Rachel Bonistalli

Saturday, August 11, 2007 was a landmark day for me -- I ran the furthest distance I've ever completed -- 14 miles and you all were on my mind keeping my feet moving. My time was very average (2:20:30), but I completed it comfortably and with no issues afterwards. I'm sure many of you are saying to yourselves, how does one complete 14 miles? That leads me to introduce you to my second honored teammate -- Amber Barrante -- because of her I feel fortunate for every stride every time.

Amber's story starts in August 1989 when their family (which also includes my mother's brother Tom Barrante, his wife Luann and Amber's older brother Justin and younger sister Alyson) were on vacation. That was the end of the summer before my senior year of high school. I remember my mother saying Uncle Tom called to say that during their vacation Amber had been listless, running a fever and uncomfortable so they were taking her to the doctor. For much of my cousins' young lives they were plagued with bone tumors that impeded their normal bone growth so they often had operations to reduce the deformity and disability to their joints and bone systems. So, I remember thinking it was probably no big deal compared to that. Never did I think my 8 year-old cousin would have a diagnosis of Acute Lymphomic Leukemia. She immediately started chemo. So while I was worried about stupid high school stuff of how my hair looked (I've always spent a ton of time on my coif) being a cheerleading captain, which college to go to from my acceptances and who I'd go to the senior dinner-dance in the fall and prom in the spring with -- my little cousin was starting a three year chemo treatment plan. I remember thinking, what can I say or do for this child who has had so many challenges already when I've never been confronted with such things?

Well, Alyson who was merely 5 or 6 when Amber's hair and skin were discolored was much more compasisonate than my self-centered teen self was. Amber's hair became yellow, limp, clumpy with her scalp showing where the hair had been depleted and it was just getting worse daily. In my narrow view of the world, bad hair was like death let alone being sick and having no control over that -- I always hated my hair and I was perfectly healthy -- how does a child deal with illness and a crumbling appearance? I will never forget the time we were sitting at dinner and my mother shared what Alyson said to my Aunt Luann. I believe it happened like this: Alyson went to her mother and said "Mom, can I get my hair cut like Amber? Because then she wouldn't feel so different from the other kids." Not sure if that is because Amber endured comments or issues with kids at school when she could go during her treatment. I remember being puzzeled about how to relate to my dear little cousin at this time and being ashamed that her sister so many years my junior knew and was fully willing to, but I struggled trying not to show pity as her appearance was distorted and her day-to-day challenged frightened me. But that kind of compassion at such a young age astounded me and taught me a lesson I carry with me to this day. If I get even close to that in my lifetime, I will have achieved something worthwhile.

So as I progressed through the normal self-centered period of 18 to 21 with trials of going off to college, living in dorms, going to frat parties and figuring out how to do things myself as well as maintain my grades -- Amber fought Leukemia. I'll always remember the relief I felt when we learned she was in remission. It was a joy to watch Amber get back to normal -- she always was a beautfiul girl and she was able to shine again even more brilliantly when her hair grew back. She caught up in school and got to experience high school and got her degree. Today, she is approximately 15 years in remission at the age of 26 living in Pittsburgh working with her degree in recreation.

To this day though, I've gotten so much more from my cousin Amber than I've given. As a child she taught me strength, faith, determination, compassion and giving back to others. Last fall, Amber gave me even more. I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease exposure in September 2006 and I had to stop running in order to get better. Running actually is what depleted my immune system that was already challenged by the undiagnosed Lyme such that I was at nearly walking pneumonia in 3 days after a 10-mile run. I couldn't run for at least 30 days and that was indefinite depending on what my tests said and how I felt. While the doctors ultimately came back and said I didn't have Lyme, I was very sick and recovery was awful going from exhaustion to insomnia and no running. I didn't run from September 16 until February 2007.

So, it's Thanksgiving Day '06 and we're at my uncle's and Amber and I are chatting about work, apartment life, etc... and she aske me how I'm feeling. I share that the toughest thing has been not being able to run. She replied "You know, I'd love to be able to run. It's something you just pull on shoes and go do. With my hip and my knees I never could run. Right now, my hip hurts all the time and I hope having hip surgery before Christmas will make it so I can at least sleep without pain. But, at least I can rock climb and do the other outdoor stuff I love, so it will all work out. And, I'm sure when you're better you'll be running again." Those words have been ringing in my ears to this day and every time I run since the doctors gave me the green light. I'm not just running, I'm using a gift that I have -- one I could take for granted. So, even when I'm tired and it's the last 3/4 mile before finishing 14 and I just want to walk -- I think of Amber, all she has given me, put on a smile and keep moving.

Rachel

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Lara Joslyn

I wanted to write to tell you about my TNT inspiration. I am running in honor of Walter Lind. Walter is my fiance's father, and he is truly an amazing person.

He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March. It has not been an easy battle so far, but he has been an inspiration to his family and friends through it all. Dave, my finance, participated in a TNT triathlon in April.

Dave found out a few weeks before the triathlon about his dad's diagnosisand dedicated his race to his father. So now I am doing the same.

