A Father-Son Journey around Lake Tahoe
On Sunday June 2, 2019 I will be participating in my 1st TEAM IN TRAING, Century Bike Ride. This year is very special to the Oliver Family as I wil be joining my dad Brad Oliver on his 8th trip around the lake. While we are triaining in different state with our respective teams, we will be crossing the finishline together as father and son.
Together we will be joining over 1500 Cyclists in this 100-mile bike around Lake Tahoe to raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. As a member of Team in Training, we are raising funds to help find cures for blood cancers, as well as, ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients.
And together our goal is to raise $10,000 for cancer reasearch
I ride...
To ACKNOWLEDGE that the SUN is indeed up, and we are all blessed each day.
To HONOR my mother, Anna Oliver, a 3 time survuvor of Annaplastic large Cell Lymphoma. (2000, 2009, 2016)
To HONOR my grandmother Nora Oliver, who recently lost her batte with lung cancer in December.
To HONOR my family and all the families that are affected by this truely horrible disease.
To HONOR and ENCOURAGE all those who are currenltly batteling cancer.
To HONOR all survivors
To THANK my Family: who have time and time again provided incredible support.
To THANK all Supporters: For the hundreds of friends, family, and loved ones that have supported the ABCDE family
GO TEAM………………… LONG MAY YOU RUN
The ABCDE Story
(Anna, Brad, Corbett, Delaney, Elianna), in brief:
CANCER ROUND ONE:
In November of 2000, with Corbett 3 years old, Delaney 1 1/2 years old, and Anna 26 weeks pregnant with Elianna, we got the Stage 4 Anaplastic Large T Cell Lymphoma diagnosis. On November 24, 2000, Anna started (what we now refer to as) her first battle with Cancer. As we tried to “plan” the birth of our third child to time the birth with Anna’s chemo (while pregnant) regiment, the Good Lord and Eliana had their own plan. In what turned out to be perfect timing for Anna’s health, Elianna came into this world on January 31st, 2001 by the grace of God, happy and heathy with HAIR, despite the baldness of her two parents (Brad by choice, Anna due to Chemotherapy). By mid-February of 2001, Anna was pronounced in remission. Blessings Abound!
CANCER ROUND TWO:
In July 2009, the cancer came back. This time, the doctors changed the chemotherapy protocol. Anna’s cancer regime was 2 rounds of Inpatient Chemotherapy, an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant, and a month of daily Radiation Therapy. All the while, Corbett was starting Middle School, and the Girls were in Elementary School. Step One was (2) 3-day stays a local hospital for the administering of a very toxic Chemo Regiment. Next, Anna went to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for the Stem Cell Transplant, using her own cells. She spent 4 weeks in the “Out Patient” wing of the hospital there, away from our home/young children. In order to stay in the “outpatient wing”, we had to provide our own round-the-clock caregivers, and friends and family from around the country came in for days at a time to help, putting their lives on hold to live with and care for Anna in Omaha while I held down the fort in Kansas City. The kids and I spent every weekend we could with Anna, still trying to maintain a normal life in Kansas City. After she came home, and some much-needed rest, Anna started a month-long daily radiation cycle.
Now September 8 is Anna’s Second Birthday, as that was the day she received her Stem Cells in Omaha. Blessings Abound!
CANCER ROUND THREE:
Corbett, just a day before starting his Freshman year in college 1,000 miles away, Delaney, just starting her senior year in high school, and Elianna starting her Sophomore year in High School, had to hear that the cancer had returned, yet again, as Anna was diagnosed with cancer for third time on August 17, 2018. Anna started her treatment protocol with immunotherapy treatment. These relatively new cancer drugs actually target the Lymphoma and, with the help of the patient’s own immune system, kills it. This is absolutely amazing, and I am convinced that fundraisers like this one help bring new treatments like this about. After a very successful treatment, the doctors recommended an Allogeneic stem cell transplant with a MUD (Matched Unrelated Donor from the Bone Marrow Donor Registry). After a search, just one match out of 25 Million was found. Unfortunately, this unknown volunteer did not show up for the doctors appointment, so the search turned to the Kids. After much testing and careful consideration, our team of doctors determined that Elianna would be the transplant donor. So, as Elianna was going thru the next level of testing, it was discovered she had a heart condition called Wolf Parkinson White, yet another hurdle for our family. Anna Started her transplant November 17th and was out of the house for 100 Days (26 days inpatient and over 80 days at my brother and sister-in-law’s house). Elianna donated her stem cells on November 23rd, and three months later, had heart surgery. The goal in a transplant is for the patient’s cells to “turn over” to 100% donor cells, and while Anna did reach 86% Elianna cells, in March, the transplant inexplicably started to turn. In April, we were informed that the transplant had officially failed. Today, despite a failed transplant, The SUN is up and Anna is healthy and provides a constant reminder of God’s grace! We are so very thankful – Blessings Abound
Corbett and Brad.
From KC Team Hope: B... | $1,000.00 |
Irene & Doug Kin... | $250.00 |
Bronya & Ken Bel... | $100.00 |
The Buss Family | $50.00 |
Mike and Susan Doret... | $50.00 |
Lindsay Kraybill | $50.00 |
Jeanne Burgess | $50.00 |
Jacquie Mikuls | $50.00 |
Jackson Scott Sherma... | $50.00 |
Lisa Tootle | $50.00 |
Lea Ann Bailey | $25.00 |
Lea Ann Bailey | $25.00 |
John Mocella | $25.00 |
Ian Bellerose | $25.00 |
Stephanie Mitchell | $20.00 |
Madeleine Jousou | $10.00 |
Bill Hartong | |
Steven White | |
Anna and Brad Oliver... | |
Judy & Bill Kray... | |
Richard Kallay | |
Hailey Krotenberg | |
Jodi Sundquist | |
Ann W | |
Linda Wingerter | |
Meredith Wood | |
Laura & Mike Mil... | |
Amar Joshi | |
Jared Moreda | |
Parker Wilson | |
Tyler Holcomb | |
Eric Slovak | |
Freddie Charlesworth... |
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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.