Jerome, Lauren, Caryn, Peter
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Pictures
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
CT scan this morning at GH
I'll have a phone meeting with Dr. Feldman to evaluate the combined results of the new labs, MRI and CT Scan next Wednesday. We don't expect this to change the surgical path for Dr. Pommier. As he said, "I'm doing my own scan, the Pommier scan". He will be able to see in person in surgery much of what we cannot see with scans. However we need to look at baselines in other areas that the surgery will not affect. We are looking at the bone metastases in the left iliac crest (hip), the pulmonary nodule and checking the heart and lungs. Dr. Pommier will take care of the primary next Thursday and opinion says all other tumors grow slower when the primary has been removed. Still no formal evidence of that or much else with these P-NET's because there has not been large clinical trails and studies. I'm still just going with my gut after doing as much research as I can. No definitive answer on the right approach.
Dr. Feldman did think it was likely that that the MRI was wrong about the liver tumors growing. It could easily have been scar tissue or different tumors that appear in a different place because of the liver regenerating since surgery.
It took 6 attempts to put in the IV this morning and was very uncomfortable. I was dehydrated due to instructions for the CT scan. The flavored milkshake I had to drink and the IV contrasting material that went in also made me feel sick. I was close to fainting and throwing up but managed not to do either. I did have extreme diarrhea and felt fatigued and sad. As I eat and sleep this will pass. When I feel physically bad sometimes it is hard to keep an upbeat, positive mind set. I'm already back to doing better. If I go read my prayer book I'll feel better. I'm heading out to look for a costume for Kimani - that ought to cheer me up!
Dr. Feldman did think it was likely that that the MRI was wrong about the liver tumors growing. It could easily have been scar tissue or different tumors that appear in a different place because of the liver regenerating since surgery.
It took 6 attempts to put in the IV this morning and was very uncomfortable. I was dehydrated due to instructions for the CT scan. The flavored milkshake I had to drink and the IV contrasting material that went in also made me feel sick. I was close to fainting and throwing up but managed not to do either. I did have extreme diarrhea and felt fatigued and sad. As I eat and sleep this will pass. When I feel physically bad sometimes it is hard to keep an upbeat, positive mind set. I'm already back to doing better. If I go read my prayer book I'll feel better. I'm heading out to look for a costume for Kimani - that ought to cheer me up!
Sunday, October 27, 2013
MRI resulted 10/24/13
New lab and MRI results from Group Health have been sent to Dr. Back at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) and to Dr. Pommier the surgeon from Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU). Some of the labs are highly elevated above normal. The MRI showed some growth in tumors left behind in the liver. I'm not sure how to interpret the labs and tumor growth at this point. I will need to have the results interpreted for me by Dr. Feldman, Dr. Back and Dr. Pommier.
I met with Dr. Back last week prior to the results. He thought I was doing well given that the liver surgery recovery is much longer than I had anticipated, taking most people a year to fully recover and the for the liver to fully regenerate. When I do too much I still feel pain, discomfort and soreness. I have symptoms of the tumors and side effects of the drug, Octreotide given every 28 days in the form of a muscular injection that is quite painful itself. I felt these symptoms and side effects were worsening in the last 2 months which is partially why I asked for additional labs and an MRI. My wonderful general practitioner - family doctor, Dr. Shaul, ordered them for me. He also consoled me by telling me he too would be worried in my situation. I felt so better with his listening and discussing every aspect of my fears with me. It worried me that I had not had any scans since March 2013. Usually I would have some type of imaging or scans every 6 months. After the second surgery coming up on November 8th, I will have a concrete plan with a baseline for measuring, that will list frequency and types of scans and labs. There will be an Octreotide scan annually at least and a CT Scan 6 months after that probably with labs every 3 months. Two Saturdays back I went to the P-NET support group which meets quarterly. This was only my second meeting but I learned several new things including the plan I listed above that most people are on for scans and labs. What Dr. Back observed was that my feeling worse coincided with my increased work load at CDSA. For 2 months after the June 28th liver and gall bladder surgery I didn't work much at all. In September I began increasing my work load as we prepared for the ED search and hiring process. Through out September and October I worked in excess of the 8 hours allowed by disability and called the rest volunteering. Unfortunately, the stress of it took a toll on my diet and exercise, yoga and meditation schedule for well being. I pretty much stopped my plan to get ready for the November 8th surgery, all together. For the remaining almost 2 weeks I should be able to eat more veggies and fruit, drink more water and get more exercise, as my work load at CDSA drops back off. With the new ED selected I have focused on some orientation and training time.
Dr. Back gently reminded me that at the end of August he reiterated that I should not be working. He also said I still have had an excellent recovery from the liver surgery and that he feels very good about my being in good shape for the next one overall. Due in part to being both told to eat anything I wanted from the doctors and not exercising I have gained 10 pounds in the last 5 months. The good news is that I won't have to worry if I loose weight during and after this surgery which is expected. This next surgery is to remove several parts of the pancreas. The primary cancer, causing metastases to the liver, bones, thyroid and possibly other places, was found to be located in the tip of the tail of the pancreas during the last surgery. Removal of the primary increases the survival rate. I recently also found out that I may not need to have the thyroid out. Another biopsy will be needed to determine that and they will try to do it while I'm under anesthesia during surgery. The left iliac crest (hip area) where the bone metastases is continues to have increased pain.
On Monday I have an appointment with Dr. Feldman who has returned to Group Health Oncology following a leave for 3 months due to his wife dying of Ovarian cancer. He will be able to give his opinion on the MRI and labs. Later in the week I will try to get an opinion from SCCA and OHSU doctors.
I met with Dr. Back last week prior to the results. He thought I was doing well given that the liver surgery recovery is much longer than I had anticipated, taking most people a year to fully recover and the for the liver to fully regenerate. When I do too much I still feel pain, discomfort and soreness. I have symptoms of the tumors and side effects of the drug, Octreotide given every 28 days in the form of a muscular injection that is quite painful itself. I felt these symptoms and side effects were worsening in the last 2 months which is partially why I asked for additional labs and an MRI. My wonderful general practitioner - family doctor, Dr. Shaul, ordered them for me. He also consoled me by telling me he too would be worried in my situation. I felt so better with his listening and discussing every aspect of my fears with me. It worried me that I had not had any scans since March 2013. Usually I would have some type of imaging or scans every 6 months. After the second surgery coming up on November 8th, I will have a concrete plan with a baseline for measuring, that will list frequency and types of scans and labs. There will be an Octreotide scan annually at least and a CT Scan 6 months after that probably with labs every 3 months. Two Saturdays back I went to the P-NET support group which meets quarterly. This was only my second meeting but I learned several new things including the plan I listed above that most people are on for scans and labs. What Dr. Back observed was that my feeling worse coincided with my increased work load at CDSA. For 2 months after the June 28th liver and gall bladder surgery I didn't work much at all. In September I began increasing my work load as we prepared for the ED search and hiring process. Through out September and October I worked in excess of the 8 hours allowed by disability and called the rest volunteering. Unfortunately, the stress of it took a toll on my diet and exercise, yoga and meditation schedule for well being. I pretty much stopped my plan to get ready for the November 8th surgery, all together. For the remaining almost 2 weeks I should be able to eat more veggies and fruit, drink more water and get more exercise, as my work load at CDSA drops back off. With the new ED selected I have focused on some orientation and training time.
