Giving thanks to our Veterans today I’m not sure how Veterans Day turned into a holiday and a day to sell stuff, but then, most every holiday has turned into a day for stores to run “sales”. Possibly, the original intent was to give our veterans a break but it has sure morphed away …
Category: Memories
Nov 03
Day 22: 40 Days of Thankfulness
Today is the 31st anniversary of my pituitary surgery at NIH. As one can imagine, it hasn’t been all happiness and light. Most of my journey has been documented here and on the message boards – and elsewhere around the web. My Cushing’s has been in remission for most of these 31 years. Due …
Nov 01
Day 20: 40 Days of Thankfulness
I hope I’m not jinxing myself but today I am thankful that I haven’t had any migraines for a while. It’s not “just” not having migraines, but the fact that, should I get one, there’s nothing I can do about them anymore. I used to get migraines quite often, a hormone thing probably. …
Oct 30
Day 18: 40 Days of Thankfulness
Adapted from https://cushieblog.com/2010/11/22/40-days-of-thankfulness-days-thirty-one-to-thirty-five/ Today is the anniversary of my one and only zipline experience. I had been thinking about doing this since my kidney cancer surgery 3 years earlier. I figured I had “extra years” and I wanted to do something kinda scary, yet fun. So, somehow, I decided on ziplining. All the following is …
Oct 28
Day 16: 40 Days of Thankfulness
Today I am thankful for my church choir. Last year at this time, the “low voice choir” formerly the Men’s Choir sang this: I’ve had a long history with singing from the time I was a kid singing in the choir at my Dad’s church in Springfield, Mass. In High School we …
Oct 27
Day 15: 40 Days of Thankfulness
Today I am thankful that the skunk already passed by when I took Mimi out for a walk a couple days ago! It’s so not fair! I can’t smell lots of flowers or perfumes but I can smell a skunk blocks away.
Oct 26
Day 14: 40 Days of Thankfulness
I am thankful, believe it or not, that I had Cushing’s. Mind you, I wouldn’t want to have it now, although diagnoses and surgeries seem “easier” now. Having Cushing’s taught me a lot, including how to stick up for myself, how to read medical books to learn more about my disease, how to do …
Oct 25
Day 13: 40 Days of Thankfulness
Today, I’m grateful that there have been no more Growth Hormone problems like the one below. Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 11:08 PM on Facebook Me: My $450 monthly co-pay refrigerated medication was overnighted to me yesterday, arrived a couple miles from my house at 7:05 this morning. UPS couldn’t get it to me …
Cushing’s
- ℹ️ Cushing's Disease BasicsCushing's Disease is a rare condition caused by excessive production of cortisol, a hormone essential for various bodily functions. It is a specific form of Cushing's Syndrome, where the overproduction of cortisol is due to a tumor in the pituitary gland. The condition affects 10 to 15 people per million each year, predominantly women between […]
- 🦓 Day 2, Cushing’s Awareness ChallengeSo, these are only seven of the many, many symptoms of Cushing’s. I had those above – and I often felt like I looked like one of those little bearded dwarves.
- 🦓 From a Past Blogging Challenge.Today, I’m going to be talking about my Cushing’s story, which still continues, even 8 years after I was diagnosed...
- 📰 Myocardial Work Impairment in Patients With Cushing’s SyndromeEndogenous Cushing’s Syndrome (CS) is associated with an increased cardiovascular (CV) and metabolic risk profile, yet the specific impact of hypercortisolism on myocardial function remains inadequately understood.
- 📅 Adrenal Insufficiency United’s Lunch & Learn, Los Angeles California, May 3Adrenal Insufficiency United’s Lunch & Learn Events are one day mini-conferences located in different cities in the USA. We find great local speakers to lead sessions and give presentations about issues affecting those with adrenal insufficiency. These one day events will be packed full of opportunities giving attendees more chances to ask questions, share their […]
- ℹ️ Adrenal insufficiency BasicsAdrenal insufficiency is a condition where the adrenal glands don't produce enough of certain hormones, primarily cortisol and sometimes aldosterone. This disorder can be categorized into primary (Addison's disease) and secondary forms.
