Diabetes Research Institute

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Carey A. Flores

On my mind always

and

in my heart forever...

Carey Ann Flores

September 27, 1976 to April 22, 2009

Carey lived life to the fullest; she enjoyed spending time with family and friends and most of all, her children. She will be remembered for her witty sense of humor and her bright, beautiful smile.

My Sid Dickens Addiction & Scrappin Links

Click here to check out My Sid Dickens Addiction blog

Free2BeMe350z Goes Hollywood!

Click on the YouTube logo below!

Angel Wings

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Dear Friends, Family & Fundraiser Contributors,
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It brings me great sadness to deliver this news to all of you and as hard is it is for me I must tell you that Paige earned her angel wings yesterday morning, on the day of, June 23, 2008.

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I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all who contributed to Paige's fundraiser over the last year. Your kindness and generosity allowed Paige and her mother Tina to be able to communicate with their family and friends on a daily basis. Without your help they would not have been able to do that.

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Paige will forever be in all of our hearts... She was such an inspiration to so many people including me...She was a hero to anyone who knew her and now she is an angel protecting all of us.

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Please continue to keep all those who loved her in your thoughts and prayers, as they will need the strength to get through these hard times.

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Always in Our Hearts

Paige Nicole Haney

October 12, 1991 - June 23, 2008

Mommy, there's a monster under my bed!

We do not have any history of diabetes in our family; however, my son was diagnosed with it (Type 1) just five years ago at the age of 16. Five years is a long time but, not near enough time to learn or completely understand the disease.

Every day for the rest of his life it will be a challenge for him to stay healthy. Diabetes will be with him forever unless a cure can be found. On top of his daily studies with college classes and the two jobs he has it is a full time job taking care of his health. I see how exhausting it is for him at times but, I am so proud of his courage and determination to live a healthy normal life.

When my son was a small child he sometimes worried that there might be a monster under his bed. I could easily chase those fears away for him back then… but now… the monster sleeps with him at night and there is nothing I can do because that monster is his Diabetes. As a parent it is very hard to face the guilt knowing there is nothing I can do to make that horrible monster go away!

Diabetes is the monster that follows him everywhere he goes, no matter what he is doing or where he is going.

Diabetes is the monster that drives with him in his car and goes to work with him everyday. Diabetes is the monster that attends college classes with him during the week. Diabetes is the monster that celebrates birthdays with him every year. Diabetes is the monster that will attend his wedding one day and be with him on the day his first child is born. Diabetes is the monster he fears will make acquaintances with his children and grandchildren one day.

Without a cure, there is a possibility that one day his future wife will share his same fears. It would be a fear of a new monster invading their home, their family, and their own children. I don't want my son to know what it is like to be a parent and not be able to chase the monsters away. This is my nightmare and I don't want to share it.

I don't think people truly understand how this monster controls the lives of people with Diabetes and their families unless they are affected by it in one way or another. (As in having it or knowing someone with it.) There will always be a worry about medical insurance and life long expenses that are very unreasonable and unfair. Life is not fair, we all know that but, living with Diabetes was not his choice and it surely wasn't an offering he chose to take or a gift he wanted to receive.

Share my dreams.....

This is a request...
My request...
For everyone to take a stand,
To make a statement
And to make a difference
We are…
ONE WORLD...
Join in
And be a part of something special…
Love and be loved
Because love is forever.

Respect others
And you can respect yourself...

The world is a beautiful place.
Good things CAN and DO happen to good people.
People will love you for who you are…
And not for what you say…
But for what you mean…
All you have to do is let them because…
Love is a reason to exist.

Together as one…
We are all together in this world…
Together as one!

Hug someone.
Hug yourself.

Put yourself out there.
Speak your voice.

No hate.
Give peace a chance.

Love everyone….
And love without limits.

Be yourself.
Be amazing.
Show your beauty.
Share your thoughtfulness.
Because EVERYONE is special in their own way.

