"Cancer Survivor and Thunder Fan spreads Joy through Care Packs"

It was very exciting for News Channel 4  to contact me about doing a story on the Non-

Profit Tenaciously Teal, and its' mission to spread love and hope to patients and families facing Cancer treatment. Of course, the news was interested in my connection to the Thunder, and we discussed the unique comparison between fighting for your life and fighting to stay in the playoffs. Some may say there is no connection, but I would be happy to argue that! The Thunder team has been a life line, and an escape from the realities of battling Cancer, not only for myself, but to many Cancer patients who are facing the toughest fight of their life!

For those not familiar with the OKC Thunder, they are also currently in a pretty rigorous fight. The first round of the 2014, NBA playoffs between the Memphis Grizzles and OKC Thunder has been brutal, not only on the players, but on the hearts of everyone who loves  and cheers for such an inspirational team!  This series alone has gone for four straight overtime games, which is the most ever for a playoff game in NBA history. The players may not have to go through CT Scans, blood draws, chemo, surgeries, and sickness, but they have had their fare share of hardships. I stand behind them no matter if they win or lose, as long as they play hard, do their best, and keep fighting! #fightlikeagirl #Thunderup #Wearethunder #tenaciouslyteal #cancercantstealmythunder

KD and I in 2013 at the beginning of my chemo treatment and
then again in March 2014 (reppin my T. Teal shirt)

                                                                   Link to:
                                                KFOR's News Story about T. Teal

Stephenson Cancer Center Commercial

One of the most exciting things that happened in the month of April was being asked to contribute to making a commercial for the Stephenson Cancer Center. Commercial making is tough work, and it is astounding to me how four hours of shooting shrinks down to a 1 minute commercial, but either way I am proud of the final product. I'm told a lot of the taping will be used for future advertisements, as well as utilized on the Cancer Centers website to provide information to people who are researching treatment centers. I am proud to be a patient of the Stephenson Cancer Center, and I hope to continue to find work advocating and talking with people about Cancer treatment and overcoming difficult trials! God is good all the time!

 See the Commercial Here

They wanted to tape
 a "lifestyle portion",
so  I told them I love Yoga.
They were sold on me doing
some yoga for the camera.

                                     

In the interview I talked about signs and symptoms
of Ovarian Cancer,what it has meant for me to have a state of the art Cancer research facilityin OKC, and how I conquered Cancer!

My Last Chemo for Now..

Today is my 40th, and for now, Last chemotherapy infusion. I' m maybe just as surprised as you are that I have endured so many treatments, and so I can't help but think about what life will be like with No chemo. Despite the rigors of this battle I know God has a purpose and plan, however, I would have never expected it would include a Non Profit. Helping others, however, has been a propelling force and momentum in this journey, and so I am again looking forward to passing out the 50 special Care Packs T Teal has prepared , and I wonder who we will meet and hopefully encourage.

In addition to my thoughts, my prayers are scattered between those who don't have answers or definitive ends, the broken, hopeless and sick, as well as those in a revolving and repetitive door of struggles.

Moreover I think of whole communities and families burdened from all kinds of suffering, and gasp at the unfairness of it all. In life we all hope not to face suffering, and imagine it as a straight and narrow path with few bumps  along the way. I've yet to meet someone who hasn't experienced hardships, and so I have to believe God doesn't want or need our lives to be completely without twists or turns. Of course God wants us to be joyous and well, and will comfort us when we need it, but the valleys allow us to be broken, refining us, and making us stronger for the mountain tops we aim to climb!

In the midst of our struggles we must maintain hope so we can obtain perseverance, and with perseverance we have the ability to exude strength, faith, and hope even in the valleys!

Thank you for your support of my personal Cancer journey, as well as T. Teal's mission to spread hope, faith, and love!

Honored to have a local newspaper, The Bethany Tribune,
do a news story on Tenaciously Teal!

Why Tenaciously Teal?

My name is Tarah Warren, and I was 29 yro when I  was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer in 2012. Since then I've had two surgeries, a full hysterectomy, and sixteen months of chemotherapy. Why Tenaciously Teal (T. Teal)? Well pink seems to get a lot of love, and rightfully so, because pink has permeated communities, resonating with people as a medium for Breast Cancer Awareness!  Teal represents Ovarian Cancer Awareness, a disease that annually in the U. S. 22,000 women are diagnosed, and around 15,000 lose their battle to the deadly disease. It is amazing to think about the lives saved through the simplicity of a pink ribbon, and I have high hopes  women, sisters, wives, and mothers will be saved because they knew the meaning behind the color teal, and took a vested interest in their health by seeking answers and asking questions.

For me, when I think about a fight against Cancer,  it invokes an image of strength and tenacity! Being tenacious means clinging to or not easily separate from a sound principle, and during my Cancer battle God has been where I've clung. Even in the darkest days I found when you ask He gives you strength on good days, and somehow carries you when life feels hopeless. Throughout this battle God has given me Hope through a mission to encourage others fighting Cancer...Spreading Light in darkness through simple acts of kindness. Along the way the idea for Tenaciously Teal and Cancer Care Packs evolved, and what began as bringing 10-15 Care Packs with me when I started chemotherapy in January of 2013, quickly brought the realization more were needed, and  hundreds to thousands were hurting.