- ℹ️ Cushing's Syndrome OverviewCushing’s syndrome is a rare disorder that occurs when the body is exposed to too much cortisol. Cortisol is produced by the body and is also used in corticosteroid drugs. Cushing's syndrome can occur either because cortisol is being overproduced by the body or from the use of drugs that contain cortisol (like prednisone)…
- 🦓 Day 1: Cushing's Awareness Challenge 2025April is always Cushing’s Awareness Challenge month because Dr. Harvey Cushing was born on April 8th, 1869. How fitting that this challenge should begin on April Fool’s Day. So much of Cushing’s Syndrome/Disease makes us Cushies seem like we’re the April Fool. Maybe, just maybe, it’s the doctors who are the April Fools…
- 🦓 Comment added to Day 1: Cushing's Awareness Challenge 2025While American actress Amy Schumer is spreading the word about Cushing’s in general, I think that in some ways she is hurting things for everyone else. CBS News reports that “she says she now feels ‘reborn’ after her diagnosis, and while some forms of Cushing can be fatal, she has a type that ‘will just […]
- 📰 Clinical and Surgical Outcomes of Pediatric Cushing’s Disease Following Endoscopic Transsphenoidal SurgeryCushing’s disease (CD) is characterized by hypercortisolism due to excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion from a pituitary adenoma. Though more common in adults, pediatric cases constitute approximately 5% of those seen in adults. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical due to the severe impacts on growth and development in children. Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETSS) is […]
Music & Local Events
- ✅ AA Open Meeting, TodayDiscover a supportive space for new beginnings! Join us every Wednesday at 6:00 PM, in the serene ambiance of Pender UMC's Library. At 5:00 PM there will be a time of casual chat, known as the "meeting before the meeting". Engage in meaningful conversations and find camaraderie at our AA meetings, guided by the experienced […]
- 🛐 Lenten Hymn and Devotion, Week 5Brian Stevenson, Pender UMC Director of Handbells and Ensembles, presents a series of hymn-based devotions on Wednesdays during Lent. “Go to Dark Gethsemane” is a Lenten hymn that spotlights scenes from the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ’s life.
- 😎 Register for Vacation Bible School (VBS)For potty-trained three year olds through ninth graders. Embark on an exciting journey with Road Trip VBS, based on Joshua 1:9 – "The LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Discover God's presence everywhere as we explore new places, make new friends, and experience God's goodness together. Join us in a fun-filled adventure […]
- 🧐 Brain Power, All AprilEnhance your mental fitness with “Train Your Brain” activities! Sudoku, crosswords, Color Me Happy, and word searches. Each activity is aimed at stimulating cognitive function and supporting memory improvement.
- 📚 All Access Book Club, April 3I originally got this book for my mom in October 2011, then I ended up reading it – twice. Then, I read nearly everything that Erik Larson wrote… I may need to read it again before April 2. LOL
- 🧶 Fairfax Knitting, TuesdaysNovice or pro, join others who love to knit.
- 📆 O'Connor Music Studio CalendarUpdated daily with music and Northern Virginia events.
- 🐥 Raise Chicks this Spring, April 4 through 9Purchase your 4 chicks and specify your pick up day April 4-19, 2025. They sell out quickly! Add-on a care kit if don’t have one. Decide where you would like to keep the chicks, laundry room, bathroom, mud room, and set up a box to be their home. (Tips below) April 4-19: The Farm Market […]
- 🌎 Mini-Makers – Earth Day Edition, April 5Reduce – Reuse – Recycle! Spend a crafternoon making beads for bracelets. necklaces or even toy snakes using old magazines!
- 🍿 Coffee & a Classic: An American in Paris, April 4There’s nothing better on a Friday morning than a classic movie and a fresh cup of coffee in our meeting room!