HERE FOR THE GIRLS
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nurturers aren’t always comfortable asking for or receiving help. So make specific offers to assist , such as cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, providing dinner, watching the kids, grocery shopping, or doing laundry. Set a time and be sure to follow through. • Offer to communicate the diagnosis to neighbors, colleagues, etc., so she doesn’t have to keep bracing herself for the reaction each time she shares the news. Volunteer to write a blog on a site such as CaringBridge.org to keep family and friends informed of your friend’s progress, thus reducing the phone calls she receives. • Accompany your friend to medical appointments and take notes so she can concentrate on her conversation with the doctor. Chemotherapy appointments are a great opportunity to hang out together as they last hours and are, well, boring. • Organize others to prepare and deliver meals throughout treatment, especially following chemo days and surgery.
Create a schedule to ensure she gets a variety of healthy meals and not lasagna every night. You may even ask your friend for specific meal or dietary suggestions. LotsaHelpingHands.com is a useful online tool for coordinating meals and other needed household tasks. • Help your friend celebrate her life and her femininity with all things “girly.” Gifts of lotion, books, comedy DVDs, dark chocolate, indulgent magazines, fluffy slippers, comfy PJs,
and fun jewelry are always appropriate. You can also take your friend out for tea, lunch, a lighthearted movie, a concert, a manicure, a massage, or even a girls’ night out.
Mary Beth Gibson is the executive director and co-founder of Here for the Girls, Inc. (HereForTheGirls.org), a not-for-profit improving the lives of young women affected by breast cancer.
APPLE PUFF PANCAKE BY LAUREN DURHAM, FORMER LEAD CASE MANAGER
DAD
JOKE
Q: I asked my new friend to meet me at the gym, but they never showed up. A: I guess the two of us aren’t going to work out.
Ingredients
• 4 tablespoons butter • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 1/2 cup milk • 2 eggs • 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 medium apple, peeled, cored, quartered, and sliced • 2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon • Powdered sugar
Directions
1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Place half the butter into a 9-inch ceramic pie plate or metal pie pan and bake 4–5 minutes or until melted and pie plate is hot. Spread melted butter over bottom of pie plate. 3. Whisk flour, milk, and eggs together in bowl. Carefully pour batter into hot pie plate. Bake 14–17 minutes or until puffed and light golden brown.
4. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add maple syrup, apple slices, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cook, stirring occasionally, 4–5 minutes or until apple is tender; keep warm. 5. Spoon apple mixture over puffed pancake and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.
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