Being my first race for Team in Training, I chose a very good friend who is a survivor for my honored hero. She took me in when I had no where to go, she listened to me, motivated me, and has had an impact on how I view myself ever since I have been blessed enough to meet her. Susan absolutely lights up the room with her contagious smile and positive attitude. Below is her cancer story in her own words:
The Dirty C Word
It was July 15 1999 remember the day like it was yesterday.....
My 2 boys ,then 11 and 13, had gifted me with a necklace that had two angels on it. It had gotten pushed to my back, as happened now and again, so I reached to put it right as I had many times before when my hand grazed over my clavicle .I felt a lump. I moved it ,squeezed it, and poked it. What on earth? Had I strained something or somehow hit my neck? For a week I played with this annoying new part of my anatomy, until finally I decided to have it checked out .My doctor looked at it, said it was probably nothing, but to be on the safe side scheduled me an appointment with a general surgeon to check it out .She too said, probably nothing, but tries to needle aspirate out a sample. When she couldn't get cells, she decided to excise it and scheduled me for removal 25 August. The day came and went she said that she would be gone for 10 days on holiday, so not to fret if I didn't hear from her,she was sure all was fine. About a week later I called my family doctors office and asked if they could get the results as I wanted to put this behind me. An hour later, I received the call that would change my life .I was asked to come in immediately, but no one would tell me more than that .My sister came with me to the office. As they called me in, she asked if I wanted her to come. I said no. My Doc looked at me and said," Well ,I have news and its not good. You have cancer." The next thing he said was, "You can decide to live and you probably will. Or you can decide to die and you probably will." I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. The next few weeks were filled with a surreal series of events, bone marrow test to stage it ( I was stage two B), Pet scans, wall motion study as the chemo I would need could damage my heart, lungs, and kidneys .How was I to look in the faces of my two boys? Their father was much older and had a heart attack just 5 years earlier (we had been apart for many years). Who would take them if we both died? To say that my head was spinning would be an understatement. My elderly parents didn't know what to do . My family started planning like I was dead already. Nine months of gut ripping chemo ( avbd), anticipatory nausea , silly people asking me "Why on earth (though I rocked bald) ,would I cut all my hair off?" Yes someone really asked that ! I actually had people friends that were afraid to see me or to touch me as though I was contagious. Half way through treatment I had a scan that determined the cancer was not spreading . Yay victory!!! The end of April 2000 saw my last chemo treatment. Now the knuckle biter, was it gone ?? May we received the news that I was in remission. I still check and have found bumps and had them checked but to date am cancer free. My children and dear friends and family were my honored Heroes without them I really couldn't have made it. I make sure to live every day to its fullest and take NOTHING for granted .
The Dirty C Word
It was July 15 1999 remember the day like it was yesterday.....
My 2 boys ,then 11 and 13, had gifted me with a necklace that had two angels on it. It had gotten pushed to my back, as happened now and again, so I reached to put it right as I had many times before when my hand grazed over my clavicle .I felt a lump. I moved it ,squeezed it, and poked it. What on earth? Had I strained something or somehow hit my neck? For a week I played with this annoying new part of my anatomy, until finally I decided to have it checked out .My doctor looked at it, said it was probably nothing, but to be on the safe side scheduled me an appointment with a general surgeon to check it out .She too said, probably nothing, but tries to needle aspirate out a sample. When she couldn't get cells, she decided to excise it and scheduled me for removal 25 August. The day came and went she said that she would be gone for 10 days on holiday, so not to fret if I didn't hear from her,she was sure all was fine. About a week later I called my family doctors office and asked if they could get the results as I wanted to put this behind me. An hour later, I received the call that would change my life .I was asked to come in immediately, but no one would tell me more than that .My sister came with me to the office. As they called me in, she asked if I wanted her to come. I said no. My Doc looked at me and said," Well ,I have news and its not good. You have cancer." The next thing he said was, "You can decide to live and you probably will. Or you can decide to die and you probably will." I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. The next few weeks were filled with a surreal series of events, bone marrow test to stage it ( I was stage two B), Pet scans, wall motion study as the chemo I would need could damage my heart, lungs, and kidneys .How was I to look in the faces of my two boys? Their father was much older and had a heart attack just 5 years earlier (we had been apart for many years). Who would take them if we both died? To say that my head was spinning would be an understatement. My elderly parents didn't know what to do . My family started planning like I was dead already. Nine months of gut ripping chemo ( avbd), anticipatory nausea , silly people asking me "Why on earth (though I rocked bald) ,would I cut all my hair off?" Yes someone really asked that ! I actually had people friends that were afraid to see me or to touch me as though I was contagious. Half way through treatment I had a scan that determined the cancer was not spreading . Yay victory!!! The end of April 2000 saw my last chemo treatment. Now the knuckle biter, was it gone ?? May we received the news that I was in remission. I still check and have found bumps and had them checked but to date am cancer free. My children and dear friends and family were my honored Heroes without them I really couldn't have made it. I make sure to live every day to its fullest and take NOTHING for granted .
