I wanted to show you a few items I found from my friend’s on Zazzle. I have a couple of Zazzle stores myself, but I once in a while purchase items from other Zazzler’s. And then I like to show off what I have purchased or want to purchase….

Here is a T-Shirt Design I just purchased for myself. I purchased a very large in size T-Shirt because I thought it would be perfect for me as a night shirt. As you have probably noticed or read about me, I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Even though I try to keep a positive attitude on a daily basis(whew is it hard - I tell ya), I do get crabby. When I saw this design, I thought - That is me! LOL To a tee! LOL So, look below and then go visit Bits of Whimsy Gallery

As the month moves along…I am pleased to notice that the awareness of Breast Cancer and the need for a cure keeps growing and growing. It is nice to see. I would like to pass along my thoughts and prayers are with all who are fighting through Breast Cancer and to the ones who love and/or are helping people they know who are dealing with BC. Let us not forget all of the people who help either with daily help, treatments and support. They need our prayers as well. To all of the husbands(or wives/companions), the parents, the children, aunts/uncles, nieces and nephews, to the nurses and doctors - THANK YOU for your kindness and help!

I have decided that at the end of October, I will donate 10% of my profits from BC items/sales to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I have a few items/designs I have created for this disease/cancer. I think it only right to. I would donate more, but I use a couple of services to print and ship my items. My markup on these items with these designs is about 12%. So, as you can see 10% is most of my markup cost. It is more then worth it.

Here are a few items I have designed….

Breast Cancer Awareness Matters T-Shirts
by

cancerapparel

Pink Hearts Shoe
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The_Power_of_Pink

I’m a Survivor Breast Cancer Keychain
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cancerapparel

Pink Strong Breast Cancer Awareness T-Shirt
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cancerapparel

Go Pink Breast Cancer Awareness T-Shirt
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cancerapparel

The Power of Pink
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The_Power_of_Pink

Pink Ribbon
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The_Power_of_Pink

Get a GRIP
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CowboyCraic

Walkers With A Mission
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ogram1

Design your own Custom T-Shirts At zazzle
View more Diseases T-Shirts

Pink Ribbon Tree
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maylilly

Retro Breast Cancer Awareness
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AunchelMulticultural

Breast Cancer HOPE tie
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pinkribbonsupporter

Pink Ribbon Rainbow Hope For A Cure T shirt
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PinkRibbonTeesGifts

Pink Dots Coffee Mug
by

The_Power_of_Pink

Tags: awareness, breast cancer, breast cancer awareness, breast exams, cancer, compassion, courage, love, pink, pink ribbon, think pink, understanding

As you probably have noticed, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. BC is something that has effected my family. My maternal grandmother passed away from BC. It has been 20 years since her passing.

My grandmother battled with BC for many years. She was diagnosed I believe in her late 30’s. She went through treatments. I remember her talking about losing her hair. It upset her so. She didn’t lose her breasts. She was a silly lady. The losing the hair was so tramatic for her - more then the idea of losing her breasts. But, it might have changed if she had lost her breasts. I don’t know. Anyway, with the treatments, she was able to go into remission for many years. She battled with other health issues through those years. Little minor things, but it always seemed to bitter her a little more. She became such a health nut. Drove the rest of us nuts! She would always comment on what we were eating and how bad it was for us when we would go out to eat. And eating at her place, well it was always a health meal. No chocolate in her house.

Unfortunately, in the late ’80’s her BC came back. In full force. She was in her 60/70’s by this time. She came to Ohio State University Hospital for care. But, with her age - it was hard to battle. She developed an infection while going through the treatments. That is what took her. It was like she was there one day and gone the next.

I have hit that age where I have to start getting serious about treatments and exams. I seemed to have patterned after my mother’s side for health and what not. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is bordering severe. I have some damage and have been battling this disease for about 6/7 years now. I am currently on Orencia for treatment. I have already had to face an Ovarian tumor. They tell me they removed it in time. My body seems to be quite unhappy. So, I am concerned about the family history of BC. But, I know now things are different in the cancer world. They are really working hard to find cures and find ways to dealing with it.

I have a few businesses where I create designs and sell them on various products. This helps supplement our income here in the Socolov house. I work almost everyday (if I don’t get too tired). I have created/designed a few Breast Cancer Awareness items. Please take a look. I will be posting items/movies and links within the next week - So keep checking back!

You can visit - White Cat Designs at http://www.cafepress.com/whitecatdesigns for a large selection of Breast Cancer Ribbon designs. All unique - All wonderful!

- Marlo

Tags: awareness, breast cancer, breast cancer awareness, cancer, designs, family, gifts, health, pink ribbon, remission, rheumatoid arthritis

On Friday Sept 26 at about 10pm, my husband and I had to put our youngest cat down. We are both in shock over the whole situation. It started a couple of days ago when our little Tammy started to not act like herself. She was lethargic and not interested in anything. Which was really unusual because she was always moving about and active. Then on Thursday she didn’t eat breakfast and David(my husband who is closer to her) said he was worried. He wanted to take her in and have her looked at.

So, I made an appointment with the Veterinarian up the street from us. Really nice Doctor. She is good and kind. Anyway, we took Tammy in not having a clue as to what was going on with her. The Doctor said she was running a temp of 104degrees. They took a blood sample and the Vet said she thought it could possibly be an infection of some sort. She gave Tammy a shot to help bring down the fever and said go home. We will call tomorrow with the blood test results.