Dr. Back gently reminded me that at the end of August he reiterated that I should not be working. He also said I still have had an excellent recovery from the liver surgery and that he feels very good about my being in good shape for the next one overall. Due in part to being both told to eat anything I wanted from the doctors and not exercising I have gained 10 pounds in the last 5 months. The good news is that I won't have to worry if I loose weight during and after this surgery which is expected. This next surgery is to remove several parts of the pancreas. The primary cancer, causing metastases to the liver, bones, thyroid and possibly other places, was found to be located in the tip of the tail of the pancreas during the last surgery. Removal of the primary increases the survival rate. I recently also found out that I may not need to have the thyroid out. Another biopsy will be needed to determine that and they will try to do it while I'm under anesthesia during surgery. The left iliac crest (hip area) where the bone metastases is continues to have increased pain.
On Monday I have an appointment with Dr. Feldman who has returned to Group Health Oncology following a leave for 3 months due to his wife dying of Ovarian cancer. He will be able to give his opinion on the MRI and labs. Later in the week I will try to get an opinion from SCCA and OHSU doctors.
Retirement party - the best
On Friday October 25th I had the most amazing time at the retirement party planned and executed by the staff and board at CDSA. Jazz music from the Peter Jamero Project, greeted me upon arrival as did 100 or so guests. The venue was beautiful, the food was great, we played a wonderful CDSA video in which I looked so young. :-) I guess it was only about 7 years ago that we produced the video but it was great fun to see it again after all these years. The facilitator Mari, from School's Out Washington, did a great job and spoke from the heart all evening. All the speakers were entertaining and gave heartfelt thanks to me and kudos to CDSA for being a great agency. Many staff and former and current board members were present along with funders and community partners. My family and friends were there and one of my oldest friends from the Nisqually tribe presented me with a Pendleton blanket, a Native tradition. Nick our board president announced the formation of a, Caryn Swan Jamero scholarship, of which my grandson Kimani will be the first recipient. He attends a CDSA program now and will be 4 in March. I was presented with many other gifts and honors from staff, friends, family and well wishers. The many people who came forward to publically praise and honor me really touched my heart. We introduced Brianna as the next Executive Director of CDSA and she was able to share a few thoughts and warm wishes. Maile, the senior executive assistant and board liaison, over the last year and half, coordinated the party and made it all happen in a way that looked and felt effortless. I know Rhonda our fabulous HR Director and Lindsey with our Development department helped make it the wonderful event that is was too. As I said in my 'thank you' email to staff and board earlier today; I now count that evening as one of the highlights of my life. I will cherish the memory of that night for the rest of life. It ranks right up there with sailing up the inside passage to Alaska, the birth of my children, my wedding and other momentous occasions.
When times are tough or I am down in my journey to wellness, I will remember the love and appreciation that was given to me by so many that evening. It is funny that I wrote a speech to give at the end of the evening and then decided at the last minute to just wing it and speak from my heart. Many told me it was inspiring and touched them, a few said it was the best talk they had heard. I think my husband taped it for me to see later. Below is the talk I didn't give but I think it captures some of the essence of how I was feeling anyway. The punctuation and spacing is not correct because it was notes to talk by and wasn't gong to be published like this but I think I'll just leave it "as is" since I don't have time right now to edit it. :-)
I am leaving in a few minutes to clean out my CDSA office on a Sunday when no one will be there. I am doing it happily now with out any tears. It was good that I waited as just a week ago I felt more sad and now feel filled with joy and feel very appreciated and recognized for the work I've done.
Thank you again everyone for such a remarkable send off.
When times are tough or I am down in my journey to wellness, I will remember the love and appreciation that was given to me by so many that evening. It is funny that I wrote a speech to give at the end of the evening and then decided at the last minute to just wing it and speak from my heart. Many told me it was inspiring and touched them, a few said it was the best talk they had heard. I think my husband taped it for me to see later. Below is the talk I didn't give but I think it captures some of the essence of how I was feeling anyway. The punctuation and spacing is not correct because it was notes to talk by and wasn't gong to be published like this but I think I'll just leave it "as is" since I don't have time right now to edit it. :-)
Thank you everyone
for these kind words of appreciation. It has been my honor and my life’s work
over these last 21 years to serve the children and families of our community by
helping CDSA expand and thrive as an agency. I am very blessed, with the knowledge
that I made a difference in the lives of many. I can say I was never bored and
that I stayed challenged to do my best right up to the end. I always believed intensely in our mission
and vision, in the action we were taking and the work we were doing. We can
help all children be more successful and happy from birth into young adulthood.
We can end the achievement gap and cycles of poverty that hurt young children.
I grew to understand the importance of
overcoming obstacles, problem solving and enabling the dreams of others. I worked with many extraordinary and brilliant
teachers, CDSA staff, community partners, field builders, and advocates. I was
always learning and growing right along with everyone else as was CDSA as an
agency. We have a 'growth mindset' that means we are driven to always improve our
work and be more effective. That’s why we enthusiastically embraced using data
for continuous quality improvement. We
have believed in staying informed of new research, taking risks and striving to
implement best practices. We have had partners and funders who made a lot of
our excellent work possible over the last 2 decades.
I know I can’t name
them all – there are so many; UWKC, Gates
Foundation, City of Seattle, OFE: Office for Education, DSHS, Seattle Public
Schools, OSPI; Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Seattle
Foundation, the Federal Food program, Medina Foundation, NW Children’s Fund; these
and countless others helped us
continually move to higher and higher quality programs and give out
more scholarships. Thank you to all my colleagues at SOWA, YDEKC, SEAT, SPS Learning
Partners Group, Roadmap Project and the many other CBO’s we partnered with.
I’m proud of the
work of many people at CDSA and of my own contributions to its success. We are
all so different and each of us have beautiful talents and unique
contributions. It is important to take the time to observe ourselves and
reflect upon what our unique contributions to this life and world are and can
be. Are we using our talents? Are we fulfilling our destinies? As I leave I
have a full heart knowing I gave my all for many years at CDSA. This ED job was
a great fit for my unique talents and I was able to flourish and be in my
element of discernment, observation, giving and loving.
