Relay for life

Next month I will be participating in my first Relay for Life for my Dad and my cousin, Heather. If you haven't heard of it yet, Relay for Life is an organized, overnight community fundraising walk for cancer. Most are 24 hours long but the one I am walking in will be 12 hours. Teams of people camp out around a track and members of each team take turns walking. The part I am most looking forward to is the Survivors lap and watching my Dad be able to walk it on his own, something he wouldn't have been able to do just a few short months ago! Please, if you can donate and/or join my team. Any amount is more than enough and greatly appreciated! 

Here is a great video explain Relay for Life

My Dad wearing his Packers Helmet in the hospital a few days before he found out he had cancer

Had this made for my dad on fathers day

Received this bear from a local organization during chemo 

On a boat. He loved it

My dads first day of chemo and one of his last days of it

One of his many times in the hospital

Look how great he looks now! January 2014. We are blessed!

Why I Participate in a Relay For Life Event I participate because I know that by raising funds and walking in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event, I will help save lives from cancer. I want to help fight the fight against cancer! It's overwhelming to think that millions of people will be diagnosed with cancer this year. It might be someone close to us - or you or me. A Relay For Life event is not only a way to join my community to fight back against cancer, but it is also a way to inspire hope by raising funds and cancer awareness to help those facing the disease.  Why I'm Participating 
I am participating because my Dad was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in January of 2013. Fortunately, he is now in remission. I am also walking for my cousin, Heather. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and will have to have a mastectomy soon. All of us have been affected by cancer in some way, and because a Relay For Life event gives us the power to fight back. This is my opportunity to honor cancer survivors including my Dad, people who are battling the disease, like my cousin Heather, and remembering people we have lost, and help raise funds for the American Cancer Society.
Why I Support the American Cancer Society Every day, the American Cancer Society helps people take steps to reduce their risk of cancer or find it early, when it is easiest to treat. They provide free information and services to cancer patients throughout their journey. The organization is investing in crucial research to  prevent, treat, and ultimately, cure all cancers. I have signed up to walk and fund raise in my local Relay For Life event. I hope you will consider joining my team or making a donation in support of my efforts. 
Together, we can finish the fight!

You can join my team or donate at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/MyDadMyHero

5K Love

This year I did my first 5K and I loved it. They seem to clear my mind and help with the everyday stress. Since my Dad was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in January, I want to participate in as many cancer related walks as possible. Here are a few of the walks I have signed up for. Feel free to click the link to learn more about the cause or even donate if you can. I am also sharing my dad's page if you want to read his story. 
Making Strides against Breast Cancer
Light the Night Walk: Leukemia & Lymphoma 
My Dad's Battle with cancer
I will also be participating in my first "Relay for Life" next year for my Dad! That one won't be until April sometime and the website still needs to be updated but feel free to check that one out as well. 
Relay for Life for my Dad, My Hero

Great news!

Today is a great day! I found out that my dads liver biopsy results were negative and the cancer DIDN'T spread! How awesome is that?! He also FINALLY gained some weight! He gained 8 pounds in a week and is up to 135! Thank you everyone for the prayers and positive thoughts, we greatly appreciate them!
If you want to read his story, donate, or share his page, you can do so here.

Wordless Wednesday

Linked up with Stephanie at Three Loud Kids

Help spread the word about my dad's fundraiser/or donate here, it is greatly appreciated!

My dad's battle against cancer

Please help

     My dad was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in January of this year. They will be doing a biopsy of his liver to see if it has spread due to noticing suspicious lesions on his liver. He has been on chemotherapy since February and has lost 70 lbs so far which brings him down to 127 lbs. He had to have a feeding tube put in July due to not being able to eat at all.


      He is currently on short term disability which will turn into long term disability very soon and is only receiving 60% of his pay which has put a huge financial strain on him and our family.

     Our goal is to raise $5,000 for my dad, Terry to help give him the financial peace of mind necessary to help him fight his battle against cancer. Please give if you can. All donations will be humbly and very gratefully accepted and appreciated. Thank you.    Also, please feel free to share his fund raiser page to others. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.   Please Donate here (There is also a widget on my right sidebar)

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Cancer is evil

     Today I took my dad to his oncologist to get some fluids because he is super weak and losing a lot of weight and a shot because his white blood count is low and I had a breakdown. As I dropped him off at the front door, I watched his scrawny self struggle to walk to the front door. He walks so slow and it takes so much out of him. I can see his shoulder blades poking out of his shirt. I watch him slowly walk to the front door as he holds his, too big for him now, pants up because we can't afford new clothes right now. Within seconds, I burst out into tears.

     No one deserves to get cancer but especially not my dad. He was never a drinker, he was never a smoker, rarely got sick and was only in the hospital once his entire life. Now, since January he has been admitted into the hospital four times so far. With blood transfusions, dehydration, nausea, and vomiting, my Dad does not deserve this. A man who has always put everyone first his whole life and still does now. A man who would do anything to make you laugh/smile. A man who has already struggled financially his whole life because he helps out others. So, why him? I just don't get why he has to go through this.

     I could probably ask so many more questions and say so many more reasons on why he doesn't deserve this but it won't change the fact that I hate cancer and it is evil!

A bear that was given to him at chemo from a foundation here in town

Just some of the cards he has received. He is loved by all. Such a great man, my hero, my dad. 

Follow up post - York

I just wanted to post the pictures from my coffee mug I got my Dad from York photo. They did an amazing job! My dad just loves his coffee mug, he uses it for everything he drinks!

Originial post HERE

Can't sleep

     I found out last week that my Dad's colon cancer may have spread to his liver. They found a few lesions on his liver from a CT scan they did and even though we are praying they are random cysts, we all know there is a very good chance it is cancer. I have been so positive these past few months since he had his PET scan back in February showing his cancer didn't spread. I never realized the evil son of a bitch named cancer could spread so quickly while undergoing chemo. I can't sleep right now knowing in several hours I will be the one with my Dad potentially receiving more bad news. It breaks my heart to see my Dad, my best friend, my hero, someone so kindhearted  going through something so awful. It makes me sick to my stomach, over and over again to feel this helpless, knowing there isn't a damn thing I can do to make him feel or be 100% back to his normal self. Any and ALL prayers are welcome and very much appreciated.

Crappy new year

     I have always looked forward to celebrating the new year for many different reasons, for which most of them don't make a whole lot of sense but this year is definitely a year I don't want to celebrate at all. I wish I could go back in time and just pause it for a while and enjoy life without stress, without worry, without having to deal with reality and maybe the news I received in this crappy new year wouldn't be seem real.

      My Dad, who is my best friend, my hero, and a big part of my support system was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. I'm not sure I will ever understand but why him? He is the healthy, strong parent. He is kind, funny, and the strongest person I know, so why he deserves this, well he doesn't! I know life isn't fair, believe me, of all people, I know this saying too well! What I don't understand is how much of this, "Life isn't fair" bull crap I can handle! I'm not sure how much more I can handle being thrown at me.

     I'm probably going to have a lot of these type of posts where I don't understand what I have to go through posts but this is how I deal with it, or at least try to deal with it. I have family and friends who are there for me, but for some reason, I don't know how to get my feelings out. People want to hang out and get my mind off of it and I am grateful, I really am, but in reality, this is the only thing I am thinking about right now.

     All I can do right now is be there for him, be strong, be positive, and be extremely thankful for all of the prayers we are receiving. My Dad is loved by many and he WILL get through this, so I can too!