Living a Better Life
(featured column... from the editor's desk)

I Am Still Here

by Michelle Jones

As I sit down to write a new article for my column I am reminded that it has been almost 6 months since I have been able to do this. The sun continues to rise and set each day whether we are able to keep up or not, and for the most part, that is probably a good thing. And after my mother’s late diagnosis of colon cancer that had spread to her liver in January and her passing just 31 days later, I am yet, somehow—with God’s help I'm sure, still here.  More...

My birthday is in a few days and I know this may sound crazy but I don’t know how to have a birthday without my mom. Just the idea of it is completely foreign to me, even at 43! At least I think that’s how old I’m going to be; at this point in life sometimes you have to think about it for a minute to be sure. I write to you now, not because I am excited about all of the wonderful new money saving tips we have for you in this month’s issue of the Living a Better Life ezine, but just to let you know I still wake up every morning wanting to encourage YOU to hang in there.

I am glad that I am still here of course for my family, but also so that I can continue my work here at Better Budgeting; encouraging families all around the world that they can make it through the tough times and enjoy their life no matter what their financial circumstances might be.

 
During the last six months I have been through the wringer emotionally, and I don’t suspect that will end any time soon. I am an only child and my parents divorced when I was very young so I guess you could say my mom and I grew up together and were joined at the hip—which meant I probably walked real funny since my husband and I have been joined at the other hip for almost 22 years! I loved my mom very much, I will always love my mom, and miss her, very much. 

I have a lot of things I would like to share with you as I am able to over the coming months; important things we should all know and be prepared for, financially. But the first thing I must address on my mom’s behalf is this dreaded disease called colon cancer. This disease is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and we’ve been through many things! 
 
When I was with my mom in the hospital for most of those 31 days it seemed like everyone I met had someone in their family that had colon cancer at some point during the last few years. Although there were a few that survived, most didn’t. This seems more like an epidemic to me, but hopefully that is just my opinion and not reality. If you have a loved one that has been diagnosed with colon cancer don’t give up, there is always hope! And if your doctor asks you to get tested, just do it, it could save your life!!!

 
If you would like more information please visit these helpful sites and enter a search for “colon cancer” and please share this information with your loved ones!!! 

“Colon cancer starts with a growth that is not yet cancer. Testing can help your doctor find (and remove) these growths before they become cancerous. If the test finds that colon cancer has already developed, you have a much better chance of beating it if it is found early. Get more details on this common form of cancer.”

American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org

 
“Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, but it doesn't have to be - it can be cured more than 90% of the time when detected early, and is often entirely preventable with appropriate screening.”

National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance
www.eifoundation.org
 
“Screening tests help your doctor find polyps or cancer before you have symptoms. Finding and removing polyps may prevent colorectal cancer. Also, treatment for colorectal cancer is more likely to be effective when the disease is found early.”

National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov

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Copyright © 2007 by Michelle Jones, author of Dealing with Debt, Frugal Family Recipes and Basic Budget Planning... for Those Who Hate to Budget. All rights reserved.

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