Thursday, January 20, 2011

WTF....no, seriously, WTF!

This past week I've learned of four new breast cancer diagnoses amongst women I know and care about and friends of close friends. All of them are young women in their 30's and early 40s.  Worst yet, one of my friends who has battled triple negative breast cancer for the past 3+ years has joined her precious daughter in heaven.  This is bullshit and I'm angry. Damn angry.  What the fuck!? No, really, what the FUCK is going on?!

I'm sorry I'm cursing but I can't think of any other word that appropriately expresses how I'm feeling right now. 

One survivor friend of mine has a father who is a gynecologist who asked another gynecologist friend of his in another state if he'd been seeing a high number of young women being diagnosed and his response was a resounding yes and they discussed how they can't believe the rate of this shit appearing among my generation of women.  The doctors are alarmed. I repeat, the doctors are alarmed.  THE DOCTORS ARE ALARMED. Not surprised, ALARMED. Yeah.....

I was in Whole Foods today and I was thinking that by now there HAS to be a hair styling product in the store that doesn't have carcinogens in it....and there it was, a bottle where the name of the manufacturer was something something "organics"....ok let's see, looked at the ingredient list and there was ONE organic ingredient out of about 30 and that one was at the bottom of the list but was preceded by 29 CHEMICALS.

WE ARE POISONING OURSELVES and letting these manufacturers deceive and harm us with their toxic chemicals. Our government is letting this happen by not requiring manufacturers to prove a product or ingredient is safe.  Oh, and if we choose not to consume, use or otherwise expose ourselves to these dangerous toxins we still are bombarded by them in our air and water every.single.day. When are we going to rise up and demand change? When will the voices of those who already do be heard?

I don't panic often but let me tell you I have been on the verge of a panic attack for the past 8 hours since hearing about my friend's passing.

Dear Lord, PLEASE I BEG YOU, PLEASE help us....help us find the cause and the cure. PLEASE, Lord. PLEASE. PLEASE. And please help guide me to live out your plan for my life - to glorify you and to help others find comfort, peace, information...I am your vessel. And did I mention that we need a cure?  Lord, please cradle my friend Theresa's family in your loving and healing light and bring them comfort and peace as they grieve this loss.  Lord, please give my newly diagnosed friend strength, determination and wisdom as she navigates the tests and procedures and treatments that are ahead of her and help her feel your presence and see your miracles and be healed of this disease and to help her family get through it. Amen.

3 comments:

One Day at a Time said...

Julie, I was updating Theresa's blog and I saw your post. Hanging above my wife's computer are a bunch of 4x6 notecards with scripture that was important to her. Perhaps two of these will help with your anxiety. I know it helped Theresa.
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Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him...

Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?
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Kurt

nancyspoint said...

Julie, I feel your anger. It does make one wonder what is going on. Sometimes it does feel like we are surrounded by cancer. We cannot continue to let it swallow us up. You are right to feel angry!

Julie said...

Kurt, you are so amazing. You just lost your wife and yet here you are bringing comfort to me. Theresa was so lucky to have you caring for her and your daughters. I could always see your compassion and true love for her whenever I saw you two together. Truly inspirational. I know that caregivers become invisible unintentionally through this and I want you to know that you're not and that I so admire your strength and your steadfast faith. Thank you for these verses. You and the girls are in my prayers. I was JUST now talking to Theresa in my prayers and praying for you before coming here to look up Theresa's blog for an update on services. Xoxo