Embrace uniqueness.

Enjoy life.
Give hope.

Dream a lot.
Take a chance.

Always forgive
And show you care.

Be strong…
You are NOT alone…
Everything happens for a reason…
I am here…
Live, love, laugh EVERYDAY OF YOUR LIFE!

Forever…
Suzie

Please Help Me Help Cara Win!!!

Hi everyone!

My step sister-in-law, who lives in Chicago entered a contest from a radio station. It's for new "Boobs". Please continue reading this... it is not a joke!

She said she needs them because: "When I was five I was burnt by boiling water which left third degree burns on my arm. I am very self-conscious of my burns and my very small chest, 32A. If I won I would feel better about my body and feel people are not staring at my arm." - Cara ... VOTE HERE or below.

I think she is perfect just the way she is but, she asked me for some help to win and I want to help her. If you click on the link below, and vote for Cara, I will be very grateful as will she when she wins!!!. Also, if you could forward this to your friends and ask them to vote for her, you would be a saint in my book. This means a lot to her and she means a lot to me!

PLEASE VOTE FOR CARA.......


http://www.b96hits.com/index.php?go=treasure_chest_vote4-1

Thanks Everyone,
Susan Naso

UPDATE: Cara made it to the semi-finals with only 4 finalists left in the voting poles. Unfortunatly she did not win the treasure chest contest. She told me after the contest ended, "I guess I will have to wait till I have babies one day and then I will get boobs the natural way!" What a great attitude! I commend her for her strength and courage!

Music That Rocks

Click here to check out my music blog

Stop Smoking Crusade

It is now DAY 2 since I started my personal stop smoking crusade. It’s been a really rough two days for me but, I am proud to say I have not had even one puff of a cigarette in the last 44 plus hrs! That doesn’t seem like much but, when you have been smoking everyday, all day long, and for as many years as I have that is a HUGE triumph for me! Anyone who has smoked and quit will be able to relate completely. In the beginning I did it because it was cool! All my teenage friends were doing it and unfortunately at that time I was more of a follower and so I did it too.
As I sit here writing about cigarettes I also think about smoking one. It's not something that you can easily just stop and forget about but, I am trying my best.

UPDATES:
Day 3 - Still not smoking!
Jimmy, Thanks for your words of encouragment and all the support you have been giving to me on these first 3 day oh hell! Your the best son ever!
Day 4 - Still not smoking!
I have been showing signs of withdrawl with terrible mood swings. Nights have been bad for me. I think the nicotine patch I am wearing is causing me to loose sleep and dream a lot. I toss and turn and wake up many times throughout the night. Each time I wake up I find it harder to fall back asleep. Each time I wake up I remember a new dream I just had. Some of the dreams have been really crazy and seem so real! I am also getting night sweats which is most likely normal. I hope better days and nights are ahead as I continue my crusade!
Day 5 - Still not smoking!
Day 6 - Still not smoking!
Day 7 - Still not smoking!
It's still just as hard today as it was the first day of not smoking. I am still dreaming and loosing a lot of sleep at night.
Day 10 - I'm still a non-smoker!
Day 14 - Still a non smoker baby!
UPDATE DECEMBER 17, 2007
Day 44 - Still not smoking!

UPDATE MARCH 6, 2008
OVER 120 DAYS - Still not smoking!
NON SMOKER BABY!!!!

Update: April 30th, 2008
I have been cheating. I might consider wearing the patch again to get back on track. I was doing so good. I don't know what got into me.

Saturday Road Trip

Today we went on a road trip to the Cleveland area.

We walked through Legacy Village browsing through most of the shops. I visited two stores, Francesca's Collections and Lush Boutique that I most likely will go back to in the near future.

