Joseph S. Ziccardi Sr. Oct. 20, 1934 to March 14, 2012

I am dedicating this post to my father -in- law Joseph Salvatore Ziccardi Sr. Esq.
On March 14th we lost an amazing man. I call him my father in law even though Joe & I are not married yet, Because Pop (that's what we called him) would always introduce me as his daughter in law. Which to me was an honor.
He truly was a great man with many accomplishments, not only was he a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, God Father & friend. He was a retired Colonel in the Army Jag Unit. An attorney in Pennsylvania, & also known as the Hoffman Street kid.
I had heard many stories of his life from him, but was really impressed by the many people who had come to pay their respects & commented on how he mentored them, guided them to find their way in life, or how he was so proud to serve his country.
I will never be able to see an apple caramel walnut pie or swim around the island with out thinking of you.
I know you are in heaven with your Pop & Mom & I'm sure your enjoying a cigar with a Manhattan, smiling down on us.
You will truly be missed. Love you Pop!

Close to the finish line

I know its been a really long time since my last post. I apologise, but it has been a whirlwind of a few months.
On February 4th I finished radiation, with very little burns to the skin. So little that when I went to see the plastic surgeon to set up the appointment for the other breast to be removed he didn't think i had had radiation yet. I'd like to thank my grandmothers Emma & Angie for good Genes or at least good Italian skin!
March 12th i went in & had my left breast removed. On that same day my plastics Dr. Sacks is testing out a new email program where he can email to family member's basically a play by play in the operating room. So I provided him with about 15 email addresses. Including my family that was waiting in the family waiting area. Oh wait they weren't waiting in the family waiting area anymore, because they could all get updates on their smart phones so, My Joe, mom, Paul, Stephanie, & cousin Laura all went to a local pub to enjoy burgers & beer while I was being cut open!
& To my Dr. he thought that was the coolest thing. Really? Almost as cool as his work on my Breasts yes he is really obsessed with them. Stephanie swears they are his screen saver, That's how proud he is?
All turned out good, anyway Pathology reports all came back clear!
Next was to have the ovaries out. So I was going to have that done on the same day but Dr. Sacks nixed that idea as that was way to long a surgery at the same time.
So I found a really good local Dr. in Pa. Dr.Randell. who coincidentally was one of best friends Dr.'s, He's the director of Gyn & oncology at Pennsylvania hospital. This to me was a sign. He was the man to remove the ovaries.
On April 30th He did. in less then 2 hours. I call it the drive through surgery. I arrived at 6;30 am checked in ran some labs, got my happy juice at 8:30am & was in recovery by 11:00, & home by 3. All i needed was fries & a milk shake with my surgery?
But all is good. As you can kinda see in the photo in the hospital with my bro my hair is growing back in, it really soft, thick & curly? Not sure what to do with that. But I'll work it out.
Now i wait for all skin to heal & let my body rest for the summer & come September I will have reconstruction, along with a tummy tuck. & can cross that finish line.
If anything else happens I'll keep you all informed. If not i may not be back till September with the new Bubbies.
Thanks for reading! Your prayers, praise & thoughts!
XOXO

 Post-op PP pic

Pre-op Dinner

I AM CANCER FREE! 1-16-2012

Well 2012 started out well so far, i know I have to fill you all in on alot that has happened in the past month, But wanted to shout out first it is official from Dr. Greenberg on January 16th he said I am disease free. Mom asked if that meant I was in remission & he says no I am disease free. Because they removed my breast & lymph nodes there was nothing to shrink & I went through the chemo & am still going through radiation (I'm 1/2 way done) all my blood levels are back to normal & organs look good! Ye haw!!
So my next step is finish radiation,  started to get some burns not too bad but they say it can get worse & the fatigue hits me a bit by the end of each week but I'll take it if it means disease free!
The back story leading up to all this.....Christmas....Mom wanted to do this in the mountains the same town where we do the Italians invade the lake in the summer. But this time the Italians invaded the mountain. We arrived to "Ski & Glee" that was the name of the house. There was snow the day we arrived but it all melted by day 2, it was one of the warmest weeks they've had up there in years? That's OK. there was plenty for us to do, the house had an arcade & when I say arcade I don't mean a few games i mean an arcade.! I got high score on the one driving game. So my name is on the licence plate of 3 of the cars. (YES, I am proud of this, have you met my brothers?) It also had an indoor pool. Hot tub, & sauna.
There was plenty of food ( as if you where all shocked about that) we did our traditional seafood chippino, stuffed calamari, and then Lobsters!
Then there was the present opening, I call it that cause it just isn't gift giving its a  montage of presents being opened. I of course had the most as I always do.( its a requirement) I think my brothers had 1 more then me 1 year & I made mom wrap something lame just so they wouldn't. yes i am 44 & still worrying about this.
But i got one of the best gift ever this year, (no it wasn't the gnome, or the forever lazy. although I love them both) It was a song. Mom, Laura, Stephanie & Kati sang me a song that mom wrote. called "Let it grow" to the music of Let it snow, It was on the Holiday Tits album sung by "Las TaTa's" I will post it for you all to hear.  I was more moved then I could have ever imagined, I laughed & cried.
We took pictures in matching PJ'S not a favorite for some of the men, But the girls loved it! Were a pretty cute group if I do say so myself?
Then Christmas eve Joe & I went to his mom & pops. Michele came in from Colorado, Chuck, Andrea, Charlotte, & Marco where there & His cousin Dee & Rick came too. That was a nice surprise, I haven;t spent alot of time with them so it was really nice & it was a lot of fun. Lots of laughs! Charlotte was curious about the wigs so I brought them for her to try on, she was so cute with them & that was so fun.
Lots of food again, Dolores made her famous cotton cookies (their like wedding rings) Joe & I love them & we still do the fish but it gets changed up a bit there's dungeness crab! Yum. It was the first crab I've had since chemo & it was sooooo good.
Then Christmas Day we went to my friend Lisa's ( I've been going there on Xmas day for over 10 years) Its always a blast. After a dinner of surf & turf, we play LRC. (its a gambling dice game) I was hoping they would take pity on me this year & maybe I'd win, but no such luck? I gotta work on my skill & try to win all my money back.
New Years we where supposed to go to the MD Peditto's like we do every year, But PP got the Flu & I wanted no parts of that. So instead we went to dinner in Philly w/ Lisa, my friend Mollye, & Charlie Brown showed up). Then watched the Fireworks at Pennslanding I was impressed they where really good.
So as I've been saying since January 1st. NEW YEAR NEW LIFE!
I still have a long road ahead, I have another surgery, I'm waiting to have my other breast removed & my ovaries taken once the Dr. gets me the date I will let you all know. Then i will heal for about 6 months from everything & can have Reconstruction. But again I'll take it cause I AM CANCER FREE!
So since I still have stuff to talk about I will still keep posting. Hope you all still read along!
Thank You all so much for all your support. Enjoy the video music is my let it grow song.
xoxo