Did You Know????

The relative five-year Leukemia survival rate has more than tripled in the past 45 years for patients with leukemia. In 1960-63, when compared to a person without leukemia, a patient had a 14% chance of living five years. By 1975-77, the five year relative survival rate had jumped to 35%, and in 1996-2003 the overall relative survival rate was nearly 50%. The relative survival rates differ by the age of the patient at diagnosis, gender, race and type of leukemia. During 1995-2003 relative survival rates overall were:

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL): 65.3% overall; 90.4% for children under 5 (Team Honoree Brian DuBois was diagnosed with ALL leukemia)
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): 74.8% overall
• Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML): 20.7% overall; 54.1% for children under 15 (Team Honoree Harry Drake was diagnosed with AML leukemia at age 6 months)
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML): 44.4%
• The leukemia death rate for children 0-14 years of age in the United States has declined 70% in the last three decades. Despite this decline, leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children under age 20.

An estimated 245,225 people in the United States are currently living with or are in remission from leukemia, and an estimated 44,790 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed in 2009 alone.

xoxoxo
Ashley

I have a confession

My Mentor Anita

So last week was an INSANE WEEK!!! When I say insane I mean insane. I had a Grad Night and a Wedding within two days of each other. That meant last minute meetings, decorating, timelines, etc. I knew it was going to be crazy but I had no idea. I didn't run not once. I know I know I should have run but I was scheduled from 8am until midnight the entire week. Then on top of it I got a huge blister on the bottom of my foot from wearing bad shoes for my grad night. I figured I would start afresh this week.

I went to track workout and was SCARED. Not running for a week being tired and not the most enthusiastic didn't bode well for me. Then walks in my Mentor Anita. She was awesome during my workout. She ran with me during the running portion of our circut training and kept saying I am going to be your pace person and make sure you keep your pace up. Little does she know she was more than my pace person she was my spirit person that kept me even running. I finished the workout and felt amazing. I am back on track and ready to go. Glad last week is over and looking forward the buddy run tomorrow.

GO TEAM!!!!

xoxoxo
Ashley

Harry!

This morning as I was listening to my two beautiful children chattering to me about what they dreamed about last night, what they wanted to eat for breakfast, and what they wanted to do today I couldn't help but think about one of the honorees that our team is running for, Harry.

Harry is 2.5 years old and was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) when he was 6 months old. For the past two years Harry, his parents and his older brother have been fighting tooth and nail to save his life. I can't help but think what I would do if I were Harry's mom. Would I be strong enough to handle such a long road of doctors, hospitals, chemo, bone marrow transplants? Would I be able to handle the unknow and the sheer fear that I would have day in and day out until I knew every single cell of cancer was out of my child's body?

Children are suppose to be care free. When they wake up they should be able to talk about their dreams, what they are going to eat for breakfast, what Princesses they want to grow up to be and how Alvin and the chipmunks "rock and roll." They should not be in pain, be scared....HAVE CANCER!

Harry had a bone marrow transplant when he was 10 months old. He just celebrated his one year transplant anniversary. Doctor's said he wouldn't make it to 2 years old. They are now saying that if he makes it to his 2 year transplant (May 2011) anniversary his chances of relapsing are unlikely.

I hope during my journey that I am able to meet with Harry's parents and really be able to listen to their amazing story and pull strength from their experience. As a parent I cannot imagine what they have been through. If my running and fundraising for LLS saves one child it was an experience worth doing again and again!!

Today's training run was for you Harry. I am excited to meet you, your brother and your parents!!!

xoxoxox,
Ashley

My Journey Begins

Today is the official Day 1 of my training. The team in Training Kick off party was this weekend. It was amazing!! I was overwhelmed, excited, nervous, and inspired. We got to meet our team, coaches, mentors and honorees (I will be talking about my teams honorees throughout my training process) and most importantly we got our training schedule (OMG I am terrified!)

Today my training officially started. Couldn't have been a crazier day to start training for a marathon. Started with getting Gracie to school, Wish Upon A Wedding Event Chair conference call, and my schedule goes on and on until I finally got home around 9:30 tonight.

I got home and realized I still needed to run for 30 minutes today. So I strapped my running shoes on and off I went. It was a great run even though I was exhausted before I started. So many things running through my head. The most important thing that I couldn't get out of my head was "I am so proud of myself for actually committing to starting my training TONIGHT and not procrastinating it until TOMORROW."

After running the full thirty minutes I realized this is the start of an amazing journey for me. I don't know if I can actually run 26.2 miles but I know I am going to do everything in my power to try!

xoxoxox Ashley

Day 1- Why?

Why?

Last night I made a commitment to Team In Training to run the Nike Women's Marathon on October 17, 2010. Making this commitment was a no brainer for me for two reasons 1) It has been a goal of mine for years to try and run a half/full marathon 2) The list I quickly put together this morning of 30+ individuals and groups of people that have survived cancer, are living with cancer or have left this life because of cancer that have personally touched my life.

Last night during the informational meeting there was a speaker that was diagnosed with hodgkin's lymphoma at age 27. After 6 months of chemotherapy she decided to run a half marathon with Team In Training. At the end of talk she said "Chemotherapy is harder than any half/full marathon that you will train for or run!" I have decided that this will be my mantra as I am training. If she can train and complete a half marathon after 6 months of Chemo I can definitely complete a half/full marathon (I have 6 weeks to commit to either the half or full marathon I will let you know what I decide)

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training (TNT) offers hands-on training unlike any other program. I will get more help than with other charities, gyms, online training programs or sports clubs. They have established network of coaches, mentors and teammates, built by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society over the past 22 years.

I have committed to help raise a minimum of $2,500 my personal goal is to raise at least $5,000.

I put this blog together as an outlet for me to record my training triumphs and heartaches. It is also a way for my friends and family that are supporting me through this process to see my progress.

Thank you in advance for your love and support!!!!

xoxoxoxo
Ashley