A year ago when I
was diagnosed with cancer I began spending more time being in gratitude for all
the opportunities I’ve been given in this life time. What is important ?? and What
matters most in life???; Who am I and what do I uniquely offer the world?? Ask
yourself these questions.
These questions
reaffirm my long held belief that life is good and all about loving ourselves
and others. We are all enough just as we are. I can remember many times when I
let wisdom about what to do flow through me. I let my heart and compassion help
me to lead the agency. We all have inner wisdom. Although these are some of the
last moments of this chapter of my life and this career with CDSA , I realize I’m
saying good bye to my “work family” but I’m not saying good bye to my belief
about living from a positive place and seizing every moment. I will be letting
goodness flow through me to others, showing compassion, listening, understanding,
exhibiting my love for life, living in honesty, integrity and gratitude for all
that I have – no matter what I’m doing. I plan on playing with grandchildren,
visiting with family and friends and traveling to warm climates near and far. I plan on
continuing to be joyful, enthusiastic and happy.
It will be
fascinating to see where and how all the endless opportunities before me
unfold. Having an illness like I do really is a blessing in that it is easier
to live every day in a state of gratitude not knowing exactly how many more
days, months or years you have. But none of us really know what’s going to
happen in the mystery of life and if we all lived this way all the time we
might make some different choices. I am
glad I made the choice to fully express my unique self at CDSA for all these
years and to work as hard as I did because it made a difference.
And because I worked so much I owe a really
special thanks to my family and close friends many of whom are here tonight and
my husband Peter Jamero; while they consistently encouraged me to work less;
they also supported me in this passion of mine in countless ways.
Thank you to the Peter Jamero Project band for
playing tonight, to our speakers, to Mari for facilitating, and for my special
executive assistant and board liaison, Maile Kaneko, for organizing this event
and to Brianna and the board for leading CDSA into the next era. Another special thank you must go to Rhonda Withrow, our gifted HR Director, who has held my hand for the last year since my diagnosis. She has helped me in countless ways to understand my many options, to get short and long term and social security disability and finally to make the big decision to retire. I really don't know what I would have done without her. She navigated the hiring of the new ED and is leading the agency through other transitions that my leaving causes like the hiring of Brianna's replacement. Thank you form the bottom of my heart.
I’ve been reading a
great book with lots of quotes in it and ran across this one by George Sand, a French female writer in the 1800's,
just this morning:
“One is happy as a result of one’s own
efforts, once one knows the ingredients of happiness ----- simple tastes, a
certain degree of courage, self-denial to a point, love of work, and above all
else a clear conscience. Happiness is not a vague dream, of that I now feel
certain. “
I leave you with a clear conscious that I have done all I could, as well as I could do it and have loved it. I needed courage in many episodes at CDSA and I often put my own needs behind those of the agency. This job has brought me much happiness. Thank you one and all
for contributing to that happiness, as I sail into my next big adventures whatever
and wherever they may be.
I am leaving in a few minutes to clean out my CDSA office on a Sunday when no one will be there. I am doing it happily now with out any tears. It was good that I waited as just a week ago I felt more sad and now feel filled with joy and feel very appreciated and recognized for the work I've done.
Thank you again everyone for such a remarkable send off.
Granddaughter Paityn Lynn born 10/18/13
Thursday the 17th at 10 pm I got a call from Jessica that she and her husband Q were on the way to the Hospital in Seattle and that she was in labor. I first asked she how she was doing with contractions, how far apart were they and how far from Federal Way to Seattle's Capital Hill neighborhood were they. They were half way there and contractions were coming pretty regularly at 4 minutes apart. I let her know I'd leave home immediately and meet them at the hospital. Even before I told her I loved her and hung up the phone I realized that it was unlikely the baby would be born in 2 hours and that most likely the birth date would be October 18th, my sister Cindi's birthday.
Cindi was killed in a car accident over 20 years ago when a drunk driver hit her head on. She was an excellent educator like so many in our family and had been returning home from giving a presentation. My daughter Jessica has always reminded me of my only sister who was 2 years older than me. We were very close for most of my life leading up to her death. The loss of Cindi at such a young age was devastating to our family. We have our memories of her and I have been pleased to see over the years that Jessica's facial expressions, cheek bones, disposition and body language often make me think of and remember my sister. A fun twist of fate occurred when Jessica had Paityn on Cindi's birthday. My dad, Ed, is into genealogy and has been tracking the maternal side of the family. I did the DNA cheek swab years ago so we have that data as well. For several generations back there has been 1 daughter that has 1 daughter keeping the matriarchal blood line going in our family. Grandma VanBuskirk was the only girl (Carl was her brother, cousins Ken and Bill's dad), she had 2 daughters but my beloved auntie who died this last year had no children. My mom had 2 daughters but my sister died before she had any children. I had one daughter Jessica who now has had a daughter Paityn. Years ago my mom and I told Jessica she needed to have a girl to carry on this line of women in the family. She said she would do her best and then we said, well in addition to having a girl, do you think you could have her on Cindi's birthday? Unbelievable - what are the chances of Paityn being born on Cindi's birthday?
Low and behold another miracle has come into my life. As you remember from previous posts, in June of this year I got to deliver my first granddaughter, Ayana, at my son Thaddeus and daughter-in-law Lindsey's home, in an unexpected early labor. It was a beautiful gift and I shall always cherish that experience. Both granddaughters (and great granddaughters) are so beautiful and mom and I really appreciate Jessica's gift to us! :-)
Baby Paityn and mom and dad are doing well. She was 7 pounds 8 ounces at birth and 20 inches long. She had a full head of straight black hair. Jessica's hair was straight at birth too and later became the beautiful curly hair she has now. Q's mom was also in the birth room and our little team of 3; both moms and Q, helped Jessica in the delivery. She was so strong in the labor and did so well. The look of love on their faces when they saw and held Paityn for the first time was beautiful. It seemed like they were surrounded by the light of love. I have some great pictures that I will somehow figure out how to post on the blog soon. Paityn is a good eater. Her daddy is already an excellent diaper changer. I love holding Paityn and can just feel how good it is for my health. I loved seeing my mom hold Paityn in the hospital too. I will continue to count my blessings everyday and to recognize the miracle of life, birth, love and family.
