Saturday, April 25, 2009

Been MIA but I am back

Sorry I have been MIA lately. Just busy, busy, busy. But I am stitching still.
I have received some new ornaments from friends and hope to have the pictures posted later this weekend. To say the least, they are spectacular.
I had a team captain meeting today with Relay For Life. I told them our goal for this year was $5000. There were a lot of "oh WOWs" heard around the room. The chairperson for ACS here told several of them they should see the ornaments so far and people were really interested in the project.
I am going to have an ACS supported online account that people can donate money for Relay to. They can purchase tickets for the raffle or just donate. As soon as I get it all set up I will post a link on this site.
One thing I learned today is that there is a new ribbon color for "unknown" cancers. It is zebra print. Instantly I tried to imagine how I could make an ornament in a zebra print. Still trying to figure this one out.
I heard stories of survivors today. I also met a man who is doing Relay for the first time. He didn't have a team yet, but he lost his wife to lung cancer last year.
I know you all are stitching away. I have seen posts and pics about ornaments you are working on. I am doing several ornaments with just the word "Hope" stitched on it. It is the bottom of the pattern of the blackwork pattern. I was given several small pieces of mat board that are just the perfect size to mount these on. They will make nice "filler" ornaments and also I think "hope" is what gets many patients through their treatments.
These will stitch up so quick and do look really pretty.
I am going to continue to educate you on the different cancers. But today, I would like to tell you about one of the programs that ACS provides for cancer patients. It is called the Look good, feel better program. Here is what I found on the ACS website:
Look Good...Feel Better
For women
The Look Good...Feel Better program is a community-based, free, national service. It teaches female cancer patients beauty tips to look better and feel good about how they look during chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Group workshops
Volunteer beauty professionals lead small groups, usually about 6 to 10 women, through practical, hands-on experience. Women learn about makeup, skin care, nail care, and ways to deal with hair loss such as with wigs, turbans, and scarves. Each woman gets a free makeup kit to use during and after the workshop.
One-on-one salon consultations
For patients who are unable to go to a group workshop, a free, one-time, individual salon consultation with a volunteer cosmetologist may be available in their area. These trained beauty experts help each patient manage her skin, nail, and hair needs and also help her find ways to feel better about how she looks during treatment.
Self-help materials
Free self-help materials can be ordered through the Look Good...Feel Better toll-free number, 1-800-395-LOOK (1-800-395-5665).
The self-help materials include a 30-minute video entitled Just for You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help You Look Good and Feel Better During Cancer Treatment, a step-by-step instructional booklet and an evaluation form. The videotape features cancer survivors and volunteers talking about the ways cancer treatment and side effects can affect the way you look. It also covers detailed skin care information, "how to" makeup tips, wig information, and pointers on head coverings. The booklet that goes with the video also covers nail care.
Materials are also offered in Spanish, and bilingual programs are available in some areas.
For men
Self-help materials
A free self-help brochure for men can be ordered through the Look Good…Feel Better toll-free number, 1-800-395-LOOK (1-800-395-5665) or through your local American Cancer Society office.
The self-help brochure is for men who are getting chemotherapy or radiation treatment. It gives them information on how to deal with the way treatment and side effects can change the way they look, as well as other information that is useful during this challenging time. The brochure also features a tear-out sheet of steps to help men with their daily skin and hair care routines. This brochure is available in English and Spanish.
For more information, call our toll-free number, 1-800-395-LOOK (1-800-395-5665) or visit the Look Good...Feel Better Web site for men at www.lookgoodfeelbetterformen.org.
The Look Good...Feel Better program
The Look Good...Feel Better program was founded and developed in 1989 by the Personal Care Products Council (at the time called the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, or CTFA), a charitable organization supported by the cosmetic industry, in cooperation with your American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National Cosmetology Association (NCA), a national organization that represents hairstylists, wig experts, estheticians, makeup artists, and other professionals in the cosmetic industry.
All cosmetology volunteers who are part of the program attend a 4-hour certification class to become a Look Good...Feel Better volunteer.
Look Good...Feel Better is free, non-medical, and salon and product neutral. Volunteers and program participants do not promote any cosmetic product line or manufacturer. All cosmetics used in the group program have been donated.

So yes, we are stitching for a cure. But there is so much more we can do along the way. Thanks again for "listening". You all are amazing!

4 comments:

Devan said...

Hey!
You should try RIversol Skin Care! Its really great :) it was created by a celebrity dermatolgist in vancouver bc. its based on a 5 star hydrating concept, and makes your skin look and feel beautiful. honestly! i really love it.
www.riversol.com

xoox best wishes

Gabi said...

Thanks for another informative post of yours.

Terry said...

Great post Donna! I can't wait to see what you come up with for the zebra print ribbon. Keep up the awesome work! I have a few finished ornaments (stitching only) and still have a few to go as I want to attempt to get as many colors as possible. I also found some Breast Cancer fabric that I will use to finish the flatfold and will let you know how that turns out.

I will post pics of all completed stitching on my blog when I can. (Hopefully sometime today) Now that I have the material, I'm excited to try the flatfold!

Karan said...

Great post again Donna. It's good to find out how cancer patients are helped outside of the medical treatment they're having - so much more caring than how things used to be! Thankfully more of this kind of support is being offered here in the UK now. :0)