Francesca's had a nice variety of jewelry and trinkets. Their website doesn't do the store justice. There is so much available in the store that is not featured online. I bought a cute little silver key with heart to hang on my mirror in my bedroom. They also have this brand of jeans called Sang Real Jeans that I just absolutely love! I wish I would have tried a pair on. San Real Jeans are distressed with detailed stitching along the pockets and waist. They also had detailed metallic embroidery on the back pockets, with metal embellishments throughout the jeans.

Lush Boutique carried a small collection of Juicy Couture handbags and jewelry.

I didn't take that much time looking at their clothes but after checking out their website and seeing that they carry True Religion and Rock & Republic brand jeans, I will have to go back and check them out.

We also stopped at the West Side Market (since we had never been there) just to see what it was like. I was hoping to get a nice loaf of Italian bread and some cheese from there but, I was too grossed out to buy anything after I saw they had cow tongues and cow brains for sale at one of the meat counters!

My Favorite Books

In grade school my favorite series of books were "Frog and Toad". Not sure why but, every trip to the school library I just had to check one out. To this day I still collect frogs and have several of them displayed in my living room. Kermit the Frog was my all time favorite and childhood hero! I was always so jelous of that damn Miss Piggy!

Where the Sidewalk Ends - by Shel Silverstein is another one of my favorites. I still own a hard cover copy of this book. I think this is when my love of poetry bloomed. I think everyone should own a copy of this book.

Maybe around the 4th grade is when I read this book. Super Fudge - by Judy Blume. I still have my original paperback copy from when I was in grade school.

In JR. High I was into the "Flowers In The Attic" series -by V.C. Andrews. Many years after I read the series they made a movie about it. When you read a book you use your imagination to invison the characters and their surroundings. The movie was nothing like I had pictured so it was very disapointing to me.

Pray for Luke

10/02/07

Please say a special prayer for Luke and his mother, my dear friend Heather tonight.
Luke was recently diagnosed with toxic synovitis and doctors think he may have a tumor on his femur after an Xray that was done today. A CT Scan will be done tomorrow. I will follow up with news then.

UPDATE 10/03/07

Heather took Luke for his CT Scan this morning and they are now saying what they found is not a tumor on his femur. Luke will be having surgery tomorrow morning at 6:30 am. They are going to drain fluid from his hip to see what is causing his pain.

Heather is still confused as to why Luke is limping and having pain. There is no sign of it being a bacterial infection and if it were only a viral infection they say he should have been better by now.

Heather said, "if you were to see Luke you would never know there was anything wrong with him." He is playing, eating, giving her a hard time and just being himself! Heather says she thinks that is a good sign but, still feels that what Luke is going through is still a mystery to be solved.

UPDATE: 10/04/07

Luke had the CT Scan yesterday and the doctors confirmed it wasn’t a tumor on his femur. Luke had surgery this morning. They took some fluid from his hip and now are back to the first diagnosis of toxic synovitis.

Luke's mother Heather said, "This is still a mystery to me but I am so thankful to know its not cancer or anything bad!"

UPDATE: 10/23/07

I received a wonderful text message today from Heather, Luke's mother. It said... "We just left Luke's Doctor's office and everything is perfect! The doctor said they should pretend it never happened! I will update again if I get more details from Heather as I want to find out if he is still going to have to deal with the first diagnosis of toxic synovitis.

Mona Lisa

I have always liked the master piece "Mona Lisa". Awhile back I bought a small box framed print (maybe 8x10) of her that I just absolutly love. I have yet to find a place to hang her.

My Tiffany Bracelet

NO BUBBA, Maybe Baby

For some strange reason my lover seems to think

"Bubba" is a cute nickname for me... Well I am here to announce how much I dislike that nickname. I have always thought that a nickname such as Bubba would be more appropriate for a beer belly hillbilly rather than using it to refer to me, a brunette Italian woman.

I figured I had better do some research to show my lover when a person should be refered to as a Bubba. I was a little shocked at my findings. In http://www.wikipedia.com/ (an online encyclopedia) I found something I didn't expect to read.

