How To Help

Help me help someone: I'm at my best and happiest when I'm able to use my struggles to help someone else. Do you know a woman who has been recently diagnosed or is facing a breast cancer scare and needs someone to talk to? I'm happy to share my experience or just listen, so don't hesitate to connect us!

A note about money stuff: Although cancer is an expensive disease to treat, I'm managing the financial side of it okay. I'm fortunate to have good health insurance and I won't have to pay any more than my $9,000 annual out-of-pocket max. While I had planned to spend that $9,000 on home repairs, retirement savings, and a couple of fun vacations in 2024, this change in plans isn't going to put me into an unmanageable financial situation. I have absolutely no concerns about covering my living expenses. My work situation and employer are super awesome. I have oodles of flexibility between the ability to work remotely as I recover + lots of PTO after working there for 10 years + an earned sabbatical. No worries on this front!

Staying active & connected: Prior to surgery and as long as I'm not too tired from treatments (which haven't even been determined yet), the very best thing for me is to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE as much as possible. Invite me for a local walk or mountain hike, meet up for coffee, hang out with you and your kids at the playground, do a yoga class together, take our pups (or just my crazy Bandit) to the dog park, eat breakfast cereal for dinner, binge watch anime, mess up your kitchen baking cookies together, or whatever else you can think up. I have zero restrictions on my physical activity currently. 

(FUTURE, BUT COMING SOON!) Medical appointments: Almost all of my care and appointments will happen at Levine Cancer Institute and elsewhere on the main Atrium campus near Uptown. Some appointments will be easy to do on my own, while others will be emotionally difficult. I'd love to have company either in the waiting room or during any IV-based treatment (as allowed, and also based on your comfort level) because I have some irrational but strong medical phobias. It's a quick and easy drive for me (as long as I'm able to drive), so this would look like me meeting you there. If you'd like to provide company during or after an appointment, please send me a FB message or email and I'll let you know when I have a need that might fit your schedule.

(FUTURE) Dog walks: I have 2 big friendly dopey dogs that I will most definitely not be allowed to take on walks for several weeks after surgery due to their strength. I have a fenced yard that I can let them into during the day, but they'll be a lot healthier and happier if they can get at least a few 10-minute walks during the week. This could happen at any time of day, so let me know if you're interested. I'm near S. Tryon & Tyvola.

(FUTURE) Food -- HOLD OFF ON THIS STUFF BELOW UNTIL I'VE HAD SURGERY AND/OR STARTED TREATMENT! 

Don't send food yet! I'm currently focusing on healthy eating and I love to cook. But once I have surgery or start treatments, I'd love to have some food from my friends and share some meals so I can focus on recovering. If you'd like to help in this way in the near future (but not yet!), here are a few notes:

• I'm NOT a picky eater. I love just about anything! Home-cooked meals, restaurant food, or Harris Teeter pizza or salads in a bag -- it's all good. (Hold the mayo if you can, but it won't crush my spirit too badly if there's some 😁.)
  

• Restaurants/coffee places: A few of my favorite healthy restaurants are Viva Chicken, Mezeh, YAFO Kitchen, Cava, CHOPT, Flower Child, Ilios Crafted Greek. Anything on the menu or food assembly line will make me happy! These are also easy places for me to stop and get a meal on the way home from work, so message me on FB if you'd like to share a digital/e-mail gift card instead.
• There's a Caribou Coffee in Levine Cancer Institute, where I'll be spending lots of time this year. Gift cards are welcome! 

• Best foods are those that support good vascular/vein health and muscle growth. Lots of leafy/colorful vegetables and lean proteins. 
• Mediterranean, Indian, Thai, Chinese, and Italian are a few of my favorites. But um...honestly, it's all good!
• Tacos. I mean, I can't give up tacos! But maybe healthier tacos like ones with chicken, fish, shrimp, veggies and less of the pork & beef.
  

• There are a few foods I'm avoiding temporarily. These aren't "bad" foods, but are linked to slower healing and/or accelerated growth of cancer cells in lab studies, so I've decided to hold off on them while my health is compromised and til I'm cancer-free.
• Smoked and/or processed meats including ham, BBQ, lunch/deli meats, hotdogs, sausages, and (gasp!)...bacon 😡...although a few bacon bits isn't the end of the world
• Deep-fried food from restaurants (repeated heating/cooling of cooking oils produces harmful compounds) 
• Large amounts of high-sugar foods. 
• Foods I'll need to avoid for a few weeks after surgery:
  
• Sushi with raw fish (aww, this is so hard since I love sushi!). It's ok to have California rolls, ones with cooked shrimp, etc. Just nothing raw.
• Unpasteurized dairy, juices, soft cheeses, anything with raw eggs
  

• I'm not drinking any alcohol until after I've been cancer-free for several months, just for health reasons. I have no emotional attachments to alcohol and am100% fine hanging out at a brewery or being around people drinking