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Hello everyone! We are checked out of Stanford and currently in a little apartment place just down the block from the hospital. Everything is going really well with Justin. His numbers are looking great. His white blood cells are in the normal range. They took his catheter out last night because it was causing him a bacterial infection. Fighting fire with fire he said.. so its gone. But he wasn't really going to be needing it for much more anyway. He can do the last few meds through IV on his hand or so. We'll be here at least for a week is what I've heard. Due to the meds for the bacterial infection. He was very eager to get outside today when I came to pick him up. But I'm so not looking forward to this weekend, FOOTBALL non stop. Its the one thing he has LOVED about being in the hospital, he never has to change the channel away from the college football games. My parents just came by, they haven't seen him since we dropped him off on the 6th. But they came by with food and stuff for us to live on for the next week here in this little apartment. We hope you all had a great thanksgiving. And we'll be seeing you soon!
November 27th, 2009
happyNovember 5th, 2009
Justin checks into the hospital tomorrow, friday morning. He doesn't seem scared about that. Just concerned about his boredom while being confined to a small room for 24 hours a day. He'll be locked in there for most of the first 2 weeks he's at Stanford, until his blood counts and stuff start to climb back up.
He's already started chemo. He was feeling a bit worse today than he's been all week. Like they said he would though, so everything is going as planned. He'll be doing another day of chemo friday, a break on Saturday, chemo on sunday, a break on monday, chemo on tuesday. And then transplant day on Nov 12! They called this his second birthday. Thats the day they will give him back the stem cells we harvested just before my marathon. They said sadly, for the long day of harvesting.. the transplant is less than 5 minutes! I guess thats good. No fun being tied down all afternoon like usual.
He is going to be at Stanford for about the rest of the month. They said he could be leaving sometime around Thanksgiving. So we'll see how it all works out. See what his body decides to do. Hopefully it will work overtime and get these numbers up and moving and be done with this. Cause he's just as tired of it as anyone else is.
He's already started chemo. He was feeling a bit worse today than he's been all week. Like they said he would though, so everything is going as planned. He'll be doing another day of chemo friday, a break on Saturday, chemo on sunday, a break on monday, chemo on tuesday. And then transplant day on Nov 12! They called this his second birthday. Thats the day they will give him back the stem cells we harvested just before my marathon. They said sadly, for the long day of harvesting.. the transplant is less than 5 minutes! I guess thats good. No fun being tied down all afternoon like usual.
He is going to be at Stanford for about the rest of the month. They said he could be leaving sometime around Thanksgiving. So we'll see how it all works out. See what his body decides to do. Hopefully it will work overtime and get these numbers up and moving and be done with this. Cause he's just as tired of it as anyone else is.
If you'd like his email you can message me.. Or his hospital address..
In the meantime.. I signed up for the Winter Walk season and I'll once again be the webcaptain! I'm planning on doing the Oakland Marathon and possible the Kaiser San Francisco. :) We'll see! :)
In the meantime.. I signed up for the Winter Walk season and I'll once again be the webcaptain! I'm planning on doing the Oakland Marathon and possible the Kaiser San Francisco. :) We'll see! :)
October 21st, 2009
I FINISHED MY MARATHON! It was a great day for a marathon too. The weather was questionable.. but it pulled through at the last minute. The skies cleared up about mile 8. Heading down toward the cliffhouse to a clear view of the ocean was wonderful. I gained a few minutes. But I feel so many times better than I did last year after my marathon. So I'll deal with those few minutes. Time doesn't matter anyway. I started, I finished, and I didn't get injured along the way! Adorable Firemen from San Francisco were there at the finish line to hand us our little Tiffany's boxes with our finishers necklace in it. They are beautiful as always.
My team did awesome. Everyone finished without injury. So its been a great season. I'm really glad I got to know this team so well. I feel like a little family. I'm sad to see it over. But we've all agreed to get together every now and then.
Justin is doing well. He's had a few weeks off to recover. He had a great time at my marathon too, cheering all the teams on and taking photos. He'll be heading back to Stanford soon to begin chemo treatments. Then soon enough he'll be checking into Stanford to stay for a while. Hopefully he won't get super bored. But we'll see.
