Encouragement

Celebrating Victories

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How much it matters to celebrate even the small victories! Especially during tough times, we celebrate progress, we celebrate little wins, we celebrate each step on the path toward our goal.

Many of you know I’ve been working on walking more and it has been challenging. Ever since I was in hospital for shortness of breath in February, and even before then, shortness of breath has at times made it challenging to walk even a couple of steps. I’ve set out chairs in my home to help me make it from room to room. Our home is not large, but there were times I could not walk to the next room without a rest to let my blood oxygen levels rise – even while on oxygen.

I walked in the house with oxygen very slowly, and aimed for a six minute walk each day initially. Often I had to rest more than once during the six minute walks. Eventually the length of walks could increase with fewer rests. The whole time, the goal was to keep my blood oxygen level between 91 and 95%. Often it would dip way down in the 80’s very suddenly. Sometimes even to the low 70’s. Not good.

My treatment breaks seem to be doing good for this body so far, and we are very grateful and quite excited about this – about being alive. To be real, it seemed that I was very close to death for a couple of months. Quite a few people have said they thought so, including my palliative care doctor.

I’m doing better in general, and even on lower oxygen levels in recent days. So very thankful!

I’ve been walking up and down on the street for a few months, with a walker or carrying my oxygen tank, or pulling it with a little cart. I’ve worked on lengthening these walks, and have been able to walk to the end of the street and back most days recently.

Yesterday, with the support and encouragement of my kids, we walked around the block together. Two of them were with me, and they said (if needed) one could run back and get my walker while the other stayed with me. One carried my oxygen tank and the other helped watch my oxygen monitor. Together we made it all the way around the block. First time in over six months!

Those of you who know where I live will tell you it’s not a long distance, not a big block. We still celebrate small victories, and this one felt really big. You are invited to celebrate together with us! I was tired today, and just walked up and down the street this evening, but yesterday, together we proved that I am able to walk all the way around the block. Gosh it felt good!

We don’t have cures for lung cancer the way we would like yet, but more and more treatments are being developed and getting approved. We celebrate the small victories on the path to cures.

One of my doctors said they don’t understand why I’m doing so well on this treatment break. There is so much to learn about cancer and treatments, and people’s responses to treatment. Did my body kick into gear and start fighting off the cancer? That was this doctor’s theory, based on over 20 years experience with people affected by different kinds of cancers. I don’t know why my scans are looking better and I’m feeling better, but I’m giving thanks for this beautiful good gift of extended life.

Here’s a big shout out to those who speak encouragement into my life. You make a world of difference. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Cheers to you! You are helping to keep me going. Encouragement and support really matter.

Cheers to the researchers, doctors and teams who are working for better, longer lives for people affected by cancer! I know for a fact that doctors are cheering for their patients and very happy when we do better. When you get the opportunity, please say encouraging words and thanks to people who encourage and care for people. Please support and encourage and thank those who research, who work very hard for small victories, with hope for effective treatments and cures. So much gratitude and hope!

Those of you who are following this story and cheering for health improvements … please join in and celebrate this victory!

#gratitude

#hope

#treatmentbreak

#chemo

#targetedtherapy

#cancer

#lungcancer

Recent Health Updates: Exercise

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I had a PET scan, and appointments with my family doctor, thoracic surgeon/respirologist (who may do a biopsy) and oncologist recently. Good news all around! (Which may not be 100% precisely accurately remembered / communicated here.)

First of all, you may already know this bit of background I’ve been on Lorlatinib (a targeted therapy / cancer-fighting pill) since 2018. In 2020 we noticed progression so we radiation on those pesky spots, but that didn’t work as well as we’d hoped it would. Our next plan (still in 2020) was to keep the Lorlatinib and add Pemetrexed (IV chemo). This continued for 24 cycles, but in February 2022 I was admitted to hospital with shortness of breath of unknown causes. In Spring 2022 the experts determined that I was doing very poorly, likely due to the Pemetrexed, and stopped IV chemo for a treatment break. I continued on the Lorlatinib, but after an appointment with my oncologist very recently, we have decided to take a brief treatment break to see how I do on no treatment for a little while. Please note: these are just treatment breaks. 