Cindi was killed in a car accident over 20 years ago when a drunk driver hit her head on. She was an excellent educator like so many in our family and had been returning home from giving a presentation. My daughter Jessica has always reminded me of my only sister who was 2 years older than me. We were very close for most of my life leading up to her death. The loss of Cindi at such a young age was devastating to our family. We have our memories of her and I have been pleased to see over the years that Jessica's facial expressions, cheek bones, disposition and body language often make me think of and remember my sister. A fun twist of fate occurred when Jessica had Paityn on Cindi's birthday. My dad, Ed, is into genealogy and has been tracking the maternal side of the family. I did the DNA cheek swab years ago so we have that data as well. For several generations back there has been 1 daughter that has 1 daughter keeping the matriarchal blood line going in our family. Grandma VanBuskirk was the only girl (Carl was her brother, cousins Ken and Bill's dad), she had 2 daughters but my beloved auntie who died this last year had no children. My mom had 2 daughters but my sister died before she had any children. I had one daughter Jessica who now has had a daughter Paityn. Years ago my mom and I told Jessica she needed to have a girl to carry on this line of women in the family. She said she would do her best and then we said, well in addition to having a girl, do you think you could have her on Cindi's birthday? Unbelievable - what are the chances of Paityn being born on Cindi's birthday?
Low and behold another miracle has come into my life. As you remember from previous posts, in June of this year I got to deliver my first granddaughter, Ayana, at my son Thaddeus and daughter-in-law Lindsey's home, in an unexpected early labor. It was a beautiful gift and I shall always cherish that experience. Both granddaughters (and great granddaughters) are so beautiful and mom and I really appreciate Jessica's gift to us! :-)
Baby Paityn and mom and dad are doing well. She was 7 pounds 8 ounces at birth and 20 inches long. She had a full head of straight black hair. Jessica's hair was straight at birth too and later became the beautiful curly hair she has now. Q's mom was also in the birth room and our little team of 3; both moms and Q, helped Jessica in the delivery. She was so strong in the labor and did so well. The look of love on their faces when they saw and held Paityn for the first time was beautiful. It seemed like they were surrounded by the light of love. I have some great pictures that I will somehow figure out how to post on the blog soon. Paityn is a good eater. Her daddy is already an excellent diaper changer. I love holding Paityn and can just feel how good it is for my health. I loved seeing my mom hold Paityn in the hospital too. I will continue to count my blessings everyday and to recognize the miracle of life, birth, love and family.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Prayers, quotes & Affirmations
Hi everyone,
A prayer was answered last week when the thyroid specialist told me that the new ultrasound of the thyroid nodules showed they were only 4 centimeters. The Group Health ultrasound previously showed them at 8 centimeters. It is likely that Octreotide shrunk or suffocated the tumors and that now we will not need surgery on or the removal of the thyroid. More baseline measurements to come following the next surgery.
I found a book published in 2009 in an old used bookstore in Sidney BC a few weeks ago while Peter was at a boating supply store. :-) The book is 636 pages and I've only read about 150 pages of it, but there are so many parts that I love I may need to limit myself for each blog entry moving forward. The author describes both real and aspirational thoughts I have about my life in this era of transition.
Prayers to the Creator: Prayers and Declarations for a Meaningful Life, by Julia Cameron the author of, The Artists Way, (which I read years ago) is an amazing book. It has 4 sections; Heart Steps, Blessings, Transitions & Answered Prayers. I turned immediately to the transitions section and found many writings that resonated with me. In this section I found prayers and declarations for a changing life, like mine right now. The author encourages the reader to read the quote presented and then write a prayer or affirmation about your own life relating to the quote. She also writes a page or 2 about her thoughts on the given quote or prayer with an affirmation to follow. Below I share some of the book with you.
"Where ever you are is the entry point". - Kabir
I stand at the doorway. I am entering the door to my new life. I am becoming a grandmother, a friend of the agency I grew as it graduates onto the next chapter of it's life, like a child graduating from college, getting married and starting a family of their own. I love the agency and release it, I let go knowing we will always have a relationship. Rather than experience an empty nest syndrome, I see that my life is moving forward in a blessed way and is lit by friendship, the love of my family members, filled with more being outdoors and with physical movement from walking and swimming to dancing. I pause as I enter the gate of a new time in my life. I take stock of who I am and what I am as myself without my job. I look at who I am as a person creating health for myself with cancer cells in my body. I appreciate now my humor and autonomy, my intellectual curiosity and my adventurous, creative side. I have initiated some fascinating chapters in my life. I sailed up the inside passage to Alaska, I rode my bright red Harley Davidson up the coast on 101 from my birthplace near the Olympic Peninsula to the Redwood forests of California. I was blessed to be awake and alert as I welcomed my 2 wonderful children into the world; one with a one hour labor the other in 3 hours of natural childbirth. They have taught me so much, my children, and been a deep source of joy, energy and love. My adopted son Leo, living in Hawaii, is a daily inspiration to me as well. Watching he and his wife parent their 2 sons is a gift just as seeing my son Thaddeus be an affectionate and fully present father to his 2 children brings such warmth and knowing to my soul. My daughter is ready to give birth any day to her daughter, Paityn, her first. Filling me with examples of hope and integrity my children are blossoming. Over the last 10 years I have had many adventures with my husband Peter. We have had countless boat trips on our little C-Dory boat named C-Dancer. We've seen the Orca whales, motored through the Gulf Islands in Canada and met up with friends throughout the San Juan's. Peter and I met Salsa dancing in Seattle at the Century Ballroom and have many fun memories of dancing and dance classes we've taken. We love walking the water front at Lincoln Park in W. Seattle and taking trips to the Olympic Peninsula and the coast to stay in quaint rooms on the ocean. We've also had great trips to Hawaii on both the big Island and Maui.
I feel strong and open to all the possibilities as I step toward my new opportunities. I'm ready for the next surgery and for life after that recovery. The very gifts that served me in the past, at work at CDSA and in my life in general, serve me now. I walk ahead with confidence, and conviction in my own competence.
My spirit understands adversity as opportunity. I will work to see the good in all things. I am confident that spirit and love are always present in my life. I am never abandoned or unloved. As I look toward the next surgery on November 8th, and when I encounter difficult symptoms either from the cancer itself or as side effects of the treatment, if I doubt the good that is unfolding, I remind myself that there is a higher plan in motion with which I can align myself and consciously cooperate. "What you resist persists" is a quote I heard somewhere. Going with the natural flow of life, healing and the universe is something I can remember to do, when I feel myself resisting change.
From the book referenced above:
"As I face resistance to change, as I choose to align myself with events as they are unfolding, I find in my acceptance a sense of tranquility, a promise of safety. Change embraces me as I myself embrace change. Today, I surrender my resistance to my hidden yet greater good. I cast my faith forward as a light on my path. I choose to believe in the good which comes toward me. I release fear". - Julia Cameron
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This excerpt below about illness spoke so powerfully to me. It describes well how I feel. I have been so blessed by my reaction to this illness.
