August 1, 2015 3:33 PM
At this exact time, I was in the medical tent. I had just ridden 74 miles (the day is a total of 85 miles), sat in a car for 11 miles, sat on the side of the road for 30 minutes and broke a bone in my foot. I thought my ride was done the second I heard the crack but continued to do another 22 miles after a break at medical. Then, at the medical tent at our overnight home, Mass Maritime Academy, the doctor confirmed that it was in fact broken and that I shouldn’t continue. He didn’t say I couldn’t, just that he didn’t think I should. I went to sleep, woke up with my team and headed out for the day. The first water stop was my finish line for that day! I made it the 26 miles where my family was there to pick me up. We then drove the route to PTown, cheering riders along the way, and met up with the rest of my team for the final mile of the ride. I finished my ride.
That weekend was a rough one for me but nothing compared to the call I would receive in March. My mother had a relatively routine endoscopy and they found something. No one knew exactly what but they knew it was something. They did a biopsy and confirmed our worst fear. My mother had cancer. A Carcinoid neuroendoctrine tumor was found in her small intestines that had to come out.
I have been involved with the PMC for several years now and it’s been closer to home every year. This year, it’s too close.
Two surgeries. Countless doctors. Ups and Downs. And, we’re not done. Thankfully, this is a slow growing type of cancer and my mother is showing no symptoms from the cancer (the original endoscopy and surgery found a hernia in her upper diaphragm which was repaired at the second surgery, which was causing her only actual symptoms from all of this). Her doctors are amazing, her prognosis is great and my mother is simply amazing. While her type of cancer is “one of the best kinds to have”, it’s still cancer and still something she will be fighting for the rest of her life, with me by her side every step of the way.
There is also some great news to report. Our Pedal Partner (Pediatric oncology patient that we have been partnered with for several years) is in remission and is doing amazingly well. He rode with his sister in this year’s PMC Kids Ride in Sharon and did it all by himself. Something that was unimaginable only last year! My uncle, who I originally started riding the PMC for, is also in remission and doing amazingly well. He gets stronger every year and has been an amazing source of strength for all of us this year.
Unfortunately, this year I will not be able to ride the PMC. I will be volunteering for the entire two days and will be able to experience what this amazing event is all about, from a different angle. I am committed to treat this year as any other in terms of fundraising and my overall commitment to the PMC. While surgery on my foot is in the near future, I hope to be back on my bike pedaling towards a cure for next year’s ride.
Please join me by making the PMC your avenue to making a difference in the fight against cancer. Please support me and Team SpinnerG to raise funds for cancer research and donate today. My personal fundraising link is https://give.pmc.org/ig0007. Please contribute generously and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. If you've donated already, please accept this email as yet another Thank You. When you think of us on our bikes (or volunteering for 48 hours) on August 5 and 6, your spirit will be with us.
From the bottom of my heart I thank you for your support.
August 1, 2015 3:33 PM
At this exact time, I was in the medical tent. I had just ridden 74 miles (the day is a total of 85 miles), sat in a car for 11 miles, sat on the side of the road for 30 minutes and broke a bone in my foot. I thought my ride was done the second I heard the crack but continued to do another 22 miles after a break at medical. Then, at the medical tent at our overnight home, Mass Maritime Academy, the doctor confirmed that it was in fact broken and that I shouldn’t continue. He didn’t say I couldn’t, just that he didn’t think I should. I went to sleep, woke up with my team and headed out for the day. The first water stop was my finish line for that day! I made it the 26 miles where my family was there to pick me up. We then drove the route to PTown, cheering riders along the way, and met up with the rest of my team for the final mile of the ride. I finished my ride.
That weekend was a rough one for me but nothing compared to the call I would receive in March. My mother had a relatively routine endoscopy and they found something. No one knew exactly what but they knew it was something. They did a biopsy and confirmed our worst fear. My mother had cancer. A Carcinoid neuroendoctrine tumor was found in her small intestines that had to come out.
I have been involved with the PMC for several years now and it’s been closer to home every year. This year, it’s too close.
Two surgeries. Countless doctors. Ups and Downs. And, we’re not done. Thankfully, this is a slow growing type of cancer and my mother is showing no symptoms from the cancer (the original endoscopy and surgery found a hernia in her upper diaphragm which was repaired at the second surgery, which was causing her only actual symptoms from all of this). Her doctors are amazing, her prognosis is great and my mother is simply amazing. While her type of cancer is “one of the best kinds to have”, it’s still cancer and still something she will be fighting for the rest of her life, with me by her side every step of the way.
There is also some great news to report. Our Pedal Partner (Pediatric oncology patient that we have been partnered with for several years) is in remission and is doing amazingly well. He rode with his sister in this year’s PMC Kids Ride in Sharon and did it all by himself. Something that was unimaginable only last year! My uncle, who I originally started riding the PMC for, is also in remission and doing amazingly well. He gets stronger every year and has been an amazing source of strength for all of us this year.
Unfortunately, this year I will not be able to ride the PMC. I will be volunteering for the entire two days and will be able to experience what this amazing event is all about, from a different angle. I am committed to treat this year as any other in terms of fundraising and my overall commitment to the PMC. While surgery on my foot is in the near future, I hope to be back on my bike pedaling towards a cure for next year’s ride.
Please join me by making the PMC your avenue to making a difference in the fight against cancer. Please support me and Team SpinnerG to raise funds for cancer research and donate today. My personal fundraising link is https://give.pmc.org/ig0007. Please contribute generously and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. If you've donated already, please accept this email as yet another Thank You. When you think of us on our bikes (or volunteering for 48 hours) on August 5 and 6, your spirit will be with us.
From the bottom of my heart I thank you for your support.
I have chosen to keep all of my donors' information confidential; therefore it is not displayed on my PMC public donor list.
