by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Cancer Journey
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be searching the internet for “how to prepare for a hysterectomy,” but at age 36 that’s exactly where I found myself. I imagine you never thought the same for yourself, did you? But since this is where life has brought...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Cancer Journey
Upon receiving a cancer diagnosis, you will likely have a hundred questions to ask your oncologist about what this means and what’s to come. But sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what to ask when you’re still shellshocked by the news. To help give you a...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Cancer Journey
We learn A TON going through cancer treatment! We’ve learned how to manage side effects of medications, resources that helped us through, coping mechanisms, and how to advocate for ourselves. After treatment, some survivors are ready to leave it all behind them and...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Sep 29, 2024 | Adventure After Diagnosis
What is The Wilds?? You likely haven’t heard of The Wilds if you’re outside of Ohio. It may not have the reputation of some of the larger zoos, but there’s some incredible work being done there! The Wilds is a private, non-profit conservation...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Adventure After Diagnosis
Ohio has a surprisingly deep relationship with Native American history. From the Hopewell peoples of 2,000 years ago to Chief Tecumseh of the Shawnee 200 years ago and everything in between, Ohio plays quite an important historic role. Thankfully, there are several...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Adventure After Diagnosis
Between work and travel, I’ve found myself on several occasions in need of and testing female urination devices! I don’t know if I have a small bladder or if my sense of timing is just horrid…actually it’s probably both. Either way, it’s not uncommon I find...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Adventure After Diagnosis
Before packing for Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falklands, I did quite a bit of research online. I also had a recommended packing list from Lindblad Expeditions, with whom I was traveling. The bugger is that you can read several articles on packing for...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Oct 6, 2024 | Adventure After Diagnosis
I recently found out about the Jesse Owens State Park while scouring the internet for camping spots in Ohio. One article listed about a dozen free places to camp, and this state park was one of them. Free camping?? Heck yeah! Update: I just visited in...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Adventure After Diagnosis
You may be surprised just how much you can cram into a weekend in Nashville! Sure, longer is great, but sometimes you only have a weekend to spare. That was the case for a friend and me when we took a road trip from Ohio. We had Friday evening, all day...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 5, 2023 | Adventure After Diagnosis
I have wanted to stay at the Doghouse, the BrewDog hotel in Columbus, ever since they opened in 2018. But, frankly, I just never had a reason to since I live in central Ohio. (I know, I know, staycations are the bomb, I had just never done one before.) ...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Adventure After Diagnosis
As a requirement for my new job in Hawaii, I had to put myself up in a hotel for a week before I could move to our company bunkhouse. After a whole lot of research, I decided the Prince Waikiki in Honolulu was my best option. There were a whole lot of factors...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Adventure After Diagnosis
I’m guessing if you’re reading this, you have an interest in solo travel, but are hesitant because of the safety factor. Let’s just start by saying what everyone is thinking – it’s absolute garbage that we even have to have articles about safety...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Cancer Journey
Hearing the words “you have cancer” is enough to make even the most resilient among us stop in their tracks. It’s a heavy phrase that no one ever wants to hear. And yet, according to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1.8 million people will hear that phrase...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Cancer Journey
If you’ve done much research at all on DIEP flap breast reconstruction, you probably already know it’s a doozey of a procedure. With a long recovery timeline, there’s definitely some prep work that needs to be done before surgery! For those reading this who may...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Cancer Journey
Preparing for a mastectomy can be difficult. Especially when all you want to do is forget that the procedure is coming. But doing some prep work ahead of time will make the healing process – both physical and emotional — that much easier. Here are tips...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Cancer Journey
Quick poll: who is super excited for their colonoscopy prep and procedure? Yup, thought so. Truthfully, I’m not sure why they get such a bad rap. It’s a quick and easy medical procedure that gets you a day off work, plus that ever popular colon cleanse...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Adventure After Diagnosis
It’s been a minute since I’ve been able to do a day trip! But holy crap did it feel good to get back out and explore a couple new-to-me places! With COVID cases continuing to rise, I wanted to stick to visiting someplace outdoors. Buuuut Ohio tends to look...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 6, 2024 | Cancer Journey
It’s not like anyone plans on a cancer diagnosis, so how are we supposed to know what to do with if we get the news? There are a lot of things we learn too late. Either it’s too late to utilize that resource, or we’ve already spent hours upon hours of online...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Adventure After Diagnosis
As with anything one does for the first time, the learning curve was steep as a beginner backpacker! Even though I had been looking forward to this trip since March, I really didn’t do much planning in the seven months until it came to fruition. I looked into...
by Beth DeLong | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Adventure After Diagnosis
With the fall colors and cooler temperatures, it’s been the perfect weather for hiking Hocking Hills with kids. Trying to entertain a toddler with a super short attention span is difficult, hiking is a good way to keep her entertained! Hocking Hills in...