"Sickness sensitizes man for observation, like a photographic plate". - Edmond and Jules De Goncourt
"Illness shocks us body and soul. Its suffering forces us into new territory. While we are often unable to find a cause for our disease, we are often moved to greater spiritual opening. As well as the bitter fruits of pain and trauma, we harvest the more subtle gifts of openness and acceptance. As we face the challenge of an illness striking unfairly and without warning, we also inventory the richness of the life that it interrupts. We may discover we have lived fully, lovingly and well. We may realize the depth of the bonds with those we cherish. Sudden and catastrophic illness is a spiritual trapdoor that plummets us into the net of the Universe. In our free fall, we often discover surprising faith and acceptance. We are ambushed into our spiritual health. Today, I find health in my illness. Today, I find well-being at the core of my dis-ease. I accept the condition unexpectedly thrust upon me. With this new landmark, I find my spiritual bearings and greatest growth". - Julia Cameron (I can't thank her enough for this description.)
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"Why stay on the earth except to grow". - Robert Browning
"The door to the future may stick when we try to open it. Not all transitions are easy or graceful. Sometimes our past is done before our future seems quite ready. We are caught in the corridor of in between, a limbo that feels awkward and uncomfortable. At times like these we must practice the art of containment. Soon enough the future will unfold, the door will swing open and the way be clear. In the meanwhile, we can consider the distance we have come already, the lessons we have learned and the chapters closed. By pausing to appreciate our growth, we find ourselves more restful than restless. The wheel will turn and find us ready. Today, I pause to take stock. I count and appreciate my many gains. I rest before going forward. I savor the journey I've taken already and the distance I have come". - Julia Cameron
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"Every moment of one's existence, one is growing into more or retreating into less. One is always living a little more or dying a little bit". - Norman Mailer
"All change can be expansive in potential. The choice is ours. As I open my heart to accept change, my heart softens and grows larger. Every experience carries the seed of transformation. Every event can bring blossoming and wealth. My personal will can resist change or embrace it. The choice is mine and determines the life I will have. Today, I choose to embrace change. I open my heart to its hidden but abundant blessings". - Julia Cameron
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I love the fall season. I have decorated my house again this year with pumpkin lights and a gold-orange glow from the front window greets you as you pull up in front of my house at night. My mom was a kindergarten teacher for many years and always did a wonderful job of decorating our home for the holidays and changing seasons just as she does now to this day. We had Halloween birthday parties each year for my sister, Cindi, who was born on October 18th and my mom decorated the house with Halloween goodies for the party. My sister has been gone for many years now but my daughters daughter will be born soon near my beloved sisters birthday giving us a Halloween birthday to observe again each year. My mom is able to be an active healthy great grandma to this new girl entering our family. I have followed in my moms footsteps in so many ways. It is OK with me that I don't think either of my children will have bins of seasonal decorations in their garage that they pull out each year to adorn their home with like mom and I. This next generation may experience joy in many different ways than what I have, embracing family, home and celebrations in their own way. All things are always in motion and I celebrate their new ways of being different and similar to me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The primary and most beautiful of Nature's qualities is motion". - Marquis De Sade
"The natural world teaches us the power of change. As the seasons shift, I see the purpose and beauty of life's cyclicality. I see the promise of spring, the ripening of summer, the bounty of harvest and the mysterious containment of winter. All seasons work for the good. So it is, too, with the changing cycles of my life. As I surrender to the wisdom of a higher plan, I discover in all circumstances the opportunity for growth and expansion. There is no season in my life that is without worth. There is no season in my life that does not unfold my highest good. Challenged by difficult times, I consciously choose to affirm the goodness of life's timing. Today, I commit myself to actively seeking the benefits hidden in adversity, the wisdom inherent in all timing". - Julia Cameron
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The changes in our life must come from the impossibility to live otherwise than according to the demands of our conscious". - Leo Tolstoy
"Each of us has an inner compass. Its voice calls us to our highest good. Sometimes it requires that we alter a longstanding but stifling situation. It is difficult to face the severing or alteration of a relationship even when we know such change is for the highest good. Faced with a divorce or a separation, faced with the need to terminate a long-standing friendship, I must remind myself that sometimes the most loving involvement is a non-involvement. It is tempting, always, to try to go back, to hold onto what once was rather than face what that relationship has now become. I resolve with a loving heart to accept appropriate endings. I do not grasp at straws when the reality is difficult but clear. Instead, I release the past, bless it, and turn with resolution to the future. I listen to my conscience, knowing that its voice calls me home. Today, I place my humbled heart in universal care, asking for healing and direction". - Julia Cameron
Before leaving CDSA some decisions had to be made for the best forward motion of the agency that has helped so many young children. I put the welfare of the agency first, making the decisions I knew were right as I prepared for my departure. They often say it is lonely at the top in the Executive Director position and sometimes that is true. I am proud that I had the courage to make some difficult but right decisions and to act on them swiftly for the benefit of my co-workers and the families we serve. I know I have left the agency in good, strong standing and with the right new leader in place.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Nothing that grieves us can be called little: by the eternal laws of proportion a child's loss of a doll and a kings loss of a crown are events of the same size". - Mark Twain
"All risks risk rejection. The sting of criticism can create a spiral of shame. Bitten by shame, it is easy to become embittered, to shrink back from life and slide toward despair. I do not allow myself this dangerous luxury. Faced with hostility I turn within for spiritual comfort, reminding myself I am a child of the Universe, worthy of love, care and respect. Aware of my vulnerability, I treat myself gently with the same care I would extend to an injured friend. My dignity is grounded in my spiritual identity. I hold my worth in the face of hostility. I am unshaken by the sting of personal assault. I allow my heart to be a fortress. My spirit is like the face of a mountain proud and bright in the sun. Today, I stand firm in my own worthiness. My dignity is solid and enduring. My faith is the rock on which I build my life. I dare to risk. I am large enough to survive my losses and enjoy my gains". - Julia Cameron
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It isn't for the moment you are struck that you need courage, but for the long uphill climb back to sanity and faith and security". - Anne Morrow Lindbergh
"I nurture a faithful heart. When difficulties, sorrows, and trials beset me, I consciously choose faith in the face of despair. Like the mountain climber who reaches the summit a step at a time, I hold an ideal in my heart. Despite the temptation to bitterness, despite the seduction of rage, I choose a path of temperate endurance, grounding my daily life in the small joys yet available to me. Learning from the natural world, I harbor the seeds of hope against the long winter. I count the small stirrings of beauty and delight still present in a barren time. My heart is a seasoned traveler. Moving through hostile and unfamiliar terrain it remains alert to encounter beauty blossoming despite the odds. In the arms of adversity, I yet find the comfort of tenderness to myself and others. I refuse to harbor a hardened heart. Decisively and deliberately, I expand rather than contract. Today, I choose the softening grace of forgiveness. I allow the sunlight of the spirit to reach my shadowed heart". - Julia Cameron
