FEBRUARY 2016 NEWSLETTER Vol 2 Issue 2
Dragonfly Angel Wings -
Newsletter
WRITING, SHARING, AND FINALLY BLOGGING!
BY: DANA STEWART
Dragonflies are finally blogging! We are so excited to
announce our blog is officially up and running. Our goal is to
use our blog time with you to share our thoughts, things we
are hearing, cancer survivorship best practices, and lots more.
We also want to hear from you? Are you trying to get the word out on an important event you are working on? Per-
haps you know of a good cancer survivorship resource or a
general inspirational resource that our readers would benefit
from. Let us know! We want to make this about you! We
also thought it would be a good way to share what we are
hearing about cancer survivorship whether it is a best prac-
tice, a new idea, a buzz in the healthcare industry, etc.
You can find our blog at the website below. Make
sure to stay connected by signing up to receive notification
when we post an a blog post. We look forward to sharing
with you!
www.dragonflyangelsociety.blogspot.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
EDITOR’S NOTE ..................... 2
THE FLUTTER ........................ 2
SURVIVOR STORY ................. 3
INSPIRATION CORNER ........ 5
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST
We Are Blogging
Breathe The Fire
Survivor Story
SHARE
What do you want to see in a cancer survivorship website? Go to www.dragonflyangelsociety.com and tell us what you think!
Tis a new day and you get up and the sky is a bit gray. You go about your morning routine and hope your lethargy
is unseen. You smile a mile when the sun peeps through the clouds and you think the day is won. You get ready to
leave and have nothing on your mind to grieve. But, before you go you hear a knock and take stock of where it
came. You go to the door and think of it as a bore. Yet, there is the grim reaper looking like a creeper and standing
on your stoop. He raises his sickle and fear begins to trickle as he has you in his mind. You have a choice and not
much cause to rejoice. You can bear your claws into the ground and become a dragon and get on the fighting band
wagon or you can let fright take its flight and hope the best for the rest.
You think of your purpose and don’t get nervous and thus you stand your ground. You raise your chest and don’t
get depressed. You let out your breath and death stands no chance because you are a braggin dragon standing on
your band wagon. For death, there is a retreat, but you know he is not beat. He will be back because for him this is
just a temporary setback. You gather family and friends and have them help you in your cleanse. Though death is
gone it is still hard to act on. You are not sure where he went and don’t dare to take him lightly so you hold those
most dear tightly.
You go on living bravely and try not to be gravely. Your strength is a testament that is very resonant. Be proud of
your battles and scars; they don’t make you look like you’re from Mars. Sometimes hope is thin and you might
want to rely on gin. But instead be brave, have might, and fight. Death will come; he always lingers, but don’t let
him wrap you in his fingers. Instead, keep breathing fire and never tire. There is still hope and no reason to mope.
Life is too precious to let it slip away so easily, so sleazily. There will be battles so don’t get addled. It may be un-
clear when it is over or if it ever is, but don’t give in, instead remember your travels and use them as strength in
your upcoming battles. Be a dragon and fight, fight, fight, for there is still light. So goes dealing with cancer.
Scott is a 25 year old brain and thyroid cancer survivor.
EDITOR’S NOTE
THE FLUTTER - BREATHE THE FIRE BY: SHARED BY SCOTT G.
February is all about LOVE,
right? It’s got that one special, often
times romantic holiday thrown right in
the middle. However, we thought Feb-
ruary is also more than just a basis for
the love and romance of Valentine’s
Day. We see it as all about sharing.
That is why this month we picked the
word SHARE as our focus. We have a
few submissions from cancer survivors
who wanted to share their stories and
their words of encouragement, wisdom,
and even fear with all of you—people
who “get it.”
Here at The Dragonfly Angel
Society we are in a sharing mood too.
We have our blog up and running!! You
have read more about that on the front
page of our newsletter. We couldn’t be
more happy to share our thoughts and
feelings, in more detail of course, with
all of you!
Got something to share? You
know we always want to hear from you.
Reach out and tell us what’s on your
mind! If you have something you would
like to share with our readers, let us
know!
2
SURVIVOR STORY
BY: MONIQUE P.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the
age of 32. One minute I was a healthy
young woman enjoying life with her won-
derful husband. The next minute it felt
like the rug we were standing on had
been yanked out from under us.
In my life before cancer, I used to say I
had a "bad day" or a "good day". In my
life after cancer, I quickly realized that by
my old definitions, every day would
probably end up being labeled as a "bad
day". On the rare chance that I was expe-
riencing a physically pain-free day, then
my mind could have awful "what if..."
thoughts which, of course, would turn
into a "bad day".
I often feel like cancer is a roller coaster
of both physical and emotional pain. I
cannot control the whole ride (no matter
how much I want to!), but I try to make
the most out of the moments when I'm at
the top. I try my hardest not to calculate
the length of time these moments last and
that "the top" doesn't feel the same as it
used to feel.
Cancer has negatively affected many are-
as of my life; however, life since my diag-
nosis hasn’t been all bad. I was fortunate
to have family and friends, some of
whom traveled from the other side of the
planet, to support me. We made endless
trips to the hospital for my treatments,
but we did fun stuff too!
It has been a little over 2 years since my
cancer diagnosis. My husband and I trav-
el for fun. I have a job I like. I do yoga
and walk our dog almost every day. I
don’t know exactly what my future holds,
but neither does anyone else.
Do you have a story to tell? Would
you like to share in our newsletter?
You can send your story in approxi-
mately 500 words or less to
Have questions? Feel free to email us
at the above email. Please note that by
submitting your story, you give us per-
mission to share it in our newsletter,
website and Facebook page.
3
What do you want to see in a cancer survivorship website? Go to www.dragonflyangelsociety.com and tell us what you think!
“If you are really thankful, what do you do? You
share.” - W. Clement Stone
Sometimes sharing your thoughts, your story, your
life, can not only benefit yourself, but others too. It’s
often nice to know we are not alone in whatever is
happening with ourselves.
SHARE.
4
The Dragonfly Angel Society
7316 Hartford Rd
Downers Grove, IL 60516
www.dragonflyangelsociety.com
E-Mail: [email protected]