Author Archives: Natural Mama Notes

About Natural Mama Notes

4.4.2020 I started this blog in September 2014. It was a 38th birthday gift to myself, a fulfillment of a long-held wish to share my perspective on the world. After a breast cancer diagnosis in June 2017, I used my blog to share details of the alternate reality I was experiencing. In September 2017 I used this space to share the trauma and healing of my son, who was diagnosed with PANDAS in May of that year. PANDAS is when a strep infection triggers neuropsychiatric disorders. I completed cancer treatment in December 2018, and haven’t written much since. I felt the need to withdraw as part of my healing process. I deactivated my Facebook account, barely viewed other social media. I’m still hesitant about stepping back out there, but I’m feeling the pull. We’re in a global crisis, and the news is dire. If I can add some levity or a more positive perspective with my writing, that is my hope right now. May you find the gems amongst the rubble.

Some Days are for Grieving 5.11.2020

Posted on May 12, 2020 by Natural Mama Notes

Yesterday was Mother’s Day. A strange Mother’s Day for sure, but a day of celebration, nonetheless. A day to look forward to in a sea of non-celebratory days. Today is today. Today is NOT Mother’s Day. There will be no … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, chemo, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Experiences, Healing, Personal Growth, Reflections, Release | Tagged breast cancer, chemotherapy, COVID19, grief, Healing, Process | Leave a comment

FRIENDS

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Natural Mama Notes

Time: aching. precious.Why this deep sadness?There, at the edges. Some days it creeps in. ‘So much to do, so little time.’‘No time like the present.’‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead.’ This body craves rest. With rest comes darkness.To sadness, a loyal … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, Energy, Experiences, Healing, Overcoming Challenges, Poem, Release, Time, Wellness | Tagged dancing, Grand Canyon, Healing, Poem, Reflections, rest, sadness, Thanksgiving 2018, Time, travel | Leave a comment

Recalibration.

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Natural Mama Notes

July 27, 28, 29, 2018. For me, the last weekend in July has become a beacon. It holds as much importance (maybe more) in the marking of time as the January 1stholiday that’s celebrated worldwide. No matter where the last … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Experiences, Friendships, gratitude, Healing, Health, magic, Music, Newport Folk Festival, Overcoming Challenges, Personal Growth, Reflections | Tagged challenges, change, friendship, gratitude, health, humanity, kindness, love, magic, Peace, power, present, unity, vibrational healing | 1 Comment

Bald Woman Rising

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Natural Mama Notes

The year is 2018. We Americans live in a country divided, our news feeds filled with stories of people judging others based on external factors and taking action against them for it. As I endured the chemotherapy treatments that in … Continue reading →

Posted in Bald, cancer, chemo, Energy, Experiences, Healing, Radiation, Reflections | Tagged baldlife, breast cancer, cancer, energy, health, humanity, kindness, Radiation, Reflections, warrior, wisdom | 2 Comments

RELEASE.

Posted on May 4, 2018 by Natural Mama Notes

This weekend marks an anniversary for our family. One year ago, my son Dylan’s PANDAS symptoms were at their most acute. It was a horrifying weekend in terms of his illness. Although Dylan had received an anxiety and OCD diagnosis … Continue reading →

Posted in Autoimmune illness, cancer, Energy, Family, gratitude, Healing, Health, Motherhood, Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Overcoming Challenges, PANDAS, PANDAS illness, Parenting, Personal Growth, Radiation, Reflections, Release, Strep Virus, Wellness | Tagged anniversary, breast cancer, cancer, challenges, Costa Rica, Family, health, love, mental health, motherhood, PANDAS, PANDAS awareness, PANDAS illness, Reflections, understanding | 3 Comments

On the Threshold of Spring

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Natural Mama Notes

“How are you feeling?” I’ve come to hate that question. When I know it’s coming, I brace myself for it. I run through potential answers in my head, tossing some aside, tweaking others until I settle upon a response. Like … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, chemo, Daily Life, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Energy, Experiences, Family, gratitude, Healing, Health, Overcoming Challenges, Personal Growth, Retreat, Spring, Time, Wellness | Tagged breast cancer, cancer, challenges, chemotherapy, Family, health, healthcoachCleary, illness, journey, Loss, Spring | 3 Comments

Ode to Mon Cher Philippe 6/4/1951-2/5/2018

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Natural Mama Notes

This tribute was written in the days immediately following the passing of my husband’s stepfather Phil, after a brave battle with cancer. Phil received his cancer diagnosis on the same day I started this current round of chemotherapy, 1/2/18. It was … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, Family, gratitude, In Memoriam, Life Passages, Loss, Reflections | Tagged cancer, challenges, chemotherapy, cruise, Family, grandchildren, grandfather, Loss, memorial, memories, New England, Norwegian Breakaway, Peace, Philip Maggio, Super Bowl | Leave a comment

Disco Balls & Diana Ross: A “Coming Out” Party

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Natural Mama Notes

When we think of a cancer patient, the image of a bald head inevitably is part of that picture. For cancer patients ourselves, hair loss is a reality we must face. Even if we choose to embrace the hair loss … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, chemo, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Energy, Experiences, Friendships, gratitude, Healing, Health, Life Passages, Music, Overcoming Challenges, Personal Growth, Release, weird | Tagged breast cancer, cancer, cancer patient, challenges, Deer Tick, Diana Ross, disco balls, don't fight the Powers, friendship, fun, hair loss, HER2+ breast cancer, party, patient, platinum, rock star hair | 5 Comments

Gratitude

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Natural Mama Notes

Things I am grateful for today: Our health insurance. The Dana Farber Cancer Institute doctors, staff, volunteers and donors. That my illness is universally recognized to exist, and there’s a variety of treatment plans with proven success rates, and my … Continue reading →

Posted in Autoimmune illness, cancer, chemo, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Energy, gratitude, Healing, Health, PANDAS, PANDAS illness, Personal Growth, Release, Retreat, Steroids | Tagged Autoimmune illness, being in process, breast cancer, butterfly, cancer, chemotherapy, cocoon, Family, gratitude, health, insurance, rest | Leave a comment

Trench Vibe

Posted on January 16, 2018 by Natural Mama Notes

winter winds whip on the front lines of all things health + wealth + being + nothingness + that which lies within mindfulness on steroids, escaping deeply alert and ever watchful, losing sleep focused when it’s called for: track, weigh, … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, chemo, Daily Life, Energy, Experiences, gratitude, Healing, magic, Motherhood, PANDAS, PANDAS illness, Parenting, Personal Growth, Poem, Release, Retreat, Steroids, Wellness | Tagged cancer, Family, home, love, motherhood, PANDAS illness, poetry, team, winter | 4 Comments

Author Archives: Natural Mama Notes

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