Happy Halloween

[L to R] Holly, Me, Liz and Mary

A small group of us, representing the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society went to Children’s Hospital in Oakland this afternoon to handout gifts during their Halloween parade. By all appearances, the children and their parents enjoyed and appreciated the gifts, and for at least an hour brightened their day. At least I hope so. For me it brought such joy, to give to the children. I know when my family spend Thanksgiving and Christmas at UCSF Hospital, it was a delight to see the staff celebrating, the halls decorated, and we even got into the spirt and decorated Sonny’s room with Christmas lights and a small tree; somehow the holidays were a bit brighter, even though the situation was horrible.

I must give credit where credit is do…my girlfriend Liz Doliver collected the gifts throughout the year, and coordinated the event with Children’s Hospital and the L&L Society.

Great Job Liz!!!

Sharing my personal connection to the cause

On Saturday I shared with the team my very personal connection to the cause. In a matter of minutes, which seemed much longer, I told my story beginning with the day Sonny (my late husband) and I discovered his lump, then learning one week later it was cancer. I spoke of the nearly 8 years of on and off treatments, CT scans, MRIs, bone marrow tests, chemo, radiation, ER visits, and finally of the last chance at hope - a bone-marrow transplant……which sadly wasn’t successful….and ultimately his death on Jan. 7, 2003. Each time I tell my story, it’s difficult, but I know it serves a greater purpose, to inspire others, to train, to fundraise, to find a cure! My emotions on Saturday, came to the surface, which I didn’t expect, but I know it’s ok. GO TEAM!!

Dinner with my children

[L to R] Harley, Me, Mike and Jessica

My son, Michael came up to visit from Huntington Beach where he lives, to visit Mom and sister, plus celebrate his birthday! I feel blessed cause I got to spend time with both my kids at the same time! I just love having my children around, BBQ ing and having a group of friends over. Life is good!

Pre-Team Dinner Gathering

[L to R, Top to Bottom] Mary, Oleg (honoree), Jim, Me, Judy (Mentor), Paul

Before our first team dinner, Mentor Judy invited her mentor group to her S.F. loft to get acquainted and share a glass or two of champagne.

Mentor Judy: Cheers You're Awesome!!!

Nike Marathon

Today we joined 15,000 other women to run in the Nike Marathon for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This event alone raised $14 million for the Society and cancer research.

All of us, except Brandy, ran the half (13.1 miles). I walked the last 4+ miles due to my knees hurting. All the other ladies were awesome!!!




(Pictured below is Brandy and Trevor) Brandy completed the full marathon in just under 4 hours!!! Trevor was at the finish to congratulate her, plus during the entire event Trevor was our inspiration! Not only that...Trevor was interview by Channel 7 news in the early morning before the race.

Letter from Trevor (Worth The Read!!!)

[L to R] Aimee, Brandy, Trevor, Me


Letter to a friend,



If there is anything at all that increases the quality of my life, that which magnifies and intensifies every experience that comes across my path...it is you. The very nature of kind gestures and caring supportis reflected in the genuine sincerity of you... who raise hope and faithhigh above. There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can hinder orcontrol the firm resolve of a determined soul...you have given me thedetermination, the fortitude to persevere, therefore, thanks to you,
I AM THAT DETERMINED SOUL.

Cancer has unequivocally altered the course of my life, but I see canceras a blessing rather than a curse, you see, there are five words, whichshould always ring out in a persons mind prior to the formation of any opinionand they are "What else could this mean?" Understand that to falter is ordinary but to relinquish a lifewillingly, this is admission of a tomorrow that has net yet occurred. The worriesof yesterday, added to the weight of the worries of tomorrow, carried today...will make even the strongest man fall, for that reason I live inthe moment because the future is today. We spend our lives worrying aboutthe procession of life, the child says, "When I am a big boy." But what isthat? The big boy says, "When I grow up." And then, grown up, he says, "WhenI get married." But to be married, what is that after all? The thought changes to "When I'm able to retire." And then, when retirement comes,he looks back over the landscape traversed; a cold wind sweeping over;somehow he has missed it all, and it is gone. Life, we learn too late, is inthe living, in the tissue of every day and every hour."One realizes the full importance of time only when there is little leftof it. Every man's greatest capital asset is his unexpired years ofproductive life. " It was late at night, sometime around 11:30 pm, as I began walkingtowards the kitchen I felt my heart jumping in my chest, unfortunately a rather common occurrence. I slowly removed a glass from the cupboard on the premise that I wasgoing to get a drink of water...how simple this process seemed at the time,how mundane an activity. Bright lights and unbearable tintinnabulation are all I remember... I awoke on the floor of the kitchen to the most terrifying sound aperson could ever hear... The voice of a loved one, a spouse no less screaming my name in tears desperately attempting to wake me from what seemed like an instant forme but yet I'm sure an eternity for her. I couldn't move... I lay there, shivering on the floor, trying to speak, but no words wouldcome, the chilling tile taking away the last ounces of strength Ithought I had. I could feel her trying to pick me up, trying to be strong for the twoof us, I could feel her tears on my shoulder and across my neck... WHY CAN'T I MOVE?????!!! What is happening to me? Gradually I began to eek my way back into a semi lucid state at whichpoint I grasped the fact that I had what the doctors so eloquently call "a syncopal episode" or in other words, I had passed out. The reasonbeing, pressure on my heart from a mass in my chest. Sitting against our refrigerator I began to appreciate the moment, Ilooked up at the face of the person taking care of me, through thetear-streaked cheeks and watered eyes and mustered the strength to say these words "I love you, I will not leave you it's just not my time yet...and thank you." Then I broke down and cried, and inside I thanked God for giving me thetime to stay...to appreciate...to love those around me...to enjoy any time Ihave with Brandy."

