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Making Strides Towards The Cures
To My Wonderful, Generous Circle of Friends! I know this maybe hard to believe but I have joined the Hike for Discovery team with Team in Training to help raise funds for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Several months ago I made an important decision to hike the Grand Canyon for the cure of cancer. But I am doing it for a great cause. I am a run coach for Team in Training and have been for nearly 11 years. I have trained thousands of participants to run a marathon (26.2 miles) or half marathon 13.1), and heard many stories from cancer patients and their loved ones; two of which was very dear to my heart, Cole Reagan and Brenda Donato. Cole was 7 weeks old when he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia AML M5 9/11 Chromosome. On December 25, 2002 Cole was to start his first of five rounds of chemo. Cole’s type of Leukemia is considered an adult type, which meant his cancer was very aggressive and his treatment would be even twice as aggressive. Been only 10 pounds, Cole’s chances of fighting adult doses of chemo was, in theory, to big for his veins. Cole needed a Hickman inserted into his chest, which would allow doctors to give meds and pull blood without all the needles. The problem was that there were no doctors that would perform the surgery, until one doctor stepped up and took control. After an hour and a half surgery, Cole laid limp in the recovery room with a six-inch IV tube hanging out of his 10 lb body along with monitors hanging from everywhere else. Throughout the course of Cole’s life, he would receive 8 more of these Hickman’s. Cole also received his first blood and platelet transfusion that day. After doctors informed his parents of Cole’s chances of survival, 10%, Cole had rounds one and two done with little complications and on February 22nd his parents were told Cole was in remission. Of course 3 more rounds of chemo had to follow, but the joy of hearing he was in remission was overwhelming. The family continued living in the hospital and Cole was about to end his fifth round of chemo and the idea of going home for the first time in 5 months was closing in. Unfortunately, in typical Cole fashion it wasn’t meant to be. Seven days into Cole’s recovery from his 5th round of chemo, Cole became very ill with Fungal Pneumomia and early one morning with father by his side Cole stopped breathing. Cole’s lungs became filled with fluids and he was drowning. Within minutes of alarm, 15 doctors from Pediatric Intensive Care rushed in. They immediately started CPR on Cole but his lungs would not inflate. Minutes later he was put on Life Support, and from there spent 8 weeks allowing this machine to breathe for him. Cole had come so far, and to die this way was heartbreaking. After 7 weeks of surviving 3 strokes, multiple seizures and partially paralyzed, Cole passed away on July 28th, 2004. It seems like yesterday when I held him in my arms and watched him smile through pain. Cole continued to fight up till the end and although parts of his body were paralyzed from his strokes, he still gave his love to all. Today, Cole’s parents, Brandy and Keith continue to fight to help find a cure for cancer by staying involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Brenda was diagnosed with AML in 2005 and during her brief period of remission, she participated in the Wildflower Triathlon, finishing the one-mile swim, 25 mile bike ride and six-mile run in less than four hours. In addition, soon after finishing chemotherapy, Brenda ran the Nike Women’s ½ Marathon in October 2005. Despite her weakened condition during her last days, Brenda’s spirit never wavered and she inspired me to continue my work on behalf of LLS as a coach and as a Team in Training Participant. Over the next three months on Cole and Brenda’s behalf, my goal is to raise $4000 for the cure of cancer. Please support me by contributing to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on my behalf. Please complete the enclosed sponsor form along with your tax-deductible contribution by March 25, 2008. Whatever you can donate will help – it all adds up! I truly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress. To follow my training you can go to my blog at http://lisa-hikingforacure.blogspot.com/ Peace and Health, Lisa Felder
To My Wonderful, Generous Circle of Friends!
I know this maybe hard to believe but I have joined the Hike for Discovery team with Team in Training to help raise funds for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Several months ago I made an important decision to hike the Grand Canyon for the cure of cancer. But I am doing it for a great cause. I am a run coach for Team in Training and have been for nearly 11 years. I have trained thousands of participants to run a marathon (26.2 miles) or half marathon 13.1), and heard many stories from cancer patients and their loved ones; two of which was very dear to my heart, Cole Reagan and Brenda Donato.
Cole was 7 weeks old when he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia AML M5 9/11 Chromosome. On December 25, 2002 Cole was to start his first of five rounds of chemo. Cole’s type of Leukemia is considered an adult type, which meant his cancer was very aggressive and his treatment would be even twice as aggressive. Been only 10 pounds, Cole’s chances of fighting adult doses of chemo was, in theory, to big for his veins. Cole needed a Hickman inserted into his chest, which would allow doctors to give meds and pull blood without all the needles. The problem was that there were no doctors that would perform the surgery, until one doctor stepped up and took control. After an hour and a half surgery, Cole laid limp in the recovery room with a six-inch IV tube hanging out of his 10 lb body along with monitors hanging from everywhere else. Throughout the course of Cole’s life, he would receive 8 more of these Hickman’s. Cole also received his first blood and platelet transfusion that day.
After doctors informed his parents of Cole’s chances of survival, 10%, Cole had rounds one and two done with little complications and on February 22nd his parents were told Cole was in remission. Of course 3 more rounds of chemo had to follow, but the joy of hearing he was in remission was overwhelming. The family continued living in the hospital and Cole was about to end his fifth round of chemo and the idea of going home for the first time in 5 months was closing in.
Unfortunately, in typical Cole fashion it wasn’t meant to be. Seven days into Cole’s recovery from his 5th round of chemo, Cole became very ill with Fungal Pneumomia and early one morning with father by his side Cole stopped breathing. Cole’s lungs became filled with fluids and he was drowning. Within minutes of alarm, 15 doctors from Pediatric Intensive Care rushed in. They immediately started CPR on Cole but his lungs would not inflate. Minutes later he was put on Life Support, and from there spent 8 weeks allowing this machine to breathe for him. Cole had come so far, and to die this way was heartbreaking.
After 7 weeks of surviving 3 strokes, multiple seizures and partially paralyzed, Cole passed away on July 28th, 2004. It seems like yesterday when I held him in my arms and watched him smile through pain. Cole continued to fight up till the end and although parts of his body were paralyzed from his strokes, he still gave his love to all. Today, Cole’s parents, Brandy and Keith continue to fight to help find a cure for cancer by staying involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Brenda was diagnosed with AML in 2005 and during her brief period of remission, she participated in the Wildflower Triathlon, finishing the one-mile swim, 25 mile bike ride and six-mile run in less than four hours. In addition, soon after finishing chemotherapy, Brenda ran the Nike Women’s ½ Marathon in October 2005. Despite her weakened condition during her last days, Brenda’s spirit never wavered and she inspired me to continue my work on behalf of LLS as a coach and as a Team in Training Participant.
Over the next three months on Cole and Brenda’s behalf, my goal is to raise $4000 for the cure of cancer. Please support me by contributing to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on my behalf. Please complete the enclosed sponsor form along with your tax-deductible contribution by March 25, 2008. Whatever you can donate will help – it all adds up! I truly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.
To follow my training you can go to my blog at http://lisa-hikingforacure.blogspot.com/
Peace and Health, Lisa Felder
