2/6/2010 {20: Padded shorts, Cool shades and So Many Reasons to Ride.}

Today marks a very big day. It was my first official ride with the TEAM. Can I just say-- these people are amazing. As we went around the circle and all introduced ourselves, we also included why we were here... what our connection was. I stood in amazement as I heard people's stories.. stories of survival and determination. People's desire to change what they experienced and support the research that is making oncology care more efficient and successful... it blew me away. I had no idea I would be in such wonderful presence. I'm certain that this experience is going to be one for the books.

Now-- onto the actual experience of learning how to ride this big piece of metal with wheels... I made some big purchases today. (Thank you, federal government for making that possible). I bought clips, new pedals, padded shorts, a wind breaker, some really sweet shades and a bike rack for my car. I am SOOOO excited. I haven't even changed from my new TNT training jersey yet... I like walking around the house with my shorts, jersey and sweet road bike shoes on because I just feel so cool. :)

However, alas, that is all just gear. How did the ride go? AWESOME. I felt like even though I was getting pretty winded from pushing those pedals, I was keeping up for the most part and the motivation to just keep pushing was so strong. We had our coaches cheering us on and mentors watching us, chatting, advising, adjusting our bikes... the whole nine. My mentor, Albert, I feel is more like a friend. I hardly knew 7 miles had gone by-- we were chatting the whole time! (Then he sped up and I was pretty much not talking at all so I could keep up. hehe) This was 20 miles... and I could have ridden another 20. I may not be saying that next week, as I look at 40 miles on the agenda... but I can do it. I'm having the time of my life doing it too. The best part-- I have ridden with my clips and haven't fallen yet!! While I know it's going to happen, so far so good.

Anyhow-- I will be updating this weekly. This Saturday has me COMPLETELY pumped. Fundraising is starting to really happen. I am really ready to take on the road. On the fundraising front-- things are good. Bake sale on G11 will take place not this week but next. I am going to have "Operation Brownie" the week after that. (I am going to make a bunch of individually wrapped brownies and tag them with this info, and hand them out at Whole Foods, HEB, etc. We will see how that works.) Yay for baked goods!! Also, I am looking into selling cookies in front of WalMart . They have a matching program for non profits. As for personal donations-- those are good too! Please send this to people who you think may want to help. If you are reading this-- you know how wonderful this cause is.

Okay, guys. Time to sign off. Until next week, Cheers!! Go TEAM!

~Em

2/20/2010 {35: The WIND is your FRIEND... and a note about a great man}

Hello Everyone!!

35 miles down this week... and I was introduced to a very good friend of mine... the WIND. Katy proved to be a great ride.. lots of cyclists on the road. Lots of motivation. Lots of wind. I didn't realize how.. err.. wonderful it is until after I turned a certain way and it was blowing against me.. at mile 25.... haha. Anyhow-- I was afraid to say anything about how difficult it was for fear of getting the "Oh, you'll get used to it. This is nothing" look.. however, luckily, my commiserating was not alone. The second we got to the break stop, the first thing I heard was "My God. Who turned on the wind?!" I knew then that we were in it together... and that I totally love this group! Anyhow-- 35 miles was great. I even had enough steam to sprint it home the last half mile. Such a rush!

I want to write a quick note this week about one of the people I am riding in honor of-- Ronald. This gentleman holds a very special place in my heart-- he seems to have that effect on so many people. He was my first patient as an independent nurse and I had already known him quiet well from previous experience in orientation. We just kind of clicked. Him and his wife were always bright shining faces... in spite of their difficult transplant process and the challenges it brought. This man put up quiet a fight. It saddens me to remember this... but his therapy did not kill his cancer and he peacefully passed away with his family at his side. However, this man still fuels me (and SO many others!) to keep going. He went from being completely active to not being able to get out of bed.... and then he got his activity back! He regained so much strength... and this is not easy! Losing muscle mass.. only to have to regain it while undergoing treatment is incredibly difficult... but he did it. When I think of how hard it is to wake up really early and get on that bike.. I think of how strong Mr. Wolfe was. I then know that I can do this. I only hope that his story of strength and victory inspires others as it has inspired me.

This bike ride is going to mean so much more than just physical strength. This is an accolade to all the patients and caregivers that are taking everything they have within them and putting it into the day. The ability to get better. The strength to fight.

I can't wait for 45!! I'll be back next week!! Stay tuned!!

2/27/2010 {43.25: Debris and animals. PLUS another honorary profile.}

Hello everyone!

