Browsing articles from "October, 2009"

Oct
7

MISSION: Indiana University Simon Cancer Center

By Secret Agent L // Missions // 3 Comments

HOLY MOLY, everyone! Affiliated Agent C of Indiana outdid herself yesterday! This agent is on fire!

Date: Tuesday, 6 October 2009

Time: late afternoon

Location: Indiana University Simon Cancer Center

Affiliated Agent C states: “Yesterday, I went around the Cancer Center and left little goodies for people to find. I tried to hit the hot spots where people would probably need the most cheering up.

“I went to the Women’s Testing Center, two of the Infusion Labs, and one of the bathrooms.

“Also, my uncle was just treated at the same facility recently. He’s taken a turn for the worse and it’s not looking good. So in his honor, I stealthily left some things on the floor where he was treated. It happens to share a hallway with the maternity ward, so I left one in the maternity waiting room and one in the Oncology Surgical Recovery bathroom. I also left one in the cafeteria knowing that’s a common place to go when your loved one is being treated.

“This was my first mission, so I was pretty pumped not to get caught!! I left nail polishes and some Burt’s Bees chapsticks. Hopefully it will brighten a few days!”

Secret Agent L sends her deepest thanks for the outstanding work Affiliated Agent C did on her very first mission. But most importantly, Secret Agent L and the entire community of Affiliated Agents and blog followers send their love, thoughts, and prayers to Affiliated Agent C and her family–and especially her uncle–as they all continue to battle this awful disease. We’re thinking of you!!

xoxo,

S.A.L.

Secret Agent L

Secret Agent L says, "Be Kind. No Exceptions."

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Oct
4

MISSION: Casino or Gambling on Love

By Secret Agent L // Missions // 3 Comments

Date: September 28, 2009

Time: Noon

Location: Riverside Casino, Laughlin, Nevada

Disciple-Elf of Secret Agent L went gambling and stumbled on a little love.

Yes, she went gambling. She figures that in this economy, people are out there willing to take a gamble now and then. And why not? Isn’t life a 50/50 chance anyway?

So, after doubling her money on the craps tables, she decided to leave a few chips for some lucky slot player. Those one armed bandits are in abundance in Laughlin, Nevada. She has to admit, watching a few older couples bond during the slot play tournaments was quite endearing. It reminded her that everyone has their perfect somebody. So, after bowling a few rounds in the casino alley, Disciple-Elf of Secret Agent L and a few friends left the chips on the table at alley #34 and watched as an elderly couple found her little treat. She watched as the sweet grandpapa gave his little wife a kiss and off they went to try their luck, holding hands. Ahhhhh. Love and gambling at its finest. Secret Agent L is everywhere, my friends. Leave no venue unturned.

Secret Agent L

Secret Agent L says, "Be Kind. No Exceptions."

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Oct
3

But WAIT: There’s MORE!

By Secret Agent L // Missions // 1 Comment

Date: Saturday, 3 October 2009

Time: 3:00 p.m.

Location: Pittsburgh, Shadyside neighborhood. Walnut Street.

There was another drop!

It was busy day for the duo of Secret Agent L and Affiliated Agent V. During the afternoon festivities along Walnut Street, Affiliated Agent V ran to the corner vendor to get a hot dog. - All the do-gooding made this agent hungry! -

Looking quite busy with this snack, and while friends and passersby were busy petting doggies (including Secret Agent L herself), the distractions proved the perfect time to drop a darling notepad on a bench alongside the busy street. Just one more way to make the day of a recipient in this section of town.

Secret Agent L

Secret Agent L says, "Be Kind. No Exceptions."

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Oct
3

MISSION: Two for One: Hope & Do/Feel Good

By Secret Agent L // Missions // 2 Comments

Secret Agent L and her Number Two (Affiliated Agent Extraordinaire, “V”) were Very Busy today. After an afternoon of plotting future missions and tea-sipping at a local cafe, they got down to business.

In keeping with this month’s theme of Breast Cancer Awareness, the two agents thought it’d be fun to leave little notes of hope all over the neighborhood of Shadyside. Thanks to the folks at Compendium, Secret Agent L and her Number Two were able to use these neat little window cards to spread that message of hope.