BUBBA

"Bubba has also developed into a proper noun, used as a term of endearment, to describe someone who is especially lovable, adorable, etc. Also used to identify someone's significant other (i.e "She's my Bubba". It is said to have evolved from the word 'baby',

I guess he must think I am lovable and maybe possibly even adorable, wink wink. I never imagined that the word (name) Bubba could also mean "baby." Funny thing... My lover also calls me "Baby."

6001 Flowerdale

Today we drove past my childhood home in Cleveland, Ohio. I lived there till I was nine years old, from 1970 to 1979.
I was amazed to see that after all these years the old street had not been updated and still was paved with red bricks just like I remembered.

Seeing the old house brought back so many memories. Most of which were good memories, but a few bad ones did come to mind as well.

It was that very house that I learned how to crawl, say my first words, and ride a bike for the first time.

It was on that very street that I was lucky to escape fatal injury. One day I wasn't being very cautious as I rode my bike down the driveway and into the street. I caused a car to come to a unexpected screeching halt. My bike was sucked under the car but, lucky I was only thrown to the tree lawn. I was very lucky I didn’t end up in the same place as my bike did. I did get a new bike for my next birthday. My brother made it from pieces and parts of other bikes and painted it to look brand new! It was a the coolest bike ever!


Some random thoughts that came to mind today when I saw my old house:

• My father was a police office when we lived there.
• My mother worked at Joesph & Feis & Company.
• My dad, my uncle Randy, and my brother Tom used to build race cars in the garage.
• I used to jump off the front porch with an umbrella. (I wanted to know what it felt like to fly I guess.)
• My family and the police looked for me for hours after I left a note that said I was running away from home. They found me safe and asleep, hiding in my bedroom closet.
• We used to roller skate in the back of the house. I remember my skates had metal wheels and keys to tighten them as you had to wear them with your shoes on.
• We had a swimming pool. Back then I wore bikinis believe it or not. My brother's friends used to pee in the pool I think!
• I used to sit on the black top driveway with Michael Ondash and pop tar bubbles with sticks.
• Kimberly Puchakowski was my best friend!
• We had a kitchen fire once.
• We had a dog named Prince. That is a picture of me on the back porch with him. (His name was not Toby as it says on the dog house. Not sure where that came from because we never had a dog named Toby)

Free2BeMe350z

PC For Paige Update

PC FOR PAIGE UPDATE:

Paige will be celebrating her Sweet 16

on October 12th.

Paige has a birthday wish and I think you all know what it is!
Lets all take a moment and make the same wish in Paige's Honor.

The bone marrow transplant coordinator contacted Paige's mother Tina today (9/19/07) with the following update:

• A specific match for a bone marrow donor has been found!!!!!
• The donor is a 23 year old male who the doctors say is a GOOD match for Paige!
• He has the same blood type as Paige so her blood type will remain the same. Tina said Paige is very happy about that!
• They are sending Paige to the dentist soon to have a complete cleaning and checkup to make sure there are no potential problems that could flare up during the transplant or recovery.
• She will have some additional blood work done on the day they go for the final marrow check to make sure nothing else stands in the way of the transplant process.
• Paige will celebrate her 16th birthday on the 12th and then three days after that the whole process of curing her Leukemia will start.
• She will be admitted for the treatment on the 15th.
• She will get chemotherapy treatments unlike she has ever had before. The chemotherapy that she will receive leading up to the day of the transplant will be to wipe out every bit of her bone marrow she has in her body.
• The scheduled day for the bone marrow transport will be on October 26th.
• She will be in isolation for many weeks after that and have a stay at the hospital anywhere between 4 and 6 weeks.
• After that time they will transfer her to the Ronald McDonald house (on campus) where she will be there for another up to possibly 10 weeks. They won't be able to go home because she needs to be as close to the hospital as possible in case she needs immediate treatment.
  

Thank you everyone for all your prayers!

