Hi and welcome to my Team In Training home page.

For pretty much all of my life I never considered myself as a runner. In fact, I hated running. It wasn’t until my husband convinced me that we should take up running together that I finally decided to give the sport a try. Now with a half marathon under my belt and two full marathons in my future I can say I no longer hate running. But I still don’t consider myself a runner, I am just someone who straps on her shoes and heads out the door early every Saturday morning to try and make a difference.

On Decmeber 5, I will be will participating in the Dallas White Rock marathon as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team in Training. I am completing this event in honor of Jim Pinkerman. Jim is Deana’s (one of my besties) step-dad and my Honored Hero.

Jim’s Story

Eight-years ago Jim received blood test results indicating he had high protein levels. Through a series of tests Jim found out he was at high risk for myeloma cancer. During the next 8 years, Jim’s protein levels stayed the same (higher than a normal person but lower than having myeloma.) Then over the last year his protein levels started to increase. A few weeks after Deana’s wedding Jim received the news from his doctor that his protein levels had increased to the point he was no longer at high risk of myeloma cancer. He had full-blown myeloma. While this news definitely rocked his world, Jim didn’t let it knock him out. Jim is currently undergoing treatment and is doing great. After his first cycle of treatment his IGG levels have dropped from 4905 to 2372. Way to GO Jim!!

Jim UPDATE

I received an email last week from Deana with an update about Jim.

Throughout this summer, Jim has undergone two rounds of treatment to bring his plasma cells in his bone marrow down so they can collect his stem cells. Tests after the second round showed that Jim had a partial response to the medication and the cells were almost to normal levels. Which means Jim can start the process of collecting his stem cells.

At this time, Jim and Diane have decided to collect the stem cells and freeze them for future use. After the stem cells have been collected, Jim will start on medication to try and control the Myeloma. According to Jim’s doctor the average that the drug could do its job is for about 2 years before Jim’s cells become immune - with Myeloma Jim and Diane have learned that there really is no average, every case is very different.

On Monday, September 20, Jim had his first day of stem cell collection and he totally ROCKED IT! Even the nurses were very impresses with how great his cells look, Jim was so proud! By the end of his cell collection, Jim should have enough cells for 3 transplants.

Every Saturday I get up before the sun and head out to train. Before we set-off on our morning run the entire team will gather for a mission moment. This is a time when we share a story about our Honored Heroes and why we run. Every mission moment brings a tear to my eye and reminds me why I am there. Every Saturday I run for Jim and all the others affected by blood cancers.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me thus far. If you would like to show your support, please make a donation to Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

For up-to-date information about Jim’s progress and some entertaining stories from my training please visit my blog at www.nuggetsofknowledgeandnonsense.blogspot.com

Go Team!