Pics from Remembrance Tea 2012



From left to right: Samuel, Bridget, Serena, Mary, Hannah, Lina, Connie, April, Pat, Sarah, Devin, Jo, Paul. (Fred was taking the picture.)



Rembrance Tea

I would like to invite anyone who can come to a Remembrance Tea on Sunday, February 12, at 3 PM at Mom's house. If you would like to bring something to eat, please feel free, but I'll be providing something so don't worry. We'll have a cup of Lipton tea in memory of Gina and watch the video Fred put together. We'll also put some roses on Gina's grave. Please let me know if you'll be there.

I know a lot of people can't come, but maybe you could have a cup of tea in Gina's memory and maybe look at some of the pictures on this website.

Princess Tea Cakes

It just occurred to me that I never wrote here about these cookies that Gina inspired me to create. Eating Well Magazine had a cookie contest for their Nov/Dec 2007 issue.

Gina was on my mind a lot at that time, especially with Christmas coming up. We had been going there to make cookies together for years. Gina's favorite cookies had been the Russian Tea Cakes, and that recipe was tied to her memory for me like no other. The physical copy of the recipe that I had was in her hand-writing, but there was just something about the cookie itself that reminded me of her. They were mysterious, pristine in their whiteness, delicate and cheerful. In short, they were precious in the most sincere meaning of the word.

We always preferred the name "Russian Tea Cakes" because it was the first name by which we heard them called but also because it was so much more ritzy and refined-sounding than any other name, such as Mexican Wedding Cookies. Perhaps it made us think of the "Russian Tea Room," which always sounded mysterious and magical. Then, of course, there was the word "tea" in the name. Gina was synonymous with tea. She never went anywhere without her cup of tea--which she'd invariably let steep for about 15 minutes (and it was always Lipton). Mom and I used to joke that we were surprised that it was cancer that got Gina because we'd always been sure she was going to have a car accident. She was always fiddling with something--a video for the boys in the backseat, a cassette, a radio station, or that damned cup of boiling hot tea on the dashboard. Actually, I don't remember her ever spilling so much as a drop of tea while driving. Talk about mysterious!

Gina's devotion to tea was such that she and I actually swore a pact when we were teenagers that we would 1) never smoke, 2) not have sex before we got married, and 3) never drink coffee--it was tea or nothing. Neither of us ever did smoke, and we kept mum about number two, but she always thought I was a traitor for becoming a coffee-drinker, even though I didn't have my first cup till I was 21 and studying in France. Well, if you're going to be unfaithful, you should at least make it a worthwhile dalliance, although I've consequently spent most of my life trying to recapture the essence of that first cup of café au lait that made me fall irretrievably in love with coffee. More of a curse than a blessing, really. Tea is my true love in my heart of hearts.

As the younger sister who was short and misshapen--anorexic hands and ankles with a butt and hips that would make any Venus statue proud--Gina's tall(er), slim, delicate, big-busted form was my ideal of beauty. I remember once when I had put on a dress to go to a party. The dress was gathered at the waist and not exactly flattering to my figure, but it was red and I'd sewn it myself, so I was keen to wear it. Gina, in her naive fashion, not being able to comprehend that not everyone was built like her, poked a finger at my hip and asked, dumbfounded, "What's that? [pause] It's not your...?" Her voice faded away as realization dawned. Then she poked again, unable to comprehend what her eyes were telling her. "Yes, yes, those are my hips," I replied disgustedly, already turning away to put on something else more flattering. I never wore that dress again, although I did try it on once more just to confirm that she was right. It did look humanly impossible to have hips that jutted out so extremely.

Gina always seemed to know--innately--what to wear. I tried to borrow clothes from her--tops, not bottoms, of course, but she fussed at me so much for stretching out the ribbing on the bottom that I eventually quit. In fact, Gina even dressed me till I was about 16 when she abruptly abandoned me cold turkey style, leaving me to figure out my own wardrobe, directions to places and any other major life decisions that come a 16-year-old's way. I've often contemplated what could have caused her to do that, but I guess I'll never know. She was probably in her first year of college and was feeling constricted by the ties that bound her to the little monster she'd created. Oh, yes, there was quite a bit of squalling on my part when she cut that umbilical cord! But I survived, as she knew I would. It's just a shame that the connection was never really made again until that call in August, 2002, when she told me she'd been diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer. For a few very brief seconds we both let our defenses down and cried together as we realized what it meant. Before we immediately shoved every brick succinctly, if not quite exactly, back into place, where they would pretty well remain in tact for the next four and a half years.

