.2 MILES...FOR THE FAMILIES

We have been on a journey for the month of February.

The ABCs of CANCER....a 26 MILE/LETTER journey through the eyes of the patients of ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL.

We showed, each day, a letter of the alphabet and how the patient/artists described what that letter meant to them in relation to their time at St. Jude.

Some were lighthearted and funny.  Some where straight out honest and heart wrenching (remember the letter Y just a couple of days ago?).

I mentioned yesterday, that in a marathon, you can't stop at mile 26 and think you are done. 

There is still .2 miles to go.  

352 yards.

Almost one lap around the track.

At this point in the race, you can see the finish and the feeling of accomplishment sweeps over you (at least it does with me...every time).

Life is a marathon...not a sprint.

Unlike a marathon race that is 26.2 miles long, in the marathon of life, we don't know how long it will be.  We just know that it is supposed to be many, many years.

So even though our journey is over, like the marathon race itself, there are MANY who are still in the race.  

Still fighting.  

Still battling.  

Day in....Day out.

As we take our ".2" to reflect....we acknowledge ALL those who HAVE run and those still in the race.  

YOU are the true HEROES of this journey.  

Thank you for giving us your insights into what your race looks like.

THAT is why I run as a ST. JUDE HERO!

FINAL NOTE:
Each day in our ABCs of CANCER journey, we asked that if your name corresponded with the letter of the day, to consider a donation to ST. JUDE via my Boston Marathon St. Jude Heroes donation site.  I am blessed to report that over this time, we have had $2176 come in!  You ALL are amazing.  So, if your name begins with ANY letter of the Alphabet, would you consider a donation to St. Jude at the link below?  THANK YOU!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

Z IS FOR...

MILE 26...LETTER Z.

Z IS FOR...ZOFRAN

• Zzzzz....as in sleepy b/c chemo makes me tired
• Ondansetron is the generic name
• (helps me) Feel better
• Ran through IV at hospital & pills at home during treatment
• Always have Faith
• (helps prevent) Nausea & vomiting

MILE 26.

We can see the end.

What a journey it has been.

We're not quite done.

In a marathon, you still have .2 miles to go....352 yards....almost one loop of the track around the football field. 

We're almost there.....but not done yet.

I remember after getting involved with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, raising money and awareness by running marathons as a St. Jude Hero, learning how far medical science has come in treating pediatric cancer.

When St. Jude opened in 1962, the survival rate for a child with cancer was 20%....1 in 5.

Today, the survival rate is over 80%...4 in 5.

BUT....we're not quite done yet.

Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude, once said, "No child should die in the dawn of life."

Until the survival rate is 100%....the race isn't over.

Tomorrow, we'll finish out our ABCs of CANCER journey....with .2.

Until no child dies from cancer......

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter Z, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

Y IS FOR...

MILE 25...LETTER Y.

Y IS FOR....YUCKY!

• Needles are YUCKY and scary.
• Throwing up is YUCKY.
• Taking medicine is super YUCKY.
• Cancer is mean and YUCKY.

Maybe today's should have read, "Y IS FOR HONESTY!"

Many kids have no filter.

They tell it straight out.

"Mommy...that man is bald."

"Mommy...that man has a gray beard."

"Mommy...Cancer is MEAN and YUCKY."

ANYONE who is in the fight....knows it's a fight.

They know it's not fun to be sick.  It's not fun to be a human pin cushion.

IT'S YUCKY!

BUT.....if we can embrace the YUCKY and keep fighting....we'll win!

I have a friend who usually tags his posts on Facebook with #embracethestrugglecelebratethevictory

So, if you know someone in the fight....be there for them.  Listen to them.  Embrace the struggle with them.....AND....CELEBRATE THE VICTORY!

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter Y, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

X IS FOR...

MILE 24...LETTER X.

X IS FOR..."I get eXTRA....when I come to St. Jude."

I remember growing up that I wanted to have my tonsils out.

I had friends who did.

I had family members who did.

I never did.

Still to this day, they are still in there.

You want to know why I wanted them out?

ICE CREAM!

I wanted eXTRA ice cream like those that did.

