ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: Denisex2boys on May 07, 2009, 09:15:57 am
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Well, Brendan and I completed the 5k sprint ...... I personally raised over $1,400. !!!! the gold for our local chapter was $21,000. and all total we raised over $44,000.! WooHoo!
It was a very surreal day ...... on one extreme a very happy, proud moment and on the other end very depressing and sad :( The 'kicker' and most emotional moment for me was when all the SURVIVORS of brain tumors got our group picture done - - this was all of us - - supporters wore white t's and survivors wore blue t's - - there were not a lot of survivors :( - but a couple of hundred runners in support of us - they gave a a huge standing ovation - it really was a nice moment - one gal there had AN surgery as well - very rare around here .....
... and on the other end .....
Our wee dog (a Japanese Chin) - had not been doing too well in the past 3-4 weeks - he was 16 years YOUNG! Dan and I made the decision that his day may be here - we had taken him to the ER Vet a couple of weeks ago with a bowel issue and things had progressively been getting worse - - our Vet's new clinic was scheduled to open on the 5th of May .......... strangely enough we had been treating Suki for a couple of months for an ulcerated cornea (the very thing we are all avoiding by use of lubricants and drops) - - he has always been a healthy wee companion but since my surgery has seemed to age ... he was struggling with the stairs, his hearing, eyes, and then his bowels and urine ..... I wanted to be with him but Dan (I think) purposely made his appointment with the vet for the very time that I was to do the Sprint - - he did not think I could hear what we both knew the vet may say ......
Brendan and I arrived for the Sprint and the skies opened up - not just rain - but a HUGE storm - - I really thought that the Sprint would be postponed - - - I looked at my watch and it was the very time Dan was to be at the Vet..... and then 'miraculously' is cleared up and got sunny - - I knew in my heart then that the Vet had confirmed what Dan and I already knew - and that he was gone ...... he was in kidney failure :(
So the day was happy and sad .... and I would like to share a few pictures with you ........ - - I am sorry I did not post sooner - - but I have been an emotional basket case of late .......
Brendan and I - THUMBS UP!
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b333/Denisex2boys/IMG_1042-1.jpg)
The Group!
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b333/Denisex2boys/IMG_1045.jpg)
My Suki - now in Heaven ....
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b333/Denisex2boys/IMG_1033.jpg)
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b333/Denisex2boys/Suki.jpg)
;)
This weekend is the weekend that I am in the 5K for the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada annual Spring Sprint .... I have raised over $1,300. in sponsorships! Brendan is running with me (my 9 year old son) - - I asked him if he still wanted to since it is supposed to rain on Saturday and he said "yes" - 'cause it is Mommy's Day this weekend! :) What a sweetie!
So .... this is a culmination of really, really awesome rehab to gain my balance back - since the balance nerve on the left was 'squashed' by the tumor - - I may stumble and trip up still - but I am walking up to 3 miles on my lunch hour, am now back to work FULL-TIME - and have completed 5 weeks of (1 class per week) of Body Boot Camp. I also just tried riding my bike - -still a bit wobbly on my bike but with practice it will come back.
I still am numb on the internal part of my left cheek, tongue and throat, feeling is slowly coming back to the back of my head, hair is growing in nicely (albiet funny), no tears yet - - BUT ALL IS GOOD!
Wish me luck this weekend! .... I still cannot believe that I have come so far since my Oct. '08 surgery - - if I had been told then that I would be feeling this way now - I would have NEVER believed it - - so for all of you that have just recently had surgery - - I too had a really rough time of it - but you DO RECOVER with determination and patience!
Thank you all for your support and friendships <3
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Good luck, and congratulations!
NancyMc
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Awesome Denise!
I hope the rain holds off for you. I know you'll do great. But, then again, we've all believed you could do it all along!
Send pictures!
Lori
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That's great to hear, Denise! Enjoy the day and let us know how it goes :)
Cindy
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Wow, so great Denise. And you will have your boy with you! Now that's what I"m talking about...
Best,
Marci
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Hey, Denise ~
Many thanks for a heartening post. It's both amazing and inspiring to read that, just 7 months post-op, you're doing a 5 kilometer (approximately 3 mile) walk to raise money for the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada - and with your 9-year-old son, no less! Let's all hope for a dry day. I admire the fact that you're determined not to allow any remaining AN/surgery deficits to stop you from regaining control of your life. We use the word 'inspirational' a lot around here and people like you are the reason, Denise. Good luck this weekend! :)
Jim
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Denise -
this is just phenomenal.
Good luck to you and Brendan ;D
If you can get someone to take a picture of you guys, please post it for us.
I'd love to see it.
Jan
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Awesome....what a great way to spend Mother's day. Not only you but he will remember it for the rest of his life. The feeling you'll get crossing the line is going to be amazing. Congratulations....you've already run a great race.
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Way to go Denise! Good luck this weekend and Happy Mothers Day! :)
Ernie
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Wow! You make us all proud! And what a sweet boy to want to do this for his mom :). Hope the weather holds for you. Good luck!
Priscilla
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Denise... honestly, you rawk! :) thank you for running for all of us.... for those that have endured before us, for those just entering the journey.... please keep all of us in your hearts when the run gets a bit tough, or if Brendan starts to slow down... just remind yourselves that you are doing it for so many that need the help!
Truly, congrats for a terrific job! You've worked hard to achieve this! Go get 'em! :)
Phyl
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What a nice mother's day present, Denise to have your 9 year old with you. Congratulations and Happy Mother's Day.
We need to have Mary Beth read this! With determination and patience, you will recover and even do great things.
That is AWESOME that you raised that much money for the brain tumor foundation of Canada.
Way to go :)
Maureen
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Hi Denise,
Just saw this. I hope your 5K went great and I think it's so neat that your son ran with you. May you have many more happy runs / races together. Congrats on raising so much support.
Great job!
Keri
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WOW!!
You have sure come a long way. Great to see you are moving forward at such a fast pace ... and paying it forward too.
Right on!
DHM (AKA "4")
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I updated with pics at top .......
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Way to go, Denise! :)
Congratulations on your successful 5k sprint and impressive fund raising for a great cause. My sympathy on the passing of your beloved Suki.
Jim
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Next time we need a fundraiser, I know who to call. WOW! $1,400's worth of funds that you collected.
You did better than some of the celebrities on the Apprentice:-)
Thank you for posting that picture of you and your handsome son.
Kate