One year ago, we were going crazy trying to prepare for our first UNO / LFAC fundraiser. Fast forward - we are doing it again. "Stache-for-Cash" will be starting Friday, February 5, and continue through the month of February: 2/5, 2/6, 2/12/, 2/13, 2/26/ and 2/27.
Instead of participants shaving hair off this year, they are currently trying to add some to their faces. Participants are sporting facial hair, wearing pins that say, "Ask me about my Stache," and trying to raise money so that they remain in the competition. After the first series, five participants will be eliminated. After the second series, ten more will be eliminated. The last series will determine the winners: Most Bushy, Best Effort, Most Original, Best Stache / Face, and Mr. Omaha (whoever raises the most money).
Along with "Stache-for-Cash," special raffles and a jersey auction will take place. On Friday 2/26, LFAC will distribute 2,000 wristbands; and on Saturday 2/27, Methodist Hospital Foundation will distribute 5,000 key chain flashlights for a special lighting ceremony before the game. Brandi Petersen and Jeff Degan will be the emcees again this year. In addition, each game will honor a brain cancer survivor / patient as he/she ceremoniously drops the puck. After last year's $44,000, our sights are set high. The goal is $50,000 this year.
LFAC is set to purchase a Functional MRI (fMRI) for Methodist Hospital. fMRI is becoming the diagnostic method of choice for learning how a normal, diseased, or injured brain is working, as well as for assessing the potential risks of surgery or other invasive treatments of the brain.
Physicians perform fMRI to: *examine the anatomy of the brain; *determine precisely which part of the brain is handling critical functions such as thought, speech, movement and sensation, which is called brain mapping; *help assess the effects of stroke, trauma or degenerative disease (such as Alzheimer's) on brain function; *monitor the growth and function of brain tumors; and
*guide the planning of surgery, radiation therapy, or other surgical treatments for the brain. Although brain tumor patients will definitely benefit, so will other brain trauma patients.
February will be busy and memorable. We will be busy, busy, busy with the fundraiser; and the one weekend UNO is not in town, we will be celebrating Heather and Mike's engagement with a wonderful party. Every weekend will be filled with excitement and energy.
Then March will come and we will head to San Francisco again for another visit with Dr. Chang. Until then, we will enjoy our weekends and plan for a wedding.
Cancer is so limited that:
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit
I'm feeling positive tonight!
Sue
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Well, good news for the Roberts' family :) Heather's MRI report came back "stable." We cannot ask for more than that! We are not certain why Heather had issues with her left hand yesterday, which remains somewhat disconcerting, but we will happily take "stable" for now. Amy says Heather's left hand is suffering from the weight of her new "bling." She and Mike are officially engaged - beautiful ring to "seal the deal."
The report has been sent to Dr. Chang, but just to make certain, we also sent the MRI disc to her as well. Can't hurt having two people read it.
Omaha is currently suffering from the coldest and snowiest winter in 60 years! I think I understand the term cabin fever better now than I did before. I want to start so many "things," but I never know if there will be school the following day, so I don't want to take out everything. I should have as we are now missing another day tomorrow.
Again, we have been blessed with good news. I cannot thank people enough for their prayers and support - even when we can't always "see" it; we know it is there, especially when we receive such good news. We are beginning to understand how scary this journey can be - never knowing what little or major "issue" may actually mean something. That's OK. I told Heather she can NEVER ignore any possible signs; we always have to keep on top of it.
Tonight we will all sleep a bit better -
Sue
The report has been sent to Dr. Chang, but just to make certain, we also sent the MRI disc to her as well. Can't hurt having two people read it.
Omaha is currently suffering from the coldest and snowiest winter in 60 years! I think I understand the term cabin fever better now than I did before. I want to start so many "things," but I never know if there will be school the following day, so I don't want to take out everything. I should have as we are now missing another day tomorrow.
Again, we have been blessed with good news. I cannot thank people enough for their prayers and support - even when we can't always "see" it; we know it is there, especially when we receive such good news. We are beginning to understand how scary this journey can be - never knowing what little or major "issue" may actually mean something. That's OK. I told Heather she can NEVER ignore any possible signs; we always have to keep on top of it.
Tonight we will all sleep a bit better -
Sue
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Stomach Pit
When a mother receives a phone call from her daughter stating that "some symptoms are back," the daily routine comes to an abrupt halt and the pit engulfs in the stomach. I guess I always have the pit, but sometimes it is less noticeable. Right now, it is ready to crawl up my throat and spew from my mouth!
So, tomorrow - Wednesday, January 6 - Heather is scheduled for an unexpected MRI because of her unexpected and certainly unwelcomed symptoms. I'm sitting here deciding what my next move is - to cry or to remain calm. To fight or to prepare. To believe or to question. Well, I have chosen to remain calm, fight the pessimism, and believe that God won't let the MRI be bad news. Our positive beliefs and actions have taken us this far; I refuse to think we are headed in a different direction.
Just received a call - MRI tonight at 5:30. I will keep you posted.
Such an abrupt ending, but I needed to do something other than write about my fears. I needed time to clear my head. I needed time to get back into focus.
We met Heather and Michele at Methodist Hospital for Heather's 5:30 MRI. Unfortunately, we all waited until 6:05 before Heather was called into the room. About 40 minutes later, Heather appeared. The technician could not /would not tell us anything - of course - but I did try to "trick" him into telling us something. He was too good. He did say to make certain we bring in San Fransisco's disc tomorrow morning because the radiologist will need to compare the two. Obviously, that means something is there, but it could be what was there on Dec. 8.
If I have learned anything these past 20 months, I have learned not to predict. First, medical science is unpredictable and most importantly, no one can predict what God has in store for us. Which takes me back to my positive beliefs, actions, and trust in God.
Within the next 12 hours, I believe my fears will be put to rest, we will laugh at our overly concerned behavior, and we will once again be thankful for the strength God has given us.
Sue
So, tomorrow - Wednesday, January 6 - Heather is scheduled for an unexpected MRI because of her unexpected and certainly unwelcomed symptoms. I'm sitting here deciding what my next move is - to cry or to remain calm. To fight or to prepare. To believe or to question. Well, I have chosen to remain calm, fight the pessimism, and believe that God won't let the MRI be bad news. Our positive beliefs and actions have taken us this far; I refuse to think we are headed in a different direction.
Just received a call - MRI tonight at 5:30. I will keep you posted.
Such an abrupt ending, but I needed to do something other than write about my fears. I needed time to clear my head. I needed time to get back into focus.
We met Heather and Michele at Methodist Hospital for Heather's 5:30 MRI. Unfortunately, we all waited until 6:05 before Heather was called into the room. About 40 minutes later, Heather appeared. The technician could not /would not tell us anything - of course - but I did try to "trick" him into telling us something. He was too good. He did say to make certain we bring in San Fransisco's disc tomorrow morning because the radiologist will need to compare the two. Obviously, that means something is there, but it could be what was there on Dec. 8.
If I have learned anything these past 20 months, I have learned not to predict. First, medical science is unpredictable and most importantly, no one can predict what God has in store for us. Which takes me back to my positive beliefs, actions, and trust in God.
Within the next 12 hours, I believe my fears will be put to rest, we will laugh at our overly concerned behavior, and we will once again be thankful for the strength God has given us.
Sue
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