Hope Uncorked at Ducca

Working at Hope Uncorked for "Fertile Hope" was such an amazing experience!

Silent auction was just unbelievable with full of gorgeous items, such as Master's ticket, ESPY tickets, Callaway golf club sets, magnum wine bottles, many gift certificates, etc. The entire restaurant was for the party with 340 guests, lots of food and lots of wine. It was one of the most gorgeous upscale parties I've ever been to. There was a red carpet entrance and everyone was dressed up very nicely.

My doctor (Dr. Lynn Westphal) was one of the VIPs. I was so glad to tell her that I finished chemo therapy and I'm doing well. Tears came out my eyes when I was talking to her. Nurses from her clinic were volunteering, too. I also had a chance to talk to Lindsay Nohr Beck, the founder of Fertile Hope, to thank her for all the work she has done.

Evan Handler (yes, Jewish lawyer Harry, Charlotte's husband on Sex and the City) was a guest speaker. He was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 24 years old and was told it's incurable. He wrote a book about his journey, including overcoming the illness and fertility issue.

Everyone at the party has personal experience with cancer and fertility. It is just amazing to know that there are so many people who give support and help for others. It is heartwarming to know we are all helping others and helped by others.

surgery done

My surgery was done without any problems on 9/26. It took about one hour. I had to check in 2 hours before and stayed in the hospital for 2 hours after the surgery. I wasn't allowed to drink or eat from midnight, so I was very very hungry when I was leaving the hospital. My girlfriend Michi was with me and we went to eat at Chinese restaurant on the way home :)

I have one drain with tube to collect fluid, just like when I had mastectomy. But unlike last time, I have no pain. (a bit sore, totally manageable with pain medication) My plastic surgeon is supposed to take out the drain tomorrow.

"Fertile Hope"

When I decided to preserve my fertility before starting chemo in January 2008, I learned about the non-profit organization called "Fertile Hope" in New York. It was established in 2001 by Lindsay Nohr Beck, two-time cancer survivor from SF Bay area. She was 22 years old when first diagnosed with tongue cancer. She had very little information about fertility preservation treatments at that time. As a result of her own endeavors to preserve her fertility in the face of critical cancer treatments, she decided to create the organization that provides reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility.

She went through exactly what I went though, emotionally and physically. She was also my doctor (Dr. Lynn Westphal at Stanford)'s patient. I was eligible to receive support from Fertile Hope. Now I have a chance to show my appreciation to them. I will be volunteering at their event "Hope Uncorked" this Thursday 9/25 (yes, the day before my surgery :) at Ducca Restaurant in SF.

http://www.fertilehope.org/about-fertile-hope/events-detail.cfm?EID=302

Recently Lindsay was interviewed on NBC's Today Show. Now she is married and has healthy children.



Another inspiring encouraging woman I admire!

Nice Stranger #2

My hair is growing. I look like a "Monchhichi". It's not this long yet, though. I will upload my picture next week.

I decided to take my scarf off at the gym this week for kickboxing class because my head sweats too much. Oh my God...... I look so boyish and tough :) When I was in ladies locker room to change, the girl next to me looked at my hair and said "Your hair is so cute!". I'm like "Thank you. I finished chemo therapy 3 months ago." She said "oh ... I had no idea. I really thought you have such a cute haircut", telling me about her friends who had chemo therapy and how nicely their hair came back. I told her "It means a lot to me. Thank you."

People who know my condition have told me my super short hair would look cute, but when somebody who doesn't know about me gives me a compliment like that really means something. I thought whoever looks at me might think my hair is too short and doesn't look right. But after I heard what she said today, that fear totally went away. I felt encouraged. She made my day.

I decided to go to work tomorrow without head scarf. my first day for new hair!

Surgery rescheduled - September 26

My surgery for reconstruction is rescheduled to September 26. I wanted to get it done earlier but this is the earliest they can do. oh well... I might as well enjoy being able to go kickboxing class and play golf until then.

I played at Santa Clara Golf course this past weekend. I carried my bag on my shoulder and walked, like college golfers! I like walking if the course is not too bad to walk. When I walk, I have more time to think and compose myself, besides I get more exercise. It's also a good mental training for me to try to focus on for 5 hours. While I was playing, I realized I don't concentrate my mind in daily basis. I mean I do enough for daily activities every day. I need to make more time to meditate and clear up my mind. Golf certainly helps me.