My family doc has agreed to look into what may be causing the shortness of breath, since it’s not necessarily cancer, which is great news! My oncologist also is referring me to a specialist who may be able to help with this.

The thoracic surgeon / respirologist said the PET scan revealed there is a small spot which may be measurable disease that he can easily biopsy if needed for the clinical trial. He also said that shortness of breath is natural since my lungs have much smaller capacity because of the scarring from cancer, the treatments, pneumonias, etc. This could have been discouraging, however when I asked what I could do to maximize what I’ve got and live as well and as long as possible, his answer was inspiring! This expert said that exercise makes a difference. Exercise is helpful – even when suffering from shortness of breath and in need of oxygen – and will influence all aspects of health. It doesn’t have to be at the pace that we might think. He encourages, for example, walking at a slow pace where we can still have a conversation with a friend and breathe. It matters that we keep pushing ourselves, at a slow pace, and it will help us to live longer and better.

Survivorship can be challenging. We need to remember that we are stronger than we think we are and by pushing ourselves a little, at a slow pace, and asking our friends to support and encourage us, we can potentially live longer and better.

Very grateful for Andrea Redway, for coming with me to the thoracic surgeon and also taking notes! (Everyone needs support and an advocate.) Still grateful for the cake made and brought by the awesome Vanneste sisters back in 2017 for our outreach table for World Lung Day. What a great surprise and generous gift that was! August 1 is World Lung Cancer Day. What is your Cancer Centre doing to celebrate?

#hope

Also very grateful for the ALK group who hosted a zoom call recently with people from Nuvalent, the biotech company developing the drug that I’m hoping to gain access to, potentially through upcoming clinical trial later this year. (Very grateful for Nuvalent.) One of the things I love about this trial is that the team has worked very hard to make it as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. So, for example, you can have had multiple prior lines of treatment. You could be 107 years old. You could have ALK cancer, but not specifically ALK lung cancer – even rarer. You can even live in Ottawa Canada.

(Note: most pictures here are pre-COVID.)

A few thoughts about faith, hope, love and lungs

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I don’t often write about faith or my personal life in this blog. This post is a little different, a glimpse into my inner life. Whether you choose to read further is naturally up to you.

I’m a follower of Jesus and my identity as a follower of Jesus is what inspires my actions and attitudes. The faith community has played a significant role in my life over decades and I am very grateful to connect with, be prayed for and supported in many ways by many different individuals, groups and congregations. It has also been one of my life’s deep joys to speak to so many individuals, groups and congregations.

Being a follower of Jesus was an intentional decision when I was 17 years old, and following Jesus is intentional every day since then. This is what motivates my life, and gives me love for people. This is what motivates my advocacy and what gives me love for people affected by lung cancer. When I say love, I don’t mean a soft and squishy feeling. I mean deliberately working hard for the good of people affected by lung cancer and other kinds of cancer. This is also where my hope comes from. This is what has kept me going all these years, through many difficulties, many hard times. Being a lung cancer advocate has been challenging. I have almost stopped many times. Much encouragement from Chris Draft and a number of other people has helped keep me going, as did a strong sense of calling. Advocacy is what I strongly believe I’m meant to do in this season of life. I have seized this opportunity and I keep seizing this opportunity, looking to live as best as I can given the circumstances, controlling what I can control. Saying yes. Thank you, God.

Below is a hymn that has been very meaningful to me for decades. My parents were both diagnosed with cancer when I was 20 years old, and died within a year, and that was when I first heard this hymn. I was introduced to it by opening up a used hymnal that I had just bought to a “random” page. I was planning to sit at the piano to play and sing some hymns, and the first time I opened it was to that hymn. The hymn captured me and spoke deeply to me right from the first moments I saw it, played and sang it. It was especially significant that year. It helped keep me going.

