Playing Tag and Living Life to the Fullest

Meet Matt
(with mom, Kat,
& big sis, Kyra)

Last night I was blessed to meet Matt, a spunky 6-year-old diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Matt, his mother Kat, and his older sister joined our team at our track training in Burlingame last night. Kat shared her family's story, while Matt ran up and down the bleachers chasing his sister, Kyra, and playing a lively game of tag.

Tag was always one of my favorite games growing up - if anyone remembers how exhilarating the chase could be: running, ducking, dodging, trying to avoid getting caught without exhausting yourself for the inevitable moment when you would be called to chase someone else... (Sidebar: We need to enact an impromptu game of Tag - who is in?)

I watched Matt with a smile, fondly remembering how much I enjoyed the game, while his mother reported that he is fresh from his most recent chemotherapy treatment. She told us that he would be in the hospital once a month, for 3 days at a time, for his chemo treatment - he would be released on a Thursday afternoon and would be back in his Kindergarten classroom on Friday morning. My teammates and I were baffled. Matt is a bright little man with light in his eyes and real zip in his step - just happy to play tag with his sister at a busy track while his mom talks to a bunch of grownups.

North Peninsula Teammate (TNT)
listening intently to Matt's story.
That's me (front, second from right)

I could not help but think that last night's game of Tag was practice for Matt - he has come a long way in his treatment, but unfortunately has a long way to go. He was diagnosed with leukemia in August 2009 (when doctors discovered a tumor the size of a pager in his chest, crushing his trachea), missed his Kindergarten year in 2010, and has survived numerous medical miracles since then. He has suffered unimaginable pain, has taken unmeasurable doses of medications with major side-effects (which might also have further side-effects in his future), and has missed days/weeks/months of his life (at times in a drug-induced coma so he could recover from the trauma of his treatment). But like all normal 6-year-old boys, Matt likes the game of Tag. And he is a fighter! He understands what is happening to him, he knows that he might not get better, but he is a living lesson on how to live life to the fullest.

If Matt has enough energy at the end of a busy Tuesday to sprint up and down bleachers screaming and laughing, then I have enough energy to raise funds to help in his fight and to push myself to train (while being mindful of my healing of course, which I am doing while working closely with my doctor, trainers, and coaches) and complete this marathon in his honor.

Me (left) and Kat (right) discussing
Project Matt!

I am proud to include Matt, and his lovely family, as a C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket's Honoree Teammate. We will be creating our first blanket for Matt, and will post his bio soon so that everyone on GeeTeam can get to know him. Please check back soon for details on Project Matt!

Thank you Matt & Kat, it was truly an honor to meet you. I am happy that C.U.M.F.O.R.T.S. blanket, GeeTeam, and I can be a part of your journey and that we can include you in ours! Go TEAM!

stay tuned!

Hiccups and The Function of the Neck

Hello All,

My sincerest apologies for my long absence from the realm of fundraising and training. I am on my way back (tortoise pace) from the world of injury and have just entered into a phase of life I like to call “Recovery and Awareness.”

Two weeks ago, I suffered a slipped disc in my cervical spine (scary!) and a subsequent muscle spasm in the left half of my neck (painful!), and was on diagnosed bed-rest and in a muscle-relaxer-induced coma for almost an entire week. Coming out of that “coma,” I have found that I have lost a lot:

• Precious time. I am surprised to find that today is the first of March. Who knew!? March, already! (Women’s History Month people – thank you mother, hug your sister, kiss your significant other, and appreciate all the women who make your existence possible and pleasurable!)
• Precious training. I looked at my marathon training schedule, and my cross-training schedule, and I was supposed to complete almost 40 miles of run-time in the two weeks I was “out of commission.” Sigh… It is hard not be feel frustrated, and daunted, by the idea of “catching up.”
• Precious fundraising. “Sidetracked” is the best way to describe the current status of my fundraising campaign. And I have a lot of ground to cover!
• Precious movement. You do not understand or appreciate the function of the neck until you no longer have a functional neck. Affected functions: essentially everything! Current movement status: 60% on a good day.

Physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers, special sleeping arrangements, ergonomic everything, stretching, strengthening, pushing, pulling – it is all terribly uncomfortable, painful, and altogether frustrating.

But I cannot poo-poo on the fact that I have gained a lot from this experience:

• Precious awareness: of my body – how I have treated it in the past, how I need to treat it in the present, and what I need to be aware of as I transition our of “Recovery” and back into “Training.” I can no longer take advantage of the function of a neck, or any other body part/function – I am blessed to have a working neck and I need to be grateful to it, and thank it, every day.
• Precious awareness: of my time – lying in bed in a fog for days at a time, losing a sense of myself and time – my time is precious. It can be taken from you swiftly and without warning. I must appreciate the time I am given, and spend it wisely.
• Precious awareness: of my commitment to Team in Training. This lesson was the most difficult for me to “learn.” It has also had the largest impact. This evening, I contemplate the effect that this injury has had on me – I whine and moan about the pain and the inconvenience this injury has had on “crippling” my daily activity and longer-term goals. But it took me more than two weeks to consider how this injury pales in comparison to the struggle that blood cancer patients endure in their battle with treatment, recover, and remission. I did not choose to work with Team in Training – TNT chose me. I have met patients and survivors, have heard their stories and witnessed their struggles, and I willingly made the sacrifice to train my body (and mind) on their behalf. With my teammates at TNT, we train, endure, achieve and matter.

As I get back into the swing of things (hopefully, sooner rather than later), I need to be mindful not to give myself more than I can handle. I need to be mindful that I am doing all that I can to help those that need me. I need to be mindful that I will achieve my goals and I will do it well! I also need to be mindful that this injury is just a hiccup and that, with time and perspective, I am lucky it is not more serious.

I look forward to getting back to my training and fundraising. And I thank everyone who has been instrumental in my recovery and awareness!

Stay tuned!

Thank you, thank you!

• Freedom Santos! I received your note in the mail today and your donation is greatly appreciated. I would like to post a copy of the letter if you don't mind, it was really touching.
• Philip Levi - Personal Trainer Extraordinaire at Equinox San Mateo. Your generous donation has not gone unnoticed! Thanks for showing up big with your statement-making red sunglasses.
• Susan & Saul Jimenez, owners of Mad Dawg School of Fitness in Redwood City & honorary GeeTeam Coaches - Saul and Susan have been a tremendous source of support and inspiration in my training (and recent recovery from my injury). These people are certified great people! Thank you again for all of your support.
• Jasmine Sarangelo, my "firebreathing" cross-fit role model! I look forward to training beside you and for all of your insider tips on how to "see" Alaska.
• Mat Holzman, another cross-fitter who has generously donated to LLS. I will be sure to bring some Bee Gees to MDSF for the next workout!
• Jason Feudale, another fantastic coach at Mad Dawg! Thank you for kicking my butt during Bootcamp, and for your donation to the cause.

A millions "Thanks!" to you all - look out for the "Medallion Commission Form," coming soon to your inbox!