Month: January 2021

Breathe in Self-love, Exhale Gratitude

These words will be in the forefront of my mind as I continue through Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.  We welcomed Deb Jennings of Sounds for the Soul to lead us in our first Self-Care Sunday session. It was a self-guided meditation with singing bowls, flutes, and chimes. I’ve had some experience with meditation and used to practice it quite frequently. However, like most things in 2020, I fell out of habit.

Starting the session, I was eager, slightly nervous, yet super excited. I haven’t hosted many virtual events in my lifetime. I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to relax but I would quickly be proven wrong. In fact, I was not expecting my body to react the way it did in today’s session. 

Deb started in with her singing bowl and what felt like a gentle nudge into a guided meditation. A few minutes passed by as we were breathing in a self-love affirmation and breathing out another affirmation of gratitude.There were several pitches and frequencies starting to awaken my heart and my mind. My body was resting. I was overcome by a chill as we welcomed in the helping energy of our higher selves. It was then I heard the sound of a flute and a beautiful song voice. The mantra stated, “I release control and surrender to the flow of love that will heal me.” It was exactly what I needed in that moment. I felt the tears welling up, pooling, then releasing a stream ever so gently down my face. Relief, probably the first I have felt that in many months and I’m not the only one.

Re’gina, a cervical cancer survivor located in Wisconsin shares, “This session also allowed me to remember a place I loved as a child, fond memory of San Bernardino mountains, Lyttle creek, pine trees, river rocks and mountain water… ahh. I’ll be keeping this memory alive for future meditation and happy placeness.”

Lorie, another cervical cancer survivor located in Michigan shares, “Her soothing voice, emotive language, and sound bowls brought me to a place of peace, so much so that I liked her page immediately when the session ended. The moderator and guide made my morning more peaceful.”

As you can see, spiritual things are felt and experienced when we give ourselves permission to receive those messages. Some trigger a release of emotions we didn’t know were even there. We cannot ignore the incredible messages embedded into Deb’s guided meditation, the ones that resonated with our community were anywhere from self-love and gratitude to forgiveness and healing and last but not least, leaning into our community for support.

Sunday evening proved to be yet another important lesson in self-care, love, and gratitude for many who attended. Cervical cancer survivor and yoga/meditation teacher, Tara Casagrande, led a candlelight foot scrub and meditation.  It was the perfect way to round out a self-care Sunday.

Tara’s words were effective.  She explained the root chakra and its connection to the area where the cervix is located.  Tara emphasized how this small act of self-compassion could have a lasting impact.  She taught us how to appreciate the relationship between one’s self and their feet.  It was imperative to understand just how much work they’ve been through in the past year.  This was a moment to give appreciation and gratitude for them. 

Tamika, Cervivor founder and 19-year survivor, described the sensory experience from the texture of the scrub, to the warmth and the wetness of the water, and then catching the sweet, familiar scent of vanilla. She is adding the mantra of the evening into her daily affirmations: “I feel safe.  I’m at home in my body.”

Tasha, a cervical cancer survivor in Florida, stated how before the COVID pandemic hit, it was a regular thing for her and her daughter to go have spa days.  She has made a goal to practice the self-care routine once a week with her daughter using the recipe provided.  She also enjoyed playing some smooth jazz while unwinding during the event.  In her own words, “I love it!”

Emily, a cervical cancer survivor in Iowa says, “I didn’t have the ingredients for this scrub tonight, but I went through the motions anyways and it felt like a foot massage. Connecting with my feet and my toes, it felt good. A few weeks from now when I’m with my parents, I can see my mom and I sitting on the edge of the bathtub and doing this together as a little foot massage/girl time.”

Self-care is not selfish. In fact, without experiences like this to make us more self-aware, we often jeopardize our health and well-being while running ourselves ragged. Most of us that know how hard we can be on our own self.  We can be our own worst critics, but we need to allow some grace.  We see the incredible emotional support we receive every day within our community, and we want to encourage all of us to take it a step further. Let’s hold each other accountable in developing good habits including self-care.  

Stay tuned as we have more opportunities throughout the month of January with our Wellness Wednesdays and our virtual Pap Rally & Run. Join us and treat yourself to some self-care!

Morgan Newman is a metastatic cervical cancer survivor, a Cervivor Ambassador, the 2018 Cervivor Champion recipient, 2019 Iowa American Cancer Society Action Network advocate and the 2020 Advocate of the Year by Above & Beyond Cancer.

“On Wednesdays we wear Pink”… wait, what?

That is something my son Matthew always said to me, and I always laughed.  I had no idea that line came from the movie Mean Girls, nor how much I would remember this comment and how it evolved and shaped my Teal & White Tuesdays.  

I knew pink was the color for breast cancer as I had already been down that path.  I had no idea what the ribbon color was for cervical cancer. When I received my diagnosis in 2015, I had to research the ribbon to find out what my color of ribbon would be. Deep down somewhere in my subconscious, I knew I would be wearing that color for the rest of my life.  

After my lengthy treatment battles, I found Cervivor. This became my “go to” group for information, help and support.  I loved it when they said to wear teal & white on Tuesdays.  An idea began to form.  

I attended Cervivor School in 2019 with much help and support from my friends and family.  I honestly don’t remember Tamika’s exact question that day at Cervivor School, but I immediately remember my response, “On Tuesdays, we wear Teal and White.” Thanks Matthew, for the quote from so many years ago!! The idea continues…

I have bought my son several ties and dress shirts in the teal and white theme that he proudly wears to work. I make an effort to post something on my social media accounts about #TealAndWhiteTuesday every week to remind people about cervical cancer, to get your cancer screenings, to get your vaccinations, and to promote awareness. The idea is growing.

In January of 2020 during CCAM, I was invited to Matthew’s place of employment, Hy-Vee. They did a promotion during that year to promote cervical cancer awareness. I had so many more plans for public awareness campaigns, but 2020 had other plans for meeting people.

I was forced to refocus my efforts, and the idea began to fully bloom.  Pandemic boredom = creative, crafting mind flow.  I started off with buying printable iron on sheets and made one shirt.  I wanted more.  I created a better graphic design and had made several more shirts.  I handed out twelve shirts to people, and five of them went to high school age girls. We discussed cervical cancer and the need to take care of yourself, even at a young age.

I made and sold teal and white kitchen pot scrubbers, with proceeds going to Cervivor. I attend the Cervivor virtual holiday party and am now on the CCAM Planning Committee. I tell everyone I meet that health is a PRIORITY in life and do not ignore it! 

I post about cervical cancer and Cervivor so often now on social media to spread the word. I talk about it with my friends and family. I am not ashamed or too shy to share my story with others, no matter who they are.  I want people to know how this affected me, and how I am a stronger person now for the ordeal I survived.

The impact that Cervivor School had on me to advocate and talk about this has amazed even myself.  I was not even sure about going, and here I am a year later involved as I can be and loving every minute of it.    

I love #TealAndWhiteTuesday and dress in it every week, even if I am not leaving the house to go anywhere. I am forever grateful to my family and friends in supporting me to get the word out, and I love how involved they have become to spread the word as well.

Have you ever noticed how many people actually read the t-shirts people wear? Have you stopped yourself to read someone’s shirt as they walk by you? It offers an ice breaker without having to say a word.  

“On Tuesdays we wear Teal and White.” Spread the word.

Karen North lives in Liberty, Missouri. She is a retired registered nurse. Her world is her family, fur-babies, and friends. She is a six-year breast cancer survivor and a four-year cervical cancer survivor. 

Read Karen’s Cervivor story.

Read Karen’s blog post on being both a breast cancer survivor and cervical cancer Cervivor.