My Ottawa church, Parkdale United Church, sang this same hymn at the Maundy Thursday evening service this week. One of the ministers is planning to come over to anoint me with oil and pray for healing again this week. So grateful. I had a very significant talk and prayer time with another one of the ministers the other day, who has been praying for me and others affected by cancer for years. She is a strong supporter, a game-changer. She strengthens the soul. I’m very grateful for the pastors and members of this congregation who have supported us and kept us fed both physically and spiritually for years.

We’re strongly supported, and not just by Parkdale. So many of you have told me you’re praying, your team is praying, your church is praying. Thank you. I just got a lovely card and letter from someone from another Ottawa church the other day. Words cannot express our appreciation. I know I’m alive because God is merciful, because God hears and answers prayer. God gives skill to researchers, compassion to clinicians, wisdom and insight all around. God gives love. So very grateful.

The lung cancer community needs more love. I am working hard to pour more love into this community.

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go (Public Domain)

O Love, that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe, That in Thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be.

O Light, that followest all my way, I yield my flickering torch to Thee; My heart restores its borrowed ray, That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy, that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain That morn shall tearless be

O Cross, that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead, And from the ground there blossoms red Life that shall endless be.

#hope

2 Turtle Doves

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12 Days of Giving to Lung Cancer Clinical Trials

Here’s to all the care givers, whether family or friends, and neighbours and even strangers who reach out with care, knowing that people going through lung cancer, or any tough time, need extra care. It’s not good to be alone. We all need team. Cheers to the people who reach out with kindness, compassion, care, comfort, empathy, gentleness, grace, support, understanding, muffins, meals, encouragement.

We all benefit from from kind words and actions. How much better our world is when people are uplifting, inspiring, cheering, caring and giving.

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King said, Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Cheers to all the people who shine a light. Cheers to everyone who makes this world a better place by walking – even part of the way – through the valley with someone who has received difficult news like a lung cancer diagnosis. Cheers and THANK YOU.

It’s not good to be alone. We are better together, stronger together. #TeamMatters

Cheers to everyone who makes a difference through caring!

To celebrate care givers and survivorship, please give generously to lung cancer research!

Team Jill:  https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/2020-lung-cancer-survivors-super-bowl-challenge/jillhamer-wilson

OR: Team Jill’s Canadian page (for Canadian Income Tax receipts): http://donate.ottawacancer.ca/goto/jill 

#12Days of giving to #lungcancer #clinicaltrials #Hope #Care #Team #ThankYou

#ResearchMatters

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Five years ago I was feeble and fragile, just finished my fifth round of chemotherapy, having coughed for months before diagnosis, still coughing because although chemo helped, it didn’t really help that much. Facebook just reminded me of that time with a photo of some of the many gorgeous flowers that beautiful people sent to us to encourage us, because we all need encouragement, especially when we are travelling rough places in our road.

  • Another gorgeous gift!
  • Gerberas are the happiest flowers!

I could hardly talk, couldn’t do much more than lie on the couch looking at beautiful flowers. I pushed myself hard, not wanting to give up one millimetre to lung cancer, but even so, those were difficult days. Some of my friends are going through hard times like this now. Those were hard days, because no matter how tough I was or how hard I pushed, lung cancer kept pushing harder, and chemo sure wasn’t doing the job.

Thankfully lung cancer research made a difference for me. I’ve been on a series of targeted therapy drugs for almost five years now, and they have been -not without side effects- better than chemotherapy.

I’m alive and well, and now I’m still fighting! I’m not fighting for my life at the moment, but I’m fighting for others, including those who have not yet been diagnosed.

I’m thankful that I’m not fighting alone. Here are a few of my terrific teammates gathered in Atlanta for the AACR Annual Conference:

Lung cancer research has been neglected, and I can’t understand why. New treatments are game changers, so let’s keep going and make a great life and death difference for more people! Let’s find new targeted therapies to work for more of the lung cancer patients. Let’s turn more patients into survivors!