Now with the help of family and friends Tenaciously Teal has grown from a few acts of kindness  to a network of encouragement, offering 40-50 Care Packs every twenty-one days in line with my current chemo regiment,  scheduled through April 2014. After chemo ends T. Teal  and Care Packs will continue, along with other ways to meet additional needs including;  books, magazines, blankets, or pillows, "Brave Shave" parties for women, and restaurant certificates, and gas cards for the marginalized fighting one of life's toughest battles!

As our mission and outreach grows, T. Teal was honored to become an incorporated Non-Profit Charity on March 6th  2014, hours before my thirty-eighth chemo infusion. I never would have guessed this journey would lead to an organization to assist other Cancer fighters, but God works in mysterious ways.

Tenaciously Teal's Mission : To support individuals and families throughout a Cancer battle by providing encouragement and support, along with services and Care Packs filled with helpful items for the fight.

I've chosen to look for  hope in this journey; hope God would heal me, hope I could help others, hope my journey will raise Cancer Awareness, and hope God would use this fight to help others struggling.

If you or someone you know has any questions about Cancer and its' treatment or you think T. Teal could help or pray for you in some way please feel free to contact us at:  tenaciouslyteal@gmail.com.

Love and Cancer

I've been given many blessings throughout this life, so I can’t complain, however I've given myself permission to be sad, at times, about having cancer. Especially as  family and friends see my health decline, and when I'm fearful about facing the chemo room. I also struggle with those reality moments cancer forces you to endure, even when I realize those "reality moments” give me greater appreciation and  perspective for the beauty of life.

My  current reality is I've been battling  Stage IV Ovarian Cancer, and received the  treatment to match the diagnosis. A cancer reality  I learned quickly is our earthly bodies are susceptible to the hardships of this earth, and it's difficult to grasp the demands of the fight; adequate nutrition, weight loss, nausea, pain, appointments, bills, and constant pokes, pricks, scans and sticks. 

The half way point of my treatment is when I really began to “feel it”, and honestly sometimes it felt okay to think about revolting, but I kept in mind, we must never give up the fight!

Maybe the hardest Cancer reality is the terminal illness connotation it brings. My husband Benjamin and I, in a half-hearted attempt, wrestled with the actuality and logistics of a Cancer diagnosis, but we'll never forget the moment it really hit us! It was relatively late in the journey, considering our first meeting with my Oncologist was in November 2012, and hard to forget since we were clearly told "it had spread" and “you can die from this”. Death's the unspoken awareness  with Cancer, causing conversations between family friends, to get a bit awkward. Benjamin and I have a keen awareness of how Cancer sometimes can lead to an uncomfortable reality. Benjamin lost his father and grandfather to Cancer, and I also saw my mom BEAT Cancer, but lost my grandfather, an uncle, and a young cousin to the fight. The realities of Cancer are intricate, but for Benjamin and I not truly real until Valentine’s Day 2013. 

I was two months out of a major surgery and two months into a tough chemo regiment when reality struck. I’d completed my sixth cycle of chemo, and worked up enough energy to ride with my Valentine to grab takeout. It was a beautiful day in the middle of an Oklahoma winter, and pulling out of the parking lot I was excited about our “dinner in” when I heard a familiar song. I turned up the radio to hear Adele (who I love), as she sang “Someone Like You”. For those familiar with her work it’s actually a break up song, but as I heard the melody she sang " I heard you settled down,  you found a girl, and your married now, I heard your dreams came true...”

 The words jolted my mind, my reality, and tore at my heart. I immediately  thought, “If God doesn't heal me, I' want to be in Heaven, receiving word my Benjamin had someone to help him and make his dreams come true”. The thought was tough to swallow, and my emotion became greater as Adele sang out “I wish nothing but the best for you, don’t forget me I beg, I remember you said, ‘Sometimes it last in love but sometimes it hurts instead".  I was moved beyond tears, and realized I wouldn't be able to hide or hold the pain in. Reality hit like a ton of bricks, I was sad, and wrestling with the idea of OUR dreams not coming true.

We continued down the road and Benjamin tried to console me, as I quickly realized we were passing the cemetery I'd driven by earlier with my mom. I wasn't driving when we passed it on our way to a blood draw, so I'd had plenty of time to glance at the cemetery’s lone visitor. I don’t know what he looked like, but I know he had a great love, and he was looking forward to being reunited someday. The man came prepared with a white lawn chair to enjoy the cool afternoon while seated next to his Valentine's grave. In a glimpse I knew he was talking and creating sacred moments. 

