The sky's the limit.
The Cielem’el Survival and Growth Journal evolved out of two web logs I have maintained over time.
Begun in 2009 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32, The Cielem’el Cancer Journal documented my trials, tribulations, and spiritual growth during breast cancer treatment, with information on the diagnoses, surgeries, chemotherapy treatments, radiation, and hormone therapy treatments, as well as all the personal and professional life stuff that still goes on throughout living a life with cancer. As a breast cancer survivor, I endeavor to inspire other young women like myself to fully engage and manage their cancer and treatments, and know that there are many women out there who are experiencing a similarly challenging emotional journey. Life doesn’t stop because you have cancer, it just gets more challenging.
About a year after finishing radiation, while still posting to The Cielem’el Cancer Journal, I started posting The Cielem’el Personal & Spiritual Growth Blog, which focused more clearly on areas of personal growth, self-development, and spiritual growth. My life journey and growth as a person neither began nor ended with cancer, and the Personal Growth blog was more of a continual journal of life experiences and learnings along my ongoing life journey beyond cancer. The journey honestly began when I was a newborn, shuffled and abused in multiple foster homes before being adopted by absolutely wonderful parents, and my life journey, consciously and continuously seeking personal growth, self development, and spiritual growth continues to evolve.
Over time it became clear that these two subjects cannot be divorced and maintained separately, because it is everything together that makes my web log what it is, meaning, an online journal of life experiences, survival, and growth from the perspective of someone who has survived multiple severe life trials and nurtured a conscious approach to personal and spiritual growth and self development. Hence, The Cielem’el Survival & Growth Journal. :)
All I did last night was rest. And get caught up on Dancing with the Stars. 🙂 I forgot the power cord for my computer behind my desk at Mark’s, so I couldn’t play World of Warcraft or write my journal or post the blog. So today I’ve been relaxing with the cats, cleaning house a bit, and I went […]
Continue reading »There was a guy in the radiation center elevator this morning whose hair looked just like mine. Chemo-pattern baldness, as I’ve come to think of it. 🙂 My hair is maybe 1/8 inch long, and I think it’s coming in pretty dark, from what I can tell. But the sides and back are of a more normal “density” than the […]
Continue reading »I called in sick to radiation this morning. I was so miserably nauseous all night that I didn’t sleep well, and I ended up staying in bed until nearly two this afternoon. But I still have to have radiation, and today I see the doctor after radiation, so I’m going to be here (in the radiation waiting room) a while. […]
Continue reading »The surgery went fine today, except that I had some internal bleeding afterward so it got more swollen and painful than they would have hoped. Boy, am I ever tired of hearing medical people use the word “hope.” The bigger problem is that I’ve spent my evening heaving my insides out from the anesthesia. I’m trying to drink lots of […]
Continue reading »We just got back from the towing impound yard. Mark’s car is seriously totaled! Right before the gracias milonga Friday night, Mark got a call from the police saying they had recovered his car and that it was at an impound yard in Natomas (an area in North Sac). They didn’t tell him anything about the condition of the car. […]
Continue reading »I completely forgot to post any photos from my Gracias Milonga to the blog yesterday. Uff da! Most of the dancing photos didn’t turn out because they’re fuzzy from the movement, but I really like the big group picture, and the one with Michelle. And of course what event photo set would be complete without the one-arm shot Mark always […]
Continue reading »Last night was amazing. I can’t believe how many people showed up. Actually, I don’t even know how many people there were, I tried to count in the group photo we took and it’s something over 55. Wow. And people brought me stuff! I got three bouquets of flowers, and Shaula brought me this beautiful calendar of Renaissance paintings called […]
Continue reading »A Special “Gracias” MilongaFriday, November 14, 2008 Cynthia Miller would like to thankthe Sacramento Tango Communityfor its heartfelt support during herbattle with breast cancer by hostinga very special “gracias” milonga! Location: Tango by the River128 J Street, Sacramento Date: Friday, November 14 Free Milonga: 9PM-midnight DJ: Mark Napier Food & beverages also included Come dance the night away and helpCynthia […]
Continue reading »I just got home from yoga. The pain was really bad today. I went out to a milonga for a couple hours last night. I think I only danced with four or five guys and sat out more than I danced, but still it takes such a physical toll on me I find it hard to believe myself. Just walking […]
Continue reading »It’s been a long morning. With fatigue really kicking in, it’s getting harder and harder to get out of bed to get fixed up and over to radiation every morning. I’m still managing to make it in time, but every day I’m a little closer to being late. 🙂 A little while after my radiation this morning, I had my […]
Continue reading »Wow, 200 days. Sounds like a lot. I was tidying up my office today, and came across the medication bag I used during the beginning of chemo. But as they started giving me more and more meds to counter the additional side effects I was having, I couldn’t keep all the active bottles in the same medication bag, so I […]
Continue reading »I have these breakdowns. Emotionally, I mean. I’m trying to stay positive, and it wears me out and next thing I know I’m having a meltdown, feeling awful either about how I feel physically or about how I’ve let it affect me or what it’s done to Mark’s life, keeping him from doing things he’d rather be doing than babysitting […]
Continue reading »Couple of very brief mixed-together stories from the milonga . . . There was a guy in town from San Francisco, he stopped in for some dancing on his way back from Tahoe. I remember seeing him at Cell Space and I think we’ve been introduced, but I’m not sure we’ve ever danced. But anyway, he’s really REALLY good, and […]
Continue reading »Not a lot to write today. I unpacked some boxes and moved a few things around in the garage, which made my hands worse and completely wore me out and I spent the afternoon snoozing in front of a long movie, Exodus. There’s a milonga tonight . . . we’ll see how long I last this time. I keep trying […]
Continue reading »Oh boy. The last time Seoul was here, she was still more of a kitten and could fit behind the couch . . . but tonight she got stuck! I’m home in Volcanoville for a night, having a little break. I brought home some stuff and the cats. Mizzou looked out at me in disbelief (Seriously! Mizzou has great facial […]
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