Leukemia

PB has not done so well in her blogging for cancer. But, it is never too late to educate her Nuts.
Check out this site, Friends of Heroes to learn more. Also check out this site to learn how you can participate and possibly win a gift.

Leukemia is simply a blood cancer which forms in the bone marrow. When PB was just a little cowpea her symptoms consisted of fatigue, bruising, and other flu-like symptoms. Leukemia occurs when there are an abundant number of white blood cells (leukocytes). These fighter cells then deplete the necessary creation of Red Blood Cells. So, Nuts, too much of a good thing can be dangerous. There are many forms of Leukemia and some are more common than others. PB was affected by Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). PB recalls a story of another cowpea who was diagnosed with ALL when PB was. She inquisitively asked her Momma Nut, "Mommy, why do I have laundry detergent in my blood?" PB's friend was around 6 years of age when she asked this. This is the reality of cancer Nuts. It strikes whomever it wants to and knows no boundaries.

Nuts, pull a carver and check out how you can learn more about Leukemia by checking out the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. PB hopes to use Team in Training to train for a marathon (just as soon as she is healthy enough to start running consistently enough and begin strength training again). This is just one way she is going to give back to an agency which helped save PB's life. See how you Nuts can be smooth and creamy in other Nut's lives.

For the Love of Butter PB gets Philosophical

PB knows her Nut Clusters are wondering where she has been amidst the scandalous rift between Mr. Peanut, Mr. Met, and the Philly Phanatic. Well, some uncontrollable events which occurred when PB was just a 7 year old cowpea have caused some other unfortunate events to occur which in turn caused some others to make decisions about the future of PB and her heart. In other words… PB had been dating a wonderful male Cowpea for almost a year prior to him deciding to break the shell that bound them together! It turns out this Mr. Male Cowpea is having some serious crunch feelings regarding the decisions we have to make as adult Nuts. …Let’s start at the very beginning. When PB was a 7 year old cowpea she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL – and not the laundry detergent Nuts). She received 2 years of chemotherapy but received many many years of amazing adventures at a summer camp just for kids with cancer (so that is the smooth and creamy side). But the story does get sad during her treatment PB unfortunately contracted another disease as a result of the ALL, which she thought she would be able to live with and be just fine. Well, much to PB’s chunky dismay this has not been so. Turns out 2 years ago PB learned she would have to undergo intense! (beyond chunky) treatments which are akin to chemotherapy. Sigh. PB had many sleepless nights agonizing over what the right decision should be and frankly how to come up with the right decision still perplexes PB. Finally, she decided it would be the best thing for herself and her future life expectancy to follow through with the treatments. PB understands her obligations to her fellow Nuts and wants to continue the tour for a very long time. … Fast forward to current day… PB decided to start dating prior to starting treatments… met this Boy Cowpea and things started slowly and she then told him what she would be experiencing and all about her disease. She explained all the risks and side effects. He decided to stick by PB(likw jelly) and offered unending support of her during the beginning and middle stages of treatment. It was not until recently that PB learned he had other feelings which did not lend to wanting to be with PB anymore. Now, what scrapes PB’s shell is that he is getting extremely wrong information and has not been listening to PB. Furthermore, PB recognizes that this has nothing to do with PB but everything to do with this Boy Cowpea and his intense anxious feelings regarding feelings and health. She realized that any time he has been in a relationship for this period of time and the shell gets put in the roaster he cracks and splits off (as if to run away with a cashew- and all us nuts know the cashew is the easy way out in the nut world). PB recognized that he seems to struggle with those innermost feelings that we have for nuts when we coincide in the same shell. So PB asks that you not have crunchy or chunky feelings towards this Boy Cowpea but instead send him smooth and creamy thoughts. Afterall, PB is a lover not a hater and she honestly prays that Boy Cowpea will be able to find peace and see that this is going to be a life long issue unless he faces the fact that relationships are: 1) hard, 2) about the difficult times in life not the smooth and creamy ones, 3) not guaranteed to be smooth sailing, and 4) are not always 50/50. Nuts, life is not guaranteed, nothing is. Everything can change in a split second (there are too many examples and too numerous to mention) and PB honestly feels life is greater in love but it is a risky pursuit but so very worth the extra step to break the proverbial shell. So wish my Boy Cowpea well and pray that he may be able to do some self-examination and reflection that can provide him with growth that will be necessary for him to sustain a meaningful relationship. PB has analyzed and fully understands that he is doing what most men will do when faced with those...dare PB say it...e-m-o-t-i-o-n-s. Remember Nuts always get accurate information from the expert Nuts and always be honest. Talk about things and seek out the experts when you need to. PB would also like to say that even though someone might have an illness, that doesn't change who that person is, especially if you say "I love you". There are no buts in love... keep it on the half shell ya'all. PB would love to hear any words of wisdom and support that all her Nuts have to offer. Also pass out PB's blogs to all your other blogger friends. Next post will consist of some great quotes to get you Nuts through those split shell kind of days (or lives if you are PB).