As Benjamin grew concern over my tears, I decided it would be easier to tell him about the image of the man seated next to his sweetheart for Valentine’s as the reason tears continued to run down my cheek. As I reflected and talked about the Valentine's Day romantic we were moved to tears, and into a moment where God provided us with the opportunity to talk about the sometimes tough realities.

With tear soaked eyes we made our way off the road, and to a place we could see the sunset God had shaped into a pink heart just for us; a sign of Hope or Silver Lining of sorts God  used to paint over the darkness.

If you or a loved one needs someone to talk to about Cancer realities please feel free to message me at tenaciouslyteal@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/tenaciouslyteal. 

Much Love to all!

My husband Benjamin and I right after I shave my head-
January 2013

Benjamin and I before my surgery
-December 2012
Photo cred: Neely Jacobson Photography

Two surgeries ,5 months of chemo, and the day
before I graduated with my Masters in Social Work!
"Fall in love and Accomplish What You
Never Thought Possible"
-May 2013

Tis the Season for Giving

I was honored to get an email  asking me to come and share about Cancer, Chemo, and Care Packs with the fifth graders at Bethany Elementary in Oklahoma City. My cousin, well my "third cousin", but she might as well be my first cousin, is a 5th grade teacher there, and has been sharing my fight against  Ovarian

L to R: My cousin, myself, and a friend and
fellow Cancer fighter, Cindy Wales

Cancer with her class.

The word spread and interest was peaked

enough that the kids had a desire to get involved. They collected several donations to support Tenaciously Teal's mission to encourage individuals battling Cancer by meeting both their immediate and long term needs. Tenaciously Teal has grown through it's initial and primary endeavor to provide Care Packs to Cancer patients battling Cancer as a way to extend hope and joy to those in the midst of what at times can be a dreadful and terrifying battle.

My sister's passing out "Fight Like
A Girl" bracelets.

The Care Packs consist of items both myself and other patients have found beneficial in their fight against Cancer including; Gatorade, mints, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, Cheeze Its, Protein Bars, puzzles, Peanut butter, and note pads to name a few.  

Donations brought in by the kids, and
placed underneath the Tenaciously Teal Tree.

The fifth graders at Bethany Elementary not only blessed me today with their sweet spirits and kind hearts, there generosity will bless and bring joy to many other patients for months to come. Thank you Bethany Elementary for inviting me to share some of my own and Tenaciously Teal's story, and thank you for collecting items to fund the Care Pack Operation! It was an honor to be with you today!

More items for Tenaciously Teal's Care
Packs!!

A letter from Jack that brought me to tears.

Nothing better than being surrounded by so much love and joy!

As we snapped a few shots the kids starting holding up their bracelets
shouting "Fight Like a Girl"!

Christmas is a season for giving, in fact a GIFT is at the center of it all!

I've Had Help Fighting Cancer

When this day came I thought I would have something more profound to say. Actually, not much thought has gone into it, but as the one year anniversary of my major Cancer surgery approached I assumed there would be some sort of divine inspiration or maybe a specific feeling I would have as I looked back on a significant day in my life. One year ago today my oncologist removed more than most of my insides and worked for over eight hours to eradicate my body of Cancer that clung to me tightly.

On December 10th, 2012, the fight began, and a new chapter of life with Cancer was opened. I am thankful a year ago I did not know how the chapter would be written. Mostly because of the old adage "had I known then what I know now".. Lets just say had I known then what I know now another side of Tarah may have begun this battle, and on the wrong foot. More importantly I am thankful  I did not understand what this year would hold, because of the pleasantry in seeing how evil can be used for good.

After being diagnosed with Cancer, or any major disappointment in life, it's hard to be reminded of a world where evil seems so powerful. We've all been there, felt like we were at the losing end of a battle against darkness and indescribable feelings of helplessness, pain, sadness and maybe even anger commence, doing their best to consume you. I give full credit for overcoming, or at least not backing down to, Cancer to God, and the support that has graciously surrounded me. After my diagnosis and throughout this Cancer journey I have received cards, messages, and phone calls assuring me people were praying for me, and reminding me of the power of God's love. At some point in the journey I truly started to feel the obvious strength and power that came from the prayers I was receiving, and a time came where I felt I was called to use that power to spread God's love, which has led to the ministry of Tenaciously Teal. T. Teal, I am proud to say blossomed out of darkness, and I hope is a shining example of the good that can come from a desolate situation.

In examining my Cancer journey people may ask, "Why didn't your God stop you from having Cancer?" This is a tough question, and if I am being honest one I have asked myself. If I was pressed to answer I would say,  from the beginning we've all been given the ability to make our own choices, good and bad, and with the freedom of choice comes the consequence of evil in this world. On paper freedom of choice with the potential for evil or Cancer or suicide or depression or murder seems to be a hefty price for the simplicity of choice, however, with choice good and love shine more brightly, and the only way good can truly be in us and shine through us is if we freely choose it over all else. So, in retrospect I don't know specifically why God didn't stop me from having Cancer, but His good, His Light, and His Love shine more brightly because of it.