Two cards are turned over

The mamogram came back clear, that was the easy part since there is only one to squish lol. So we can call that card and ACE!!.
Second card, not so good. There is no way to look at the CT scan and tell if the area on the lung chest wall is cancer or is not cancer. The only way is to get some tissue from the area to test. Doc cannot use a scope  because area is too small nor can they do a needle biopsy because the risk of puncturing the lung is too high. Thus the only option is to go in surgically and get it. I meet with the surgeon on the 23rd. He said we can also watch and wait to see if it gets bigger or not. I am not a fan of the watch and wait approach. But doc said either way if it is cancer then its in the bones now. I rather find out now and fight it or find out I have a good reason to celebrate.We will call that card a duce.
Next card is still face down, I also see the Thyroid doc on the 23rd to see about Thyroid mass. So more to come......

Cards

I have never been one to say not fair, why me. I try to do the best with the cards I am dealt.  Friday I was dealt a new set of cards with an uncertain outcome.  A mass has been found in my thyroid and two suspicious areas between my lung and chest wall. So as the cards are flipped over I will see how it plays out. Quitting or giving up is never an option.  I will try to gather my strength and dig deeper like before.  Yes I am scared, worried, all the emotions that one goes through. I will await the biopsy and more scans and see where the docs say we go from here.  But the last few days with emails from my Team Z family I know I will not be alone and have GREAT support.  We never get the answer to the question why, so I don’t bother to even let my mind go to that place.

Never forget to make the most of everyday, there is NO someday.  Life is not about the dates on the headstone but the dash between.  Docs have one rule from me, make sure I am ok to be at the Face of America Rdie, Musselman and Cozumel J

Thursday 13, Reasons to run Disney

1. Mickey Mouse Ear Dove Ice Cream Bars
2. Bling: Medal for Full, Medal for Half, Medal for Goofy
3. Running through the Parks
4. Characters
5. Free day at park on Monday after the races, if you can walk, lol
6. Race in FL gives me a Marathon in Florida which means I can join the 50 States Club
7. Warm weather race in January
8. Race is post xmas, burn of xmas cookies
9. Disney loves the Military and get great discounts
10. Fireworks every night
11. To be Goofy
12. Can be a kid
13. Run Jump Play

13 Things I will miss

So I am joining the masses and writing my random Thursday 13:(note not in any certain order)


1. Team Z and my new friends like Timra, Es and many more
2. Trails
3. The pizza place that delivers cheese cake factory cheese cake
4. Arlington Cemetery: reminder of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and going to visit Sam
5. 3 hrs from NY, 2hrs from the beach, 2hrs from Mtns
6. The snow and cool crisp mornings 
7. Kiwi sitters :)
8. Working with Wounded Warriors at WR
9. My crazy friend Marie
10. Chills from walking through the halls of the Pentagon
11. King Street
12. Coach Ed
13. Each and everyone of you that means more than words can say.


BUT I WILL BE BACK BY SPRING!!!

Wrapping up 2010

2010 has been a great year of accomplishment, I became an IRONMAN!!
I could not have done it without Coach Ed, Team Z and support of friends. I will end 2010 with a Christmas 12 K for charity and a 8K Turkey Trot.  2010 has also had its up and down personally and professionally but I feel that Ironman has also made me stronger in those areas of my life.  There is an inner quiet strength that comes with becoming an Ironman. 
My inner circle of friends has grown because of Team Z and I am very thankful for each one of you!!
Thanks for making the 2010 racing season such a GREAT experience.
Bring on 2011 and Cozumel

Chicago Pre-Race Thoughts

Chicago Marathon is my 13th Marathon, I am not spooked by the number 13. It does not seems like it has been 13 Marathons but it has: Baltimore, Dallas (my best), Austin, Boston, Lincoln, Dallas, Houston, Tahiti, Mississippi Blues, Shamrock, New York and New Orleans. 
Chicago will also be #3 of the 5 World Marathon Series. This has been a GREAT year for reaching goals. I completed an Ironman and will hopefully complete another in the series. These are the quiet milestones I chip away at one by one. I guess in a way it is a little bucket list, to look back on day and say I did all five in the series. 
But the important part of the race is to be running with the Imerman Angels. It is such a great cancer network. I will be running with other survivors, family members running in honor of loved ones they have lost or for a family member that is currently fighting cancer. That is the real prize, to share the day with cancer hero's.

Final Entry Moo report

How do you put 15 hrs and 58 minutes into words....I will try.
Leading up to and arriving at Madison, I did not feel nervous as in scared or as in what am I doing. I was nervous about the unknowns, like what does it feel like to swim with 2000 people all at once, will I fall on the bike or get a flat, will my foot hold up during the run.
From arrival to race start I did not have any issues, did not forget anything, all went smooth. FINALLY it was Sunday, race day, show time, time to see what I am made of, the day to become an Ironman. The term washing machine is an accurate description of what it feels like to swim with the arms and legs of 2000 people. I wasn't that people were trying to hit you it was just that everyone was just trying to swim. After the first turn, where you stop-take a breath-and moo, it was a bit better and my second loop it was swimming as normal. My goal was 1:30-1:45, I came out of the water at 1:41 (big smile on my face)
I knew no matter what happened the rest of the day, part I was done and I had swam longer than anytime before.
I was excited for the bike because I knew Team Z awaited. They did not disappoint either loop. The course was not harder than any of our training rides. The hardest part was the three BIG hills toward the end of the second loop. Not quite so much pep in the legs the second time around and there was hardly anyone there to cheer. It was all guts to get up. I started watching the clock and realized I should make the cut-off unless I had a mechanical issue. I MADE IT, WOO HOO. Part II was done.
Running Marathons is my favorite part. I have run 12 marathons. The unknown was how would my legs feel after biking 112 miles and then trying to run a marathon. Surprisingly they did not feel like bricks. I ran for about the first two miles and then settled into my plan to run walk. According to the data my pace stayed consistent the whole 26.2 miles. I started the Marathon at 5 pm, I knew I had to average about 4-4.5 miles per hour to be done by midnight. I never thought you got this because I knew at any point something could go wrong either with nutrition or with my foot.  Finally at about mile 25 I felt the emotion inside. I felt the sense of accomplishing something huge. A dream was coming true. I was going to be an Ironman. The last 1.2 miles I remembered Coach Ed advice. So I tilted my hat back, wiped my face, turned the corner and heard the words, "Patti Jackson YOU ARE AN IRONMAN"!!!
After crossing the line, my friend Pam asked me how do you feel. I describe it as a quiet voice inside that said, if you can do an Ironman you can do anything. That is how I felt. I have survived Cancer, survived the War in the desert, survived life's up and down. I am a Survivor. Now I am an Ironman