So, we took Tammy home that night. She seemed to get a little better. She hooted out in the car - she hates car rides. We thought, that is a good sign. We got her home and her little white tail went straight up - we thought that was a good sign too. Then she went to the water dish and drank a little. Really good sign. She had a little dinner that night and then came in and laid down on the floor between David and I - just to hang out. It seemed that the shot was making her feel better.

So, we went to bed thinking it was an infection and that we will get some medicine and all will be ok. The next morning, when I got up - I came out to the living room and Tammy was laying in her usual spot on top of the loveseat. I thought, oh good - she is doing better. I didn’t think too much of it. I have RA and I get really tired after being up for a few hours. So normally I lay down to rest for an hour or so. That is what I did Friday afternoon.

David woke me up after a little while saying the Vet Clinic called. The blood tests were negative for an infection. But, he said Tammy seemed to be getting worse throughout the afternoon. So, he took her back in. I just woke up - so he told me stay at home and he will call me in a little while.

He did. He called to say that she has fluid on her lungs and he was taking her to the Vet ER up the road from the clinic. My heart sank. He was told - it could be pneumonia or cancer. When he got to the Vet ER - he had to wait. They started to look her over and was concerned about her heart. So, he called me telling me he was waiting for the results.

The waiting…I am sure the same goes for my husband. The sitting there worried about what could be going on and not knowing. The not knowing part is what is murder on the brain and nerves. You think, I am smart and resourceful. I can make things happen. I can move mountains if necessary. But I feel so helpless and lost right now! Dammit! Why can’t I make this better for her? Not just because I am not a Vet, but because it is my (and David’s) responsibility to take care of her, make sure she is ok. And that little girl is in there fighting for her life right now.

And I am thinking - You don’t want to do anything because you might miss the call. You carry the phone around with you everywhere because you might not hear the ring. You try to keep busy, but you can’t concentrate. You then watch TV because it is keeping you occupied, but you don’t want to watch something funny or something sad - so you don’t really watch. That is when my rock came in and laid down on the bed. (my rock is Kitty - you will read more about him below). He knows when I am upset and not feeling good. On both occassions he will come in, lay down next to me and purrrrrrr….. It calms me down.

I called my best friend in AZ to talk to her. Then I heard the back door open - David was home. The results were bad. He didn’t even call - he just came home - without Tammy. He didn’t want to tell me.

Her heart was enlarged. She was dieing. There was nothing we could do. We were told, we could take her home, give her a pill everyday. But, it would just be prolonging the inevitable. She might last a year, she might only last a few days. The problem was they couldn’t get the heart to decrease in size. So, we were told that blood would sit in there. Which could lead to a blood clot. Then the clot wouldn’t stay of course - and we all know what a moving blood clot can do. As my husband put it, she would be like a walking time bomb. We might have her for a few months or a few days. And, she might be hurting the whole time or have a harder time breathing.

The hardest thing to do. Having to let go someone you really love. These little furry creatures come into our lives - she choose me out of all of those people in front of our apartment building. You have your ups and downs with them, but each day your love for them grows into a deep and warm bond. A bond like no other. You know they are a cat, but they become family. You are not their mom or their dad - you are their friend and companion. They become a child to you in how you perceive them and treat them. But, then they comfort you when you are not feeling good and make you laugh when you are upset about something. They can make you angry because they don’t listen - yet you feel guilty for getting angry with them.

We have a couple of other wonderful cats - Kitty (our white rock - he is our male cat who is so in tune with everything - it is sometimes scary) and our little Lucy (our little tuxedo who hit her head when she was young and is a little slow in her ways).  I have always told Kitty, you take care of me - I will take care of you. He does just that - he does his nightly patrol and lookout to make sure the house and we are both safe. He lets us know when things are going wrong - he let us know of a house fire when we came home one time many years ago. We would have found it - and or known eventually, but he rounded up the other two and greeted us at the door when we came home. I almost lost him once because of an infection, but when I came to visit him in the Vet clinic - I looked at him and said - You get better - I need you. And he did!

Because of my health and my body, David and I were not able to have children. So, our three furry friends where like our children. Not in the same sense of getting them clothes and sending them to school - but in the same sense of responsibilities and when you make choices - they are a part of them. Last night, we lost our youngest.  

Going to the Vet ER and signing a paper to have your little girl put to sleep - I am a Christian. I love my Lord and I don’t deserve His love. I know. I was angry with Him last night because I thought this isn’t fair. Why do we have to make such a choice - such a decision. But, afterwards, David and I drove around and went to the place were we got her. Our old apartment building. I realized - I need to think about the fact we had 6 years and 6 months with this little forgiving, loving, stubborn, active, creative, amazing little furry white with blue eyes creature. We were told she may have had this problem with her heart for a while. Here God let us have this amount of time to be with her. Thank You my Lord!

We the Irish have an old tradition - we don’t morn someone’s passing - we celebrate their life.

To our little Tammy. Until we see you again, you will always and forever have a special place in both David and I’s heart. There was no one like you and there will be no one like you again! We love and miss you Tammy.

Tags: cat, companion, death, family, female cat, friend, kitty, losing a pet, pet, tammy, white cat