UPDATE:
Today is November 11, 2022. Hard to believe I stated this page0ver 13 years ago and I have had Graves' Disease 22 years. If you are hear reading all of this you have Graves' Disease or know somebody who does have it. It is not an easy road for any of us. As I stated before it is not curable but it is treatable. We all choose a different pate which ever works for us. My life is a lot easier now. I never thought I would be able to say that. A few things I learned is....I had to accept this. Over the years I kept myself pretty isolated. I went from doing speech's to over 300 people at conventions for the American Legion Auxiliary to not even leaving my home to go shopping. I was depressed all the time. When I got TED it was worse. I ended up getting nine eye surgery's. I hated going out at all as it is but than I slight breeze or bright lights and sunshine kept my indoors. To top it off I hated looking in the mirror at somebody I did not know. I also hated to take pictures. I had panic attacks if did go to the store. Eventually my husband did all the shopping. Finely we came home to our home town which is a small community. One Walmart and one Safeway. I now go to the Dollar Store once in awhile when not busy. In 2019 I got a 501 (c)(3). For my Somebody Cares Project .My husband and I did a lot of volunteer work over the years and I needed to keep busy. I made zip lock gallon bags of food and hygiene items to gave to truck driver's and hitchhikers at the port of entry by our home. Now three years later we have a mobile pantry serving 12 isolated communities in our county. Our goal is to not only feed people but to make them smile and laugh again. I have found it not only helps the people we serve but it has really helped me. I watch programs that make me smile and laugh. I write down a happy thing that made me smile ever day. I think that is the main key . Keep smiling and laughing no matter how hard. We all have a hppy memory or see a pretty flower or butter fly. Maybe watching your kids or grandkids laugh. What ever it is Smile every day. |
ABOUT THE COFFEE BREAK
Groups that are joining the Coffee Break:
blogtalk.com/thyroid-cancer-coffee-break Calamity Sunshine Hour Steve JoEllie's Cancer Care Fund Thynet Wings of Hope Adolescents Thyroid Cancer Coffee Break Camp Makes A Dream Cll Watch and Wait Warriors (Leukemia Survivors) Empower Thyroid Support Ireland Stupid Cancer Thyca Colorado Take your life back Thyroid Eye Support Hashi Group Thyroid And Me Hispanic Coalition A New Dawn Stop the Madness Butterfly Warriors STOP BULLY Crazy Thyroid Lady Suicide Prevention Group Butterfly Hope network Layla Grace's Children GDCB MyTalkRadio mythyroidireland B.A.D. Bullying Aware Delagation Thyroid Association New Zealand Colorado Support Thyroid Group Dear Thyroid I AM TED MedHelp (Thyroid) Let me know if you are in. [email protected] HOW IT ALL STARTED A bit more information on how this all started. One day I was just sick and tired of being sick and tired. I mentioned this to a few friends with Graves' Disease on the internet. I told them I was just going to kick my Graves' Disease to the corner and take a "Coffee Break" a couple of them said they wish they could join me. I wish they could to. But, one was in another state, one in Ireland and one in Australia. So, I said let's just all take a "Coffee Break next Saturday 10:00 Am in our own time. Others were reading our post and asked to join us. So, we did it then more people said they wish they could have joined us. So with in two weeks we had another. And so we grow. This was not a planned thing I did. But, as it turned out a wonderful thing and maybe the reason I have Graves' Disease. So I could connect with all you wonderful people I might not havae other wise. Thank you Claire, Deb, Mary ,Kelly, Pat, Irene, Nancy, Marty and Nikki for being at the first. With out you it would not have happen. This website is for Graves' Disease patients, family and friends to unite in a Coffee Break for Graves' Disease. On Saturday August 22,2009, 127 people united for a "Coffee Break" at 10:00 am their time. The next Saturday more people joined the coffee break. The first coffee break for Graves' Disease had people from 13 states in the United States of America. People in Ireland, Australia, Canada and England also joined the coffee break. All this happened in a two week period. So many have asked about the Graves' Disease Coffee Break, I have decided to start this website to share what people all over the world think about the coffee break. Please send us your pictures and stories about your coffee break for Graves' Disease. I will put them here to share. I truly believe this is a positive thing for those of us with Graves' Disease. People who are alone have thanked me for starting the coffee break. They no longer feel alone because they know people all over the world are having coffee with them. Most of the people on this coffee break do have Graves' Disease, Thyroid Eye Disease or some other form of thyroid disease. There have also been family, friends, doctors and nurses that have joined the coffee break to give their support. To join this coffee break you do NOT have to bike, run or even walk. Just sit and relax and enjoy a coffee break with us. How easy can that be. We all need a coffee break now and then. You can be alone with your coffee or invite someone to join you. Call someone , don't sit there alone. Write something on the forum and stay here with us if you like. Please send emails to [email protected] *************************************************** MORE INFORMATION 1/16/20012 Some of you have asked about the random dates we have for a GD Coffee Break. So here is your answer. As you know our first GD Coffee Break was in August. So, August 16 we will be having a BIG GD Coffee Break. And Continue to have one on August 16 of every year. Why August 16? Well, since I started the GD Coffee Break in August and my husbands birthday is on August 16, I picked that day. He has been my biggest supporter and given me the encouragement to help others understand what it is like. When ever I want to give up he tells me "Just take a break." Even when he got cancer and we almost lost him, he would not let me give up. Thank God , he has been cancer free for two years now. So in his honor I picked August 16. We can have a GD Coffee Break when ever we want to. It is just nice to know when others are having one on a certain Day. Many of you just email me and ask me to have a GD Coffee Break with you. Just that small connection seems to help. Just knowing somebody somewhere is having a GD Coffee Break with you because they know you need it. I have never met (in person) anybody from Dear Thyroid or My Thyroid Ireland. But I have had a GD Coffee Break with Dear Thyroid and now in March I will have one with My Thyroid Ireland. If you want one on a certain day let me know. I will tell everybody to have a GD Coffee Break with you. We are not alone in this fight. Come on have a GD Coffee Break. You name the day and time and I will join you for a break that day........Well in Spirit any way,lol. Time for my GD Coffee Break....Join me???? ***************************************************************************** March 5, 2010 Denver is having their Coffee Break Co-Thyvent at Morse Park 10am-4pm, 8180 W. 20th Ave, Lakewood, C UPDATE FEBRUARY 1, 2010 Event................................Coffee Break Co-Thyvent March 20, 2010 there will be our second "Coffee Break". We are teaming up with "Dear Thyroid" Co-Thyvent" |
Remember January is Thyroid Awareness month.
