We interrupt this broadcast...

My good friend Nic has been battling brain cancer for almost 2 years. In that time, she's had brain surgery, radiation, a constant flow of chemotherapy, seizures, migraines, dizziness, speech problems, another brain surgery and plenty of other unpleasantness that would give her a free pass to wallow in self-pity, sitting around all day asking why it had to happen to her; or she could have decided to spend her time hurling a bad attitude in the direction of everyone she encounters. Instead, she's handled it with her own special grace that consists mostly of the "Let's just agree that Sh*t Happens and move on already" ideology.

I could have listed plenty of reasons why she's worthy of admiration as a person and as a friend before all of this happened, but since her diagnosis I have been blown away by her strength of character and her ability to giggle (her trademark reaction to just about everything) when it would take her a few beats to remember common words that just the day before she could have recalled without a problem. After her first brain surgery in June 2006, she said to me, "Now I just need to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. Any ideas?"

Immediately after her second brain surgery a couple of weeks ago, the first thing she asked for was a cherry icee. She even told the nurses she'd skip her first round of pain medication if they'd let her husband Tim bring her one, and did I mention it was immediately after she had brain surgery and there was probably some pain involved? Of course they couldn't allow that, so in the meantime, those of us who love her have been drinking cherry icees on her behalf.

She did remarkably well until this weekend, when she had a major setback. To say she's in the fight for her life would only be to describe the past 22 months, and what she's going through right now is infinitely bigger than that. I'm asking every one of you to send some positive energy in the direction of Alabama from wherever you are sitting. I can't put into words how badly she needs it, not to mention how badly I need to know that I'm doing everything I can in my power to help; which frankly in times like these, thinking I have any kind of "power" is a joke because all there seems to be is the very persistent reminder that there's no power I possess that can make the cancer cells in her brain disappear.

So, just as I have since finding out the results of her first brain scan in 2006, I will continue to close my eyes as the tears fall and send positive thoughts her way, because that's all I can really do.



When I sent her this song in July, she said it gave her some "extra oomph", so I'm putting it out into the universe again.

Shine (Cyndi Lauper)
Shine I'll stand by you
Don't try and push me away 'cause I'm just gonna stay
You can shine, I won't deny you and don't be afraid it'll all be ok

Do you know my name
Well I ain't gonna take that big time line, won't be beat by a lie
Gonna call out to these embers waiting to ignite
Gonna pull you up by your love, by your love, and tell you

Shine I'll stand by you...

I can see the frown you wear all around like some faded crown
Like a watch over wound
Gonna call down to this diamond buried underground
Gonna pull you up by your love, by your love and tell you

When it's said and done what you need will come
and time won't let me let you let me waste it this time
Shine...