UPDATE 9/29/07

Instead of being admitted on the 15th....she will be admitted on the 19th.

(You can read more about Paige's story below in an earlier post.)

Today is "SHOPPING" Day!

Today is "SHOPPING" Day!

I love to go shopping and I love buy nice things!

Today Fallon, Felicia and I are going shopping for some new school clothes for Felicia! I am sure it will be a lot of fun!

iPod

I am addicted to my Video iPod and I am always looking for new tunes to download on it. I like all kinds of music and will listen to just about anything. I find music to be a very important part of my life. Most songs tell some sort of story and I have found that many songs remind me of my life, past and present. I believe music can be healing at times and I don't know what I would do without it!

Fashion5thAvenue on eBay

In my spare time I like to sell stuff on eBay.

Check back often as I list new auctions form time to time!

Fashion5thAvenue

Forever In My Heart

Irene & Roxy Mazzeo

A day doesn't go by that I don't think of them...

Random Thoughts:

*Sometimes I sing in the shower
*I am not a morning person
*I am addicted to slushies
*The littlest things mean the most me
*I don't like crying in front of people
*I hate drama and everything that comes with it
*I don't like suprises
*The last thing I ever want to do is hurt someone's feelings
*I believe in God with my whole heart


*I think my parents are the most amazing humans on earth
*I love the sound of rain
*Thunderstorms excite me but, scare me at the same time
*Seafood is my favorite choice of cusine
*I don't like being the center of attention
*I don't like compliments
*I like to catch snowflakes with my tounge
*I LOVE to shop
*I love to do nice things for people including perfect strangers
*I try not to judge people
*Sometimes I think I am funny
*I consider myself an independent person
*I would say I am stubborn like my father and giving like my mother
*Rude people suck!
*My family & friends mean the world to me!
*I am easily bored and easily annoyed
*I love to feel the warm sun on my face
*I love the feeling of being in love

Please Pray for Paige Nicole H.

At Age 3 Paige battled one form of cancer. At age 9 Paige battled a second form of cancer. Now at the age of 15 she has been diagnosed with cancer for the third time (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia) and will need a bone marrow transplant. (Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation)

Her Story

Paige was just 3 yrs old the first time she battled this awful disease (1995). She had rhabdomyosarcoma in her right leg. She went through a year of chemo and 30 radiation treatments.

In March 2002 she lost her father to cancer. He was only 37 yrs old. Barely having time to mourn his death the family was again given bad news. Paige now had Osteosarcoma in her leg.....in the radiation field. She again went through another year of chemo and numerous surgeries to fix and re-fix her leg.

About 2 months before the end of the school year Paige began complaining of many different aches and pains. It seemed like there was something bothering her almost everyday. Her mother took her to the ER at least 4-5 times in recent months. They did x-rays only to find nothing wrong. They never did any blood work on her even though they know her history with cancer.

On June 30, 2007 her mother took her to the ER again this time she was complaining about ear pain...and pain during urination. As soon as the doc took one look at her he ordered blood work. She was very pale and had dark red spots all the way across her bottom lip. The next thing they knew Paige was being life-flighted to The Cleveland Clinic.
On July 2nd, 2007 the family was given horrible news once again!
PAIGE HAS AML LEUKEMIA. Paige needs a bone marrow transplant.

Her sister and mother have been tested but, neither of them are a match. They are now looking on The National Registry for a match.
They have been told there are potential matches but, no final word yet. They are just basically hanging out at the hospital waiting for her bone marrow to recover from the chemo she got.

So. once again...Paige is fighting for what’s hers....her very life!!!
Paige is a very strong....very brave young lady and her mother says she is very proud of her for fighting and staying strong!

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. In AML, the bone marrow makes many unformed cells called blasts. Blasts normally develop into white blood cells that fight infection. However, the blasts are abnormal in AML. They do not develop and cannot fight infections. The bone marrow may also make abnormal red blood cells and platelets. The number of abnormal cells (or leukemia cells) grows quickly. They crowd out the normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets the body needs.