My Thyroid Support Ireland is having a GD Coffee Break March 17. Please join us. Read more about it in my blog for 1-6-2012. Please let us know what you will be doing for the GD Coffee Break. Also any toast you may have for us to share.
I will be updating links soon. Stay tuned and visit often. You never know what you will find here.
Remember I am not a doctor and will not answer medical questions. I will tell you what I have learned over the years with my Graves' Disease and Thyroid Eye Disease. I will try to find out where you can get the answers you need. There is enough info out there for you. I am here to give you a GD Coffee Break and maybe make you smile or say..."Hummmm I thought I was the only one."
Hay how about that new Flag counter. I love it. But, had to start from 0. We lost the count at 1888. Not to shabby.
January is THYROID AWARENESS MONTH
Start the new year right and get in the habit of checking your thyroid.
Did you know there is a Thyroid Awareness Campaign going on. New paisley blue ribbons. Both men and women can relate to. Go to www.ThyroidAwareness.com For more information. Check that neck.
UPDATE
UPDATE: We lost the count at 512 from January 6, 2012 to January 24,2012 with 11 Flags. Starting all over
I will be updating this site as I come across things I think might be of interest to you. If you find something that you think we may find interesting, please email me and let me know. We all surf the net for information about the thyroid, Graves' Disease or TED. I would like this place to be a nice comfortable place to come and relax. There will be serious information here and there will be things just to make you smile. I think it is very important to smile and laugh. Some of us find that smiling and laughing is far to few. We can NOT let this disease rule our life. We only get one life to live. We may not be happy with what we are getting from it right now. That is not reason for us to give up and just let this disease control us. I am taking my life back and I am going to enjoy a nice peaceful cup of coffee and my Graves' Disease can just sit in the corner till I feel like acknowledging it is still there. Graves' Disease can just wait while I finish my coffee.
UPDATE: AUGUST 16, 2016....This is our 7th year to take a Coffee Break. Let's make this a big one
7 years ago I started the Grave's Disease Coffee Break. You can read how this all started. Read about the different ways people have done the GDCB. The original group is still in contact. Claire..from Ireland (who has since become my God Daughter) Debbie from Australia...who gave me so much info when I 1st got GD. Martha from England...who owe's me a pint. Wilma in New York....also known as Calamity Sunshine on the internet radio show we did together. And I can not forget Mad Mary in Wyoming...who has been with me through thick and thin. There are more of you and I do not forget you in my prayer's. Most are not on FB but on other social networks. Her's to you my sister's and brother's. Tomorrow we kick our Thyroid Disease to the curb once again.
I will be updating this site as I come across things I think might be of interest to you. If you find something that you think we may find interesting, please email me and let me know. We all surf the net for information about the thyroid, Graves' Disease or TED. I would like this place to be a nice comfortable place to come and relax. There will be serious information here and there will be things just to make you smile. I think it is very important to smile and laugh. Some of us find that smiling and laughing is far to few. We can NOT let this disease rule our life. We only get one life to live. We may not be happy with what we are getting from it right now. That is not reason for us to give up and just let this disease control us. I am taking my life back and I am going to enjoy a nice peaceful cup of coffee and my Graves' Disease can just sit in the corner till I feel like acknowledging it is still there. Graves' Disease can just wait while I finish my coffee.
UPDATE: AUGUST 16, 2016....This is our 7th year to take a Coffee Break. Let's make this a big one
7 years ago I started the Grave's Disease Coffee Break. You can read how this all started. Read about the different ways people have done the GDCB. The original group is still in contact. Claire..from Ireland (who has since become my God Daughter) Debbie from Australia...who gave me so much info when I 1st got GD. Martha from England...who owe's me a pint. Wilma in New York....also known as Calamity Sunshine on the internet radio show we did together. And I can not forget Mad Mary in Wyoming...who has been with me through thick and thin. There are more of you and I do not forget you in my prayer's. Most are not on FB but on other social networks. Her's to you my sister's and brother's. Tomorrow we kick our Thyroid Disease to the curb once again.