Cinco de Mayo = Deana's Birthday!

Yes, Deana is a Cinco de Mayo baby.  I'm so thankful that she will be celebrating another birthday tomorrow, and she has a terrific mother-daughter weekend planned with Clare.  Every day is a reason to celebrate, especially when living with cancer, but birthdays are extra-special (or so my mother has always said).

As I write, I am six days removed from the Big Sur Marathon, which I ran as a member of the Multiple Myeloma Power Team.  (For more info, visit www.themmrf.org.)  This was my third marathon, and most definitely the hardest.  My training was affected by some foot issues, and,if I am being totally honest, issues with time management coupled with a sporadic lack of motivation caused by the dreariness of winter.

Don't get me wrong, Big Sur is visually stunning.  I would welcome the opportunity to return to the area for a visit that did not involve running 26.2 miles with the wind at my face.  (Did I mention the hills?)

Alone with my thoughts and my music for six hours, I gave thanks for the work of the MMRF and what that work has made possible for my family.  I thought about Deana, a lot.  While I might have been in pain every step I ran (causing me to have to walk more than I had hoped to), I remembered Deana describing the pain of her first bone marrow biopsy, and pressed on.

One week ago, April 27th, marked the two year anniversary of Deana's diagnosis, the day our lives changed and we joined the millions of families who live with cancer.  I had never given thought to us being in this community.  It isn't that I believed we were immune, but since most people in our family have died of heart-related issues, cancer wasn't on my radar.

Two years later, with Deana still (blessedly) in remission, we have settled into our new normal.

There were many people who said we would grow closer as a result of all of this.  To them I always said, if my sisters and I were any closer, we would be conjoined.  That remains true.  I love Deana and Darrie with all my heart and am proud to be their big sister.

The bright side of the experience was that I made 16 trips to Pittsburgh in a 12 month period and got to spend so much time with my sisters and their families.  Being an aunt is one of my favorite roles and I am fortunate to have terrific nieces and nephews who bring great joy.

In the last 12 months, there have been fewer trips to Pittsburgh, but we have instead traveled to some great destinations and made wonderful memories, far more fun than visits to the oncologist. (If you are familiar with the 1982 movie "Arthur," you know that fun is the best thing to have.)

In the coming months, my work with the MMRF will continue as we seek to advance a cure for multiple myeloma.  Progress is being made every day, helping to guarantee more birthdays for Deana and her fellow patients.  More on that in future posts....

For now --

Happy Birthday Deana -- Hope your day is filled with sunshine!