Our artist today is living the eXTRA life.

• hugs
• love
• chemo
• MRI
• medicine
• friends
• family
• doctors
• care
• nurses
• early appointments
• tired teachers
• stuck caregivers
• scans
• needles
• flying 
• snacks
• water

ALL of the eXTRA here is GOOD....so they can get better!

But where's the ICE CREAM?

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter X, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

W IS FOR...

"We are chemo Warriors."

MILE 23...LETTER W.

When you have been on the path and have fought...YOU.ARE.A.WARRIOR!

I have a friend that I met through running.  She has gone through multiple battles with cancer.

She is one of the strongest people that I have watched, from a distance, NOT letting this vile disease disrupt her life.

I call her the Warrior Princess.

I know she has "days."  She's talked about it...posted about it...but always embraced it.

"We soldier on and fight it through.  We can't deny, sometimes we cry."

Being a warrior doesn't mean you don't hurt.

It means you embrace the struggle....and celebrate the VICTORY!

For those who are not in the fight, help, support, cheer, those that are, ANY way you can!

We are all BETTER TOGETHER!

So, for all who are going through the struggle...through the battle...as our artist today said, "...fight it through!"  

YOU.ARE.A.WARRIOR!

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter W, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

V IS FOR...

"VINCRISTINE is the chemo that goes into my VEINS.  Sometimes my VEINS blow because of too many needle pokes.  I will be VICTORIOUS over cancer after my treatment."

MILE 22...LETTER V.

Thoughts from MILE 22:

• I'm tired
• It's only 4.2 miles to the end
• My body is screaming at me
• Can I do this?
• YOU.GOT.THIS!

I'm sure there are many other conversations that I have had with myself at this point in a marathon.

You know you're getting closer, but it's still a ways away.

You've "hit the wall" ("Sometimes my VEINS blow...."), but you know you have to keep moving forward.

There is VICTORY waiting for you....but you have to finish.

Running.....running a marathon... is NOT hard, compared to battling for your life.

When in Memphis last month visiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the TEAM who is running the Boston Marathon as St. Jude Heroes, met up and we toured the hospital.

Near the end of our tour, we met up with a 17 year old patient who is going through brain cancer.  He was well enough, last December, to run the St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon.  

One of our TEAM asked him what he does to get through the pain while training.  He said, "I told myself that I would stop when I was in pain.  Running is not pain.  I know what pain is by going through brain cancer."

WOW.  Makes you question who the real HERO is in all of this?

So run.  

Fight.

Know you will be VICTORIOUS after the race.....after the treatment.  Actually, you are already VICTORIOUS for going through the battle!

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter V, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

U IS FOR...

MILE 21...LETTER U.

Getting closer to the finish and today, we look at the LETTER U IS FOR...ULTRASOUND.

WOW...read what our artist wrote today.

Here's someone who received a good understanding of all that the ULTRASOUND did for them.

It's interesting to me, that there are days of what the LETTER of the DAY is and what the word is that is associated with that letter, and how they intersect with my life.

Earlier today, I was talking with a young gal who is going to go to graduate school to get a degree where she will do ULTRASOUNDS. 

Also, this description of having this test done, reminded me of my medical adventure a couple of years ago.  I had a biopsy, multiple CAT scans, a nuclear medicine bone scan, prostatectomy surgery, and multiple pokes, sticks, and the such.

I am so glad for technology and those that know how to administer and read the results.

Sometimes in our lives, we might not need a medical ultrasound, but we could use an "introspection ultrasound" of the things that are going on inside of us.

Do we (I'm talking to me) let these things bottle up on the inside and then build up until one day they come out...not in a good way?

Have someone you can talk to.  Maybe a professional..maybe a friend.  

Either way, do an "introspection ultrasound" and find out what is inside there...as it says in our picture, "...in real-time..."

Oh, and check out the last line, "THEY HAVE SOME OF THE BEST LOOKING LADIES!!!"

You go, Player!

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter U....not many out there, I know...so what if you know a word that has the letter U in it, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

T IS FOR...

T IS FOR....THANKFUL (for St. Jude helping us get healthy!).

MILE 20...LETTER T.

