A young woman came into our office yesterday looking for some financial help (I work at St. John's Catholic Cathedral in downtown Boise.) "Suzi" is pregnant and in a drug rehab program where she receives methadone. She asked for help to pay her fees for the program. She broke down in soft tears a couple of times as she spoke to me; she bears a heavy burden of guilt and sorrow for what she has done to her unborn baby and for the withdrawal she knows 'he' will be going through after 'he' is born. She explained to me that the baby's treatment for withdrawal will be relatively simple because will be treated for the withdrawal, but will not have to be treated for a psychological addiction. (IMPORTANT NOTE: She did NOT use the word simple or in any way minimize the suffering the baby would experience!) She continued to explain that her treatment after the birth would be dealing with the psysiological effects of withdrawing from methadone and also healing the psychological cause of her drug use. She is overwhelmed by the rising cost of her bill at the treatment facility and said she doesn't know how she will ever pay it off. The church helped her a little and I promised our prayers for her and for her baby.
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts;"
Yesterday was a spring cold and windy day although the sky was blue and the sun was shining brightly. The drive home in a car warmed by the sun made the thought of going outside and training not appealing at all. The training schedule was to return to Camel's Back Park and run up into the foothills. A double not appealing!! So i came home and parked myself on the couch and convinced myself that is was really too cold and windy to go back outside. I tried to ignore Eli's pleading eyes (remember, Eli is my faithful 4-legged training partner.) After a few minutes I decided to call my friend Colette and see how she was doing. Colette was also resting (justifably so, as contrasted to my not justifiably so!!) and it was (once again) her words that inspired me to get up off the couch. After my first greeting I asked "what are you doing this afternoon?" Her answer, "Just resting, looking for the MoJo to get up and fix something for dinner." That's all it took. Once again Colette inspired me to head outside to train, good weather or not good weather. I really admire her determination to face her treatment with a can-do attitude and her disposition of gratitude and thankfulness in all things. I have learned so much from her.
" For nothing will be impossible with God"
So, thinking about "Suzi" and the challenges she faces, and inspired by Colette's grace, and believing in the mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, I found the MoJo and headed to the hills...resolved and determined and with a smile on my face that I have the great priviledge of fundraising for LLS!!!
Chasing (haha!) a teammate up the hill.....
and still chasing, now down the hill.....
The past two weeks have been filled with so much good that it is impossible not to just walk around with a song in my heart. I am so overwhelmed with so many emotions. Everywhere i walk there are colors ~ magnificent colors ~ colors of hope and love and joy. Tulips and hyacinth and daffodils and flowering pear trees and forsythia, new spring green leaves on the trees...it just goes on and on and on!!
And I, along with Colette and my family and friends and Christians around the world, surrounded by and in all the colors continue to celebrate Easter with hearts overflowing with joy because WE KNOW with a deep conviction we are totally and completely loved by God. What bliss it is to know that!! How utterly liberating!! I feel as if i have wings on my feet, no matter what the stopwatch is reporting! Adding to that indescribable joy is the birth of a beautiful and healthy grandson, Brighton, born during the Easter octave in Germany. I must also admit great joy and thanksgiving for living in this modern day and age with internet and ipads and 'skype'(facetime) communication. We have heard the baby noises of that sweet little guy and have watched him open his eyes and look all around and suck on his pacifier. We are so grateful for that technological blessing! And so grateful for Brighton's mother who gave birth to all 10 lbs 4 oz. of him!!!
All that leads me right to the here and now, the eve of Colette's fourth chemo. And i find myself here at this place overwhelmed by one more thing, actually completely humbled by one more thing ~ the kindness and generosity of so many people. I have heard Colette and other cancer survivors tell of the amazing support that they have received when they are diagnosed and are undergoing treatment. Strangers from around the country send words of support and promise of prayers. Those words and prayers added to the love and support of family and friends almost seem to lighten the burden of cancer ..... Love, it changes everything.
