Anniversary

August 30th marked Mike's one year anniversary since his leukemia diagnosis. This past year has been a year of uncertainties, struggles, and finally, elation. Thank you for trolling the blog and checking in on our family.

One Vanderbilt story from '07 - While staying down in Nashville visiting Mikey, Sherry managed to make the best homemade vegetable soup using the equivalent to a JiffyPop aluminum pan while cooking on a dorm sized hot plate...all because His Royal Highness felt like having some soup! But that's not a chore...that's LOVE!! We can look back and laugh (and even remember!) some of this stuff now.

Here is a word from Sherry:

One year since Mikey's initial diagnosis and what a year it has been! Sobering days? To be sure. But also days or purpose, action and "getting on with it". And then that most memorable of days when this sweet diagnosis, REMISSION, turned hope into reality! Thank you, Lord, for drawing near and leading the way. And thanks for...Your perfect timing. Medical miracles! Togetherness. Generosity of spirit. And for that wild, wonderful "floozy" we affectionately call Ida Rubicin! Feathers flying. The Blog. And for that irrepressible laughter that somehow eclipsed our tears.

And Mikey, just so ya know, of all of the comments I've received about the blog, this one has to be my very own personal favorite: "No way. Are these people for real??!!" hahahahaha

"Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday...and all is well."

-JESUS SAVES-

Get on with it, Mikey!

All Apologies

I apologize for the infrequent posting of late. I suppose with being on the upswing of cancer (praise the Lord) the need to post daily updates has subsided. Some biggies that should have made their way into the blogosphere however: Mike's back at work! After months of recovery and mounds of paperwork, he's back to the grind. So far...pretty good. Not great, but not terrible either. It's a major adjustment going back to work at any stage in one's life, but post-cancer is a different bird. Assuredly both a blessing and a curse. Another biggie is that Mike had his second every-3-months BMB and all was clear. Assuming his health continues to positively progress, these BMBs will be scheduled further and further apart.

One major facet that most, if not all, cancer survivors face is the threat of relapse and the effect that has on his or her overall mental state. Wake up not feeling well? Chalk it up to a bad nights sleep or has the cancer returned? Lose a few pounds and don't feel much like eating? Virus or has the cancer returned? These are legitimate threats that these survivors face. Moving on can sometimes be crippling. As we continue to pray for Mike's physical health, let's also pray for his mental health. Please pray that his peace of mind is not attacked and that he is able to "get on with it" without the interference of fear and doubt.

Props to the Pops

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful Daddies out there!

TNT Marathon

I am not sure when exactly it occurred. Perhaps it was during one of the last snow and ice storms to hit Kentucky a few months ago. Perhaps it was even earlier than that, I don't know. But somewhere along the line I'm pretty sure that I've fallen down and hit my head because I've registered myself for the Chicago Marathon this October (Sunday the 12th at 8 AM CST to be exact but who's counting???). I'm pretty sure that's grounds for suspecting head trauma, right?

Since Mikey's diagnosis with leukemia I have been searching for ways to help, as I am sure many of you have. While many volunteer efforts have been no doubt fulfilling, my dream (delusion?) of running a marathon has come to fruition with the help of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program. They help me train and together, we help research and cure leukemia. I can't think of a better win/win situation than that.

TNT is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Since its inception, over 360,000 individuals have helped raise more than $850 million dollars to help blood cancer patients live longer, better lives. In the past 20 years, the survival rate of those living with a blood cancer has more than tripled! Through research and funding, we can help find a cure for this disease.

So get out your pocketbooks!! My personal goal for this fundraiser is $5,000.00. Attached at the bottom is the link to my TNT website where you can donate online quickly and securely. All major credit cards are accepted. You can donate anonymously, conceal your donation amount, make a donation in honor of a certain individual, as well as leave a note of encouragement. Many of you will receive a more formal email/letter/both outlining the donation process, so please be looking for that as well. Please, will you take the next 5 minutes and make a donation to such a great cause?


Thank you for your generosity,
Rachel

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ky/chicago08/rhall

The One That Didn't Get Away

A wise person once said: Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him the whole weekend. Sometimes that's not a bad philosophy! HAHA! Mikey has had some pretty tremendous luck with fishing lately at a little undisclosed "honey hole" location somewhere in the state of Kentucky....and he even has the pictures to prove it. You can call him Mike Dance from now on out. I hear he's looking into joining the Bassmasters tour as an alternative to Dana.

"...AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!!"

Is there anything cooler than the Kentucky Derby??? Sundresses, wide brimmed hats, gigantic sunglasses, GQ suits, mint juleps, "My Old Kentucky Home", sunshine, horses, jockey silks...it's all fabulous! Living in Louisville is especially awesome during Derby time. It's like our own mini Mardi Gras. Preparations and festivities usually begin around the 1st of April and this week's electricity is almost tangible. It is such an awesome time to be a native of Kentucky. This Derby is sure not to disappoint - there is no Tiger Woods, no clear cut winner in this race. All of this year's horses are blue collar, hard working horses. Out there to "Git 'R Done." It will be interesting to see who takes the blanket of roses. Below are the silks and the names of each horse. I want to know - Who are you cheering for? What are your plans for the Derby? How do you pick your horse? Do you have any special traditions/superstitions that you follow each year? We'd love to hear about it!

Row 1: Big Brown, Gayego, Recapturetheglory, Cowboy Cal and Denis of Cork

Row 2: Adriano, Monba, Bob Black Jack, Smooth Air and Z Humor

Row 3: Colonel John, Pyro, Visionaire, Big Truck and Z Fortune

Row 4: Eight Belles, Court Vision, Anak Nakal, Tale of Ekati and Cool Coal Man