I have some news. This week was the first week I got to a point in the ride (around mile 38) that I was thinking.... I can't keep pushing. The wind was slamming us, the cars were making some dangerously close cuts and I was worried about getting lost. However.... I ended up getting so "zoned" that I ended up flying past the stopping point where our cars were. I heard all these people yelling for me and not realizing who they were, I was thinking "Seriously... who do those people think they are, harassing me like that??", and then my riding buddy Lana said "Wait. That's them.... we need to turn around." Wow. Bonus 1/4 mile!! (Hence the 43.25 above). So, bottom line, it was tough. I just had to keep programing into my head how it must feel to wake up knowing you have three chemos to pull through that day... and how you just keep going... just keep riding.

A few notes about the ride itself. The first 20 miles were great. Wind at our tail. We thought we were all star cyclists because we were FLYING. We saw a lot of cattle who, in between bites of grass, would stare at us as we rode by. Who knows what they were thinking. Crazy looking people in spandex on crazy looking contraptions. I decided that next week I am going to bring a trash bag and collect things from the side of the road for my garage sale. We found a remote.. some shoes.... the opportunities are endless. (hehe. JUST KIDDING! I promise my garage sale will be legit!) Lastly, I had my first encounter with the dogs. There was a back lab looking dog who started running along side me... and then I spotted the rottweiler looking dog, and I began to get a little nervous. While Fido to my right was harmlessly racing me, I had no idea what this other possibly rabid and very angry looking animal was plotting. Alas... he must have been dettered by my crazy speed because I outrode his feisty compadre, and they quickly lost interest. Thank God!!

I want to say briefly, if you read this and also happen to drive a car.... BE NICE TO THE CYCLISTS, PLEASE!! It's very scary to almost get hit by a car going 60 miles an hour.

Before I leave, I want to mention another one my friends, Maria. This beautiful girl is in the prime of her twenties and is going through a very tough disease. I have had the priviledge of taking care of her on several occassions. I see my life and how much I am able to do, all the places I have been able to go.. and I think of how difficult it must be to be tied down by a disease like Ms. Adeoti is. However, after taking care of her, I realize she has this superwoman-like power to see beauty in everything. She is constantly saying how blessed she is and always counting her lucky stars. She has been able to let the negitivity in her life go... knowing that God is going to take care of her. She has SO much faith and strength that it rubs off on everyone she meets. Her fire of happiness is always bright and it's for these reasons I am riding for her. We all need a little bit of that fire. Thanks, Maria.

And until next week, cheers and beautiful riding!!

~Emily

3/13/2010 {60: Just Keep Pushing... And Pushing.}

Hello all. Sorry for such a delayed update. This is going to include last week's update as well. In a short summary, last week was awesome DURING the ride. It wasn't until AFTER that I realized one very pivotal thing I had forgotten-- SUNSCREEN. All the wrist slapping and "you should know betters" aside... wow. I looked (and still look) like a lobster from the elbows down. I was wearing my hand brace so I have a glorious "tan line". It's funny because the day after, I went to the hand doctor, knowing how concerned he was that I would not be compliant with the hand brace. However, when he saw it seared to my skin... he was convinced of my compliance to say the least. haha. Anyhow, the ride was great... more pushing towards the end and of course.. A LOT OF WIND.... it seemed like everywhere we turned, wind would hit us in the face. However, alas... the ride was awesome. Great people. Great work out. Great inspiration.

Now to this week. The 60 miler. I keep feeling like that is such an intense distance.... but next weekend is 70. Wow. I can't believe I am going to ride that. I need to really train hard this week to build my strength. Anyhow, back to the ride... it was really tough. I hit a wall (AKA bonked out) at about 52. I know what I need to do different this week and on Saturday, so it shouldn't happen again. Nonetheless, I never stopped. Crazy as it sounds, I just kept tuning into what my patients must feel. Just keep moving. Just keep pushing... and that's what I did. I had a patient today who is waiting for his graft to set in. He's waiting.. and waiting.. and waiting. The strength he has to just get through the day and keep a smile on his face seems like such an immense thing. I feel like tuning into that kind of strength is what kept me going.

As far as fundraising efforts go-- I am currently working on a swing dance I am calling 'Dance for the Cure". HUGE thanks so far to Donn at the Melody Club for being so supportive. I think this will be a great event. Also, I am working on a few bake sales, a family garage sale and some raffles at work. All works in progress!! The TNT car wash was a HUGE hit... GO TEAM!! Lastly.... I want to give a giant shout out to TEAM MARIA. Maria is one of the patients I took care of who I am riding for and she has told all her friends and family about this ride.... and I just keep getting donations... unbelievably generous donations. THANK YOU SO MUCH. You all are absolute God sends.... Maria... AKA Superwoman... you are amazing.

