I am sure this is probably true of all years, but this year seemed to have so many more changes and challenges.
In January, Kelly's testing showed that her leukemia has returned with a vengeance. her marrow was producing 1% abnormal cells (blasts) on Jan. 4th, by Jan. 10th, it was producing 80% blasts. Kelly had just turned 19 the day before getting this devastating news.
I can remember reading an e-mail later that month that Don had sent and going upstairs to talk to Sue, shaken and crying. I told Sue I have to go to Seattle to see Kelly. It was such a powerful feeling and I followed my heart's desire and I made plans to go in Februrary.
I flew out to Seattle on February 7th and got to be part of an amazing once in a lifetime moment.
Kelly's parents had written to Kelly's transplant donor, Emily asking her if she would consider coming out to Seattle to meet Kelly. This was one of Kelly's goals in life was to meet Emily. Emily's trip coincided with mine and her flight landed 30 minutes after mine. What a moment that was to be able to see them meet for the first time. They fell into each others arms, laughing, smiling, crying. Friends that shared an irrevocable bond with each other.
Emily had signed up to be a bone marrow donor when she was in college. Her selfless act gave Kelly almost 5 years of being free from her cancer. If you haven't signed up for the bone marrow registry, I would encourage everyone reading this to do it. You might save a life.
I am still amazed when I think about the odds that Emily would have planned her trip at the exact time that I was going. That was providence.
I also got to meet Fenway Bark on this trip. Fenway is a service dog that visits families at the Ronald Macdonald house. Fenway was incredibly attached to Kelly and her entire family. Fenway and his owner later flew from Seattle to come to Kelly's service.
It was hard for me to say good bye to Kelly. I didn't want to have a meltdown and make it hard on her. We talked about some of the things she wanted to do on a trip we had planned to take her on in the fall in New York. I hugged her goodbye, told her I loved her and that we had a date in New York and I would see her then.
I am so grateful that I was able to see Kelly again and have the special memories of our last visit together.
Later that month it was Adam's senior high school musical play, Ragtime. Adam had one of the leads in this play. What a treat it was to finally see him in a role where he could showcase his talents.
I can remember on opening night during the first number where you could clearly hear Adam's voice. Adam wasn't even miked during the end of this song and his voice clearly stood out. His voice rich and reasonating with promise.
Three magical nights for us to cherish. My cousin Scott happened to be in town on a business trip and he got to see Adam on opening night. That was a nice surprise.
My mom's brother Jim and sister June flew out to attend the play as well adding to the richness of this event for all of us.
March 14-Kelly's dad called to tell me Kelly had taken a turn for the worse. Kelly had fought so long to get home. They had been home less than a week and finally the pain got so bad she had to go to the hospital. Her organs were beginning to fail.
March 16-Running of the Green 7K. I knew this would probably be the last race I would run while Kelly was still alive. I wrote this note to Kelly afer the race.
Dear Kelly,
I had quite an emotional run this morning at a Saint Patricks day race. I had a hard time getting it together during the first two miles of the run. I felt so sad to think of you in the hospital and kept fighting back tears while I was running. I decided at the two mile mark, this was not how I wanted to honor you today. Told myself I was going to hold my head up high and fight for you all the way to the finish line just as you continue to battle. I passed so many people in the last two miles. I celebrated your incredible spirit and my love for you all the way to the finish line.
I so wish I could visit you right now. You are in my thoughts and prayers and in my heart at all times.
I love you so much. You are my hero! I am so incredibly proud of you.
March 17-My cell phone rang as I was driving to work. My heart sank as I knew Don was calling to tell me the words I never thought I would hear.
We drove to Cut Bank later that week to attend Kelly's service. I had the ultimate honor to be one of Kelly's pall bearers and help lay her body to rest.
April 18-I had quite the experience one night driving home from a board meeting, running out of gas which has brought me back to church for the first time in years.
May 3-Furry Scurry to benefit the Denver Dumb Friends League-Rocky shows his skills at the obstacle course. Be white, hardly move :)
November-Sue, Laura and Adam go to the polls together on election day. Barack Obama becomes the first African American to be elected as President of the United States.
Laura and I continue our tradition of running in the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day together.
Western Union cuts 4% of it's workforce. Layoffs feel more real than ever before as I know many of the people that are laid off.
Testing, testing, testing begins for all of the physical problems I am having.
December-I run in the coldest Jingle Bell run ever. Brrrr!
I spend almost the entire day on my birthday this year at the Doctor's. I had a biopsy procedure, a visit to the Cardilogist and a visit to the orthopedic doctor. Not much of a chance to do anything in between appointments. Probably a very typical day for Kelly and her family over the years.
That night my sister and I go to see the Jersey Boys at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. The theatre is packed so at least for now it seems the entertainment industry hasn't been impacted by the economic downturn.
Christmas Eve lights run-Far fewer houses seem to have lights out this year. People seem to have really cut back in this area.
Like many families, we really cut back on Christmas giving this year. I think this may actually be a positive impact as the focus should be on relational giving, family, what matters most.
I have met many new wonderful people this year through TNT, Daniel, Jeraylyn, Catherine, Sarah, Alison, Ryan, Katie, Brittany...That has been one of the best things about Team in Training is getting a chance to know so many people all sharing the same commitment, learning their stories.
I saw another dear friend, Kerrie at Ragtime. Kerrie teaches math at Adam's high school. Kerrie and I rode together in 2003 and 2004 on the TNT cycling team. I was so happy to see her that night, starting to hug her and then immediately started crying over Kelly. It is so nice to have people in your life that totally understand and support you.
Some year I will have to write down my new years resolutions. I think the only one I actually kept was to attend a Yoga class. I started that in January and I am actually still practicing Yoga.
I did surpass my mileage goal for the year, but that was not really a resolution. I picked 1,776 miles in honor of our country. So many of the miles I run were not run with intent. They were run as junk miles as I became a hostage to my run log.
So I ended this year with one last run which was like so many others to meet a mileage goal rather than running for enjoyment.
Time passes so quickly. I hope I spend next year more wisely, living with intention, moving from the shadows to sunlight. Living joyfully as Kelly chose to do.
As Keegan would say about 2008, "all done".
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