I've got the address if you'd like to mail him something. Just message me, email or facebook. There are certain food restrictions, so ask about those before you send anything. But something to entertain would probably be greatly appreciated. I don't know how many visitors will be allowed. Since he's kinda on "lock down" with the no immune system thing. But I'll get the info and share it here!
My team did awesome. Everyone finished without injury. So its been a great season. I'm really glad I got to know this team so well. I feel like a little family. I'm sad to see it over. But we've all agreed to get together every now and then.
Justin is doing well. He's had a few weeks off to recover. He had a great time at my marathon too, cheering all the teams on and taking photos. He'll be heading back to Stanford soon to begin chemo treatments. Then soon enough he'll be checking into Stanford to stay for a while. Hopefully he won't get super bored. But we'll see.
I've got the address if you'd like to mail him something. Just message me, email or facebook. There are certain food restrictions, so ask about those before you send anything. But something to entertain would probably be greatly appreciated. I don't know how many visitors will be allowed. Since he's kinda on "lock down" with the no immune system thing. But I'll get the info and share it here!
October 9th, 2009
Well lets start with the good news. Good news is we are on track with the Stanford time schedule. We had a bit of a change in plans with the hospital a week back. But things are going well, and everything is going on time. We should be done with Apherisis before my marathon. Which scary thought, is next Sunday. Eek.. only 9 more days. I'm ready though. I don't have much choice, I have to be. Its do or die time.
The bad news.. Justin's blood counts came back really low yesterday. He's going to need to get a blood transfusion. They said this is normal and happens to a lot of people. Its just not what we were hoping for. He goes today to get a blood test to help them match him up with the right blood. Then he'll go in tomorrow morning and get the transfusion. He asked if he should do it or would things improve, the doctor said he'll probably just get worse. So he didn't get left with much choice. So he's braving up again to get this done. Maybe they'll be able to use his Hickman Catheter instead of his arm though. Then it won't hurt since there is no poking!
That's all the news I have for now. We'll keep you in the loop. :)
The bad news.. Justin's blood counts came back really low yesterday. He's going to need to get a blood transfusion. They said this is normal and happens to a lot of people. Its just not what we were hoping for. He goes today to get a blood test to help them match him up with the right blood. Then he'll go in tomorrow morning and get the transfusion. He asked if he should do it or would things improve, the doctor said he'll probably just get worse. So he didn't get left with much choice. So he's braving up again to get this done. Maybe they'll be able to use his Hickman Catheter instead of his arm though. Then it won't hurt since there is no poking!
That's all the news I have for now. We'll keep you in the loop. :)
September 30th, 2009
Well Justin got the word this evening that we are back on for Chemo! The results to the many tests on his cough all came back negative. I guess its "just a cough". Which is all possible since the cough is really what started this WHOLE thing in the first place.
So news is we are back on for the chemo overnight and its scheduled for this Friday. Which works and doesn't. But we'll make it work. I'll just have to run from my marathon training on Saturday morning to Stanford to pick him up. I think it will be fine.
This also makes things a little easier.. but maybe still a bit tight.. for Nike! We are just hoping that his body responds SUPER well to the blood boosters, as previously they have, and he'll be able to get in and done with Apherisis with time to spare. We are also crossing our fingers that we don't have to do more than a few days of the Apherisis. Word is that it could take up to 5 days.. I'm hoping for about 2. :)
Good news! Guess you crossed your fingers and hoped with us.. well it worked! Thanks! :)
So news is we are back on for the chemo overnight and its scheduled for this Friday. Which works and doesn't. But we'll make it work. I'll just have to run from my marathon training on Saturday morning to Stanford to pick him up. I think it will be fine.
This also makes things a little easier.. but maybe still a bit tight.. for Nike! We are just hoping that his body responds SUPER well to the blood boosters, as previously they have, and he'll be able to get in and done with Apherisis with time to spare. We are also crossing our fingers that we don't have to do more than a few days of the Apherisis. Word is that it could take up to 5 days.. I'm hoping for about 2. :)
Good news! Guess you crossed your fingers and hoped with us.. well it worked! Thanks! :)
Monday went great. Justin's port from John Muir was removed and he had a his Hickman Catheter placed. His surgery was a bit over an hour, but he walked out feeling good. Tired and sore, but that's all just minor. He'll have to keep it clean and flush it daily so that the tubes don't get blocked up. We have a big bag of goodies to keep it under control.