Also, I would like to share this little tid bit another patient told me.. if he reads this, he will know who he is. One day I asked him if he was scared. He said quiet plainly "Well, no... because I envision myself having a perfect transplant with no complications." I said "But, you walk these halls and see all these really sick people going through the same thing you are going through. You never get scared?" He said "No. Never. Because my experience will have no complications. I don't put any of those ideas in my head. I envision a perfect transplant for me.' Ever since then, all I can do is envision a perfect ride.... no wind... no steep incline.. no falls.... just that gentle breeze at my back, fresh air and cheers of encouragement. I just envision thet perfect ride.... and I feel like I can do it. I'm not afraid any more. Thank you for those words, Thom.

So here's to the perfect ride.... may we all have that perfect ride.

See you next week.. post 70!! Cheers!! GO TEAM!

3/20/2010 {20+40: The Elements}

This week was pretty interesting. I came into it really excited. As the little bit of sun started to come out... we realized how cloudy it was. I had seen on the radar that morning that a huge line of storms was headed straight towards us and needless to say, the adrenaline was kicking in. I was pumped to explore just what rain had to offer....

Well. We found out. We discovered what it was like to be pelted. There was some reported hail. Lots of lightning. Wind.... but somehow, we all forgot about the wind when the rain started pouring. It was pretty fun. When we saw the lightning, though, we all hoped off our bikes and called it. Seeing as we were sitting on pieces of metal, it seemed like the wisest thing to do. Anyhow... it was a great learning lesson. Erin and I figured out how to ride with one eye flooded out by blowing rain. We learned how to be troopers and push through.However, no matter what, safety always comes first.

I also did the Tour de Houston this week. I rode with Mary who was such a wonderful riding buddy. We did the 40 miler and had a wonderful time doing it. It was VERY windy and VERY cold but the crowd was great and the sky was blue... a nice change from the day before. It's amazing how far 40 miles is. When you are out in the country and don't really know where you are going, it's hard to gain perspective on what 40 miles looks like. However, riding in familiar territory, like we did with the Tour, I couldn't beleive that I rode from downtown to past the Beltway.... AMAZING! That just seemed so far... but was no big deal to ride. Training may actually be making a difference!

Lastly, I want to share with you another patient profile. This gentleman is Mr. Eli Whitney. He is a very, very special strong willed man. Battling his disease has been no easy task. He was been brought back into the hospital a second time after his transpant and dealt with some odds. However, I was able to spend some time with him very recently and have reazlied just how much the human body can recover from. This man has come back so strong. He knows he has a ways yet to go... but just when you think all bets are off... just when you think it might not go the way you wanted... things change. Things get better. He and his beautiful wife have always had such faith... such strength. He never once gave up. It is because of THESE elements that he is pulling through.

We all have our elements. Some are good. Some may not seem so good.... but they all make us stronger.

So here is to the elements. May they make us strong... very strong. :)

Till next week, cheers...

~Emily

3/27/2010 {52: Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'... and then some beer.)

So, today I had some more new experiences. It seems like my Saturdays are now filled with all new experiences. Anyhow, today was called wind+hills+gears that need to be tuned up. I can't say it wasn't difficult.... especially that last leg with all the major wind. However- it was SOOOOOO beautiful and it the sun was perfect. My four layers of sunscreen probably could have been reduced to two or three. :)

The hills were tough but a crazy thing happened. Right when I was hitting a rough spot, I got a text message from my folks with some GREAT news from the garage sale that they were manning while I rode.... we made $300!!! While that may be just a touch more in comparison to my big goal... it puts me well beyond halfway. How exciting is that?! I have my wonderful family to thank and all of the amazingly generous donors who gave their unwanted items to me to sell. It went perfect. My mom was telling me how we had this huge basket of toys to sell. This man came up and bought almost all of them and in the backseat of his car was his little girl. He immediately went back to the car and was showing her all her new toys. Those toys had been sitting at my grandma's house for years. They were what we played with as little kids. They have been untouched for at least a decade! Now they are being loved and making somebody very happy... all the while supporting a wonderful cause. Can it get any better than that?

Other fundraising projects in the works.. I have a benefit dinner at Hungry's on April 13th for the Saint Anne's Young Adult Group. Hungry's has agreed to donate 10% of proceeds to the LLS under my TNT account. Also, I have a swing dance set up to take place on May 8, pending confirmation from the venue... not to mention an awesome raffle and bake sale at work that is going to take place in a couple weeks!

