Monday, July 19, 2010

And Another Reason...

I got this message from a fellow 3-Day walker the other day. She's on another team comprised of CCLs and wanted to share this wonderful burst of inspiration:

Just wanted to share with you that yesterday I had lunch with my friend Maria who was diagnosed with breast cancer 5 years ago when she was only 38 years old. She had a very aggressive cancer and even after a double mastectomy she is not cancer free - she has been on chemo continuously since her diagnosis. Unfortunatley her cancer has spread to many areas - lungs, liver, bone - and she recently had to go back on IV Chemo - she was on pills for 1 1/2 years. The good news is that the new chemo is doing the job and she is doing well and it has regressed. Amazingly enough she is still living a pretty functional life - working, taking her kids to soccer games etc.

Her dr. has told her that her cancer will always adapt to the drugs and when it does she has to go on a new med that the cancer is not yet resistant to - this will be the case for the rest of her life. She also said that without organizations like Komen there wouldn't be nearly as much research for new drugs. So thank you ladies for walking and making a difference. We're keeping people like Maria alive and that is no small thing my friends.


The donations, the support, the love, the blisters...they DO make a difference!

So does the weather. I was able to walk seven miles Saturday. It was cloudy, breezy and apparently not very humid. I was so relieved to discover I can log some distance when I can actually breathe!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Why She Walked

I don't know how exactly, but I stumbled across this blog a few weeks ago. It's the blog of Jennifer Hoffman, an AZ 3-Day walker. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000. It was treated successfully. But like it so often does, her cancer came back. Metastacized. Much like Casandra's did.

I was intrigued by her story and added it to my favorites so I could read her older posts. On days when I really need a reminder why I'm putting my diabetic, hormone loopy, insanely fat body through this.

Today, one of those days, I found this post:

http://www.08azbreastcancer3dy.blip.tv/

This video is her story, the story of why she walked.

It's also why all of us walk.

(And get all weepy and feel bad about griping about it being too *bleeping* hot to walk. Why, although I so hate myself for signing up for the 3-Day in what has to be the worst weather year ever, I still can't wait to do it).

Jennifer died April 21, 2009.

Monday, July 12, 2010

T-Minus Four Months!

See this blank stare I have going on? This "Whaaa?" expression on my face?

It's only FOUR MONTHS until the 3-Day.

Only four more months to train. And figure out what all I need for the walk. And shop for it. And...pack for it.

*gulp*