Compression Sleeves - Lymphedema

For the past four years, I have been dealing with the after effects of surgery for breast cancer, mainly in the painful form of a condition termed lymphedema. From Lymphnotes Reference:

Lymphedema is abnormal swelling of the tissues with stagnant, and protein-rich lymph. This condition occurs when the lymphatic system has either failed to develop properly or has been damaged. When the arm is affected, a compression sleeve that covers the entire arm from the wrist to the shoulder is worn.

A recent Compression Blog says: For people with lymphedema, compression garments are vital. Lymphedema is a chronic condition that causes lymphatic fluid to build in the affected areas of the body. When ignored, dozens of pounds of fluid in the body can be created,leaving skin on the leg badly wounded (and leads to serious discomfort). Injury, ulcers, infections and, in rare cases, cancer may result. Sleeves are available in several styles design to hold them in place. Some have a silicone band around the upper edge to prevent sliding. When keeping the sleeve up in place, so it doesn’t constantly slide down, the solution may be a style that covers the shoulder and has a strap that goes across the chest.

For the first couple of sleeves that I purchased, the local durable medical supply office was the provider. Then I developed latex allergies from the bands on the tightest part of the sleeve, resulting in a weeping skin irritation. Just in time, a woman in the waiting room of the chemo infusion treatment area told me about Lymphedivas, a company which she had read about.

from The LDiva website:

Today, LympheDIVAs is dedicated to creating medically correct compression apparel for women with post-breast cancer lymphedema.

Rachel Troxell and Robin Miller developed lymphedema during their breast cancer treatment. Looking for a better way to deal with this permanent condition, they teamed up with Kristin Dudley, a fashion designer with a heart of gold. They conceived of LympheDIVAs as a way to make compression garments more fashionable, comfortable, and breathable, without compromising the medical utility.

I have been very satisfied with my newer compression sleeves, one in electric pink and one in a jazzy blue color, and am very glad they are 100% free of latex.

Check out their website if you know of someone in need of this product. My sister-in-law bought one yesterday after reviewing their information.

A Legend: Bone Woman

The following was written by Isabel Hoskins. She writes thoughtfully speaking through her poetry. You learn that she has come through a life changing battle with cancer. See her blog at Beyond the Map. This is Isabel's writing of BONE WOMAN:

This is the story, the legend, of La Loba, also known as the Bone Woman.

La Loba is an old woman who lives secluded in the desert mountains, a recluse who is fat and hairy and when she speaks she makes sounds like that of an animal more than human words. She keeps to herself and wanders around, waiting for lost people to come and seek her.

LaLabo’s work is to collect bones, mostly the collecting and preserving of bones that might otherwise be lost to the world. Her cave contains the bones of all kinds of desert creatures but it is the bones of the wolf she loves the most. She wanders about the mountains looking for her wolf bones and once she has the complete skeleton, she lays them all out on her cave floor, and sitting by her fire she begins to wait for the song to be birthed in her.

When La Loba is certain the song has come she stands over the bones, raises her arms in a dance and begins singing. As she sings the bones of the wolf begin to join together and grow flesh. She sings, as the animal inhabits fur and she sings, as the tail curls upwards and the wolf creature begins to breathe. She sings as the desert floor shakes and the wolf opens its eyes to life and with a leap, runs out of the cave and out into the desert canyon, howling its way through the mountains.

At some point in the wolf’s running, whether the splash of water from the river spraying over her or the glint of moonlight that comes to rest on the wolf’s fur, the bones that became the living wolf are transformed into a laughing woman who goes running towards the horizon.

And it has been said that if you are lost and wandering across a desert and it’s nearing sundown when the sun melts into the sky, that if you are lucky, La Loba may make herself known, revealing to you something long forgotten, something of your soul.

Shepherd's Pie and Cookbook

Several years ago I came across a cookbook entitled Cooking for Madam, Recipes and Reminiscences from the Home of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The author, Marta Sgubin, was John and Carolyn Kennedy’s Italian governess in the 1960's.

The book had great recipes, as well as lots of information about the Kennedy children and their upbringing. Both John and Carolyn (Kennedy) Schlossberg gave their permission for Ms. Sgubin to publish this book, along with the photographs of them as children.

Marta Sgubin came to the United States in 1969 as governess to Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy, Jr. She regarded the move as temporary and was secretly planning to return to Europe very quickly.

After the children left for boarding school, Marta stayed on with the family. Her role, naturally, changed and evolved from governess to housekeeper and, finally, to friend, until she became an indispensable part of the household. She ran everything, but she shone especially as a gifted cook. Whether it was birthday parties for Caroline and John over the Thanksgiving weekend in New Jersey, a barbecue on the porch of the beach house on Martha's Vineyard, or a fast but elegant dinner on Fifth Avenue.

Twenty-five years later, when Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died, Marta was still with her...from the cookbook (1999)

One of the recipes in that book was then "John-John" Kennedy’s favorite dish, Shepherd’s Pie. I copied that recipe and use it frequently for leftover pot roast, and when we occasionally have lamb left-overs. (My husband made Shepherd's Pie last nite; it was delicious.)

I could not find exactly the same recipe as is in Cooking for Madam, but one similar to Ms. Sgubin’s can be found here: Shepherd's Pie Recipe.

Just add a little dried rosemary, and it is even more fragrant and tasty!

PS: If you buy Cooking for Madam or anything through Amazon.com and use the link on the extreme upper right of this blog (web button with book image), the Ravelry organization gets a small cut from the sale. (Ravelry is a great tool for knitters and people who crochet, as well as for knittners.) Thanks for your support of Ravelry through this means.