Date: Saturday, 3 October 2009

Time: 2:30-3:15 p.m.

Location: Pittsburgh, Shadyside neighborhood. Walnut Street.

With tons of shops and loads of people walking the sidewalks on a Saturday afternoon, being sneaky proved a bit difficult. Never fear, however! Secret Agent L and Number Two didn’t let that stop them. They left the cards in trees, in mailboxes, on lamposts, and even in parking meters.

Hopefully, the shoppers in Shadyside stumbled upon these little messages of inspiration and shared their new-found hope with others.

Secret Agent L also had another little mission she wanted to complete. There’s nothing like being reminded that when you do good, you feel good. Secret Agent L wanted to share that message.

Location: Pittsburgh. Shadyside neighborhood. The Gap, Walnut Street. First floor. Women’s section.

Time: 3:18 p.m.

The shelves at the Gap on Walnut Street proved just the perfect place for these lovely little note pads:

Today’s missions were about teamwork and reminding people that there’s real beauty in hope and in each other. Secret Agent L thanks her Number Two for her courageous and inspiring companionship and wishes the people of Shadyside hope and goodness today and every day!

Secret Agent L

Secret Agent L says, "Be Kind. No Exceptions."

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Oct
2

MISSION: If you’re in Pittsburgh on Oct. 10…

By Secret Agent L // Missions // 1 Comment

…go to Allegheny General Hospital’s Expressions of Hope, an event that includes national and local artists exhibiting work that reflects their struggles with cancer.

The event also includes a tour of the Breast Care Center, with a physician available to answer questions, vouchers available to low-income people who qualify for free mammograms, and the opportunity to schedule a mammogram with easy, 30 minute in/out timing. And there will be other medical professionals on hand to help with a wide variety of issues, from nutritional recommendations to a review of medications.

Secret Agent L and her Number Two (her Affiliated Agent Sidekick, “V”) may just be there, leaving little surprises for those who attend.

Secret Agent L

Secret Agent L says, "Be Kind. No Exceptions."

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Oct
1

MISSION: Month of Missions: Breast Cancer Awareness

By Secret Agent L // Missions // 5 Comments

Secret Agent L is all too familiar with this disease. Not only has she witnessed loved ones and friends battle this disease, she’s had her own near brush with it. In September of 2006, when she was only 28 years old, she found a lump in her left breast. After an excisional biopsy, the lump turned out to be an atypical papilloma: a tumor right between cancer and non-cancer. (In other words, had it not been removed, it was on its way to becoming malignant. The cells were morphing. Not good!) She had her first mammogram at the age of 29, she has an oncologist she sees regularly, she is considered High Risk (5x more likely to develop breast cancer in her lifetime as a result of the finding), and she gets mammograms on a regular basis. She is now 31 years old. She will be (hopefully) receiving her first breast MRI this coming February, which will give a much better picture of her overall breast health.

As a result, breast cancer awareness is very near and dear to Secret Agent L’s heart. And she hopes it is close to yours as well.

So, for the month of October, all missions completed by Secret Agent L and her Affiliated Agents will center around Breast Cancer Awareness. Think pink, everyone! And ladies, do those Breast Self Exams (BSEs)!!

Date: Thursday, 1 October 2009

Time: 8:37 a.m.

Location: Pittsburgh. Hillman Cancer Center. Third floor, Women’s Cancer Program Specialty Center.

The Hillman Cancer Center is an amazing place. Secret Agent L goes there regularly to meet with her oncologist and to get her mammograms. It’s a fantastically beautiful building. This gorgeous sculpture below welcomes you as you pull up for valet parking at the entrance of the building.

The third floor is Secret Agent L’s usual stop. Today was no different.

She left her gift in the ladies’ restroom. The Women’s Cancer Program Specialty Center is a very busy place, and there were a lot of people there this morning, so Secret Agent L had to be as discreet as possible: hence, the restroom.

She hopes this little journal will be an inspirational and safe place for a woman battling breast cancer to write her hopes and fears. And Secret Agent L sends loving thoughts to every woman battling this disease. A cure is possible in our lifetime!

(The journal featured in today’s mission can be found at Compendium’s website, along with many other wonderful and inspirational gifts for those battling cancer.)