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We can never go back again, that much is certain". - Daphne DuMaurier
"Sometimes people fail us in terrible ways. We are betrayed, abandoned, cast aside. In times of such personal trauma, we must hold to the larger picture. The Universe does not betray us. The Universe does not leave our side. Even in the midst of grievous loss, we are led and comforted. We are cared for and protected. Although I may fail to see it, a higher hand operates in my affairs. I realize that while people may indeed fail me and turn away, there is an underlying goodness to the Universe which brings to me new friends and new situations. These gifts heal and soothe me. I see the merciful hand of providence despite my pain. Today, I place my trust in universal love. I open my heart to receive care and comfort from unexpected sources. I allow my good to come from many quarters. I surrender my fixed ideas as to what best serves me. I open to the innovative grace of my unfolding life". Julia Cameron
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"People seldom see the halting and painful steps by which the most insignificant success is achieved". - Anne Sullivan
"Most of us are about as eager to be changed as we are to be born, and go through our changes in a similar state of shock". - James Baldwin
"To keep a lamp burning we must put oil in it". - Mother Theresa
"Everything is so dangerous that nothing is really frightening". - Gertrude Stein
"Often God shuts a door in our face, And then subsequently opens the door through which we need to go". - Catherine Marshall
"Courage is the price that life extracts for granting peace". - Amelia Earhart
"One is happy as a result of one's own efforts, once one knows the necessary ingredients of happiness - simple tastes, a certain degree of courage, self-denial to a point, love of work, and above all, a clear conscious. Happiness is no vague dream, of that I now feel certain". George Sand
"You must do the thing you think you can not do". - Eleanor Roosevelt
"All that is necessary to make the world a better place is to love - to love as Christ loved, as Buddha loved". - Isadora Duncan
"Spiritual power can be seen in a person's reverence for life - hers and all others, including animals, and nature, with a recognition of a universal life force referred to by many as God". - Virginia Satir
"Learn to wish that everything should come to pass exactly as it does". - Epictetus
A prayer was answered last week when the thyroid specialist told me that the new ultrasound of the thyroid nodules showed they were only 4 centimeters. The Group Health ultrasound previously showed them at 8 centimeters. It is likely that Octreotide shrunk or suffocated the tumors and that now we will not need surgery on or the removal of the thyroid. More baseline measurements to come following the next surgery.
I found a book published in 2009 in an old used bookstore in Sidney BC a few weeks ago while Peter was at a boating supply store. :-) The book is 636 pages and I've only read about 150 pages of it, but there are so many parts that I love I may need to limit myself for each blog entry moving forward. The author describes both real and aspirational thoughts I have about my life in this era of transition.
Prayers to the Creator: Prayers and Declarations for a Meaningful Life, by Julia Cameron the author of, The Artists Way, (which I read years ago) is an amazing book. It has 4 sections; Heart Steps, Blessings, Transitions & Answered Prayers. I turned immediately to the transitions section and found many writings that resonated with me. In this section I found prayers and declarations for a changing life, like mine right now. The author encourages the reader to read the quote presented and then write a prayer or affirmation about your own life relating to the quote. She also writes a page or 2 about her thoughts on the given quote or prayer with an affirmation to follow. Below I share some of the book with you.
"Where ever you are is the entry point". - Kabir
I stand at the doorway. I am entering the door to my new life. I am becoming a grandmother, a friend of the agency I grew as it graduates onto the next chapter of it's life, like a child graduating from college, getting married and starting a family of their own. I love the agency and release it, I let go knowing we will always have a relationship. Rather than experience an empty nest syndrome, I see that my life is moving forward in a blessed way and is lit by friendship, the love of my family members, filled with more being outdoors and with physical movement from walking and swimming to dancing. I pause as I enter the gate of a new time in my life. I take stock of who I am and what I am as myself without my job. I look at who I am as a person creating health for myself with cancer cells in my body. I appreciate now my humor and autonomy, my intellectual curiosity and my adventurous, creative side. I have initiated some fascinating chapters in my life. I sailed up the inside passage to Alaska, I rode my bright red Harley Davidson up the coast on 101 from my birthplace near the Olympic Peninsula to the Redwood forests of California. I was blessed to be awake and alert as I welcomed my 2 wonderful children into the world; one with a one hour labor the other in 3 hours of natural childbirth. They have taught me so much, my children, and been a deep source of joy, energy and love. My adopted son Leo, living in Hawaii, is a daily inspiration to me as well. Watching he and his wife parent their 2 sons is a gift just as seeing my son Thaddeus be an affectionate and fully present father to his 2 children brings such warmth and knowing to my soul. My daughter is ready to give birth any day to her daughter, Paityn, her first. Filling me with examples of hope and integrity my children are blossoming. Over the last 10 years I have had many adventures with my husband Peter. We have had countless boat trips on our little C-Dory boat named C-Dancer. We've seen the Orca whales, motored through the Gulf Islands in Canada and met up with friends throughout the San Juan's. Peter and I met Salsa dancing in Seattle at the Century Ballroom and have many fun memories of dancing and dance classes we've taken. We love walking the water front at Lincoln Park in W. Seattle and taking trips to the Olympic Peninsula and the coast to stay in quaint rooms on the ocean. We've also had great trips to Hawaii on both the big Island and Maui.
I feel strong and open to all the possibilities as I step toward my new opportunities. I'm ready for the next surgery and for life after that recovery. The very gifts that served me in the past, at work at CDSA and in my life in general, serve me now. I walk ahead with confidence, and conviction in my own competence.
My spirit understands adversity as opportunity. I will work to see the good in all things. I am confident that spirit and love are always present in my life. I am never abandoned or unloved. As I look toward the next surgery on November 8th, and when I encounter difficult symptoms either from the cancer itself or as side effects of the treatment, if I doubt the good that is unfolding, I remind myself that there is a higher plan in motion with which I can align myself and consciously cooperate. "What you resist persists" is a quote I heard somewhere. Going with the natural flow of life, healing and the universe is something I can remember to do, when I feel myself resisting change.
From the book referenced above:
"As I face resistance to change, as I choose to align myself with events as they are unfolding, I find in my acceptance a sense of tranquility, a promise of safety. Change embraces me as I myself embrace change. Today, I surrender my resistance to my hidden yet greater good. I cast my faith forward as a light on my path. I choose to believe in the good which comes toward me. I release fear". - Julia Cameron
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This excerpt below about illness spoke so powerfully to me. It describes well how I feel. I have been so blessed by my reaction to this illness.