• THANK YOU DOCTORS
• THANK YOU NURSES
• THANK YOU SCIENTISTS
• THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS
• THANK YOU DONORS

"I am THANKFUL for all the people here.  Give thanks."  Love, Pyper Young

When running marathons, for me, there's just something about getting to mile 20.

Maybe it's all in my head, but I use that mile mark as a way to energize for the remainder of the race.

Usually, I tell myself, "Ok...the 20 mile warm up is over.  Time to run this 10K!"

I am THANKFUL for MILE 20!

Sometimes, in this middle of the struggle, it's hard to find something to give thanks for.

What does a life of gratitude look like when the days are dark?

About a year ago (mid March), I wrote a BEST YEAR YET blog post about GRATITUDE..THANKFULNESS (I would encourage you to go back and read that post from March 14, 2017).  In it we talked about doing 5 disciplines or positive habits to do each day for 21 days.

So, I set out to do these 5 disciplines and I included, each day of the BEST YEAR YET blog, Positive Habit #1 - write down 3 things, each day, that you are grateful for.

This exercise made me VERY conscience of things we could take for granted.  For example:

• The warm sun after months of cold Winter
• The joy and emotion of song
• A nurse who knows how to "stick" you

So, on "T DAY" what are you THANKFUL for?  Write them down each day!

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter T, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  Like our artist Pyper, I too am VERY THANKFUL to all of you DONORS.  You all are the true HEROES!  THANK YOU!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

S IS FOR...

MILE 19...LETTER S.

S IS FOR...St. Jude!

How fitting!

Check out these other "S" words as described by our artist today when describing St. Jude:

• Safe Haven
• Strong (patients)
• Sweet (nurses)
• Supportive (staff)
• Safe
• Scenic (areas around the hospital)
• Scar (you for life...guaranteed)
• (Finding Cures.) Saving children

I have a few scars on my body.

I put my right hand through the storm door when I was 13.  Should have got stitches, but I had a baseball game that night and didn't want to miss it.

I have had a couple of arthroscopic knee surgeries on my right knee that have left small scars.

Other nicks and cuts that have left scars on my body, mostly sports and playing related.

But the ones I notice, everyday, are the 6 scars I have across my belly from my prostatectomy.

One of them is in my belly button and has changed the way it is and looks....for life.

Some people don't have physical scars, but mental ones.

Either way, the scars are there, and most likely won't go away.

But they are a reminder to what you have gone through.  Not to look back and hurt again, but to remember that you are "healed" from what caused the scar in the first place.

The "cut" is just one part....there are many other GOOD parts like safety, being strong, having great care, having a place of solace to retreat to.

When I look at my belly today, I see the scars....but I also embrace all the LIVING I have yet to do!

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter S, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

R IS FOR...

MILE 18....LETTER R.

RESPECTFUL.

What a fitting word for the LETTER R.

"It is important to show other kindness and respect when they are trying to make you feel better."

I was taught, growing up, that if you didn't have anything nice to say about someone or something, don't say anything at all.

Sometimes I passed that test.  Other times, I learned.

That learning has come in handy as I have "seasoned."

I identify with our artist in today's post.

I have written it here, but in 2016, I had a 2, 5 day stays in the hospital.  One for a bacterial infection I got from a medical procedure.  The other, a prostatectomy to remove cancer from my body.

I think I was an ok patient....at times.  For both stays, I was in a great deal of pain and was medicated pretty heavily.  

I was tethered to an IV with much needed medication and nutrients flowing into me at all times.  One such time, I had to go to the bathroom.  When in the bathroom, I must have hit the cord to alert the nurse I needed assistance, except I don't remember doing it.  My nurse, doing her job, came in to make sure I was ok.  I was ok, but felt intruded upon.  I lit into her for ....well, doing her job.

I didn't express kindness and respect.  The CHEERLEADER let me know it too.  

Of course, I tried to excuse it away due to my pain...or the medication....but in reality, it was totally me being disrespectful to someone who was trying to help me.

I owned it.  I spoke to my nurse later in the day and apologized and asked her to forgive me for the outburst I had on her.