"Behold, I make all things new." Rev. 21:5
Thank you ALL who have so thoughtfully and generously made a donation to LLS in support of my fundraising efforts. Never in a million thoughts did I believe that I would be able to reach my fundraising goal. Yet, through this whole journey our Team in Training coaches and mentors have believed in us and propelled us to believe in ourselves, to believe that we could raise the funds and to succeed in finishing the marathon (or half marathon.) The coaches and mentors are themselves motivated by a strong belief in the mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a mission to fund cutting edge research, to provide financial aid to families, and to support those living with a diagnosis of a blood cancer ~ to help improve their quality of life. You have made a difference, my friends, in countless lives, and for that I will be forever grateful!!!
There are five weeks remaining for me to prepare for the half marathon....and there is no quitting now...because of you. And because of Colette! We did an eight mile run this past weekend and i loved every minute of it. I think i am changing. Slowly but surely.
With three chemo treatments behind her and three to go before her stem cell transplant Colette is more beautiful than ever. Her blue eyes sparkle and her smile lights up the room! When I visited her on Wednesday this week she invited me to accompany her on her daily walk with her sweet dog. You wouldn't believe the hill she walks everyday!! I am humbled!! After our walk she gave me the tour of their garden.....a garden with herbs and beds ready for vegetables and lots of blooming spring flowers. What a great blessing it was for me to spend time with my beautiful and holy friend on such a gorgeous blue sky day !! Looking at Colette in her garden and in her house surrounded by flowers sent by her friends i thought of a plaque in my garden, Bloom where God plants you!
I am so thankful to all my friends and family who have contributed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! I truly believe that the funds raised through Team in Training have made a huge impact on the quality of life of those under going cancer treatment and have radically improved the survivabilty rates for many different kinds of blood cancers. The LLS website is an amazing resource for learning more about blood cancers. http://www.lls.org/#/diseaseinformation/
THANK YOU!!
Dedicated to Colette:
“ God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet swift like those of hinds and enables me to go upon the high places.” Hab 3:19
“ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt
My small, but meaningful-to-me, accomplishments the past two weeks are inspiring me to keep on trying this training stuff. Last Saturday, the 16th of March, Burt and I finally made the way up the mountain to Bonneville Point (the Oregon Trail Historical Site east of Boise, off I-84 and Black Creek road) from our starting point at the Lucky Peak dam. It was a vertical ascent of 784 feet in 2.89 miles and we did it moving quickly! Pictured below: looking down from Bonneville Point towards the Black Cliffs below the dam
Then, Tuesday after work, a group from Team in Training and our coach, John, met at Camel’s Back Park for hill training. The list of things I think I cannot do is a very long list and running up hills certainly has a spot on that list; walking up a steep hill is hard enough! However, I did run the hills! Never in a million trillion years did I think I could run up a hill…but I did, four times!! Just like a horse☺!! The fourth time was specifically motivated by Colette, because I really wanted to quit after the third time up~ I had had enough. But, thoughts of Colette and her chemo regimen put me to shame for wanting to give up, so I did the fourth and I still can’t believe I did!! It was all for you, Colette!!
Camel's Back, going up and going down!!
All of this leads to training day #29 and a 7-mile walk. I was actually looking forward to the training yesterday, I felt prepared for it, go figure. It was awesome! Although it was cold cold cold when we started at 8 AM (28 degrees…brrrr) I was soon perfectly warm and the sun slowly warmed the air. Some of the time I walked by myself, and the rest of the time I was with a coach (thanks Tim and John!) or a mentor (I love walking with you, Amber!) or another trainee (Andrea…you inspire me!!) The seven miles flew by and before I knew it we were done and I felt great! Pictured below, Crescent Rim Dr. about half way in the 7-mile run.
Now that I have (1) reached Bonneville Point and (2) ‘run the hill’ and (I can almost say) (3) developed a habit of exercising, it is time to concentrate on reaching my fundraising goal! Please consider making a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and help me reach my goal. Every donation, big or small, does make a difference!! Colette just completed her third round of chemo leading her closer to her stem cell transplant. With the research money from LLS more and more people are surviving cancer longer and having richer lives during and after treatment! Be part of that effort!
This is where the money goes...
Mission: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
These are the scary facts:
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Terri Merkley
3481 Constitution Way
Boise, Idaho 83706
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The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is a global leader in the fight against cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all monetary donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by tax laws. Please check with your financial advisor if you have more questions.