Wrestling Mom: By Michele Weldon » breast cancer

On Happiness and Enterprise Points as Life Lessons

Michele Weldon — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:37:47 +0000

I believe happiness is a byproduct of being productive, contributing to the world, even if that contribution on that day can only be measured at your address. I believe happiness is the result, not the goal. It's the afterglow of accomplishment, the joy of doing something well, whether that is being a good friend, parent, partner or colleague.

Cancer Awareness Never Sleeps

Michele Weldon — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:52:06 +0000

Cancer survivors don't need a month-long reminder punctuated with ubiquitous pink ribbons. We never forget. It's nice and all, thank you, with everyone driving around with the stickers on their bumpers, and running/ walking for the cure, donating, speaking out, sharing their stories. But we survivors don't need the brain rush at the grocery check-out to pledge a dollar. Because we know how important it all is. We wish we didn't have to know, but we know.

Mother’s Day Thoughts for Single Moms, Wrestling Moms and All Moms

Michele Weldon — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:15:50 +0000

Your children can make you cry, they just can, whether they mean to or not, and sometimes they really mean to. Teenagers can be particularly harsh; I have a friend who says sometimes teenagers are just not good people. I have two teenagers at 16 and 19 and a post-teenager at 21. But any therapist [...]

Honestly, It’s Not My Fault

Michele Weldon — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:00:29 +0000

Why anyone gets cancer knows it is a complicated formula of genetics plus environment plus fate plus who knows what, maybe the perfume my mother wore when she was pregnant or the weed killer my father spread on the backyard lawn.

Why I Love My Doctor and How She Operates

Michele Weldon — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:19:00 +0000

Dr. Lauren Streicher has been my gynecologist for 17 years; she delivered Colin. In October 2006, I was diagnosed with breast cancer from a routine mammogram given by my radiologist, Dr. Joan Werber. She and Dr. Streicher are friends as well as colleagues. Hours after I was scheduled for a biopsy, Dr. Streicher called me at home to reassure me I would be fine. After surgery and radiation, I was fine. In December 2007, following disturbing elevated counts on two PSA tests, Dr. Streicher operated on me to remove my ovaries, for fear of ovarian cancer. Luckily, I did not have ovarian cancer. Dr. Streicher talks here about the kind of rapport she has with her patients and why. You will see precisely why I trust her with my life.

On Clean Bills, Patients and Winning

Michele Weldon — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:03:06 +0000

“I am not God,” Dr. Dowlat said as I pulled the green print open-fronted gown closed. “But you will be fine.”

Today was my semi-annual appointment with the breast surgeon who excised my cancer and oversaw my recovery beginning three years ago. He is kind, reassuring and most importantly, a seasoned surgeon. I trust him with my life. Because he saved it.

October: Birthdays, Anniversaries and Teaspoons of Trepidation

Michele Weldon — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:49:44 +0000

I’m not crazy about October, used to be, but not so much the last three years. I had been crazy about it because it is the month of my mother’s birthday—her birthday is October 25, she was a Scorpio. She would be 85 this year, but we celebrated her last birthday in 2002. She was [...]

Accidental Athlete

Michele Weldon — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:12:58 +0000

You couldn’t say I am a hyper fan because I am living out my own athleticism through my sons; I am amazed by their fitness and competitive verve, awed by their strength and agility. It is foreign to me, quite separate from who I am and who I ever wanted to be. It is completely unrelated to my youth of occasional swimming, hopscotch and excessive jump roping.