At times, we can be like that to those who love us and want to help or assist us...because they want the best for us.

So to those out there helping us....THANK YOU!  

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter R, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

Q IS FOR...

Q IS FOR...."the many questions I have for my Doctors and Nurses."

"What caused this?"
"Why do I have cancer?"
"Will I lose my hair?"
"Will I be sick a lot?"
"Does chemo hurt my body?"
"How long will I be here?"
"What is the side affects?"
"Will I be ok?"
"Does this hurt?"
"When can I go home?"

MILE 17...LETTER Q.

Questions are good.

Questions lead to answers.

No answers without questions.

Sometimes, the answers are what we want to hear.

Sometimes, the answers are NOT what we want to hear.

Sometimes, there are no answers.

Cancer is not a respecter of persons.

So we need to be relentless in our pursuit of ANSWERS to the QUESTIONS.

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter Q....not many out there, I know...so what if you know a word that has the letter Q in it, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!


https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

P IS FOR...

MILE 16...LETTER P.

P IS FOR...
Our artist for the letter "P" in the ABCs of CANCER journey gave a nice peek behind the curtain (in my opinion) to what they go through...as told with words that begin with P.

Notice they talk about the treatment but also other "P" things that are important to them.
- Prayers
- Patience
- Positive
- Pokes
- Party
- Parents

Have you ever thought about your life's journey and how you would describe your life by using the letters of the alphabet?

What words would you use to describe your journey using the letter P?

Would words like PATIENCE or PRAYER or how about this one....POSITIVE, be the ones you would use?

Today I was talking with someone about the PATH that both of us are on.

We discussed how LIFE happens and we can either throw our hands up and say "I QUIT!" or we can take ownership of what is going on and PRESS FORWARD!

The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:12 [NLT], "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I PRESS on to POSSESS that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me."

There are a couple more good "P" words....PRESS and POSSESS.

So as you are traveling on the PATH, think of words that help you get through each "MILE" of life!

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter P, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

O IS FOR...

MILE 15...LETTER O.

2 "miles" into the back half.  

Not close to being done....but needing some encouragement.

We all need encouragement.  

It's good to have people around us that are genuine in their love and care for us.

"O is for the OUTSTANDING people that help you get better.  They are...

• Oncologists
• Understanding
• Terrific
• Sensational
• Trusting
• Amazing
• Nuturing
• Dynamite
• Interesting
• Nice 
• Gifted

Very few of us will be the "O" in this version of OUTSTANDING....but we all can be U-T-S-T-A-N-D-I-N-G!  

How about for all of us who aren't Oncologists, we just be ONE, One Understanding, Terrific, Sensational, Trusting, Amazing, Nurturing, Dynamite, Interesting, Nice, Gifted person?!

We all need OUTSTANDING people in our lives.

We all should be OUTSTANDING people in other's lives.

BE OUTSTANDING TODAY!

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter O, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU, you OUTSTANDING person!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

N IS FOR...

MILE 14...LETTER N.

N IS FOR...NURSE.

Pretty quick.

Not much else to say.

I'm guessing that this patient artist has GREAT NURSES!

I can't speak for him or her, but I can agree that have a GREAT NURSE makes a HUGE difference when in the hospital.

I've mentioned  here in the BEST YEAR YET blog, that back in 2016 I had 2 x 5 day stints in the hospital.  One was for a bacterial infection following the biopsy that helped to determine the prostate cancer and the other was for the surgery to remove the cancer.  On the 2nd visit to have the surgery, I developed really HIGH blood pressure and had to stay a few extra days.

While I was in the hospital, on both occasions, I had some GREAT nurses and a couple of OK nurses.

Many times, for me, my "test" for them was how well they could "stick" me.  I think for that time from May through October, I felt like a pin cushion and was really THANKFUL to have someone who could "stick" me without incident.  Make a HUGE difference.

So, next time you go to the doctors office or hospital and you have a good nurse, let them know how much you appreciate it!


FINAL NOTE:

If your name begins with the letter N, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

M IS FOR...

MILE 13....LETTER M.

(cue Bon Jovi) "Woah, we're halfway there....Woah, livin' on a prayer!"

