Almost Heaven

We had such an amazing vacation at Mt Hood last week.  10 glorious days of cool Oregon weather.  Waking up early to catch the chair at 7 am - the lifts close at 1 pm because it gets so warm.  It is a ski racing meca.  They salt the slopes each morning and hope that the clouds (fog) doesn't settle in because it limits visibility so much you can't ski.  We were "fogged" out on Tuesday.  One day off to visit the wineries and waterfalls in the region on Monday.  This is the first of my sharing of my fave photos from our trip.  

The mountain in the distance you can see directly from the "Magnificent Mile" (the mile long chair ride to the top of Mt Hood) is Mt Jefferson.  My zoom allowed me to get these amazing shots all week!  

The name of this one is "Almost Heaven".  I entered it in the MoreBirthdays art contest with the inspiration  of guiding cancer patients through every step of their journey.  It was 1 year ago today that I was diagnosed with cancer.  It was the beginning of July and we had reservations to go and participate in the Peak Performance Ski Racing Camp at Mt Hood.  We had to cancel those plans because of the fast growing cancer inside of me.  It was quite the journey - as this blog has shared my steps along the way.  The programs and guidance of the American Cancer Society kept me informed, helped me to advocate for my care, educated me whenever I had questions and bottom line made for the best experience that I could have in treatment of my cancer.   This and the all the people that were there for me whenever I needed them, the gifts, the cards, the love that I felt from all my family, friends and colleagues.   

Almost heaven --- after making it through CAT scans, PET scans, blood tests (they all sound small but are all so stressful - not knowing what is in store).  4 months of chemotherapy, needles, drugs, nausea, exhaustion, weight loss, losing my hair, my eyebrows, and feeling like total crap.  Wigs and my favorite pirate cap are some of my fun memories.  Speaking on stage about my journey to inspire others.... running.... racing... kicking it in whenever I could ..... running 2 marathons (and pretty fast if I say so myself!) --- the second one sans my spleen.  It all seems like a crazy dream right now with my curly brown hair coming in (not gray - yay!) and running a 19:56 5K to win 3rd place and a pair of sneakers at a local race in Springfield, MA.  

Then to finally make it to the top of that mountain - Mt. Hood.  To race GS, to ski the glacier with my family, to get through those slalom gates without getting smacked in the face and actually look pretty good! :)  This is another step in my journey to share the sweet feeling of the view from where I stand.  The glorious mountains of Oregon.  I am so happy to share these photos with you.   More than you can imagine......

Live each day

Love 

Look to the horizon 
See it 

and Feel 

Almost Heaven

View of Mt Jefferson from the top of Mt Hood

Please leave a comment if you stop by!

Quabog Relay For Life - Honorary Chair - Survivor Speaker - MY NOTES

 I am honored to be the Honorary Chair of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Quabog Valley in Belchertown, MA.  Here are my notes for my speech from last night.  :)


My COMMUNITY

Relay is about a community that takes up the fight - the fight against cancer.   

This is my community - and I want to thank you all for being here and taking up the fight, the fight against this terrible disease that affects so many and raising the dollars for the advancements in cancer research that make the treatments possible for so many like me to survive cancer.   

The FIGHT

I have been fighting for this disease as staff for the American Cancer Society for more than 15 years, but never knew what all this really meant until last year --- it was at this Relay --- I was taking photos of the teams, the survivor lap, the smiling faces of all of you walking the track -- fighting cancer in our community.  

I HAVE CANCER  
Then that next week that in Dr. Levheim's office just around the corner from here ---  she told us that it looks like I have cancer.  I was hearing those words "YOU HAVE CANCER".  We left the office armed with appointments, doctor recommendations, insurance follow up, and onward, fighting like so many stories I had heard from cancer survivors at Relay.  It was scary, no fun at all to say the least.  After going to Mass General for a specialist opinion and Cooley Dickinson for my PET scan we had a diagnosis and a plan.  We were going to fight this thing - stage 4 diffuse large B cell lymphoma - and the prognosis was good.  4 months of chemo, 3 trips to Boston - a nasty treatment of methatrexate….. Lost my hair, decided to go blonde, endured the drugs, the side effects making the most out of each and every day…. .    The PET scan in November showed something more and the docs said the best route was to remove my spleen.  If I don't need it - take it!   The whole thing really did slow me down mind you…. But I still ran the Chicago marathon in October (2/3 through treatment) and then Boston (6 weeks after spleen removal)…  looking back it sounds like a whirl wind!  My friends called me Wonder Woman and I have the photos of me in costume!

  
“No one can hold you back from doing all the things you want to do.  Just keep your goals in sight, listen to your body and take one day at a time.  Some days will be better than others, but every day is a blessing. - so make each day the best it can be. " 
  

  
CELEBRATE

Now - it hasn't been a year yet, but no cancer is showing on my latest scans

Time to celebrate life - I am here to celebrate with all of you...

Celebrate with my caregivers - my amazing sweet husband, my fun loving active 10 year old son, riding motorcycles with our son Stephen & Samantha now living in Boston
It IS all about HOPE... and once you have HOPE 
you can share HOPE and if you inspire others, they can in turn inspire you." 