So-- it looks like I have my work cut out for me. However, I think this is going to be a great turnout. Hopefully I will reach my goal soon!!

Other than that... life is good. Can't complain much over here. I hope you all find your selves with the same sentiment.

Until Next week--- 45 miles in Chappel Hill!! Sweet!! Cheers!

~Emily

**** JUNE 3, 2010. LEAVING FOR TAHOE TOMORROW...... GO TEAM!!!!***

First of all... SO SORRY about the lack of updates on this thing. I have to use the all too often abused excuse of life just getting the best of me.

Anyhow.. a quick update.

- HUGE thanks to the Melody Club and Snit's Dog and Pony Show for making DANCE FOR THE CURE a HUGE success. We raised over $1000. INCREDIBLE!!!

- Operation Bake Sale and Raffle at work was great. I raised over $600. THANK YOU MD ANDERSON NURSES AND FLOOR STAFF FOR MAKING THIS A SUCCESS.

BIg news... I decided to start training for the Nation's Triathalon... another Team in Training Event. This time I am raising $3500. This means that by the end of the year, we will have raised over $8500 for the LLS. AMAZING. By "we" I mean the hundreds of people that have made it possible for me to collect these funds and make cancer a thing of the past. Yea!!

So.. in an effort to make this short and sweet... here are a few things I have learned along this epic journey.

1. People are intrinsically good. I was AMAZED at the outreach of people I did not even know. I met a man at an airport. He donated $250. It was not the number. It was the fact that he shared that belief... that cancer has to end. He and all the others who donated channelled this perfect, unique and absolutely beautiful generosity. It restored my faith in humanity. People are good... really good.

2. The world is so beautiful. I have seen (and will see in Tahoe) some of the most peaceful and gorgeous landscapes on my bike. Cows can be pretty too!!

3. We are never alone. Whether you are a patient or just somebody on the street, after seeing all these people giving and all in order to help people they probably will never meet.... all out of that perfect generosity. It just goes to show that nobody is ever alone. In our moments of the greatest pain... and the greatest ecstasy, we are always in it together. To all the patients reading this... know that you not only have doctors, nurses, athletes, loved ones and friends supporting you... you have a whole world of people, near, far and in between. This experience has linked me to that power. It's there and so so alive.

4. Roadkill is gross.... but kind of entertaining. You would never guess what one will find on the side of the road.

5. The WIND if your FRIEND. The RAIN is a PAIN.

6. I love love love love my bike. It takes me to great places. It is perfect.

7. There's nothing like feeling that heat come from the ground and then a small breeze of cool air whips around the corner and all is good again.

8. Doughnuts are AMAZING... like... REALLY amazing.

9. Rest stops: Time to break out the cookies!!!

10. Team in Training is like a secret society. Anytime I ride with a TNT jersey... no matter where I am, I always get a GO TEAM from passing riders. It's a great moment because you know that that person just gets it. You exchange a special look and keep riding because you know that you are a part of someting huge, something great...

SO... here's to a great ride. :) Tahoe.. here we come. Strong. Fierce. Curing cancer.

GO TEAM.

~Emily

Saving Lives... One Triathlon, Century Ride and perhaps a Marathon at a time!

Welcome , everyone!!

For those of you who do not know me, my name is Emily Stonebrook. I am a nurse at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and work on the Stem Cell Transplant Unit (Go G11!!). I see cancer everyday I go to work... most of which are leukemias and lymphomas. I see how horrible this disease is.. AND how far we have come. However, we have a ways to go, so I decided to join the LLS Team in Training because I know I can help make a difference.. and so can YOU!

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is contributing to research everyday to find ways to stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. Team in Training is a way for athletes (beginners and experts alike) to complete endurance events and raise money that goes directly to LLS... and directly towards the cure.

I completed the 100 mile bike ride in Lake Tahoe this past June and it was absolutely life changing. The event in total raised $6million for the LLS. That's quiet amazing.

I decided to get crazy and do the Nation's Triathlon which started almost immediately after Tahoe was fininshed so I have yet to slow down. The event is on September 12, 2010 and it promises to be hot and very exciting. My team has a goal of raising $200,000... this is possible, with your help!

A few quick facts...

- All donations are tax deductable

- 75 cents of every dollar goes straight to research

So many of our lives have been touched by cancer somehow, so I am doing this in honor of EVERYONE who has fought cancer... patients, caregivers, family and friends. Together we can end it!!

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

Please spread the word about my effort!! I need a lot of help!! ANY donation is a huge help for a great cause. I hope you will come back often and check on my progress.

Thank you so much!! Please email me with any questions or concerns...

emilyRN8809@gmail.com