Team Goldylocks

Riding for Noah and to Save Lives

Welcome to our website

Several months ago, family friends, Pinky and Don Levy found out that their 10 yr. old grandson, Noah Baerson, was diagnosed with T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. For the past several months Noah has been undergoing rounds of chemotherapy and lumbar punctures. He has been out of school and has had to be away from friends and family. Marne and Ron Baerson, Noah's parents, post a message nightly on Caring Bridge.com updating all on Noah's condition, and are a huge reason why Noah has remained so positive during this hard time. He still enjoys watching basketball on TV and playing hoops in his bedroom.

As most of you know, in 2001 Danny did "Americas Most Beautiful Ride" through Lake Tahoe with Team in Training to help out one of his friends. Over the last few years I have trained for several bike and running races, and have been emotionally involved in Danny's triathlons. When we compete and train for these events, we feel energized and full of life. In honor of Noah, we have decided to do it again and are combining our racing and triathlon efforts with the hope of health improvement for patients with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma. In order to achieve this goal, Danny and I will be cycling with other Team in Training participants, in Seagull's 100-mile ride through Salisbury, Maryland.

We are determined to raise over $10,000 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Northern Ohio, but especially for Noah Baerson. Over the coming months we will be training with other Team in Training participants in preparation for the Seagull Ride on October 10, 2009. Noah and the others who are stricken with this disease will serve as our motivation throughout this process.

Upcoming Events:

The events at Eaton were a huge success. Thanks for everyone who participated.

We have started our independent training and Mere is doing a great job getting used to her bike and being locked into the pedals. Except for the bee flying into her Jersey and stinging her multiple times, I think she really enjoys it. We have been riding together as often as possible and are well on our way towards hitting that century mark.

A century ride is known as a test of endurance and strength of will and Noah's struggle with leukemia is no less taxing. Please join us in spirit by contributing. Whatever you can give will help. Thank you for your help and support of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's mission to find cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin�'s disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Noah's Journal

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 9:22 PM

We had a quick visit to the clinic, but before that we had a little haircut. Noah actually had 2 designs put into his head! I will post both pictures, but the most important one is right on the journal page!

The steroid beast is back in our house. It is so hard to deal with. Noah truly cannot control his anger, but it is very hard to take when it is directed at us. I can talk to him when he is angry at his game, but when he gets angry at us, it is impossible. I just have to count down the days until we are all done with these steroids. It will be our last time with this steroid. He will take his old steroid during maintenance, but that one didn't make him MEAN!!!

Tomorrow we have the last of our 6 shots for this time around. Noah will go at least 2 weeks without any shots which will be a treat. He is on the steroids through Sunday - I hope I can survive it!

He is only showing his anger when he is alone with us so at least friends don't have to see it. Noah got to see a couple friends today. One of his friends met us to watch him get his haircut and spend some time with him because this friend is going out of town for a few weeks. Then, this afternoon we went to get something at a friend of mine's house and the kids played there for a while with their friends there. Again, I'm just happy the steroid beast stays hidden in public - it's like Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde lives in our house.

I think I sound a little obsessed with this steroid business, huh?!?!?!

Anyways, thanks again to all our friends and family for keeping up the wonderful support you are giving us. As things get rougher, I know we'll be leaning on you even more. Thanks for making us feel comfortable enough to ask for help.

Love, Marne

Monday, June 29, 2009 8:53 PM, CDT

Noah did fantastic with shot #5. He also was great getting his chemotherapy. We were at the clinic from 11am until 2:30pm. It wasn't too bad, just a little longer than we expected because they had to redo one of the medicines because they had done it wrong originally. Either way Noah had to have blood taken at 2pm so we were going to be there until at least then.

Noah is feeling fine. He hasn't even needed more anti-nausea since this morning. He started his steroids this morning again for this week. We also discovered that Noah started losing his hair again yesterday. I think it's time to get it shaved – it is coming out in handfuls. On a good note, it's much easier to handle the second time around for Noah and for us. Although, both Ron and I are not sure we are ready to see him bald again. I saw a picture the other day from the last time he had no hair and that did make me a little sad! I think I'll call Cuts and Curls in the morning and see if we can get him in there tomorrow. He really wants some sort of design in his head before he loses it all so being the wonderfully kind mother that I am, i'll let him! i've included a picture of Noah with all his hair before it goes again! Sorry for the goofy face, but he and Ron cannot seem to have a normal smile in a picture EVER!!!

Tomorrow we go to the clinic just to have blood taken. This will be another visit that is so short we shouldn't even have to pay for parking. On Wednesday, Noah will get shot #6. Then he won't have to have any shots for a good couple weeks. That will make it a lot easier. Plus, next week is a week off of chemo to let Noah's body adjust before we start the second (harder) part of this phase. I assume since the steroids actually elevate his counts, they give him a week off to let his body go back to normal. They told us that it is entirely possible that we will have to be delayed on day 29 which is July 13th because his counts are too low so we'll see. I'm hoping that doesn't happen.

Thank you to everyone again for making our weekend great. Thank you also for all the sweet emails and caring bridge posts. They put smiles on all our faces each and every day. You are giving us strength and encouragement to get through this.

Love, Marne

Keep coming back for updates on Noah and our progress.

We thank you all in advance for your generosity and support.

Best Wishes To All,

Meredith and Danny Goldstein