Lung Cancer needs a little more love, and a lot more research money. More research money means more survivors. Look at me! I’m alive and I’m living life! I’m celebrating life every day because every day is a gift to be celebrated!

A bunch of us -lung cancer patients and others- are walking the Ottawa Race Week-end 2K this May 25. Come join us! We’re going to have a great time! We’re getting tee shirts! We’re just getting started! Stay tuned for more details, and sign up to join our team please! We are “Lung Cancer Team Canada”, and we’re raising $$ for Lung Cancer Canada. Here’s the link.

People matter. People with lung cancer matter. Lung Cancer #ResearchMatters . Tell everybody!

#ChooseHope

Icing on the Cake

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You may have heard me say that hope is an act of defiance. You may have heard me mention a conspiracy of hope… I’m happy to report a growing crowd of co-conspirators!

It’s taken me a while to tell this story. That’s because I can’t figure out how to tell it. I can’t do it justice, can’t even come close.

August 1st 2018 was unlike any other August 1st I can remember. It started small and kept on growing.

I spent weeks getting ready for it! I painted “Hope” rocks,

37878023_10156455262974318_4517379153766383616_oand more hope rocks,

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and more hope rocks …

38481222_10156469364944318_3341712253979197440_oI bought chocolates, ordered supplies, connected with a variety of folks, including key people at the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre and Lung Cancer Canada …

I organized a lung cancer awareness table staffed by lung cancer patients at the Cancer Centre. It really wasn’t that big a deal! But it was, after all, WORLD Lung Cancer Day!

And it was, to my knowledge, the first time such a thing had ever been done!

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I wanted to make a difference, brighten people’s day at the Cancer Centre, inject a little hope, raise some awareness about lung cancer … hence the hope rocks and chocolates and information. But what ended up happening was so much more!

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(OK, I know it looks like we were blocking the elevator, but that elevator was out of service!)

We enjoyed a beautiful collaboration among a number of different groups and individuals who all want the same thing: to help and support lung cancer patients.

We didn’t count the number of people we had conversations with, but there were many! There were always at least two of us staffing the table, usually three and sometimes more! It seemed there was a constant flow of people who stopped by wanting to talk. I couldn’t estimate the number!

Here’s the thing: I was blown away by the difference we made! I can’t find words to describe the impact that we seemed to have on people. You could see shock and bewilderment on the faces of people when they first stopped by the table … especially when they found out we were there because of lung cancer. Many could not grasp that most of us were actual lung cancer patients / survivors. We looked so healthy …

Lung Cancer is the deadliest of all the cancers. We know that far too well. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy each other’s company! 🙂 We cry together and we laugh together, and on August 1 it was a tremendous privilege to gather with some of my lung cancer sister-friends and bring joy and hope to the cancer centre! I don’t have words to describe how much it meant to me to be bringing hope to the cancer centre together!

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A conspiracy of hope! (In a place that can be so difficult to walk into.)

Here’s an excerpt of a letter I wrote to thank the team:

Thank you so much for your support yesterday! It was such a gift for us to be able to connect with lung cancer patients, other cancer patients, caregivers, staff, volunteers and friends! I loved the looks on faces when they learned we are LC patients/survivors! I’m confident we made a significant difference for many people yesterday.

It was significant for me too! Last year I painted hope rocks and brought them to the cancer centre all by myself. While I am glad I did that, and think it was a good thing to do, this year was so much better because I was doing it with you! Better because it made a bigger impact, and better because I got to do it with you!

I’m honoured to have served the Cancer Centre with you in celebration of World Lung Cancer Day 2018.

With love and appreciation –
Jill

But there’s even more!

Two of my dear (non-lung cancer) friends came and surprised me! They made and brought a huge, lungs-shaped cake to the Cancer Centre for us to share. What unexpected joy! They blessed us so we could in turn bless others even more! No words for how much this means to me! 🙂

A conspiracy of hope surprise party?

