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Hello & thank you for visiting. I want to tell you why I'm here...
Some of you may know a bit about Tuesday's story. Tues is my boyfriend, Jay's, 20 year-old sister who was diagnosed with a brainstem tumor at the age of 12. Thanks to a world renown surgeon at Boston Children's, a revolutionary laser treatment, and an enormous amount of strength, almost all of the tumor was removed. It seemed like a miracle.
Last fall, Tuesday began to experience some of the same symptoms she had when she was first diagnosed at 12. Seven years later -almost exactly to the day of first discovering the tumor - she found out her tumor had changed and grown. The tumor's growth and enhancements were monitored for a few months until December 2008, when it was decided that surgery was necessary. Tues went in for another extremely delicate and dangerous surgery in March. Then another miracle happened. The surgery was a success, the tumor was still benign, and although we don't know if it was removed entirely, Tuesday is doing amazing.
I am here because not every young person is as lucky as Tuesday. I am here because I can't imagine what it must be like to watch your daughter or son or sister or brother go through such an experience.
I'm also here because I got really lucky one Saturday in February. I met Lorraine Sacco. I had no idea about Reid's Ride and for those of you visiting who don’t know – Lorraine is Reid’s mom. Have you ever met someone and felt like you were supposed to know them? That’s what it was like. I have a feeling she is one of those people who wanders the world everyday touching everyone she meets. I am here because I believe in what she believes in.
I am here because I find it terribly frustrating that the young adult cancer age group is continuously excluded from clinical research and trials and that for three decades, little has been accomplished toward improving treatment and survival rates for young adults with cancer.
Thank you for your support. Jay & I will be stationed at the Endicott College rest stop on the day of the ride – Sunday, July 19th – so come down and meet us! And please, don't forget to forward this to anyone you think might want to play a key role in fighting for the dreams and futures of those affected by this terrible disease.
- Jennie
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