Tuesday was a mess. Justin's been coughing for a little over a week. He's told everyone he can speak to. Finally last week he saw the Doctor's assistant from his oncology office here at John Muir. She gave him some antibiotics and sent him on his way. We showed up bright and early at Stanford to begin the overnight stay for chemo. He again mentioned this cough that hadn't yet gone away. He told them it'd been about a week or so, but that things weren't getting worse in sound or anything. They decided to run tests and figure out what was the matter before they began anything. So after 3 hours of fluids in prep for chemo they decided we were going to have to cancel the chemo and attempt it again next week. This is a big downer for us. We were ready to go, had all the dates on track. And now we are left wondering what happens with all the other days and in the long time line of events. This also makes a huge problem for my marathon. Can he go? Will he be on his shots? Will his counts be high enough to begin Apherisis? How will he get to Stanford? These questions are still left in the air at the moment.
He and I are crossing our fingers that we can push the chemo back to Wednesday, which will push the shots back a few days, and hopefully push the Apherisis back too, just after my marathon. So.. lets hope for the best!
Tuesday was a mess. Justin's been coughing for a little over a week. He's told everyone he can speak to. Finally last week he saw the Doctor's assistant from his oncology office here at John Muir. She gave him some antibiotics and sent him on his way. We showed up bright and early at Stanford to begin the overnight stay for chemo. He again mentioned this cough that hadn't yet gone away. He told them it'd been about a week or so, but that things weren't getting worse in sound or anything. They decided to run tests and figure out what was the matter before they began anything. So after 3 hours of fluids in prep for chemo they decided we were going to have to cancel the chemo and attempt it again next week. This is a big downer for us. We were ready to go, had all the dates on track. And now we are left wondering what happens with all the other days and in the long time line of events. This also makes a huge problem for my marathon. Can he go? Will he be on his shots? Will his counts be high enough to begin Apherisis? How will he get to Stanford? These questions are still left in the air at the moment.
He and I are crossing our fingers that we can push the chemo back to Wednesday, which will push the shots back a few days, and hopefully push the Apherisis back too, just after my marathon. So.. lets hope for the best!
September 25th, 2009
Things are winding down here with my marathon training, only 23 days till race day! Doing a BIG walk in the morning, 11 miles, mostly on the course track! Its great living right here in the same place as the race because we get to actually train on the course! A little advantage most people won't have. Well most being other than the 600+ who will be there BRIGHT and EARLY tomorrow morning!
Justin and I are just beginning our adventures at Stanford. We've finished the prep work and paper work. Now we are getting down to business. Monday is surgery day, removal of his port and implanting the device Stanford will use instead. We got a big bag of goodies to keep the device clean and sterile and hopefully with not problems! We'll get the drugs on tuesday to keep the blood clots away. Tuesday comes the first day of treatment and the first overnight stay. He'll be receiving a high dose of chemo that has major problems if you don't thoroughly flush it from the body. So besides the chemo they will pump him full of fluids so he'll be needing to pee nonstop! Sounds like fun. But definitely better than the other end of the spectrum, bleeding in the bladder. So here's to a night of potty runs!
I'm going to keep updating this throughout our Stanford time. However I don't think I'll put putting photos here, they are all accessible from my facebook page. Add me!
Off to rest for tomorrow is an early and LONG day. Where's my recovery drug cocktail?
Justin and I are just beginning our adventures at Stanford. We've finished the prep work and paper work. Now we are getting down to business. Monday is surgery day, removal of his port and implanting the device Stanford will use instead. We got a big bag of goodies to keep the device clean and sterile and hopefully with not problems! We'll get the drugs on tuesday to keep the blood clots away. Tuesday comes the first day of treatment and the first overnight stay. He'll be receiving a high dose of chemo that has major problems if you don't thoroughly flush it from the body. So besides the chemo they will pump him full of fluids so he'll be needing to pee nonstop! Sounds like fun. But definitely better than the other end of the spectrum, bleeding in the bladder. So here's to a night of potty runs!
I'm going to keep updating this throughout our Stanford time. However I don't think I'll put putting photos here, they are all accessible from my facebook page. Add me!
Off to rest for tomorrow is an early and LONG day. Where's my recovery drug cocktail?
okayJuly 1st, 2009
Well alot has happened between my last post and this one.
I've been training for a month now.
I've raised over $850 for Leukemia and Lymphoma Research.
And.... Justin's flu came and went.. but the cough and worry didn't. He had a scan that came back glowing. They assumed it was from him being sick. But to cancel out the worry they did a biopsy. Word came today that his biopsy shows active cancer. Once again, Justin has cancer. The details of where, when and what have not been determined. As they come I will update everyone.
So the "in remission" diagnosis was short lived..
I've been training for a month now.
I've raised over $850 for Leukemia and Lymphoma Research.
And.... Justin's flu came and went.. but the cough and worry didn't. He had a scan that came back glowing. They assumed it was from him being sick. But to cancel out the worry they did a biopsy. Word came today that his biopsy shows active cancer. Once again, Justin has cancer. The details of where, when and what have not been determined. As they come I will update everyone.
So the "in remission" diagnosis was short lived..
crushedJune 4th, 2009
We we had a bit of a scare with Justin last week.
He's been coughing for a while now. And the doctors have been back and forth with the idea that its due to his radiation treatments effecting his lungs. Well things didn't seem to be getting better, and actually they got worse. We were fearing that this could be back to the same way this whole cancer thing started. He had a scan on Wednesday. And friday evening he got a call from the doctor saying that his scan was "glowing", aka BAD. So they decided he should go see his oncologist Tuesday. So he kinda freaked out a little.. worried.. all that. Come tuesday.. he had a temperature of 105 and heads into the oncologist. The glowing is most likely because his lymph nodes are in overdrive trying to get him to not be sick according to the oncologist. He said most likely things will be back to normal in the scans when he isn't sick so not to panic. Since then he's been home puking and hacking.
So.. never been so happy to have the flu.
He's been coughing for a while now. And the doctors have been back and forth with the idea that its due to his radiation treatments effecting his lungs. Well things didn't seem to be getting better, and actually they got worse. We were fearing that this could be back to the same way this whole cancer thing started. He had a scan on Wednesday. And friday evening he got a call from the doctor saying that his scan was "glowing", aka BAD. So they decided he should go see his oncologist Tuesday. So he kinda freaked out a little.. worried.. all that. Come tuesday.. he had a temperature of 105 and heads into the oncologist. The glowing is most likely because his lymph nodes are in overdrive trying to get him to not be sick according to the oncologist. He said most likely things will be back to normal in the scans when he isn't sick so not to panic. Since then he's been home puking and hacking.
So.. never been so happy to have the flu.
May 23rd, 2009
I have joined with Team In Training again for another season of the Nike Women's Marathon! I hope that we can again have your continued support in this never ending battle against Cancer. Justin and I are both thankful for your support and encouraging words during last year. And we hope you are along with us for this marathon of a season.
Just a little background/update. As many of you know, my brother Justin, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma (aka Hodgkin's Disease) on Feb. 29, 2008 after a month of testing. Doctors moved rather quickly and he began Chemo treatments on April 1st. He wrapped up Chemo on my birthday, Sept. 3, 2008 and took a month or so off to regain some strength. Overall he had great success with the Chemo and took to it really well. He didn't have any major problems or sickness from the treatments as they had warned him about. After Chemo they decided to do a short round of Radiation, that began around Halloween and continued through the holidays. in January 2009 they officially finished all the treatments and started the waiting game. A month later they did scan of his body to check on the cancer, and officially announced him "In remission"! This had been a long year, but a great one in the end. With the support of all our friends and family he made it through successfully and is back to leading a rather normal life of a 28 year old! He'll continue to deal with the scans and doctors appointments for the next few years. But as long as things stay the way they are now, its just a quick checkup. And in 5 years they can call him "Cancer Free"!
I have joined with Team In Training again for another season, this time I will be the Web Captain of the team. Mentoring new members as well as keeping a photographic log of our events. This is nothing new for me as I did it last year on my own! Keep checking in my blog and photo album for more updates and photos of the 2009 season.
Once again thank you for your support and contributions in this time of economic stress! Every little bit helps. On that note, I have teamed up with Bank of America and they will double my funds! How you ask? Well, any cash or check donations sent to me, and written to my name, I will collect and give to Bank of America. They will take those donations and double them! That means your $20 donation that you wish could be more, is now $40! Amazing. It really adds up quickly when you think about it. Its a great resource that I hope many of you will consider using. If you'd like to just donate here online that would be awesome as well! However Bank of America will not double those funds.
I hope you will continue to visit my websites. Please share this with your friends and family! Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!
http://picasaweb.google.com/JessicaMEstr
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/nikes
crazyNovember 8th, 2008
I've completed my marathon!! Yay! I ended up raising $3425!! OMG thats $75 short of $1000 over my goal. Its great really. And I have all you amazing people to thank for it.
The marathon was really great. I started bright and early at 530am. It wasn't really "bright" though.. just early. My coach Tisha and another walker, Marian were starting with me and another 200+ walkers! It was awesome. Nice cool morning watching the sunrise as we walked along the empty streets of San Francisco.
We'd done about 80% of the course during our practices so that was awesome. It was like walking where we'd walked before. Nothing scary. The "BIG HILL" came up upon us near the Presidio. And in reality.. it wasn't that bad. Sure it was a long hill.. but the angle and all wasn't awful.
That's were coach left us.. and she headed back down the hill to meet up with the rest of the team that started at 730am. Marian and I were half way there.
Mile 10 rounded the corner to a beautiful view of Ocean Beach and the Great Highway. It was a very scenic course really. Mile 11 brought us into the famed Golden Gate Park, passing the Windmill and Gardens. And mile 12 brought on the "Chocolate Mile" sponcered by Ghiradelli Chocolates!
It was a lovely race. It would have been alot better without the blister that formed about mile 10 and continued to grow through to the end. But I'm very proud of myself and my time. I finished in a little over 4 1/2 hours. Mainly because of that darn blister slowing me down at the end.
At the finish line was all my family and that was really great. I wish I had been happier to see them, but I really just wanted to sit down and rest after that. :) The firemen weren't too bad either, they handed me my new Tiffany's Necklace for completing the race!
I think I'll be attempting to go back next year. I did highly enjoy it. And I liked all the friends and support I recieved through Team in Training. And it could never hurt to have more Tiffany's jewelry!! :)
As for Justin.. he's doing awesome. Not so bald anymore. His hair is coming back in and its soft as a baby's!! He's actually shaving again. I'm thinking that his hair isn't going to have the curl that everyone mentions after chemo. Thats a disappoinment for me because I thought it'd be great to grow out some wild Valderrama hair!! Oh well. :)
He did a trial run of radiation yesterday. And he'll be beginning that on Monday. I believe its 3 or 4 weeks of it. And then this whole thing should be close to done. Besides the checkups and all that from time to time. :)
Hope you all are well!! :)
The marathon was really great. I started bright and early at 530am. It wasn't really "bright" though.. just early. My coach Tisha and another walker, Marian were starting with me and another 200+ walkers! It was awesome. Nice cool morning watching the sunrise as we walked along the empty streets of San Francisco.
We'd done about 80% of the course during our practices so that was awesome. It was like walking where we'd walked before. Nothing scary. The "BIG HILL" came up upon us near the Presidio. And in reality.. it wasn't that bad. Sure it was a long hill.. but the angle and all wasn't awful.
That's were coach left us.. and she headed back down the hill to meet up with the rest of the team that started at 730am. Marian and I were half way there.
Mile 10 rounded the corner to a beautiful view of Ocean Beach and the Great Highway. It was a very scenic course really. Mile 11 brought us into the famed Golden Gate Park, passing the Windmill and Gardens. And mile 12 brought on the "Chocolate Mile" sponcered by Ghiradelli Chocolates!
It was a lovely race. It would have been alot better without the blister that formed about mile 10 and continued to grow through to the end. But I'm very proud of myself and my time. I finished in a little over 4 1/2 hours. Mainly because of that darn blister slowing me down at the end.
At the finish line was all my family and that was really great. I wish I had been happier to see them, but I really just wanted to sit down and rest after that. :) The firemen weren't too bad either, they handed me my new Tiffany's Necklace for completing the race!
I think I'll be attempting to go back next year. I did highly enjoy it. And I liked all the friends and support I recieved through Team in Training. And it could never hurt to have more Tiffany's jewelry!! :)
As for Justin.. he's doing awesome. Not so bald anymore. His hair is coming back in and its soft as a baby's!! He's actually shaving again. I'm thinking that his hair isn't going to have the curl that everyone mentions after chemo. Thats a disappoinment for me because I thought it'd be great to grow out some wild Valderrama hair!! Oh well. :)
He did a trial run of radiation yesterday. And he'll be beginning that on Monday. I believe its 3 or 4 weeks of it. And then this whole thing should be close to done. Besides the checkups and all that from time to time. :)
Hope you all are well!! :)
October 11th, 2008
So.. the final training happened this morning. Nothing to hard since the marathon is now only 1 week away. Its exciting and sad all at the same time. I know I can do it. I just have to keep telling myself that. I'm just sad to see this whole thing come to an end. Its everything I've been working for since June, the big day. Its gonna be great. I'm ready. I just have to stop my mind from making me second guess it. Let the count down begin. :)
pensiveOctober 9th, 2008
Good news is great news.... So Justin had a doctors appointment today and he got the results back from his PET scan..
..
...
.....
NO CANCER!!
They said that there is no visable signs of cancer in him. That rocks. He still has to do radiation to make sure it never comes back. He'll learn more about that stuff in the coming week or two.
But.. this is good.. NO CANCER. Wow. Just in time for my marathon.
..
...
.....
NO CANCER!!
They said that there is no visable signs of cancer in him. That rocks. He still has to do radiation to make sure it never comes back. He'll learn more about that stuff in the coming week or two.
But.. this is good.. NO CANCER. Wow. Just in time for my marathon.
September 24th, 2008
So the final (I think?) PET Scan is scheduled for Oct. 1. From there we'll learn more about the process for radation, length, etc. Will keep you updated as I get the info from Justin. :)
September 19th, 2008
Wow! 10 miles. A great preview of the course I'll be walking in a month. I'm exhausted. But totally excited to have gotten this far. Just a little over 2 years ago I wasn't walking at all. And I just walked 10 miles this morning without much pain. I'm sure I'll be stiffer as the day goes on. But seriously.. struggling with a few steps, to walking 10 miles. I'm impressed with myself.
Thank you again for all the support and love. It really does mean alot to Justin and I. He's doing well, and its because so many people have come together to support him. I'm dealing with all this by walking. I suppose its a good way to take something that could be really stressful and tragic, and make it something good. Theres alot of times on the course that I really just want to quit, my body hurts, my feet are tired, and I'd much rather just sit down and stop. But I think about all of you guys that are pulling for us. Justin is working hard and staying positive. And thats all I can do out there on the course.
And so here it is.. the count down till race day! Wow!! :)
Thank you again for all the support and love. It really does mean alot to Justin and I. He's doing well, and its because so many people have come together to support him. I'm dealing with all this by walking. I suppose its a good way to take something that could be really stressful and tragic, and make it something good. Theres alot of times on the course that I really just want to quit, my body hurts, my feet are tired, and I'd much rather just sit down and stop. But I think about all of you guys that are pulling for us. Justin is working hard and staying positive. And thats all I can do out there on the course.
And so here it is.. the count down till race day! Wow!! :)
exhaustedSeptember 14th, 2008
IS DONE!!!!!!!! Wooooo hooo. Finished chemo. Now a little break before the fun of radiation. Its been a long 6 months.. but it will all be worth it in the end.
August 21st, 2008
You guys all rock. Majorly. I've changed my goal like 4 times now. And finally I'm believing that no matter what I set.. I've got people that will help me reach it. Thank you really doesn't say enough. It means soooo much to me, Justin and everyone out there with the LLS and those battling these horrible blood cancers.
Justin is doing great. Here's an update from Justin himself, it was sent out to all the members of our marathon team.
*****
So how am I doing?
First off I'm crazy or insane or both. I worked 42 hours straight running two concerts back to back, on Friday and Saturday. That really beat me up, and I ended up sleeping like 17 hours on Sunday and Monday because of it, but my blood count didn't drop as far as I thought it would, either way I
got a shoot to bust my counts today, Tuesday. I'm felling good and accomplished, and am in good spirits as always.
I'm off from work for the next few weeks, which is great because next Tuesday I start my LAST ROUND OF CHEMO I'm so happy, it is all most over I can only imagine this is what it feels like at mile 22 for everyone out their walking or running a marathon, where you want it to be over now, really bad, but you realize you still have a little more to fight through, and you realize you have come this far and you can't stop now, that's how I feel. I'm getting my second wind so to speak. Its odd starting to talk with my doctors about being done with the chemo phase of treatment. We are still avoiding talking about radiation because it scares me, and other than I am going to have to have it nothing can be determined until after chemo is over anyway.
Good luck to all of you and I hope all of you the best as I know right now is recommitment time.
Thank you,
Justin
*****
Miles to date: I've lost count! I did 9 last Saturday!
Funds Raised: $3215 of $3000
July 17th, 2008
I know its been a while since I've updated this page. But things with school have been keeping me busy. Along with the summer just taking its toll. Things are going great. So great in fact that I want to thank each and everyone of you for the great success I've made! I've reached my minimum goal, and on top of that by the date I set for myself of July 15! I was 70$ shy of it, but then the mail man came with two checks and it pushed me over the goal! I couldn't be happier. Since then I've even gone farther. Just because I hit the minimum doesn't mean I'm going to stop! :) I've just passed 2700$ now. And its awesome to feel the love from everyone.
As for Justin, he had that PET scan a while back. And the results are in! He's doing amazingly well! The smaller tumor in his neck is 100% gone. The larger tumor in his chest, around his heart, is about 50% smaller! This is great news. He's only got 2 more cycles of chemo before he's done. We'll see what more the doctors say soon! :)
Miles to date: 42 miles completed
Funds Raised: $2705 of $3000
As for Justin, he had that PET scan a while back. And the results are in! He's doing amazingly well! The smaller tumor in his neck is 100% gone. The larger tumor in his chest, around his heart, is about 50% smaller! This is great news. He's only got 2 more cycles of chemo before he's done. We'll see what more the doctors say soon! :)
Miles to date: 42 miles completed
Funds Raised: $2705 of $3000
June 21st, 2008
So I've changed my fundraising goal because things are going so well!! I've gotten so much help from everyone it makes me so happy. I've got a few checks and cash to send into the LLS still. So the website isn't exaclty up to date. I've got $50, $100, $40, $45 to still add to the site! So that really means when it says $1205 I have to add $235 to it! So with my new goal.. that puts me at 48% complete! Amazing!
Justin had a pet scan this Wednesday. Hopefully we'll get some news soon!
Miles to date: 29 miles completed
Funds Raised: $1440 of $3000
Justin had a pet scan this Wednesday. Hopefully we'll get some news soon!
Miles to date: 29 miles completed
Funds Raised: $1440 of $3000
June 15th, 2008
Graduation day was today. I graduated from the CSU East Bay Credential Program. I'm a teacher now.. eek. Well after I pay more money to get the "paper" that says so anyway! Now back to training. And onto summer for the next week and a half before school starts again!
I sent out 110 letters yesterday. Hopefully some of you all are new to this site because of that! If so.. welcome.. and thank you.
Miles to date: 23 miles completed
Funds Raised: $1080 of $2500
I sent out 110 letters yesterday. Hopefully some of you all are new to this site because of that! If so.. welcome.. and thank you.
Miles to date: 23 miles completed
Funds Raised: $1080 of $2500