PC For Paige Fundraiser UPDATE

Become A Dollar Angel For Paige

"Another BIG thank you to everyone who contributed to the PC for Paige Fundraiser! Thanks to everyone Paige has something to look forward to every day! We raised enough money to get her a new notebook computer so she can communicate with her friends and family back home while she is in the hospital.

The fundraiser is still ongoing as we have to continue to raise money for the monthly wireless bills. We have enough money raised to pay for 5-6 months of service (up to Feb 08.) Due to the wireless service contract, we need enough to pay for a total of 24 months.

I don't like to beg but, hey what the heck.. Got an extra dollar? Send it my way! If everyone I am sharing this with sent me just one dollar, that would be enough for one whole month of service! I hope you take the time to read the article that was published in Paige's hometown newspaper. It mentions the new computer and I am so thankful for all of you that helped me to get it to her so quickly!!"

Please help Paige Haney . . . read her story and donate just $1.00 to help pay for her monthly wireless bill . . . then she can stay in contact with her online friends from the hospital and also when she is allowed to go home.

Let's each give $1.00 to help Paige stay in touch . . . it's a simple thing that can make a HUGE difference in the life of this brave young girl.

Donataions can me made via regular mail or via PayPal.

Email Me: Free2BeMe350z@oh.rr.com for complete details and instructions to make a donation.

Isa Bella Mia

Back in Mid May of 2006 Isabella Mia found her way to our front door step. She looked to be approximately 9 or 10 months old at that time. She was extremely friendly, healthy looking, and very clean. She was so clean that she didn’t appear to have been out doors longer than that day. She was wearing a collar with a cute little bell on it so we knew she belonged to someone.

One week later she was still coming to our home to be fed so we decided it was time to keep her safe and start taking care of her. We welcomed her into our home so that we could make all efforts to keep her clean, fed, and free of fleas and or ear mites until we could find her original owners.

Approximately two months later she was still with us because we could not locate her original family. We started to notice that she was gaining a lot of weight and to our surprise we discovered she was pregnant. We gave her a safe haven to have her babies which were born on July 5th 2006. She was such a good mother to her litter of five!

We were able to find homes for all of her five babies. Four of the kittens went to families I found and the fifth was adopted through the help of Love-A-Stray.

More than a year later Bella is still with us and has been spayed so she can't suprise us with more kittens!

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We named her Isabella Mia and for several reasons. Isa-bella because she arrived at our door step wearing a “bell” that let us know when she was around and we thought that sounded fitting for that reason. Then we added Mia to that because of “Bella” meaning beautiful in Italian, and “Mia” meaning mine, “Bella Mia = My Beautiful!”

Eclectic Collecting

I have an assortment of different unrelated items that I like to collect. Not because of their value or history but mostly just because I like them. If I see something I like I usually buy it. From frog statues or figurines to Eifell Towers and art tiles, I usually always find something unique that I call a "must have!"

I will admit that I do have a shopping addiction that usually ends in an empty bank account.

A friend once said to me that I like "useless trinkets" and yes, they are right, because sometimes what I buy I don't actually need and in some cases ends up unused and stored away in a drawer or unknown location of my home. The fun part is weeks or months later I find that item by accident and it's like getting something new all over again!

The one thing I will not do is charge on credit cards just to have something. I don't believe in credit card debt so if I don't have the cash I don't buy it immediately. I must admit that I do receive some of my collected items via gifts from friends and family, and hey, that's ok because I LOVE presents! Who doesn't!

The biggest collection I have and the most cherished thus far are my Sid Dickens Memory Blocks. I received my first two as gifts in December of 2006 and ever since I have been obsessed with them! I currently have 38 in my collection. (UPDATE: As of August 2008, I now have 38 in all!!!)