How appropriate that LETTER M is the 13th letter in our 26 letter alphabet.

Not only that, but one of the lyric from the Bon Jovi song, "Livin' On A Prayer"  talks of holding on and that you live for the fight, when it's all you got.

"...the only thing you can do is pray for a MIRACLE and MIRACLES do happen here at St. Jude...I can say so myself."  So penned by our young artist.

mir·a·cle

ˈmirək(ə)l/

1. a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.

"DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?"  Announcer Al Michaels declared 38 years ago!

Whether it is in a hockey match, relationship or a health fight....MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN TODAY!

So, wherever you are today, think about the kids of St. Jude and their families that are praying for "a surprising and welcome event..." 

Remember LETTER M....MILE 13 and being "...halfway there....Woah, livin' on a prayer!"


FINAL NOTE:
Thank You to all who have got behind our "ABCs OF CANCER" journey and have donated to St. Jude on the day that represents the first letter of their name.  If your name begins with M, today is YOUR day!  Go to the link below.  And remember, ANY amount is greatly appreciated.

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

L IS FOR...

L IS FOR...

• LOVE
• LOVE ST. JUDE
• LOVE MY FAMILY
• LOVE PLAYING
• LOVE PLAYING SPORTS

How appropriate, with tomorrow being Valentine's Day, (or I should have thought of this better and timed it so L was tomorrow....) that our St. Jude Artist chose LOVE for the letter L.

Something about an illness that makes you more aware of what it truly important to you.

When  I was diagnosed with Cancer in 2016, I thought about my family.  I thought about how this would not just impact me, but them as well.

Also, at that time, I was in the middle of a goal of running 4 full marathons for the year.  

I had just completed marathon #2, when I had a biopsy to determine if it was cancer or not.

When I was at the doctor's office to hear the results of the biopsy, the doctor said, "It's cancer......"

After talking for a bit about treatment options I asked, "When can I run again?"

What is important to you?

You don't need an illness to bring about perspective for your life.

What do you LOVE?

Look around you.

See what is important to you.

Write those things down and then START to have them be a bigger part of your life!

FINAL NOTE:

If your name begins with the letter L, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete

K IS FOR...

MILE 11...LETTER K.

I can't speak for everyone, but when running a marathon, there are different points throughout the race where I take an "inventory."

For me, Mile 11 is one of those places.

I'm usually not "gassed out" at this point, but I know I still have a long way to go.

I'm 2.1 miles from the half way point.

I'm 15.2 miles from the finish.

For me, I'm most likely 2 hours into the race and my thoughts begin to go toward food!

Here's a quick side note....When running the NYC Marathon in 2015, I was right at this point, maybe a little further when someone held up a sign that read, "C'MON...the Kenyon's are done and having a cold beverage by now."  That was a funny one!

OK...back to food!  

Today's letter....K....from our ABCs of CANCER journey is about the KAY KAFE that is at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Food, whether for comfort or nutrition, plays a HUGE role in all or our lives.

Currently, in my training for the Boston Marathon, I have been closely watching my food and "macro" intake.  What does that all mean?  I have not idea...other than this is what has been prescribed for me and it is working!

Our Letter K artist was evidently impacted by the KAY KAFE.  Look at the variety of food they listed:

• ICE CREAM (I love that this is at the TOP of the list!)
• PIZZA
• HAMBURGER
• WATERMELON
• SALAD ( I also find it amusing that this is at the bottom of the list!)

Last month, while I was in Memphis at St. Jude, I got to experience the KAY KAFE!

The food was GREAT!  Not your typical hospital food.

You know who else was enjoying the KAY KAFE?

• Patients and their families
• Staff workers
• Doctors
• Nurses
• Other guests (like me)

In fact, the KAY KAFE is the only eating facility in the Hospital.  Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, felt that EVERYONE, no matter who their were, should eat together and be reminded of the Mission of St. Jude.

So, don't eat alone....don't do life alone.  We are all BETTER TOGETHER!

FINAL NOTE:

If your name begins with the letter K, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  Take a look at the picture below for what some amounts can do.  Thank you.

https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/stjudeheroes2018/timpete