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Dear everyone,
Wow! It feels like we've really come full circle. Travis' checkup in Milwaukee last week was just stellar. His blood counts were in the complete normal range -- hooray! White Blood Cell 9.6, Hemoglobin 12.0, Platelets 163! His eyes checked out great. And much to Travis' absolute delight, he was taken off his last "med" -- the two NASTY-tasting brush and swish/swallow medicines he'd been enduring 3x a day since 9/98! We're so hopeful that this is going to be his life from here on in. They did do another PCR test to see if any presence of the Philadelphia Chromosome exists. A very important preemptive test. Results usually in about 21 days. But we're not nail-biting on this -- rather, we're just feeling blessed with this latest great checkup. What an incredible miracle -- like Travis squeezed through some Indiana Jones survival adventure. Like we all did. I'm beside myself with gratitude.
So, our lives are full of school, work and marathon training. (-: I was so moved recently when I came home from a work trip and found the boys with baggies full of coins they'd been saving for years. They'd counted it up with Joe and decided that they wanted to sponsor me and Travis' godmother, Jilly, in our marathons to fight leukemia! No kidding -- these kids gave all their spare change savings (not their bank accounts -- don't worry!) to this cause. (I couldn't BELIEVE how much they'd saved!) That's my Spencer and Travis. Deep hearts. Now official sponsors!
The marathon training is a HOOT! I can proudly say I've now run my first half marathon! Yes, the full 13.1 miles -- in rain, sleet, cold and HILLS! That was one tough sucker. But I got some sort of second wind and was feeling WAY inspired (with a picture of my boys taped over my heart) toward the end, and finished strong and happy -- and no leg pain whatsoever. I was WAY at the end of the pack, and kept telling the water stop folks "We must be winning -- can't see anyone in front of us!" They got a hoot out of us Leukemia Society "Team In Training" newbies (three of us ran together for most of the race). This training journey is an unbelievably positive experience. I sure encourage ANYONE to try it (Joe will be doing the Chicago Marathon with TNT in October. Want to join him?) If I could go from 1 minute of running three months ago to 2 hours and 29 minutes (YUP, that was my time yesterday in the March Madness 1/2 marathon!) of running, then anyone can do it. (Hell, Oprah did.) Here's to a cure by 2003 -- the LSA's goal. Can't wait to celebrate that event.
Love and hugs and major cheering on this end.
Melanie, Joe, Travis and Spencer
P.S. Thank you, thank you everyone for your support and sponsorship in this marathon. So far, you all have sponsored me with wonderful good wishes and over $11,000 to the Leukemia Society!!!!! We're going to help get this cure -- for sure. And the sponsor $$'s are still coming in! YAY! My thank you's are way late (am using the time to train!)... but I'll get there. In the meantime, please know how much deeply I appreciate your support. It's keepin' me running my end of the bargain. Thank you so much.