Reflections & time to start the work

Mothers Day....so bitter sweet. I am a lucky woman, but something is missing. That missing piece is my mom, Patty. I know I am lucky to have had her in my life for 23 years, but now that I am 35 that gap of when I knew her, and when she passed is growing so big. I can see pictures, read letters, and wear trinkets and belongings of hers that she either gave to me, or were passed on to me. But that is not her. I miss her smell, her touch, her laugh, her energy.

I told my family, friends and work that I will be raising $ for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation in which I pledged to raise $2500 in order to secure an entry spot to the NYC Marathon on November 6th. I got mixed responses and that is understandable. Some are concerned that I will be pushing my feet to hard after all I just went though. Some were excited for me that I can run a race that is extremely hard to get in, and some just understand that this is the way I work...I am athletic, compulsive and goal oriented.

So it is fitting for me to launch this fundraising effort on Mother's Day. And I have to acknowledge my amazing step-mother, Kathy, who has given me more that I could have ever asked for in a mother, a friend, and a constant source of support and love. She has had her own journey to battle with the cancer monsters and she is a fighter. She is so brave and so full of life that we all just knew she wouldn't be brought down by it.

I saw my dear friend Melissa Hudson the other day when I was in Florida. Melissa and Matt's infant son Harrison had a undiagnosed form of muscle neuropathy and required 24-7 care. Harrison passed away one month ago. I asked Melissa how she and her husband Matt dealt with raising money when there are so many causes, and money is too tight for most people. She said because people that love you will want to help, and because even one person dying is too many.

Here are some statistics I found on multiple myeloma and why it is so important to keep raising money for research to support clinical trials. There is no cure yet for multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma is a relatively uncommon cancer. In the United States, the lifetime risk of getting multiple myeloma is
1 in 159 (0.63%).
The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for multiple myeloma in the United States are for 2010:
About 20,180 new cases will be diagnosed (11,170 in men and 9,010 in women).
About 10,650 deaths are expected to occur (5,760 in men and 4,890 in women).
The 5-year relative survival rate for multiple myeloma is around 35%. Survival is higher in younger people and lower in
the elderly. 5-year survival rates are based on patients diagnosed and initially treated more than 5 years ago.
The recent improvements in treatment may result in a more favorable outlook for recently diagnosed patients.

Thank you for your support. RIP Mary Patricia McCarthy..i.e. Mom