Here’s the best part, the icing on the cake: because we’ve got strong co-conspirators and teamwork, we’re going to keep these events going, raising hope and awareness about lung cancer. Monthly awareness tables, in ongoing partnership with Lung Cancer Canada and the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, organized by my dear friend and co-conspirator, who is alive and making a difference thanks (in part) to excellent medical care and lung cancer research!

Hope could benefit from a whole lot more co-conspirators!

World Lung Cancer Day Aug 1 2018 TOHCC LCC Jill Cecilia Peggy Andrea

(Apologies: I don’t know who to credit for all of the photos. Most of them are from Mieke. Thanks again Mieke!)

 

Real Live Superheroes

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This morning something pretty awesome happened. I got to enter a room filled with superheroes! These are amazing superheroes who do their superhero work all day long, cleverly disguised as ordinary people.

I was asked to show up at 9:00 am on the first Wednesday in July to meet the person who would escort me to a secret location. Thankfully no blindfold was needed, no large sack thrown over my head.

As we reached our destination, the door opened and I recognized many of the people inside. There were nurses, administrators, researchers … a whole team of people dedicated to cancer research at The Ottawa Hospital!

This was a meeting of The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre’s Clinical Trials Superheroes (not their official name!), and I’d been invited to share my story with them!

About a month ago their team leader contacted me. She’d heard me speak at the big fundraising breakfast for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation in May, and she wanted to connect with me.

I was excited to meet her, not only because I was curious to see what she had in mind, but also because I’ve been trying to understand the Lung Cancer landscape in Canada and had loads of questions about research. She answered many of my questions and then set up another meeting so I could learn even more.

As I got to know this inspiring team leader, I quickly realized she is amazing! She wakes up early in the morning to come up with new and better ideas for how she and her team can do their superhero work.

They strike me as a humble group. You won’t typically see them in their superhero costumes. They work hard day in and day out, many of them behind the scenes, caring for cancer patients and helping to develop better treatments for us. And I was given the privilege of telling them my story, how a clinical trial – THEIR CLINICAL TRIAL – saved my life.

A little over three years ago, I had run out of treatment options. I was coughing non-stop, weak, unwell. It looked like cancer was gaining the upper hand. Then the clinical trial. Everything changed. Three years later here I am!

A clinical trial at The Ottawa Hospital changed our family’s story! A new investigational drug extended my life two years: long enough for another drug to be ready when I needed it! In this way, that clinical trial is still at work, continuing to extend my life. Four and a half years after diagnosis, I’m still on treatment, still going strong and still so very thankful!

Of course, many of them already knew my story – at least bits and pieces of it – because many of them have played significant roles in it. In this room were people who filled out paperwork for me to enter the clinical trial, listened to me and listed all my many side effects, and did all the ongoing work (like booking scans and more paperwork) to keep me in the trial. There were nurses who extended kindness as they interacted with me, drew blood and ran tests. I went into the hospital at least twice every three weeks for almost two years, and I received excellent care.

Not only do they provide excellent professional care, but these superheroes actually do care. I’ve seen them go out of their way, above and beyond, to take care of people, and I know that is why they do their job.

These superheroes, cleverly disguised as ordinary members of the cancer centre’s clinical trials team, save people’s lives on a regular basis!

It was such an honour to be in the room with them. I’m grateful for the opportunity to thank them for their hard work and the difference they have made for me and my family. So many memories these past three years, so many milestones our family has been able to share. Because of the grace of God and because of superheroes like this awesome team!

Here is a picture of some of them right after I spoke this morning … and if you look very closely, you might even catch a glimpse of one of their superhero capes!

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# Hope Unites

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A whirlwind trip and a great opportunity to meet patients, caregivers, advocates, donors, doctors, and many others at Lung Cancer Canada’s Toronto events last month! I’m so grateful that I was able to participate in their fundraiser and first ever Canadian Lung Cancer Patient Summit. I’m very impressed with the good work that Lung Cancer Canada is doing!

