Casa DeFrias

my response to "dear 16 year old me" skin cancer video

2011-12-19T22:21:00.000-08:00

A friend sent me a text this weekend: "Posted a link to a touching melanoma video on Facebook. Sure you've seen it already, but obviously made me think of you." The video, called Dear 16 Year Old Me shows real people, not actors, giving advice to their teenage selves. Some are malignant melanoma patients, while others lost loved ones to skin cancer. I hadn't seen it, so I watched. As a two-time

on how to be true to yourself

2011-11-21T14:17:00.001-08:00

On Sunday, I gave my first TEDx talk, at TEDxYouth@BommerCanyon in Irvine, Calif. It coincided with International Children's Day, and I spoke about watching the final space shuttle launch and my battles with cancer.The organizer asked each of the speakers for an inspirational quote to print in the program next to our picture and bio.While there were many who put Einstein, Maya Angelou, and the

the importance of hope: bewise & san diego science alliance welcome oncofertility survivor

2011-08-18T23:55:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I spoke at the University of California San Diego Health Sciences and San Diego Science Alliance BE WiSE Education Program of the Oncofertility Consortium. Yes, that's a mouthful. In a nutshell, it's a highly competitive summer program for girls in 7th - 12th grade who are interested in science and engineering. Dr. Hope introduced me to the woman who runs the program back in

the patient side of cancer and ivf: video shoot for ucsd medical students

2011-07-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

Photo credit: Wet Paint. I recently sat down with Charles Goldberg at UCSD Medical School to create a video as part of a new curriculum for first year medical students, who many times read about case studies only on paper. By taping me telling my story, Goldberg hopes to put a face to the patient at a critical point in these young student's learning: "I’d like...to further bring to life and

CafePress Steals Money From Cancer Patient

2011-06-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

Caught your attention? Good. Did CafePress literally steal money from me? Perhaps not. But the story shows how they didn't give me the money they owed me, either. Back in December 2010, I was diagnosed with cancer for the second time in the same year (yes, 2010 was just all kinds of wonderful). At the time, my attitude toward was understandably "F*ck Cancer." I decided to make a t-shirt on

guess who's attending the final space shuttle launch?

2011-06-12T18:44:00.000-07:00

Why, that would be me! I found out Friday I was selected by NASA as 1 of 150 people (out of over 5,500 applicants) invited to the final shuttle launch before they retire the program entirely after 30 years in operation. This'll be where we'll be, hanging out with the press, 3.1 miles from the launchpad. Photo credit: Nathan Bergey. I wrote up the full story at CaliforniaKara.com. Crazy!

support #620project - my birthday project to raise money for team rubicon

2011-06-04T23:08:00.000-07:00

Want to help combat vets help our country and the world? Donate now. It's Birthday Month! Every year I look forward to my birthday. This year, in lieu of cards or presents, I'd love it if you would consider donating to my 620 Project. My wish is to raise $620 by my birthday, June 20th, for Team Rubicon. From his combat experiences as a Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan, TR founder Jake Wood

Happy Rapture Day, "Lost" Edition

2011-05-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

My favorite quote came yesterday, courtesy of Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof: "Note to Rapture: Don't follow up end of days with shots of plane wreckage on beach. It confuses the fuck out of people." It's going to be a little touchy calling people the day after the Rapture. You don't want to act like you assumed they'd be home. Tweet

meeting elizabeth banks and a simple "thank you"

2011-04-24T23:26:00.000-07:00

Me with my new BFF Elizabeth Banks. A few weeks ago I went to a San Diego Magazine "Taste of Hollywood" event at Ben Bridge Jewelers in UTC. Imagine my surprise upon arrival to see that the guest of honor on hand was none other than Elizabeth Banks. While most of you know her from 30 Rock, Scrubs, and Zack and Miri Make a Porno, I admire her for one of her lesser known roles: a real-life, new

hysterectomy: a look back 1 year later

2011-04-12T15:53:00.000-07:00

Classy Gary Larson comic where the lady's carrying the eggs, and the chicken's carrying a baby. One year ago today, I was high as a kite on lovely, lovely Percocet. Lucid, to be sure, but definitely floating on a couple of clouds that may or may not been shaped like unicorns farting glitter. One year ago, I went under the knife to cut out the cancer, and any chance I had of bearing my own

rei and the glass half full mentality

2011-03-27T23:40:00.000-07:00

I headed over to REI to pick up some supplies for our upcoming Australia/New Zealand trip. It just so happened I also needed a t-shirt to wear to the SDBloggers meetup because I knew I'd be burning up in my sweater. I mulled around the store, in a cool-stuff overload daze, and saw maybe two shirts that were kind of okay. Bored, I picked a plain green tee that looked good with my red hair. On my

when motherly instinct overrides cancer

2011-03-12T10:23:00.000-08:00

A year ago this weekend was a pretty big deal for me: I attended my first South by Southwest (SXSW). But that wasn't the big deal (who are we kidding, it was freaking cool - I sang Bon Jovi backed by a live band). Me rocking out Bon Jovi's "Wanted: Dead or Alive" with the live band at #TechKaraoke. Yes, he's wearing a puffy shirt. The super-fun part: one year ago I began injecting myself

so a hysterectomy patient walks out of an elevator...