Naomi Maria Jacinta Lopez was and is the beloved daughter of Michael and Kathy, sister of Jamie, Miranda, Rachel, Joseph, Jessica, Elizabeth, Bernadette, Joshua, Andrew, Bridget, Angelica and Veronica. In 2003 at the age of 13, Naomi was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia or AML for short. This cancer is in the blood and bone marrow and also doesn’t typically affect children but when it does it is a rapidly degenerative disease because of how it attacks the blood cells. The leukemic cells grow rapidly and block out production of white blood cells (the ones that fight infection) red blood cells and platelets. Naomi began feeling tired and would often rest after a few short steps. This was abnormal for the very active and sporty girl that she was. She would say several times she believed she had asthma because of her shortness of breath and tiredness. A doctor’s visit and some blood work later, they discovered her cancer. She was admitted immediately to the Denver Children’s Hospital. Her lack of energy was a sign of the rapidness of the growing leukemic cells. Naomi underwent several procedures including having a double-lumen broviac tube put in her chest right away. These tubes connected directly to the right atrium of her heart through the jugular veins. They use these lines for long-term intravenous access (administering chemotherapy, taking and giving blood, platelet transfusions). She had several bone marrow taps, titanium staples in her lung, and different painful infections because of her compromised immune system. The common cold could be deadly for her at this point. She fought hard through all of this and was able to come home intermittently when her counts were high enough. It was decided by her oncologists that she would need an allogenic bone marrow transplant. Every biological sibling of Naomi was tested and only two matched, Rachel and Joe. It was decided that Joe was the better candidate for this surgery in which they would take bone marrow from his hips and give it to Naomi. This is something extraordinary because as soon as Naomi started growing her hair back her features become more like Joe’s. Her hair became curly like his etc. She went from O negative blood type to his B positive blood type. She was then considered to be in remission. In 2004, Naomi’s Make-A-Wish was granted and the Lopez Family went to Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. Naomi was attending regular monthly doctor’s visits to make sure her cancer was still in remission. She was growing her hair back and was looking forward to her freshman year at Denver West High School. The happiness of her cancer in remission would be short-lived. In October 2004 Naomi began having what she described as flu-like symptoms at school. She was taken to the hospital where blood work revealed her leukemia had come back. When cancer of this nature comes back after a bone marrow transplant, there are little options for that patient especially if that patient is a child. Around Thanksgiving of 2004, Naomi’s oncologist revealed to the family that she would succumb to the disease in a matter of weeks to months. She celebrated her last Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day with her family all while growing sicker with each passing day. On the morning of February 16, 2005 at the age of 15 years old, Naomi, who had visibly suffered and had looked like she was close to death for weeks, finally lost her battle with leukemia at home surrounded by immediate family. The outpouring of love and support from the Presentation of Our Lady Catholic Church community, which Naomi had attended all her life and served on the altar, was amazing. She is remembered as having a caring heart, a bright smile and for loving God and her family with all her heart.
Gideon Line was born April 20, 2011. He is the son of Jim & Nicole Line of Smethport, PA, and the baby brother to Ruth (age 7) and Ketha (age 4). After noticing considerable bruising on his body and being urged by our next door neighbor, an OB/GYN nurse, to have him checked out at our local hospital, Gideon was diagnosed with leukemia on July 27, 2012. He was immediately sent to Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, which is a 2-hour one way drive from Smethport. He was just 15 months old. It was a life altering experience for the entire family. Gideon was diagnosed A.L.L. thankfully, this is one of the most treatable forms of leukemia. He had a Broviac tube attached to the right atrium of his heart and began Chemotherapy on July 31, 2012--which just happened to be his big sister Ketha's 4th birthday. After countless trips to Buffalo (upwards of 3 times a week) for chemotherapy, blood and/or platelet transfusions for 8 months, Gideon entered his 3-year maintenance phase (otherwise known as the "3-year countdown") in March of 2013. We are projecting and praying that in the Spring of 2016 he will beat this disease. Until then, it is an uphill fight. He continues to receive lumbar punctures (spinal taps) and chemotherapy treatments at Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo monthly and daily at home via oral 6MP doses and Methotrexate. He receives visiting nurses to help aid in his treatment
Luke had started complaining of a tummy ache with bloating, acid reflux, not eating well, coming home from school and falling asleep before dinner. After a week of the same issues we made a Dr. Appointment. On March 14, 2014 the day before his appointment his Meme picked him up from school Luke was not feeling well and his stomach was very swollen and hard. We went straight to the ER where some test were done and a mass covering the small intestine was discovered. We were immediately transported to Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta where we were then told he had Burkitts Lymphoma. Surgery and treatment was started immediately. Burkitts Lymphoma is a very aggressive and rapid growing cancer. We were told that we would be in the hospital for 8 months. Luke would need 5 chemo treatments these treatment rounds would last 5 to 7 days at a time. Starting over every 18 to 21 days depending on his blood counts. Secondary infections are usually what keeps treatment from moving forward. We were told to expect secondary infections and ICU stays. Luke was a trooper he never once had to go to the ICU. We put our faith in the Lord. We knew that God would use the Doctors to provide the care he needed to overcome this horrible disease so many families have to endure. Praise God in seventy days Luke was Cancer Free! Luke has now been Cancer Free for 21 months.