13/11/01 00:52:08
Why I disappeared after the reunion
Lesli (Kocherov) Shrago
First of all, let me say that the reunion was wonderful and I was excited to see so many of you from all of the different generations there. It means a lot to me that I was such an integral part of making it happen and I hope we will do it again in the not-too-distant future. I shot a lot of video of the weekend, which I have not yet even watched, and I shot 2 rolls of still pictures, which I did have put onto Kodak CDs so that I can send them to Barry and can e-mail them to whoever's interested. This reunion was the culmination of more than a decade's dream for me personally and I'm so glad that it finally happened, especially in light of the events of September 11th, just a week after our return to Omaha. It was nice to see MoVFTYites from the early- and mid-80s, though I would have liked to have seen many more of you. Next time we need to do it earlier in the summer, not when people's school-age and college-age kids are going back to school. I also really enjoyed meeting all of my fellow committee members face to face and getting to lead Havdalah and singing onstage with Rick. I have put my penguin candleholder in a place of honor on my mantel with 2 Shabbat candles in it so that it can serve as a permanent reminder of the great times we had together this year and in our high school years. I also now have Anita Diamant's autograph on one of her books that I'd brought with me for her to sign.
Secondly, I want to apologize for lack of follow-up publicity as I'd intended, but if anyone wants to take responsibility for their particular city's Jewish newspaper and Temple bulletins, please let me know and I'll assist you if I can. My pictures of the Omaha/Lincoln gang did not turn out publishable as a number of people in the back row were not even looking at the camera. I hope that Mike Walts or Deb Marburg or someone else has better pictures on their camera. I know Mike Walts was willing to write some publicity for the Omaha area and, Mike, I do now wish to take you up on that offer. I can, however, tell you all this....I was contacted during October by Reform Judaism magazine, to whom I'd sent publicity and I have given Brian Levinson there an interview. I believe it will run in the Spring issue as they go to press 5 or 6 months in advance of publication as they only publish quarterly. So watch for that! He promised to mention my name in the article. I need to write him an e-mail with Ann's contact info, Rick's website and our new web address as he has promised to mention it in the article as well. He has also invited me to e-mail him pictures.
I want to explain why I haven't posted in so long. September 11th has turned out to be a pivotal day in my personal life. On that day, just as President Bush was flying into Offutt AFB just south of Omaha, I was having my baseline mammogram. I turned 35 in June and due to at least 3 generations of known cancer history preceding me (including my mom who'd been diagnosed at age 50) I was supposed to have my initial mammogram this year. To make a long story short, on September 25th I was told that I have invasive breast cancer. My bone scan and CT scans of my chest, abdomen and pelvis came out OK, which is promising so far. My tumor is about 2 cm in size and is in my left breast, but it has begun to invade the surrounding breast tissue. About 10 lymph nodes will be removed and checked during my surgery.
I have chosen to have a double mastectomy and to have immediate reconstruction with tissue implants. My surgery is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Central time this Wednesday, November 14 at Methodist Hospital here in Omaha. I will be starting chemo around mid-December. Then I will have another surgery to have the permanent implants placed, some time after I'm done with chemo.
Prayers of Mi Shebeirach are more than welcome. And if you are at risk for breast cancer due to family history and/or because you're Ashkenazi, get a mammogram! My tumor cannot even be felt by any of my doctors yet.
Ann, I have receipts and publicity to send you, just need to get it ready to mail. I hope to have it to you by the end of November if not sooner.
Belated wishes for a happy and hopefully healthy new year for us all,
Lesli
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