"Sickness sensitizes man for observation, like a photographic plate". - Edmond and Jules De Goncourt
"Illness shocks us body and soul. Its suffering forces us into new territory. While we are often unable to find a cause for our disease, we are often moved to greater spiritual opening. As well as the bitter fruits of pain and trauma, we harvest the more subtle gifts of openness and acceptance. As we face the challenge of an illness striking unfairly and without warning, we also inventory the richness of the life that it interrupts. We may discover we have lived fully, lovingly and well. We may realize the depth of the bonds with those we cherish. Sudden and catastrophic illness is a spiritual trapdoor that plummets us into the net of the Universe. In our free fall, we often discover surprising faith and acceptance. We are ambushed into our spiritual health. Today, I find health in my illness. Today, I find well-being at the core of my dis-ease. I accept the condition unexpectedly thrust upon me. With this new landmark, I find my spiritual bearings and greatest growth". - Julia Cameron (I can't thank her enough for this description.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Why stay on the earth except to grow". - Robert Browning
"The door to the future may stick when we try to open it. Not all transitions are easy or graceful. Sometimes our past is done before our future seems quite ready. We are caught in the corridor of in between, a limbo that feels awkward and uncomfortable. At times like these we must practice the art of containment. Soon enough the future will unfold, the door will swing open and the way be clear. In the meanwhile, we can consider the distance we have come already, the lessons we have learned and the chapters closed. By pausing to appreciate our growth, we find ourselves more restful than restless. The wheel will turn and find us ready. Today, I pause to take stock. I count and appreciate my many gains. I rest before going forward. I savor the journey I've taken already and the distance I have come". - Julia Cameron
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Every moment of one's existence, one is growing into more or retreating into less. One is always living a little more or dying a little bit". - Norman Mailer
"All change can be expansive in potential. The choice is ours. As I open my heart to accept change, my heart softens and grows larger. Every experience carries the seed of transformation. Every event can bring blossoming and wealth. My personal will can resist change or embrace it. The choice is mine and determines the life I will have. Today, I choose to embrace change. I open my heart to its hidden but abundant blessings". - Julia Cameron
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I love the fall season. I have decorated my house again this year with pumpkin lights and a gold-orange glow from the front window greets you as you pull up in front of my house at night. My mom was a kindergarten teacher for many years and always did a wonderful job of decorating our home for the holidays and changing seasons just as she does now to this day. We had Halloween birthday parties each year for my sister, Cindi, who was born on October 18th and my mom decorated the house with Halloween goodies for the party. My sister has been gone for many years now but my daughters daughter will be born soon near my beloved sisters birthday giving us a Halloween birthday to observe again each year. My mom is able to be an active healthy great grandma to this new girl entering our family. I have followed in my moms footsteps in so many ways. It is OK with me that I don't think either of my children will have bins of seasonal decorations in their garage that they pull out each year to adorn their home with like mom and I. This next generation may experience joy in many different ways than what I have, embracing family, home and celebrations in their own way. All things are always in motion and I celebrate their new ways of being different and similar to me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The primary and most beautiful of Nature's qualities is motion". - Marquis De Sade
"The natural world teaches us the power of change. As the seasons shift, I see the purpose and beauty of life's cyclicality. I see the promise of spring, the ripening of summer, the bounty of harvest and the mysterious containment of winter. All seasons work for the good. So it is, too, with the changing cycles of my life. As I surrender to the wisdom of a higher plan, I discover in all circumstances the opportunity for growth and expansion. There is no season in my life that is without worth. There is no season in my life that does not unfold my highest good. Challenged by difficult times, I consciously choose to affirm the goodness of life's timing. Today, I commit myself to actively seeking the benefits hidden in adversity, the wisdom inherent in all timing". - Julia Cameron
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The changes in our life must come from the impossibility to live otherwise than according to the demands of our conscious". - Leo Tolstoy
"Each of us has an inner compass. Its voice calls us to our highest good. Sometimes it requires that we alter a longstanding but stifling situation. It is difficult to face the severing or alteration of a relationship even when we know such change is for the highest good. Faced with a divorce or a separation, faced with the need to terminate a long-standing friendship, I must remind myself that sometimes the most loving involvement is a non-involvement. It is tempting, always, to try to go back, to hold onto what once was rather than face what that relationship has now become. I resolve with a loving heart to accept appropriate endings. I do not grasp at straws when the reality is difficult but clear. Instead, I release the past, bless it, and turn with resolution to the future. I listen to my conscience, knowing that its voice calls me home. Today, I place my humbled heart in universal care, asking for healing and direction". - Julia Cameron
Before leaving CDSA some decisions had to be made for the best forward motion of the agency that has helped so many young children. I put the welfare of the agency first, making the decisions I knew were right as I prepared for my departure. They often say it is lonely at the top in the Executive Director position and sometimes that is true. I am proud that I had the courage to make some difficult but right decisions and to act on them swiftly for the benefit of my co-workers and the families we serve. I know I have left the agency in good, strong standing and with the right new leader in place.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Nothing that grieves us can be called little: by the eternal laws of proportion a child's loss of a doll and a kings loss of a crown are events of the same size". - Mark Twain
"All risks risk rejection. The sting of criticism can create a spiral of shame. Bitten by shame, it is easy to become embittered, to shrink back from life and slide toward despair. I do not allow myself this dangerous luxury. Faced with hostility I turn within for spiritual comfort, reminding myself I am a child of the Universe, worthy of love, care and respect. Aware of my vulnerability, I treat myself gently with the same care I would extend to an injured friend. My dignity is grounded in my spiritual identity. I hold my worth in the face of hostility. I am unshaken by the sting of personal assault. I allow my heart to be a fortress. My spirit is like the face of a mountain proud and bright in the sun. Today, I stand firm in my own worthiness. My dignity is solid and enduring. My faith is the rock on which I build my life. I dare to risk. I am large enough to survive my losses and enjoy my gains". - Julia Cameron
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It isn't for the moment you are struck that you need courage, but for the long uphill climb back to sanity and faith and security". - Anne Morrow Lindbergh
"I nurture a faithful heart. When difficulties, sorrows, and trials beset me, I consciously choose faith in the face of despair. Like the mountain climber who reaches the summit a step at a time, I hold an ideal in my heart. Despite the temptation to bitterness, despite the seduction of rage, I choose a path of temperate endurance, grounding my daily life in the small joys yet available to me. Learning from the natural world, I harbor the seeds of hope against the long winter. I count the small stirrings of beauty and delight still present in a barren time. My heart is a seasoned traveler. Moving through hostile and unfamiliar terrain it remains alert to encounter beauty blossoming despite the odds. In the arms of adversity, I yet find the comfort of tenderness to myself and others. I refuse to harbor a hardened heart. Decisively and deliberately, I expand rather than contract. Today, I choose the softening grace of forgiveness. I allow the sunlight of the spirit to reach my shadowed heart". - Julia Cameron
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We can never go back again, that much is certain". - Daphne DuMaurier
