, just how helpful is that to ANYONE? It's really just designed to make people feel good and think that they are somehow involved in a SOLUTION.

Well, let me tell you - it's all smoke and mirrors. All of those big bucks don't affect the actual patients/victims. So if you want to feel good AND do good, go volunteer to drive a patient to chemo, clean their house, organize some meals for their family, watch their kids, pray for them, send them cards, or just give them a bit of cash for their medical expenses. You may not have a pink shirt to show for it but at least you will have really done something tangible.

Sermon over - God bless!
Birgit J

My daughter, breast cancer and pregnant - a survivor, not a victim:http://erikasmiraclejourney.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

A link you'll want to follow...

Greetings Friends!

If you have enjoyed my postings and ramblings but would like to read similar stories from a hand-picked bouquet of 40+ lovely ladies - available EVERY day, here's a tip: go check out Catholic Sistas - you won't be sorry!


I, myself, am a guest blogger there and posted a breast cancer survivor entry just yesterday about 'PINK betrayal', filled with breast cancer links and my own story of betrayal by the likes of Susan G Komen.

Last week I posted my own sensitive pro-life journey from my early years. This was the first time that I have publicly told this story. It's something that has only been whispered about until now. This piece is entitled When ''I'm Pro-life Except'' really happens.




Today's post was written by my daughter, Erika, who experienced breast cancer while pregnant. Her poignant story will remind people that you can have breast cancer while pregnant but both baby and mother can live!




Catholic Sistas certainly doesn't exclusively consist of posts about abortion and breast cancer - that's the theme for October because it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month AND Respect Life Month. The diversity in our writers makes a long list of topics readily available - all written from the perspective of Godly women who love their families, their faith, and all that encompasses daily living. We also offer the opportunity to have our posts delivered to your inbox - each day - so that you'll never have to miss another post. Won't you come check us out?


God Bless,

Birgit J

Friday, October 7, 2011

Taking Back the PINK - Breast Cancer and Pregnant



When we see that flurry of pink in the stores, and even on the football field, our overly commercialized brains have no trouble recognizing that it's October - National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Beginning with Susan G Komen - an innocuous enough sounding cause - that pink ribbon has become a beacon of hope for the victims of this deadly disease - and those who love them.

But hold on! Is that really all there is to it?

You might be shocked to know that sometimes all things pink are not created equally. What would you say if I told you that there is a sordid bond between Susan G Komen and one of the causes of breast cancer?

Well, that's exactly what has been documented. You may or may not know that abortion has been proven to be a cause of breast cancer BTW, so is The Pill! So you might ask yourself - what does this have to do with Susan G Komen? We know that this is a breast cancer advocacy organization - created by the friend of a Breast Cancer victim. Right?

As Paul Harvey would say - "Here's the rest of the story"!

The wildly successful Susan G Komen organization has some very troubling associations. The most troubling is Planned Parenthood - the nation's #1 provider of abortion! 

Now hold on a minute! 

Why would an organization that advocates "racing for the cure" be in cahoots with an organization that performs the very procedure that causes breast cancer? Good question. While I don't know the answer to that, I can tell you that although claimed otherwise, Planned Parenthood does not have the equipment to do mammograms in even one of their facilities - nationwide! 

This brings me to Taking Back the Pink. There is a real need for the victims of breast cancer to have all of the support they can muster. As a seven year survivor myself, I can certainly attest to that. The disease is frightening and some of those fears remain even after years of 'survival' - you're always a 'victim' in some ways. With the cost of medical services rising almost daily there is also a huge need for funding for those who bravely battle breast cancer. Research has come a long way since the first three known generations of breast cancer victims in my family died - way too young - from this disease. Yet, again, money is needed - for research.  

So ask yourself - do you, in good conscience, 
wish to donate to an organization (SGK) that dances with the devil?

I'd hope that your answer would be an irrevocable 'NO'. Even the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops are taking a very public stand against donating to Komen. So what to do? You want to help, right? Well, I can point you in some morally acceptable directions.

Ethically Sound Breast Cancer Organizations:

There is one more solidly moral way to lend a hand - support a breast cancer victim directly. This way you know that your generosity is not being betrayed. One such cause can be found here:

Erika's Miracle Journey - Breast Cancer and Pregnant

Erika, a 28 year old wife and mother of a small son, was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. She was 20 weeks pregnant. While the local doctors told Erika that she would need to terminate her pregnancy there were other options out there. Contact was made with MD Anderson Cancer Center and Erika found out that they had been successfully treating pregnant cancer patients for 20+ years. And so her journey began - from Kentucky to Houston, TX.

You can read the details of her journey by following her blog above but here is a brief timeline of her inspirational story to date:

Erika M Vandiver - Medical Timeline
    Laughter is great medicine as this
    "Turkey Belly illustrates
    • July 7, 2009    BRCA1 breast cancer at 20 weeks pregnant
    • July 31, 2009  Chemo started
    • Nov 26, 2009  Rachel born on Thanksgiving Day!
    • Feb 19, 2010   Bilateral mastectomy
    • Aug 31, 2010  Open oophorectomy 
    • Oct 2, 2010     Emergency hysterectomy
    • Dec 8, 2010 -  Started work again
    • Feb 17, 2011   2nd stage reconstruction
    • Oct 28, 2011   Reconstruction surgery to alleviate pain


Rachel, the Miracle Baby, wearing her 
matching cap made by Erika
This next (and hopefully final) surgery is the 'last ditch effort' to alleviate the excruciating pain that Erika is dealing with on a daily basis. This pain has been with her for almost two years - she describes it as being worse than recovery from chemo, childbirth and surgery. Her family needs much in the way of prayer as well as financial assistance. 

Since Erika is the sole financial provider of her family right now, the upcoming 8+ weeks that she will miss work will be devastating. Not to mention the ongoing medical costs as well as travel from Kentucky to Texas. 

After much brainstorming the idea of a Facebook page dedicated to Erika's Miracle was developed. Here we ask for support for this Poster Woman of Breast Cancer Awareness and Respect Life Month. Small donations, if multiplied by many can total up to some amazing sums. With an effort as simple as sharing this story (and her link) you can make a huge difference - whether or not you choose to donate yourself. Above all, though, we ask for your prayers for this brave young family as they give powerful witness to what it truly means to 'walk the talk'...pro-life at its finest!

God bless!

A Mother's Love - there's nothing like it!

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NOTE: Unbelievable! If you need more proof that Komen is just in it for the money, just read this. Susan G Komen has been suing other Cancer Charities (including childhood cancers) for simply using the words 'for a cure' in their fundraising efforts - even if it's not for breast cancer. Komen needs to learn the definition of 'charity' and stop bullying other worthwhile causes...they are even addressing using pink...come on! PINK is a color and they can't own it!
.
SGK spends up to 1 MILLION dollars 
per year 
in legal fees to sue other charities!
.
So far, Komen has identified and filed legal trademark opposition against more thank a hundred of the Mom and Pop charities, including Kites for a Cure, Par for the Cure, Surfing for a Cure and Cupcakes for a Cure - and many of the organization are too small and underfunded to hold their ground.  SHAMEFUL!

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Resources and Links:

  • Medical Groups Recognizing Links Between BC and Abortion

I will be adding more links as I run across them...