Running for Ana

i have been too lazy about posting lately. but today, finally i have decided i need to get this post out. people i talk to often already know i have been training since january for an 8k cancer run. I have been a little vague with the details because i know i would be doing a post.

anyway, i'm not writing this to say that i am doing some great thing, it's just 5 miles. but, for me that is a significant commitment because a) i hate running and b)free time is at a premium these days. but, i heard about this story and i felt like i wanted to commit to something in honour of ana. she goes to our church and L and i have watched ana grow up. now at age 3 she is faced with a battle most adults will never have to experience.

so, i have chosen to run the 31st annual fool's five road race in lewiston, mn. it's a grass roots benefit where ALL the donations go to local facilities for cancer research. that being said, it's not a fancy website where i can ask you to 'click here' to donate. so, if you'd like to contribute it will have to be old school via a check in the mail. or email me if you'd like to contribute and i will cover you until cash can be exchanged at a later date (the race is coming up soon). i have also enlisted the support of my little sister the seasoned runner to drag me along the course if need be!!

i've included a photo of ana and a copy of her story from her caringbridge website. sor far she is doing ok, her tumor has decreased in size, but her blood counts continue to fall as chemo ravishes her little body. anyway, if you have an extra dollar or two, toss them my way and also offer up a little prayer for ana to beat this disease...that won't cost you anything.

Our family lives in Rochester, Minnesota. Kevin works at the Mayo Clinic as a nurse anesthetist and Heather is a stay-at-home mommy, occasionally using her skills as an occupational therapist as time allows. We have two beautiful daughters. Ana was born in 2005 and Elsa was born in 2007.

Ana started having early morning vomiting just after her 3rd birthday in July 2008. It gradually became more frequent, and we pursued treatment with the pediatric gastrointestinal specialists at Mayo, thinking that she had reflux or some type of food allergy.

October 17, 2008, they discovered a tumor in Ana's brainstem. It is in a very delicate place, making it inoperable. The tumor had an unusual out-pouching which allowed a pediatric surgeon to be able to obtain a biopsy. Ana underwent a left suboccipital crainectomy and a port-a-cath placement on October 24, 2008. The biopsy revealed that Ana has a grade 1 pilocytic astrocytoma. We have been incredibly blessed to have access to top-notch medical care, and we are working with a hope-filled oncologist who is pushing for a cure for Ana’s cancer.

Ana started chemotherapy infusions October 29, 2008, and will continue to have them weekly until December 2009 at the very earliest. She is receiving two drugs, vincristine and carboplatin. We will do MRI's every 3 months to reassess the treatment plan.