2011-03-08T20:29:00.001-08:00

Some pretty geese (unlike those awful poop-all-over-the-place Canadian geese). Photo: Wisconsin Week for the Animals. May Rachel Berry strike me dead, but some things even Glee seemingly can't fix. Earlier today I headed down to BigHMO to pick up a note from my oncogynecologist. I'd requested one that states my hysterectomy was medically necessary due to cancer as I plan on petitioning BigHMO

from slactivist to breast cancer resource center volunteer (guest post)

2011-01-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

One of my goals with this site has always been to get people talking about things that are historically "hush-hush" (such as infertility, miscarriages, and the like) in the hopes we can shatter the stigma and openly support each other, both women and men. This is the first in what will hopefully be a series of guest blogs. - Kara From Slactivist to Breast Cancer Resource Center Volunteer by

recipe: low-carb crock pot goulash with garlicky tomatoes

2011-01-15T15:27:00.000-08:00

Crock Pot Pork Goulash. Photo: iFoodTV. It's been almost a year since the uterine cancer diagnois, and the kick-off to a healthier lifestyle. We found this fantastic low carb cookbook, and since we began using it, I'm down 24.4 lb. and IT Geek's down 10 lb. I've been sharing our twist on some of the recipes, such as the Almond Crusted Tilapia (there's a link to book below...feel free to buy

results are in: kara 3, cancer 0

2010-12-28T14:41:00.000-08:00

Kara - 3, Cancer - 0. Bart Simpson photo generated at AllLetters.com. Dr. Notaresident just called with some fantastic news: they got all the cancer! In her words, "The margins are clear." I must admit, it's quite anticlimactic hearing that for a third time. Where's the drama? The suspense? Turns out I'm about as predictable as a Dick Wolf drama. Having said that, I have a few words of my own

show time! cut this muthaluvin cancer out

2010-12-23T18:14:00.000-08:00

Dr. Notaresident cuts whilst I play Angry Birds on my iPhone. Photo: Kara DeFrias. Went into work this morning, and at 11:50 a.m. got a text message from IT Geek: "Your cancer cab is downstairs, aww junk 8D." My driver had arrived. God, I love him. I ask for bad jokes and inappropriate humor, and does everyone deliver or what? He picked me up, and we drove straight down to the Place Which

surgery date set for cancer #3

2010-12-17T14:03:00.000-08:00

Photo: WP Modder. Much like Santa, I'm making a list and checking it twice: Who: Me What: The exorcism of the stupid malignant melanoma When: Thursday, December 23 at 1:30 p.m. Where: BigHMO Why: Why? Because cancer's stupid. What success looks like: We cut. We cure. We move on. Thanks to everyone for your positive vibes and well wishes. I'm serious when I say this whole thing is comical.

we interrupt your regularly scheduled cancer announcements...

2010-12-13T22:21:00.000-08:00

...to rejoice over the best news all week: Cliff Lee's returning to the City of Brother-Lee love! Cliff Lee. Photo: Ballcaps Dear Rest of MLB, Consider this your official notice: you've been served. Pitchers and catchers report in 66 days. With Cliff Lee. Love, The Phillies In superbly awesome news, pitching sensation Cliff Lee is returning to the Philadelphia Phillies. That means our

buy your "eff cancer" t-shirt today

2010-12-08T16:47:00.000-08:00

When I announced yesterday that I have cancer, yet again (third time's a charm!), one of my friends said, "Where are we on some "F**k Cancer" tees?" Followed by another friend who said, "(He) is on to something...get to Cafe Press and create some F$&@ Cancer tees, then use the proceeds for a surrogate. Make some good come out of this." A tee shirt, huh? Okay! I played around with some designs on

the gift that keeps on giving: cancer rears its ugly head a third time

2010-12-07T23:06:00.000-08:00

Fabulous Las Vegas, indeed. Photo: The Daily Green. (Warning: Strong, sailor-level swearing ahead.) "Hi Kara. It's Dr. Derma." ...Cut to one week earlier, when I was sitting in his office getting a mole removed from my foot. It had begun to change a little, get darker...back to tonight's conversation: Me: "Oh cool, you're calling instead of emailing so it must be good news." Dr. Derma:

struggles with surrogates (or, the happy silver lining)

2010-11-21T22:25:00.000-08:00

The proverbial drawing board. Photo: Argos Back in September, we were riding the high of taking the first steps with Easy Bake Oven. Shortly thereafter, we went into a holding pattern when she decided to apply to the Police Academy. A drawback, to be sure, but IT Geek and I knew it was meant to be and for the best. I always say things happen for a reason, and had she gone forward with us, she

black lab...meth lab?

2010-11-05T06:27:00.000-07:00

As the owner of a black English labrador retriever, this made me howl... Photo credit: Unknown. Silly dogs...

up to my eyeballs in (surrogate) paperwork

2010-11-04T21:21:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. It's been busy this past month...getting ready for my TED gig, work ramping up for tax season, and oh, yeah, the baby stuff. Sitting here tonight filling out pages and pages of the paperwork for our surrogacy agreement. I'm so very grateful.

TED talk by stacey kramer: "the best gift i ever received"

2010-10-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

"Imagine, if you will a gift...it's not too big, about the size of a golf ball...it's going to do incredible things for you...you're going to feel loved and appreciated like never before." - Stacey Kramer, TED2010 talk I'm a big fan of TED talks. In fact, I'm working on TEDxSanDiego in November. Today's talk moved me. It's by Stacey Kramer, who, when diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor