Make sure you are sitting down when you read this entry… I received a voice-mail from a fellow named Jason. He is producing the PSA (Public Service Announcement) for the  2008 Komen 3-Day. They will use this to promote the 2008 3-Day Walk all across the country. Anyway, they saw the video clip of our interview and they would like for David and I to travel to LA to be in the PSA. We will travel this Friday, shoot Saturday & Sunday, returning home Monday.  What a great memory for David, he and his mom in LA shooting a commercial. We will have the opportunity to share our story to a national audience. WOW, can you believe it? OK I’ve got to admit, this one never made my list for lifetime accomplishments, guess I will have to write it in.

This past weekend wore me out and it was a non-chemo week.  I am asking for help from my prayer warriors, Friday is my regular chemo day. My oncology team has agreed to move it to Thursday. Please pray for extra strength and good health so David and I can make the most of our adventure. I promise to use some common sense and rest when I need to. I am wearing a mask on the airplane to protect me from the “dirty air”. I will try not to wear myself out; I just couldn’t say NO to a once in a lifetime event like this. As my sister Kim said, we have been giving a chance to appeal to the American people in help in the fight against breast cancer. I will have the occasion to make a memory my entire family and friends will cherish and have to look at over and over again.

Grace & Peace - Stephanie

Sunday, Day 3, David walked with his pink crown his Aunt Kim made him. It said Prince David on it. He has really enjoyed the crazy costumes people wore in the walk. David finished, crossing the line arm & arm with his teammates and a huge smile across his face. I am so proud. I believe David has learned more about himself and others these past three days than he thought possible. The personal sacrifice by himself and others all in the name of breast cancer. He had the opportunity to share his story and hears others peoples stories.

After the race staff from the 3-Day asked to interview David and I. They filmed our interview to use in some of their training films and staff promotional videos. It was a lot of fun to watch and listen to David. He did a great job. Kim (my sister), David and I all attended the closing ceremonies in different roles: Kim as a spectator and fan, David as a participant and I was allowed to shoot from the risers on stage. It was a perfect closure to the 3-Day weekend.  Kim is planning on walking with David next year. God willing and my health allowing, I plan on participating in one facet or another.

Day One and Two are behind us. David got dehydrated and required 2 liters of IV fluids Friday night. He got “red carded”. The red card meant he could not walk on Saturday until the medical team re-assessed him and cleared him to walk. Walker safety is priority one with the 3-Day organizers. The medical team cleared David at lunchtime and he was able to join his team and finish the day. Go my son; walk with pride and drink, drink, drink.

He is enjoying the walk and really getting into the crazy shirts and hats people wear. He wore a pink shirt today that said real men wear pink and a pink feathered boa that one of the walkers gave him.  His aunt is making him a pink “Prince David” crown to wear on Sunday. The ladies he is walking with are friends of my parents. They call David their young buck and he calls them his harem. They had him dancing on the grass at camp Saturday evening. He is becoming famous as he is the youngest walker this year.

Thank goodness Friday was my off day for chemo. I receive chemo every other Friday. I do not believe I would have the strength to take photos if chemo was this week. I am tired but having the time of my life. I am so thankful the 3-Day team allowed me to be an official photographer at the event. Leslie & Erin I love you both. Thank you for taking care of me and providing me the oportunity to live a dream.  Between Friday and Saturday I have shot over 600 photos. Boy do I have a lot of photo processing to do!

Congratulations, today is Opening Day of the Breast Cancer 3-Day. It a 60 mile walk benefiting Susan G Komen For the Cure, a National Philanthropic Trust Project. The DFW walk will raise over a million dollars for research to help find a cure for this disease so that one day no one will have to sit down and explain to their family and friends they have breast cancer. No one will have to apologize to their children because they will miss their wedding or birth of their children. No mom will have to apologize for passing along a deadly gene that might take their life too.

Today, walkers will stroll a little over 20 miles. Many will develop sore muscles and blisters. They will make new friends. Some might find themselves overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from the community, friends and family that cheer them along the way. I will do my best to capture the event “Through the Eyes of a Survivor” with my digital camera. My son,a sophomore in high school, will walk for me. Go my young son, walk proudly and determined. Perhaps it will be one of your dollars that finds a cure for me. Then I too might have a lifetime to spend with you, your dad and sister, Jennifer. David, you are my hero.

Walkers, you will find photos from the walk posted in the gallery under 2007 3-Day. It will take me a bit to process and post the photos so check back. I should have them all posted by 11/03/2007. Enjoy the photos, remember each step, every new friend, the stories you heard. I plan to walk in 2008 and I hope to see you then.

Grace & Peace - Stephanie

Yesterday we completed Round 10 of chemo: Abraxane, Gemzar and Avastin. We reviewed my lab work. They had drawn a tumor marker two weeks ago. Unfortunately it has risen another 200+ points, marking an all time high. We are repeating it next week and will develop an assessment plan. I am do for scans the end of November but it looks like we will move that date up. Dr. Young does not believe the rise in the tumor marker is related to the bone cancer but more likely additional growth of the cancer. The physical assessment would indicate the liver cancer is shrinking. So my mighty prayer warriors it looks like the next month might be a bit rocky as we wait for answers. I ask you to pray for continued healing, direction and plan for the medical team, and that we stay focused on the things we can control and give the rest to our mighty maker.

On a much happier note we are finishing the final preparations for the Komen 60 mile 3-Day  walk this coming weekend. I am so excited to be sharing this with my family and friends. We are waiting a few more days to get a good handle on the weather forecast. Again we thank all our friend and family for supporting us in this walk. Please pray for David as he partakes in this great event. I am really not sure he really understands the depth of the event. I believe this will be one of his greatest physical challenges. Well I guess that’s all for now.

Grace and Peace

The real number of white blood cells (WBCs) is called absolute neutrophil count (ANC). The ANC is not measured directly. It is derived by multiplying the WBC count times the percent of neutrophils in the differential WBC count. The percent of neutrophils consists of the segmented (fully mature) neutrophils) + the bands (almost mature neutrophils). The normal range for the ANC = 1.5 to 8.0 (1,500 to 8,000/mm3). Per the protocol the cutoff for “no chemo” is < 1000. My ANC today is just high enough at 1200.

Greetings my friends, I have the week behind me and the extreme fatigue is beginning to ease after receiving my 10th round of chemo. Funny I found myself feeling frustrated and whiny because I was so tired this round. However, if memory serves me correctly the last time I took all four drugs I spent 10 day in the hospital, 6 in ICU. Sometimes you need to remember where you’ve been to know where your going and the progress you’ve made. The liver tumor is beginning to shrink and we are working to get the bone cancer under control… all IS good.

We celebrate David reaching his fund raising goal and are getting all his equipment together for the walk. We are three weeks out. They released the cheering station locations and I have those posted on my 3 Day Walk page (top navigation bar next to “Gallery”).  We have hotels booked in Dallas so we will not have to drive home every day. We look forward to a wonderful weekend, spending time as a family, celebrating the 3 Day, and cheering David every step along the way. So far the slumber party includes Mom, Dad, Kim (sister), John, and Cindy G (friend). Jennifer is working the weekend and will miss out on all the fun. My dear friend Kathe wrote and said maybe it will be one of David’s dollars raised that will helps fund a significant discovery or even better the cure. Again we thank each and every one of you for supporting David and I on this journey. You are making his walk possible bless you!

So note to self: follow the leader and believe, he will never lead you astray and through him all things are possible. Sleep allows the body to heal and recover you silly girl. Remember your promise to live, love, and laugh each and every day (even if I added a few extra ZZZs to get through the day). Grace & Peace my mighty warriors we will win this race one step at a time.

So far so good I have rested and played this weekend and all remains well, no fevers. I slept most of Friday & Saturday morning. This round of chemo has made me pretty tired. I went to see David’s baseball game Saturday afternoon. They played a doubleheader against Joshua. Both games were easy wins for Southwest. I have posted new photos. It was exceptionally humid and I could only make one game.

Sunday I went to the Benbrook YMCA for a Women’s Mini Triathlon. Earlier I had written I was going to participate as part of a team: Survivors Tri-Hardest, however life has been too complicated for me to properly train for the event. The ladies were gracious and dubbed me the team photographer. I took photos of our team. All the ladies did awesome.