On July 4, 2023 the annual Bloom family summer vacation was seemingly similar to the previous years. There was Andreina, running and jumping in the waves with the kids, insisting to hold on to the normalcy of togetherness, showing them that this beach vacation was no different than those prior. But it was. And if you looked closely, you could see it. In how much she was sleeping, and how her hair was thinning. Andreina, a successful business woman, accomplished athlete and dedicated mother of two, had just completed round two of chemo for triple negative breast cancer. It was discovered that May, and she was deep in her healing journey, hopeful that the medicine pumping through her body was chasing down and eradicating each and every cancer cell.
2023 was the year Andreina defeated cancer. It was an intense year, one that took her and her family through the unknown labyrinth of cancer treatment. She went through clinical trial chemo, surgery, more chemo, radiation, immunotherapy, hours turning into days at the clinic and many days and nights at home, feeling weak and tired. This successful journey would not have been possible without the incredible team at the Dana Farber Cancer Center. Support staff, nurses, physicians, researchers - were all part of the team, guiding the family through each step of treatment, up until - -the joyous and long-awaited outcome of “no cancer detectable”.
One year later, on July 4, 2024, the annual Bloom family summer vacation commenced once again. Again, there was Andreina, diving into the water with the kids. This time sporting a pixie and port weeks away from removal. Still tired, but each day closer to her familiar energy levels. This time with the knowledge that the cancer was gone, hopefully never to return.
The experience for each of us this past year - as patient and ex-bioengineer, as partner and treatment developer, as father-in-law and physician - was unique. Each of our pages below tell our own story. And yet, it was a team of experts and loved ones that got us through this year, and it is as a team that we ride - Pedaling Past Cancer.
Together we ride in tribute and in thanks to all who made it possible for Andreina to say she is now in recovery, and for all those for whom we have not yet found the right treatment path to achieve that same result.
We invite you to join us in sponsoring our ride and strengthening us on our journey. The Pan Mass Challenge is leading the charge to beat cancer. In fact, last year 100% of rider-raised revenue went directly to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's tireless commitment to finding a cure. Over half of the treatments for cancer we now use have been developed with the help of the researchers and physicians at Dana Faber. Your donation will help find cures for cancer that will impact many others deserving a positive outcome, just like Andreina.