Let's Relay!  

Mass Appeal - TV segment

I was recently asked to appear on Channel 22 Mass Appeal, a daytime show that highlights human interest stories and events.  We were promoting Relay For Life upcoming events for Hampshire County and Quabog Region.  I met Madelyn, who is the co-chair of the Northampton event in the waiting area.  It was pretty interesting meeting the highlighted events, promotions and watching the 3 stages set up as the cameras moved from one area to the other while the co-hosts bounced between stages.

Seth Stutman was our host that would be interviewing us and Ashley was the other host that was doing other pieces.  They were a cute pair -- funny, energetic and happy!  :)  Seth was hilarious and had a great sense of humor.  We played right along.  Soon it was our time to get in the couches and miked up near the end of the show.  Below I share the link / imbed the video for you to see.  I think it went well, and I look pretty good (my hair is getting longer - yay!)  Check it out!

Relay for Life in Western Mass: wwlp.com

A photo from the set where they were showing recipes raising money for Girl Scouts "Fork it Over"

 A great photo of Madelyn and I at the station :)

Castleton State College Magazine- Wonder Woman highlight!

Last spring I communicated with my alma mater Castleton State College on my recent challenge with my upcoming Boston marathon after my lymphoma diagnosis.  I sent them the same interview info I shared with the ACS and then to my surprise this week a friend alerted me to this amazing article featuring my story.  A wonderful piece that I am so thankful to share with all of you.  Brought tears to my eyes reading it and just feeling the support of so many of you all over and thankful for my family and friends once again!

"HOPE" for Relay For Life Fight Back Ceremony

I wrote this for a Relay that I could not appear in person.  They asked me to write my story in order to present it at their "Fight Back" Ceremony.  I wrote it in 3rd person.  Hope you like it.     :) Please leave a message if you stop by! 







Hope.

It IS all about HOPE... and once you have HOPE 
you can share HOPE and if you inspire others, they can in turn inspire you."

  These words are from a woman in Western Mass, a woman that I heard speak last fall when she was in the middle of treatment for Stage 4 diffuse large Bcell lymphoma.  Her words rang loud and clear for all of us in the room at this special Relay For Life Summit. 
She shared her experience of hearing those words… “you have cancer” She shared the experience of her treatment, her fantastic doctors & nurses She shared how she finds strength, in people like you and me, people that Relay, people that care enough to fight back against cancer and support the mission of the American Cancer Society.   

We support our cancer survivors in our community.
This woman, Nancy, in the fall she ran the Chicago marathon 2/3 of the way through treatment in a Wonder Woman costume with a time of 3:57.  That was amazing!  But was more amazing is the inspiration she has given to others that are surviving cancer, caregivers to those survivors and to all those that may hear those words… “you have cancer”  Then after the possibility of more cancer they removed her spleen at the end of February.  She ran the Boston Marathon 6 weeks after that surgery this past April.  The results were negative.  They didn’t find cancer in her spleen.  What a crazy year enduring what she likes to call “The Toughest Marathon of My Life” Look the beast in the eye.  Focus on what makes you strong.  Endure.   Her word rang out again…

“No one can hold you back from doing all the things you want to do.  Just keep your goals in sight, listen to your body and take one day at a time.  Some days will be better than others, but every day is a blessing. - so make each day the best it can be. "

Today & tomorrow we are Sharing hope.  Feeling hope.  Spreading hope.   When you Relay you are in a field of hope.  

What do you hope for?   Quality of life?  
Better treatments?  A cure for cancer? Look around.  That is what we all hope for at Relay. 

We celebrate life. 
We remember those we have lost 
We fight back to find a cure. 
Creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Thank you for being here, for making a difference in the fight against cancer, for making this day and every day the best it can be. 

Are you ready? 
Let’s Relay!

Boston Marathon Results!

Here it is...  the final results and to share with you the thank you note I sent to my donors... what a great marathon, a great focus for me during this crazy time in my life.  

Note:  On that Tuesday following the marathon on 4/19 there was an All Staff Briefing where they shared my "update" with the ACS staff nationwide.  I was honored as they share my story as inspiration and to show my Wonder Woman photo on screen and on the webcast.  I was in the air traveling to Salt Lake City for our annual family vacation at Snowbird and not able to see it live, but my friends shared the moment and the virtual cheers from across the country -- how cool is that!

My thank you note:

Thank you to all the ACS DetermiNation volunteers and staff too!  
This truly was my best experience for DNation!  I consider myself an "expert"!  :) 
The Dream Team was truly amazing with their participation and results!  