Like anyone who is so perfectly in control (on the surface, at least), Gina managed to walk that fine line of being loving, tender and caring without really letting anyone in. She was oddly emotional and yet private. As someone with a reputation for being temperamental, I find Gina's emotional household, as the Germans might say, to be an enigma. Yes, she was very much like these cheerful little snowballs that crumbled if held too tightly and were messy to eat, annoying and yet endearing.

So with all these and many more memories floating around in the back of my mind, I set about to do something with that recipe for Russian Tea Cakes that I had in Gina's hand-writing on a slip of pink stationery. I think I must have been inspired, really. I did a bit of research into using oil instead of butter in recipes and came up with what I thought would be a good equivalent to the cake flour that I should use to make the switch. I figured more people would have AP flour and cornstarch hanging around than cake flour and I didn't want to discourage anyone from making the recipe. I also wanted to follow the prerequisites as set out by the magazine: the new recipe must be "healthier" than the old. So I exchanged some of the white flour for white whole wheat (giving the cookies a slightly yellow/brown tinge didn't hurt since they were coated twice in powdered sugar) and cut back the salt and sugar. Believe me, none of these decisions happened overnight. I made many, many batches of these cookies before I settled on the final recipe. However, I still think I had some sort of spiritual guidance because I ended up with a vegan recipe that was lower in sodium, lower in cholesterol, lower in calories, and higher in fiber than the original recipe with all the saturated fat cut out. How amazing is that?

So seldom in life do we get the proverbial gift that keeps giving, but this recipe has been just that for me. I was in a bookstore once and found this recipe in an Eating Well Cookbook. It gave me chills. I just wish they'd acknowledged the story behind it. In fact, I periodically trawl the internet to check on the websites displaying this recipe and try to make sure that they include the original story. Most people are more than obliging. I'm learning to be nicer about it although it's hard to not get angry when people try to pass it off as their own. It's Gina's recipe, Gina's story. In my mind it's the unofficial ovarian cancer cookie ;-) It's a pleasant way of keeping Gina's memory alive and keeping people aware of this horrid disease. At my last count, this recipe was on over 25 websites. You know how they say an angel gets its wings every time a bell rings? I like to think that something similar happens every time someone makes this recipe.


Eating Well Magazine article:
Working on this makeover of a classic Russian Tea Cake made Bridget Klein feel closer to her late sister, Gina, because they are “a great match for her personality: delicate and refined, pretty to look at, and yet a definite character that inspires adoration and loyalty.” Gina's middle name, Sarah, means “princess,” in Hebrew; hence the name of these confections. Klein's mom “swore these cookies couldn't be made without butter,” she says, “until she tasted them.” Klein continues: “Gina was a traditionalist, too, but I think I might have been able to fool her with these.”


Makes 3 dozen cookies
ACTIVE TIME: 40 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 2 hours
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy
3/4 cup canola oil
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white whole-wheat flour
2 cups confectioners’ sugar, divided
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup very finely chopped nuts, such as pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Pour oil into a medium bowl. Whisk all-purpose flour, white whole-wheat flour, 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar, cornstarch and salt in another bowl.
3. Mix half the dry ingredients into the oil by spoonfuls. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add vanilla. Mix in the remaining dry ingredients by spoonfuls until thoroughly combined. (The mixture will resemble creamed butter and brown sugar.) Stir in nuts.
4. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls; place about 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
5. Bake the cookies until just set, being careful not to let the bottoms get too brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on the pan for 2 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly.
6. When the cookies are still warm, but no longer hot, roll them in the remaining 1 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar and place them back on the rack to continue cooling. (Reserve the sugar.) When the cookies are completely cool, roll them in the sugar again.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per cookie: 105 calories; 7 g fat (0 g sat, 4 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 11 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 8 mg sodium; 19 mg potassium.
1 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1 other carbohydrate, 1 fat
MAKE AHEAD TIP: Prepare the dough (Steps 2 and 3), cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Roll in the second coating of confectioners’ sugar just before serving.

Six-Word Memoirs for Gina

My hunzy bunzy and best friend.--Jim

The greatest mom, now and forever...--Erik

Person who listened to me always.--Alec

Good friends. Good times. Gone away.--Connie

Died young; alive in our hearts.--JoAnn

Number nine: little engine that could.--Mom

Always concerned about others; impressive downhill skier; enjoyed red wine, hot tea and great conversation together.--Ursula

Regina Sarah: Queen Princess--Benevolent Dictator--Bridget :-) (Mom's going to be mad at me for that!)