The “Evening of Hope”, the Thursday evening fundraiser, was a fun night where I met a variety of interesting people. Woven through the laughter and tears was much hope and joy, and deep appreciation for the people and work of Lung Cancer Canada. I felt very blessed!

If you look below, you’ll get an idea of what kind of day the Patient Summit was on Friday. It was, in its own very small kind of way, a marathon of hope! So many excellent presentations about innovative and exciting advances in the treatment of lung cancer! A lot of good info about how to access and pay for new treatments too!

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During lunch, we were honoured to hear from Darrell Fox, Terry Fox’s younger brother. The Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $700 million for cancer research worldwide! We are so grateful for Terry Fox, his family and legacy! What a treat to hear Darrell speak – humbly and powerfully – and then talk more with him later in the afternoon. I am grateful for his encouragement!

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There was a beautiful atmosphere of encouragement and sharing at the event, and I appreciated the opportunities to listen to and learn from a variety of people. Many patients have to travel for treatment, and that can be very costly. I heard one oncologist offer a spare room to a patient. Such kindness!

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I got to meet Chris Draft, a former NFL linebacker who founded the Chris Draft Family Foundation and serves as a huge advocate on our behalf. You can watch a video he made by clicking: Team Draft – What is the Biggest Cancer Killer? (Spoiler alert: the answer is Lung Cancer) What an encouraging and inspiring person!

 

Probably my highlight of the two days was to meet this group of special women, listen to their stories, and receive their support and encouragement.

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These lung cancer patients / caregivers travelled from the West Coast, the East Coast, and places in between to gather at the Patient Summit. What a gift to connect! Lung cancer isolates. # Hope Unites!

And there is reason for hope!

But there are also a lot of grim statistics. Lung Cancer Canada recently released their 2016 Report, which you can read here: Faces of Lung Cancer Report 2016, if you’re feeling brave.img_7968

There’s a picture of me & my kids in the report.

Last month was Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and I learned a bit about advocacy and Twitter through trying to tweet some Lung Cancer facts. I’m @JillHW on Twitter, and you are welcome to follow, though I can’t promise how much I’ll be there in the coming months!

Lung Cancer causes 27% of cancer deaths, yet receives only 1% of personal donations.  

I’ve entered Team Draft’s Superbowl Challenge fundraiser, and I would be honoured if you’d consider supporting us by clicking on Hamer-Wilson Hope Team.

I came home from Toronto exhausted and energized! I came home inspired to serve as an advocate for Lung Cancer Patients and our families. I hope I will get many opportunities for many, many years!

Hope is powerful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good News and Good Gifts

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Here’s a bit of good news that made me cheer yesterday morning:

My regular clinical trial protocol has changed! So, instead of going in to the hospital two days in a row every three weeks, I’ll now have all my appointments on the same day – yay! It will be one long day, but only one day and I’m pretty sure it will be less tiring overall!

To celebrate, I slept in this morning! My 8:30 am appointment was cancelled because I did all my tests and meetings yesterday! I feel tired today, but not as tired as I typically do on the second appointment day!

Yesterday at the hospital, I rejoiced again to receive comments about how thick my file is and how many weeks I’ve been on this trial. I’m very thankful that these meds continue to work for me! I’m grateful that I get to keep taking them, and hopeful that the good work they are doing will continue for a very long time!

In other exciting news, my kids have been away at camp (a great opportunity for which we are deeply grateful!), and they’re coming home soon! I wrote a poem this year which I will have posted below. (Sorry about the formatting: not exactly what I wanted, but it’ll do!)

I hope you will enjoy the rest of the Summer (or Winter, for those in the Southern Hemisphere), and give thanks for the gifts of each day! Our doorbell just rang, announcing the good gift of a dear friend visiting and presenting me with a gorgeous shirt she just made for me! I’m feeling rather bowled over by this generous gift! I am grateful for so many gifts, including your ongoing prayers and encouragement! Thank you!