THANK YOU!
I had to share my results and experience in photos as it is truly a celebration of life for me to have these results after only 6 weeks after having my spleen removed and 5 months since my last chemo treatment.  :)  

"Focus on what makes you happy and strong, no matter what, live it, breathe on and you too will go beyond being a survivor!"
- Nancy E Cook


My Boston Marathon Results! 
(I looked these up for my thank you notes and had to share with all of you!) THANK YOU for your support of me during these past months of trials and tribulations! :)

9162 Cook, Nancy E 46 F Belchertown MA USA 
SPLITS: 
5k = 0:21:17
10k = 0:43:18
Half = 1:35:00
Overall pace = 0:08:02
Finish Time Official. = 3:30:27

98% finished that started the race - below is based on finishers 
Time Overall = 7797 out of 24338 = Top 32% of all finishers
Gender - 1447 = 10281 = Top 14% of all women
Division = 101 = 1611 = Top 6% in age 45-49
Top woman finisher in my age group was 2:51:02 and number 10 was 3:12:40
Definitely do-able times in my book for the future! :)

ACS DetermiNation
Boston is my #5 DetermiNation effort in less than 3 years !!
I raised $1933.80 for the American Cancer Society through the Boston Marathon effort and the amazing support of all my donors !!
The Dream Team (6 truly incredible athletes) raised $18,893.80 !!
19 marathon runners supported ACS DetermiNation at the Boston Marathon and raised $47,614.50 !!
Time for a new goals! :)
So incredibly happy with my results and the truly amazing efforts in the fight against cancer !!

What's next? Vermont 50 miler in October and NYC Marathon in November and what ever else comes before that! 

Life is good. :)

7 days till the Boston Marathon ..... "My Story"

My Story

I was recently asked to share my story - 

My story is one of will, dedication, committment, years of training and racing.    Accumulating what seems like millions of hours of time that I have put in preparation.... and now another marathon - another day at the start line of a race, this time the Boston Marathon - the grand daddy of them all! 13 days from today  - bib 9162, wave 2, corral 1 - standing, stretching, anticipating that start gun, with more than 20,000 runners headed from Hopkinton to Boston!  This will be my 6th Boston and my 27th marathon.  

It doesn't always come easy, getting out of bed each morning, but I am motivated by my loving husband, Steve who encourages me to get myself going and catch those ponytails! That plus my rambunctious "full of energy" son cheer me on at each race and give "me" the training time to put myself to work - to increase my mileage, speed or endurance as a whole.  I am so proud that I can perform at the higher levels like I have proven in the recent past - with a seventh place master finish in 2007 with a 3:05 at Boston and then 7th master again in San Fransisco at the 2007 Nike Woman's marathon  and then winning my age group at the Marine Corps Marathon in 2009. I qualified in 2008, at age 43 for the World Championship 1/2 ironman and the US National Championships for the Olympic distance - - on my own raw talent, because anyone that really knows me, knows I am of the "less is more theory" with all I have to juggle in life. I am self coached by "Greta Gamin" , my Ipod nano, and my training buddy, yellow lab Oakley. I research training plans online, communicate online with other runners and just get up and put my feet on the pavement each and every morning.  

It hit me like a ton of bricks last July when I was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell lymphoma that running was my focus to keep my sights forward and always moving ahead.  I had signed up for the Chicago Marathon, and with God's will I would have the strength to endure chemo, endure training and complete the marathon.  It was a challenge I put before me and as a goal oriented person I knew I would do it.  Many may have doubted that I could do it, but when I was finally out there with tingly feet & hands, as hydrated as possible, with the goal to finish ---- it happened.  I crossed the line with all that support behind me from friends, family, colleagues.  My husband was there for me every step of the way, and my friend Cara dressed as BatGirl to support me in the marathon each mile while I wore my Wonder Woman outfit.   Feeling like Wonder Woman we crossed the line with a 3:57.  

My last chemotherapy treatment was in November.  Now I had my sights on Boston, recruiting the Dream Team to join me on the line again and adding a couple more to the team we were perched for success!  But they found something in my spleen and weren't sure that maybe the cancer was still growing inside of me.  On February 28 they removed my spleen to biopsy it and determine if more chemo was needed.  I waited a week and 3 days for the results, but got the call that there was no cancer in the spleen and I was "good to go"!  It was another challenge coming back from major surgery in such a short time frame before Boston.  The pain was tough to bear, even riding in a car at first, but I slowly moved beyond the pain and recovered enough to run and get some additional training in before the big day.   

Now, with only 7 days till the Dream Team meets me in Boston to rally that route from Hopkinton to Boston chills go up my spine thinking about what a year it has been for me.  The challenges before me have made me focus even more on that end result.  I hope to inspire others to focus on the goals, all the good feelings, the ups and not the downs.  I hope to share with others that you need to be as strong as you can be to get through the tough times and grow closer to that "pie in the sky" goal that you may set for yourself.  Live each day!  I have to end with my favorite quote from my "journey'

"Just remember that no one can hold you back from doing all the things you want to do.  Keep you goals in sight, take one day at a time, some days will be better than others, but every day is a blessing -so make each day the best it can be." 

  - Nancy E Cook, marathoner, cancer survivor, mother, wife & more!

If you want to donate to my DetermiNation efforts in the fight against cancer through the mission of the American Cancer Society please link HERE

The Dream Team is now less than $300 from our $15,000 goal!  Thank you to Cara, Charlie, DPittman, Matt and Jill all your amazing work!  


Photo:  My new "ride" for Boston --- a little Relay Purple in these Nike Lunar Glides -- LOVE em! :)