There is a choice that all of us must make and it is...life is somethingwe get to do, not something we've got to do, the second it becomes thelatter, life becomes a job. Regardless of my time here, I choose to live ratherthan just exist... So long as there is breath in me, that long I will persist. For now Iknow one of the greatest principles on success;

if I persist long enough
I will win.
I can't quit...
I can't back down...
I can't falter...
And I most definitely cannot lose...
because I just don't know how.

What I can offer is this, give in to those who love you because it makes life that much more fulfilling...know that we do not spend our life withthe person we can live with, we spend our life with the person we cannotlive without and we hold on to our friends as though today is the last day wewill see them. Life has three basic needs for fulfillment...something to do, someone tolove and something to hope for. As you stand ready, poised at the gates of accomplishment and freedom...understand that it is you who makes the difference, one step,one breath, one heartbeat at a time...these are what bring us across thefinish line. We bring about what we think about and dwell upon, hence, victorybecomes, to some degree, a state of mind. Knowing ourselves superior tothe anxieties, troubles, and worries, which obsess us, we are superior tothem. Within each of us is a hidden store of determination. Determination to keep us in the race when all seems lost. Remember this when the finish line seems so far in the distance, when the goal seems unobtainable...startby doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you are doingthe impossible. I would give almost anything for a bad day...cancer free...although simultaneously I would not trade this experience for anything because Iwish to continue to understand that life and love are a pathway, not a destination...always embrace time for them, thank you for taking thisjourney with me every day.

To you who have made a difference to me...you are all my friends...you are Team in Training.

Be the Miracle,
Trevor

Redwood High Coached Workout

The first photo is me thinking real hard as we are given directions to our training drills. Next is Amy and I doing our core exercises. Lastly is Coach Wayne teaching us the finer points to kicking. I'm third the top. The funny looking blue belts are special "water running" belts.

Mother / Daughter Lunch

This is one of my favorite ways to spend my spare time, with my adult children. Today it was with my daughter., Jessica. Yippee ;-)

Workouts

In addition to PT (Physical Therapy) 2x a week. The workouts have began!!
Monday: PT and core training

Tuesday: 7.5 mile run plus core training

Wednesday: First Coached workout with Coach Wayne. Run 3o minutes on the track plus stretching. For some reason the lights on the track did not come on, so we ran under the stars. It was pretty cool. I kind of liked it. Coach Wayne (using training from his army days)used a cell phone light to write down our distances. This data will be the baseline to mark improvements.

Thursday: During my lunch today I went to my Podiatrist, Dr Naylor, to have custom orthotics made. I’ll wear these inside my running shoes to stabilize my foot. Tonight I should head off to the pool to swim with the masters swim program, but I’m tired and will take it as a rest day. Oh, but I’ll do core training. Gotta get the core strong!

Friday: “Athletes Enhancer Day” aka work on your weakest sport. For me that will be my running.

The Numbers

IronTeam currently has 62 participants (and counting) plus all of staff . We have the potential to raise nearly a half million dollars ($500,000) over the next 10 months. This could fund 4 researchers! Think of the possible improvements to cancer treatment!

The Journey Began Today!

My mentor Judy, Myself & Coach Wayne

The Ironteam season began today! I met my mentor Judy for the first time day, plus many new people and reconnected with a few familar faces. I received my training schedule for the next several months. I bought this "hot" bike training jacket. Everyone, especially cars should be able to see me on the road now! As coach Wayne said today all of the team was given the "shotgun approach" lots of information regarding strenght training, fundraising, websites (Ironteam.net and a new workoutlog site) and much more.

Play time!

All work and no play isn't any fun!
In the theme of FUN...a few of us girls went to Sam's to enjoy the day.

In Memory of...In Honor of....

I was thinking it would be nice to show in photos or by listing names the many people for whom I train.


In Memory of: Sonny Silva (photo, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) , Ken Kemp (Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) , Ted Q (Leukemia) , Phil Young (Leukemia) , Ricky (Leukemia) , Tammara's brother-in-law, Robert's Father (Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) , Tina's Father, Jerry Lee Goodwin (passed away on Nov. 29, 2005 from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) ,
Troy Miller (passed away May 05 from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma at the young age of 15!), Doug Miller's father Harry Miller(Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia passed 1995), Joe's Father - Mort,




In Honor of: Trevor (photo), Uncle Jim Harris, Jeff Lucietta; Tim Murphy, Jessica, My Dad with prostate cancer, Uncle Jack with prostate cancer, and Dean Miller with prostate cancer, Tina Kramer .

What have I been doing?

What have I been doing, since my last major blog entry? Well, I sent out many donation letters and emails, and as of today I have raised $2,560. while my on-line donations don’t show this. It is true! Many are in checks. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You to all my generous donors!

On Monday October 3rd I went to my second physical therapy session. I have the most awesome therapist. Her name is Tammara Moore, with Sport & Orthopedic Leaders (SOL) in Oakland. Tammara also is a 2 time IronMan/Woman (Canada 2003 and Kona 2004). She is helping me strengthen my left leg and ankle, plus core training. I’ve got to get these key parts in stronger shape before the difficult training begins. Tammara like so many people I meet she has close connection to the cause. Her bother-in-law passed away from Hodgkin’s, leaving behind a wife (her sister) and a small child several years back.

Well what about training you might ask…. I must say I’m happy to report on September 25 I completed my longest bike ride ever 72 miles! This was accomplished during an event called “Waves to Wine” outside of San Rosa. This event supports research for MS. It was a bit cold in the morning but warmed up nicely by late morning and the rest of the day.