Been a year. Glad you called.--Fred

Tony, Tony, we lost our Gina.--Jan (Mimicking the prayer to St. Anthony, Patron Saint of Lost Items, that the boys learned at school: "Tony, Tony, look around, something's [or name of item] lost that must be found!"

Daughter, sister, wife, mother--truly loved!--Bettie

My sister, loved, missed, always remembered.--from Bettie for me :-)

You gave us faith and hope.--Mitch

Little sis, Dad's favorite; that's o.k.--Nikki

Always full of tea and sympathy.--Bridget

Cancer

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Cranberries May Help Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer Patients

A new study suggests that cranberries may increase ovarian tumor cells sensitivity to chemotherapy. In the study, cancerous ovarian cells were treated with cranberry juice, then exposed to chemotherapy. The cranberry treatment increased the chemotherapy's effectiveness sixfold.

The researchers do not yet understand why the cranberries increase the tumors sensitivity to chemotherapy, but are encouraged by the results. Currently in the laboratory phase of research, the study will soon test on animals, then begin human trials. They also caution that cranberries are not a cure for cancer and will not be substituted for cancer treatment. If anything, they will serve as an adjunctive therapy, meaning they will work in addition to chemotherapy. Before you reach for the five gallon container of cranberry juice to fight ovarian cancer, remember that research about this is preliminary and more studies need to be done.

Cranberries have long been known for their high antioxidant levels that help boost the immune system. There are several benefits to eating the fruit, such as preventing cardiovascular disease and urinary tract infections. Although it is not suggested to consume cranberry juice to fight ovarian cancer yet, you can certainly drink it to reap many of its health benefits!

More About Cranberries

• Nutrition Benefits of Eating Berries
  
• Cranberry Extravaganza
  
• Cranberry Recipes

Thursday August 23, 2007

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June 13, 2007

Symptoms Found for Early Check on Ovary Cancer

By DENISE GRADY

Cancer experts have identified a set of health problems that may be symptoms of ovarian cancer, and they are urging women who have the symptoms for more than a few weeks to see their doctors.

The new advice is the first official recognition that ovarian cancer, long believed to give no warning until it was far advanced, does cause symptoms at earlier stages in many women.

The symptoms to watch out for are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly and feeling a frequent or urgent need to urinate. A woman who has any of those problems nearly every day for more than two or three weeks is advised to see a gynecologist, especially if the symptoms are new and quite different from her usual state of health.

Doctors say they hope that the recommendations will make patients and doctors aware of early symptoms, lead to earlier diagnosis and, perhaps, save lives, or at least prolong survival.

But it is too soon to tell whether the new measures will work or whether they will lead to a flood of diagnostic tests or even unnecessary operations.

Cancer experts say it is worth trying a more aggressive approach to finding ovarian cancer early. The disease is among the deadlier types of cancer, because most cases are diagnosed late, after the cancer has begun to spread.

This year, 22,430 new cases and 15,280 deaths are expected in the United States.

If the cancer is found and surgically removed early, before it spreads outside the ovary, 93 percent of patients are still alive five years later. Only 19 percent of cases are found that early, and 45 percent of all women with the disease survive at least five years after the diagnosis.

By contrast, among women with breast cancer, 89 percent survive five years or more.

The new recommendations, expected to be formally announced on June 25, are being made by the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and the American Cancer Society.

More than 12 other groups have endorsed them, including CancerCare; Gilda’s Club, a support network for anyone touched by cancer; and several medical societies.

“The majority of the time this won’t be ovarian cancer, but it’s just something that should be considered,” said Dr. Barbara Goff, the director of gynecologic oncology at the University of Washington in Seattle and an author of several studies that helped identify the relevant symptoms.

In a number of studies by Dr. Goff and other researchers, these symptoms stood out in women with ovarian cancer as compared with other women.

“We don’t want to scare people, but we also want to arm people with the appropriate information,” said Dr. Goff, who is also a spokeswoman for the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation.

She emphasized that relatively new and persistent problems were the most important ones. So, the transient bloating that often accompanies menstrual periods would not qualify, nor would a lifelong history of indigestion.

Dr. Goff also acknowledged that the urinary problems on the list were classic symptoms of bladder infections, which is common in women. But it still makes sense to consult a doctor, she said, because bladder infections should be treated. Urinary trouble that persists despite treatment is a particular cause for concern, she said.

With ovarian cancer, even a few months’ delay in making the diagnosis may make a difference in survival, because the tumors can grow and spread quickly through the abdomen to the intestines, liver, diaphragm and other organs, Dr. Goff said.