Heart Pressed

They bump out the door,

Duffle bags bulging with sleeping bags and swimsuits,

Enough for fourteen fun packed days

The door bangs behind them,

Its vacuum pulling my heart along with them, 

Pressed up against the glass,

Aching for their presence

Yearning for their laughter

Echoing around these now empty rooms

And they’re off!

Bundled into the car

Bright smiles, cheerful waves and calls of, “I love you!” “xoxoxoxo!”

Last year, she said, she blew me kisses all the way down our street, down the next one and the one after that, and even along the highway …

Our love is a bungie cord

It stretches and stretches and

Will not break

My heart squeezes out through the door and sneaks into the car with them,

Travelling that 400km journey, tucked away like the messages I hide in their bags,

Like my note she keeps safe under her pillow at camp

And I remain, heart pressed against the glass,

Aching for them to deeply know the One who will never leave nor forsake them,

Yearning for them to encounter Him in bigger and truer ways,

Trusting that as they grow, He is always more than enough.

Heart eagerly pressed against the glass,

Excited about the people they will meet, skills they will learn, songs they will sing, stories they will savour, beauty they will behold …

And bundle up to bring back home to me

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A sample of our summer adventures:

(Diefenbunker, Nature Museum, History Museum)

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My firstborn, serving his delicious homemade ice cream!

Marathon Weekend

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Like many weekends for most of us, this past weekend was a marathon for our family … but what made it different was that my husband actually ran the marathon, and the kids and I volunteered at it!

Jono has run a few marathons before, but this time he ran to raise funds for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. Thanks to the generosity of a cheering crowd of supporters, not only did he run a personal best 3:25:29 but he also raised $1725 (so far)! We are happy with his achievements, and so glad that he is recovering well from the run.

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No pressure, but if you want to give, there’s still time: http://ottawacancer.kintera.org/ottawaraceweekend/jono

Speaking of recovery, at the end of each race is the “recovery” area where volunteers give food and drink to the runners. The kids and I volunteered there on Sunday, setting up and handing out yogurt, chocolate milk and bananas. It was a privilege to be part of the team who served 47,000 runners this weekend. So many of the runners expressed gratitude for the volunteers who served in a variety of ways. We were there for about 4 hours, and I am thrilled to report that I was able to complete my shift! I was exhausted afterwards and very stiff, but I also recovered well from my volunteering “marathon”.

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A quick photo with our friend who coordinates volunteers and generously welcomed us to her team. (My daughter was the youngest there.)

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Calm before the storm! It was a privilege to be part of the team who served 47,000 runners this weekend with a smile! Very well organized effort!

The past few months I’ve been deliberately pushing myself harder and harder to try to increase my endurance. Life is a marathon! I’m noticing my stamina has improved and also my ability to bounce back after exerting myself. I’m still not well enough to take on a job, but if this trend continues, I’m very hopeful!

Also on the weekend the kids and I put on a lemonade stand fundraiser for the Cancer Foundation. We surpassed our fundraising goal and raised $225.25! Thank you to all who encouraged our kids and donated!

We’ve been fundraising because I have the energy to, and because we are grateful for the ways the Cancer Foundation has helped our family and many others, through clinical trials, workshops, coaching, classes, etc. I have recommended their cancer coaching to two people this week alone!  The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation supports people who have been diagnosed with cancer and their families and friends. For more information: http://www.ottawacancer.ca

Now it’s time for a break from fundraising, time to focus on the next chapter, the next segment of our race. I don’t know what’s next, but I’m looking forward to it!

How’s your marathon going? Is it time to take a break from something? Time to dive into a new challenge? Time to keep on keeping on in some rough terrain? Are you running a good race? Looking forward to what’s coming next? I hope you are, and I hope you are surrounded by teammates who cheer for you and support you!

Thank you for cheering us on in our marathon … we all do better with encouragement and support, don’t we!