When I am not feeling motivated to run in the morning, I think of Walter and the pain he is in and it helps me get out of bed. When I want to stop running because I am tired or my feet hurt or it is hot (like during our 16 mile run), I think of Walter and remember why I am running in the first place.

Pancreatic cancer is a horrible disease and there is no known cure for it. But Walter and the entire Lind family (nicknamed Team Lind by their friends) are taking it one day at a time and are enjoying their time together.

Lara Joslyn


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Jane Luke

I am running the Nike Women's Marathon with Team in Training in memory of my Aunt Marjory Olson, who passed away three years ago from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Aunt Marge lived almost her entire life in Milton, Massachusetts, in the home where she grew up. She never married, and never had children. Therefore, her only sister, my mother, and her family (myself, my 4 siblings and our father), were her family. Since we lived in Northern Virginia, our times with Aunt Marge were limited but precious. Every year, she would be with us for our family vacations, and she always came to Virginia on her birthday and Christmas. Aunt Marge always made the little things in life special. For birthdays and holidays, she would spend endless hours shopping for the perfect gift and card for each and every person. On Christmas Eve, we couldn't wait to help Marge make her traditional Swedish Coffee cake for Christmas morning.

For years, we tried to convince our Aunt to move to Virginia where she would be closer to us and the 13 grandchildren. It wasn't until she was diagnosed with Lymphoma that she finally agreed to leave the only home she ever knew to begin a new chapter of her life here in Virginia. She quickly adjusted to her new surroundings and loved having her nieces, nephew and grand nieces and nephews close by. She truly enjoyed the regular visits and having family close by to take her shopping or to doctors appointments. Unfortunately, our time with Aunt Marge in Virginia was much shorter than anyone expected. Only six months after she moved to Virginia, our loving Aunt Marjory passed away. As difficult as the loss has been for all of us, we cherish the many memories of an aunt who was so loving and family oriented.

I have never been a runner, but was inspired by friends who were taking on this challenge, but also by the Team in Training Organization. I am so happy to take on the physical challenge, but also to be able to raise funds for such a wonderful organization, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Jane

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John Park, Jr.

It's hard to believe that it has been seven years since our son Daniel was diagnosed with marginal zone monocytoid B-cell lymphoma. During this time, we have had wonderful resources available to us for Dan's prompt diagnosis, treatment (radiation), and follow-up. Thankfully, there has been no indication of a return of Dan's cancer. He's a 2006 UVA graduate. If you visit Charlottesville, stop into The Virginian, the restaurant Dan is co-managing.

It was an incredible shock when we first learned, in the Spring of his junior year of high school, that Dan had cancer. The diagnosis was made after a series of events: an enlarged lymph node under Dan's neck that he brought to our attention (we thought it was acne); Dan's pediatrician who "thought it was nothing" but referred him to a specialist; the specialist who "thought it was nothing" but decided to remove and examine it to be safe; the pathologists who couldn't visually detect a problem but referred it on for further tests; test results that detected an "anomaly"; and finally, diagnosis by a well-respected oncologist at NIH.

The roller coaster continued as we found out more about the cancer Dan had and how to treat it. Marginal zone monocytoid B-cell lymphoma had only recently (within the last 10 years) been identified as a cancer, and it was extremely unusual to be found in someone Dan's age (it usually was found in older women). As a result, there was no widely-accepted treatment protocol. We felt uncomfortable having Dan be treated by a doctor who had never seen this cancer or had not treated this cancer in a person Dan's age. So, Pam and I became very familiar with various hospitals and oncologists in hospitals around the country in our search for proper treatment. Ultimately, we found Dr. Tanya Trippett at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York City. Not only was Dr. Trippett familiar with marginal zone monocytoid B-cell lymphoma, she was tracking the disease in the young adult population. Together we decided to have Dan receive 18 days of radiation treatment at Johns Hopkins University Hospital and to involve Dr. Trippett when interpreting all follow-up scans. In the six years of follow-up, there have been many moments of concern (several false positive results early on and a scare just this past summer), but we have been blessed by the fact that Dan can look forward to a life without cancer.

Like any family effected by cancer, we learned more about cancer than we ever wanted to know. From the whole process, we have several observations:

• As bad as it was for us, there are many families which are dealing with much more dire situations. The first time (actually, every time) we visited the pediatric oncology ward, we were struck by the courage exhibited by all the children battling life threatening diseases, and their families who are grasping at any advances in knowledge or technology that will save their child. We essentially arrived at the ward with a 6'4" healthy-looking teenager with all his hair; for many others, it is a daily fight to live.
  
• You don't know how much support is available for you until you really need it. Our friends and family were wonderful and supportive to us. We didn't realize it at the time, but the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society funded significant research that was directly helping the understanding of Dan's cancer, and the knowledge and technology for his treatment.

Pam and I will never be able to express how blessed we feel having Dan successfully treated. It is for this reason, and in memory of Pam's father, I. Mead Hayward, who died of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 1991, that we have participated and will continue to participate in TNT.

John

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