“If you let it go for three months, you can wind up with disease everywhere,” she said

Dr. Thomas J. Herzog, director of gynecologic oncology at the Columbia University Medical Center, said the recommendations were important because the medical profession had until now told women that there were no specific early symptoms.

“If women were more pro-active at recognizing these symptoms, we’d be better at making the diagnosis at an earlier stage,” Dr. Herzog said.

“These are nonspecific symptoms that many people have,” he added. “But when the symptoms persist or worsen, you need to see a specialist. By no means do we want this to result in unnecessary surgery. But I would not expect that to occur in the vast majority of cases.”

Although the American Cancer Society agreed to the recommendations, it did so with some reservations, said Debbie Saslow, director of breast and gynecologic cancer at the society.

“We don’t have any consensus about what doctors should do once the women come to them,” Dr. Saslow said. “There was a lot of hope that we’d be able to say, ‘Go to your doctor, and they will give you this standardized work-up.’ But we can’t do that.”

At the same time, Dr. Saslow said, the cancer society recognized that in some cases doctors had disregarded symptoms in women who were later found to have ovarian cancer, telling the women instead that they were just growing old or going through menopause.

“There are so many horror stories of doctors who have told women to ignore these symptoms or have even belittled them on top of that,” Dr. Saslow said.

In a survey of 1,700 women with ovarian cancer, Dr. Goff and other researchers found that 36 percent had initially been given a wrong diagnosis, with conditions like depression or irritable bowel syndrome.

“Twelve percent were told there was nothing wrong with them, and it was all in their heads,” Dr. Goff said.

Dr. Goff and other specialists said women with the listed symptoms should see a gynecologist for a pelvic and rectal examination. (The best way for a doctor to feel the ovaries is through the rectum.) If there is a question of cancer, the next step is probably a test called a transvaginal ultrasound to check the ovaries for abnormal growths, enlargement or telltale pockets of fluid that can signal cancer. The ultrasound costs $150 to $300 and can be performed in a doctor’s office or a radiology center. A $100 blood test should also be conducted for CA125, a substance called a tumor marker that is often elevated in women with ovarian cancer.

Cancer specialists say any woman with suspicious findings on the tests should be referred to a gynecologic oncologist, a surgeon who specializes in cancers of the female reproductive system.

An unresolved question is what exactly should be done if the test results are normal and yet the woman continues to have symptoms, Dr. Saslow said.

“Do you do exploratory surgery, which has side effects, which are sometimes even fatal?” she asked. “What do you do? We don’t have the answer to that.”

Depending on the test results, the woman may just be monitored for a while or advised to undergo a CT scan or an MRI. But if cancer is strongly suspected, she will probably be urged to go straight to surgery. A needle biopsy, commonly used for breast lumps, cannot be safely performed to check for ovarian cancer because it runs a risk of rupturing the tumor and spreading malignant cells in the abdomen. Instead, the surgeon must carefully remove the entire ovary or the abnormal growth on it and examine the rest of the abdomen for cancer.

While the patient is still on the operating table, biopsies are performed on the tissue that was removed, so that if cancer is found, the surgeon can operate more extensively. Experts say such an operation should be carried out just by gynecologic oncologists, who have special training in meticulously removing as much of the cancerous tissue as possible. This procedure, called debulking, lets chemotherapy work better and greatly improves survival.

Dr. Carol L. Brown, a gynecologic oncologist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, said, “Ideally, we need to develop a screening tool or a test to find ovarian cancer before it has symptoms.”

No such screening test exists, Dr. Brown said, and until one is developed, the list of symptoms may be the best solution.

“This is something that women themselves can do,” she added, “and we can familiarize clinicians with, to help make the diagnosis earlier.”

1st Annual Roseannadanna Fun Run

1st Annual Roseannadanna Fun Run

The Roseannadanna Fun Run is a 1ok run/5k walk benefiting Gilda's Club Louisville, presented by Kentuckiana Healthy Woman Magazine.

When: Saturday, May 19th, 2007

Registration from 6:30am-7:30am; Race begins at 8:00 am

Once registered you may pick up your race packet May 17th & 18th from 2-6pm at:

Moxie Activewear for Women

12003 Shelbyville Road, Suite 104

Louisville, KY 40243

Late, walk-in registration will also be available at Moxie at those times.

Where: Ultimate Sports Basketball Academy
Eastpointe Business Center, 2401 Stanley Gault Parkway

Start/Finish

Fee: $20/person, $10/youth (under 18)

After May 13, Fee is $25, youth $12

Please register Here. A registration confirmation will be sent to you upon receipt.