"Sometimes people fail us in terrible ways. We are betrayed, abandoned, cast aside. In times of such personal trauma, we must hold to the larger picture. The Universe does not betray us. The Universe does not leave our side. Even in the midst of grievous loss, we are led and comforted. We are cared for and protected. Although I may fail to see it, a higher hand operates in my affairs. I realize that while people may indeed fail me and turn away, there is an underlying goodness to the Universe which brings to me new friends and new situations. These gifts heal and soothe me. I see the merciful hand of providence despite my pain. Today, I place my trust in universal love. I open my heart to receive care and comfort from unexpected sources. I allow my good to come from many quarters. I surrender my fixed ideas as to what best serves me. I open to the innovative grace of my unfolding life". Julia Cameron
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"People seldom see the halting and painful steps by which the most insignificant success is achieved". - Anne Sullivan
"Most of us are about as eager to be changed as we are to be born, and go through our changes in a similar state of shock". - James Baldwin
"To keep a lamp burning we must put oil in it". - Mother Theresa
"Everything is so dangerous that nothing is really frightening". - Gertrude Stein
"Often God shuts a door in our face, And then subsequently opens the door through which we need to go". - Catherine Marshall
"Courage is the price that life extracts for granting peace". - Amelia Earhart
"One is happy as a result of one's own efforts, once one knows the necessary ingredients of happiness - simple tastes, a certain degree of courage, self-denial to a point, love of work, and above all, a clear conscious. Happiness is no vague dream, of that I now feel certain". George Sand
"You must do the thing you think you can not do". - Eleanor Roosevelt
"All that is necessary to make the world a better place is to love - to love as Christ loved, as Buddha loved". - Isadora Duncan
"Spiritual power can be seen in a person's reverence for life - hers and all others, including animals, and nature, with a recognition of a universal life force referred to by many as God". - Virginia Satir
"Learn to wish that everything should come to pass exactly as it does". - Epictetus
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Transitions/Retirement
Here is a letter sent out from my agency Community Day School about my retirement:
Dear CDSA friends and family,
I’m sad to say we are writing to let you know that Caryn Swan Jamero, our Executive Director, will be transitioning out of the Executive Director position at CDSA. She will be deeply missed. We are appreciative of her years of dedicated high quality service to CDSA and her continuing support of the agency throughout the transition. As you may know, Caryn has been the ED for over 21 years, presiding over CDSA’s expansion from 2 to 9 school-age sites and 6 preschool programs. Over the years, all the programs have been nationally accredited and met the highest quality standards. The agency’s leadership around the use of data to improve outcomes for children was ground breaking and went hand in hand with a continued value for learning and teaching 21st Century skills and social-emotional wellness. She has developed CDSA’s leadership role within the early childhood education and out-of-school-time communities.
The CDSA Board of Directors in collaboration with Caryn has spent some valuable time considering how to best continue providing excellent leadership both for CDSA and the greater community. Included in our unique CDSA culture is a history of valuing people, honesty, integrity, gratitude, joy in life, creativity, fun and appreciation. We are committed to protecting and promoting the extraordinary relationships that exist within CDSA between leadership and staff, as well as those important relationships with Seattle Public Schools, the early learning and youth development communities, funders and other constituents and stakeholders. Every month the Board meets at one of our 9 sites and learns about the strong bonds being created between CDSA, parents, and school teachers as we coordinate collective efforts to provide a consistent environment for all our communities’ children to learn and grow. We also hear about the many community groups who join with center staff to provide special and exciting learning opportunities for our kids. Caryn has encouraged and guided leadership development within the agency leading to many of these opportunities.
The Board, in consultation with Caryn, has decided that it would serve the best interests of CDSA and of our community to first look within CDSA for a qualified internal candidate to transition into the ED role. In making this decision, we have also considered Caryn’s devotion to overcoming obstacles, enabling the dreams of others and providing a wide range of training and development opportunities for all levels of CDSA staff. These opportunities have allowed many CDSA staff to move up in positions of responsibility within CDSA or into such positions within other organizations. It has been one of Caryn’s guiding principles that developing people into better trained teachers and industry professionals, leads to positive outcomes for children and families and for the early learning and youth development fields. In continuing to promote CDSA’s mission, she has ensured fair compensation and benefits for all staff.
We will be in touch about a future celebration of Caryn’s success in leading CDSA for 21 years. We know she will want to thank her “work family” and we will want time to express our appreciation.
We will announce decisions about the transition as they are made and appreciate your continued support of CDSA.
Sincerely,
Nick Heyer Caryn Swan Jamero
Board
President Executive Director
Here is the letter announcing the new Executive Director:
October
1, 2013
Dear CDSA Partners and
Friends,
We
recently shared with you the news of our Executive Director, Caryn Swan
Jamero’s retirement. We have appreciated Caryn’s guidance, commitment,
and work to promote our mission, strengthen our organization, and increase
access to high quality care of all children.
Under
Caryn’s two decades of leadership, CDSA has continued to grow and expand our
mission. The most notable achievements include the expansion from two to nine
school-age sites and six preschool programs, advocacy for high quality
standards and equitable access for children, development of CDSA’s leadership
role within the Early Childhood Education and Out-of-School-Time communities,
and leading the adoption of a culture of reflective practice, intentionality,
and data-informed decisions. This past year, we gave away a record-breaking
$40,000+ in student scholarships and tuition assistance.
While
transitions such as these can be challenging, I am pleased to announce that
Brianna Jackson will serve as CDSA’s new Executive Director beginning November
1, 2013. Brianna has been with CDSA for 15 years serving in a number of roles
from CDSA parent to most recently as Director of Operations for the past three
years. Brianna has also led the agency in NAEYC accreditation for all six
preschool sites with 83% of graduating preschoolers prepared for kindergarten
by Teaching Strategies Gold standards. She has also directed the continuous
improvement of school-age quality through implementation of Youth Program
Quality (YPQ). Brianna has been an integral part of CDSA’s leadership team and
offers her extensive field experience, a Masters of Arts in Organizational
Management, a passion for CDSA’s mission and vision and her proven ability to
be innovative and forward thinking to provide high quality programs. I am
confident that with Brianna’s leadership the organization will continue the
work with the same level of high quality, community partnerships, and outcomes
for children and families.
As we thank Caryn for all
her years of service and dedication to CDSA, she shared with me her respect for
the staff, partners and supporters.
We have made significant progress in establishing the important role that effective and engaging preschool and school age learning programs and CBO’s can play in reducing achievement gaps, increasing school-year learning and helping all kids achieve higher college and career-ready expectations.
I look forward to continuing to serve the organization as a transition consultant to the new ED and Board through the end of 2013. Beyond that I will keep in touch and be around to celebrate the future accomplishments and contribute to the longevity of the agency in new ways."
Please join me in wishing
Caryn the best of luck as she moves forward into the next chapters of her life
and welcoming Brianna into her new role as Executive Director.
Sincerely,
Nick
Heyer
Board
President
Hello CDSA Partners and Friends, and Friends and
Family of Caryn –
Please save the date for Caryn’s Retirement Party! October 25th in the evening.
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