"If you ever get a second chance in life for something, you've got to go all the way." ~ Lance Armstrong

Saving Lives.. One Mile at a Time!

I DID IT! YAY!!!!

On February 7th two days before my birthday, I ran my first marathon. My time wasn't what I hoped for due to insole problems, but hey - I REALLY DID IT! *I* ran a marathon! Who whoulda thunk it? I plan on going for the platinum club and running at least 3 Surf City Marathons. So for 2011, I plan to finish in a better time! Thank you all for your support!

Jan 27th 2010 - Sad News

This is very heartbreaking - but my friend Terrie Combs has passed away today from Leukemia - so I am now running in memory of my grandpa AND Terrie :-(

Here is the notice from her sister Denise - please keep her family, specifically her husband Brett and their children in your thoughts

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Denise Smith Thomas January 26 at 11:30pm Reply

It is with a very sad and broking heart that I am telling you this...but My sister Terrie just passed away at 1:57 am on january 27. She has gone home to be with our parents and grandparents...Thank you all for your love and support and prayers...and GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Denise

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SUPPORT THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY AND HELP ME RACE FOR A CURE.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ocie/surfcity10/spiriteyes

15 January - URGENT upate on my friend Terrie - hence why I am putting it here at the top. I received the following letter from her husband Brett, I would like to share that with everyone here:

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Brett Combs January 15 at 12:42am

Thursday, January 14, 2010

To top off a very bad day on Tuesday, Terrie started running a fever. Having zero immune system, a fever is a very serious and possibly life threatening situation. It would indicate that she has some sort of infection that her body has no way of fighting off. She showed some signs of improvement from the seizure type event that she suffered on Tuesday. She was more alert and was actually able to interact with me a little bit and managed to take some of her pills.

After what appeared to be a lack of concern about the reason for her sudden decline, I decided it would be best to have Terrie transferred back to MD Anderson Cancer Center. They will be able to run any and all tests necessary to figure out what happened to her and also to compare the results of those tests to the last set that was done in early December to see if there is any change. After seeing no movement from the doctors or staff at Select Specialty Hospital in regards to starting a transfer, I called and started it myself. I think the doctor on the floor was a little surprised when I handed him my cell phone and told him that Terrie's doctor at MD Anderson would like to speak to him about arranging the transfer.

We got the call from the admissions office first thing this morning stating that they had a room available and assigned to Terrie so I packed up our belongings and waited for the ambulance. They arrived to transport her at about midday and I can't tell you just how relieved I felt to be getting her out of that hospital and going back where I know the staff will take good care of my lovely Terrie.

There was a steady flow of traffic coming in her room all afternoon. The neurologist feels like the event she suffered on Tuesday was indeed a seizure. He is ordering a complete battery of tests to confirm his diagnosis.

The leukemia doctor on call this month rubbed me the wrong way right off the bat when he started talking about how bad she is and basically telling me that we should give up. He actually went as far as to tell me that he was going to discontinue her chemo pills which would basically be like pulling the plug on her. I was quick to tell him in a not so friendly tone that he and Dr. Koller, her regular leukemia doctor, were obviously not on the same page when it comes to her treatment and that he needed to leave and have Dr. Koller come back to talk to us. The two doctors came back together and he denied ever having said that for a while and then admitted that he had but came up with a lame reason for the suggestion. As always, I fought for what I believe to be the right treatment and they agreed to keep her on the chemo pills. The bad thing is that after all this time that Dr. Koller has been so optimistic about her beating the odds, he did make it a point to try to prepare me for a bad outcome. He said that in her weakened condition, he doesn't feel that she will ever get strong enough to go back home. I told him to just do his job and she would do hers. I believe she will find the strength to overcome this and get back home.

I found myself standing beside her bed tonight, heartbroken once again as she moaned in pain and struggled to speak enough words to tell me where it hurt. The tears streamed down my face as I held her hand and watched. I tried to be quiet and hoped she wouldn't notice the tears but she did. She looked at me and in a faint and weak voice simply said “I'm still here†as if to tell me not to give up. All I can keep telling her is that I wish there was a way for me to trade places with her so she wouldn't have to endure the hell that she is going through. I'm not so sure that my journey as a spectator is any easier. The pain I feel is real and the problem is that it will never go away. These memories will forever haunt me. The things I have seen can never be erased. Please continue to pray for Terrie's miracle healing as well as the strength for me to carry on. Thank you and God bless.

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Help me - Help Terrie - DONATE NOW!!! NO donation is too small.

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Yes I am really doing it!

In 2005 - My grandpa died from MDS, a form of Leukemia. I am training to run this marathon in his memory.

As a cancer survivor myself, the mere fact that I am even able to train for this marathon is a miracle in of itself. I want to share that miracle, that hope, that chance for life with others.

I chose the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training for many reasons. One being a way to have impact on people like my grandpa. Two being the awesome reputation the LLS has for using over 75% of all funds raised to help *real* people!

Our honored teammate Dayna Wojtaszek is an example of what this is all about. She is a 16 year old currently battling for her life. The LLS is helping people like her receive care, support and information that is needed to give Dayna the best tools needed to win this fight.

I am also running in Honor of Terrie Combs. A special friend who is battling Leukemia. Please visit her facebook page and show your support.

Third, The LLS's Team in Training program offers me and others like me a safe, fun and healthy way to train for marathons, triathlons, iron-man, and biathlons. These endurance challenges are a piece of cake compared to the battle people like Dayna , Terrie and my grandpa are facing. Team in Training is giving me the tools to win my challenge and showing me how I can help bring the tools to those battling blood cancers to win their challenge as well.

But we all need YOUR help! This battle cannot be won without the help of everyone, no matter how large or how small your contribution is - it will make a huge impact upon people like Dayna. and Terrie. For every dollar, every bit of giving from everyday people like YOU, the hope and odds of winning the ultimate battle - life - are immensely increased!

But the LLS and everyone at TNT don't stop there! We not only want to help Dayna, Terrie and others fight their battle -but we want it all - we are racing for a cure!

The more funds raised, the more awareness raised - the higher the probability of the ultimate cure of Leukemia, Lymphoma and other blood cancers is increased.

Help me - race for Dayna - for Terrie - race for life - and race for the CURE!

Make a 100% tax deductable donation now to support Saving Lives - One Mile at a Time!

Thank you!

Your employer may even Match Funds

Visit my training blog! (I haven't written anything here for a long time, if anyone is reading this and would like me to continue it, please let me know)

Click here for more information on TNT

Join my Cause on Facebook

**Donating online is safe, quick and easy! Tax deductable receipt is sent to you immediately from the LLS

12/12/2009

It is mind boggling how many people I am meeting who have been touched by blood cancer and have been helped by the LLS. A family member, friend - or themselves - all have battled Leukemia or Lymphoma. All these people are like you and I, everyday people - with families, children, grandchildren, parents, spouses, etc - all trying to do their best, all struggling day to day in this economy.

If every person who visits this page, ... if every person I come in contact with, .... if we ALL made a donation - of ANY amount - even ONE dollar, 10, 20, 100 - whatever we feel in our hearts to give, we can all make a difference in the lives of those battling blood cancers.

Take this moment NOW - to make a donation to help improve the lives of those affected, and help us race for a cure!

<3

Julia

1/4/10

Over halfway there! Donations of ANY amount welcome. Please send your tax deductible donation today!