Day 56 of...98 Days...Why We Fight On

Today's post was written by Tom Krengel, Pam's husband and campaign team member.

I am a middle aged man. I'm 50 years old but that sounds much older than I feel. Middle-aged, well at least I hope that I am only mid way through this wonderful life. And if I am going to live to be 100, I want to ensure that I will be alert, healthy and active throughout my life. So I work hard to do all the things that are recommended for me by the experts, such as:

• I eat a low fat, balanced diet, lots of vegetables, a little meat, foods that have a good amount of fiber. 
• I watch my weight. Sure dessert or a sweet here and there but I do my best to limit those treats and when I allow myself to "indulge" I try to pay attention to the serving size.
• I don't use tobacco products.
• I exercise, not as hard or as long as years past, but enough to elevate my heart rate and "feel a little burn".
• I try to get eight hours of sleep every night.
• If I have a weakness it's that I do enjoy wines. But again moderation is the key there as well.
• Finally, I like to read, I think it helps to keep my mind in good shape.

And yet I know that none of what I just stated, what I do to stay healthy and active is going to help me one iota should the odds turn against me and I become a leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma victim. At that point I'm starting a new regimen and with it the daily fights to beat back the monster and survive.

This campaign is about giving me or you or your children, a fighting chance should that happen to any one of us. Like me you will want, no you will insist that you are given the best therapies to eradicate the blood disease that grabbed on to you or your kids. But it's no secret and we all know that those therapies and "the cure" will only happen with research and discovery - and that is expensive and that means we have to give and give some more of our time and treasure until it is accomplished. But the good news - we only have to give what we can afford to - nothing more.

Today, right now, won't you click this link and give a contribution of whatever amount works for you, $5, $10, $20?
Thank you for reading my post.
Best,
Tom Krengel

Day 55 of...98 Days...The Juggler

I looked in the mirror and thought wow I looked tired and definitely a little beat up from the week.  I have very curly hair and as my husband tells me lovingly it can look crazy wild at times almost reflecting how I feel and today was one of those days.  I am doing all I can to balance work, this campaign and my daughter's wedding.  I have become this expert juggler constantly moving all three balls in the air always trying my best to move everything forward.  It's taken everything I have to be completely organized and dedicate times throughout the day and days of the week to certain tasks.

I was asked am I glad I am doing this campaign and how do I feel about it?  I volunteered to do this I brought all of this on myself. So I thought I would share how I am feeling.

When I was asked to do this campaign I just couldn't say no.  Everyone close to me thought maybe this wasn't the best time to take this on but I thought to myself I have to do this.  I can't bear to hear of another Parent losing a child it's not fair and with funding more research we can find a cure.  I am a Mom planning my daughter's wedding while other Parents to put it quite blunt are planning funerals.  Every 10 minutes we are losing a loved one to blood cancer.

The over 700 downloads on the free iPhone app Light The App dedications to be loved ones just reinforce that piece of our campaign was so well worth it and again confirms we just can't lose another to blood cancer.

Am I tired yes, am I stressed about wanting to fulfill my commitment to this fund-raising campaign and beyond yes but in the end with your help if together we save a life what in the world could be better than that?  So I will keep juggling and I am hoping you will all support the campaign and the efforts.  Every dollar counts to fighting blood cancer and finding a cure!

Make a donation: http://in.llsevent.org/PAM

Light The App site with link: http://lighttheapp.org

 

Day 54 of 98 Days...from little acorns mighty oaks grow

This has been a giving week we hope with your help we continue to repeat.

We received incredibly generous individual donations this week ones that would take your breath away and you could never thank those individuals enough. There were even companies we are so grateful to who do not know me or Tressa our honoree but understand the urgency and importance of this campaign of funding research for a cure of blood cancer.

Today was then topped off when I received news that the students of the Hutson School collected $580.00 for our campaign, I was incredibly touched. Understand that these young students, K-12, are incredibly intelligent and driven to succeed, and yet face their own unique challenges with dyslexia or other specific language learning differences.  Their Student Council led the way with the fund-raiser so they worked to raise money for kids they don't know just that they are part of their generation and are affected with a life threatening blood cancer. Their extremely proud principal reached out to me today and told me the wonderful news.

Its people of all ages coming together for a common cause to fight against this devastating disease so we do not lose another loved one from blood cancer.  "From little acorns might oaks grow"...a very special person shared that with me tonight and told me that was a favorite saying from someone near and dear to our hearts our honoree Tressa. 

Day 53 of 98 Days - The Real Man and Woman of the Year Unmasked

I have since the beginning been really uncomfortable with the named title of this fundraising campaign. My thought being Man and Woman of the Year - how pretentious is that? Raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is honorable and commendable. Period. Raising the most money in a geographical area such as Indianapolis for the funding of cancer research is an honor, and every one of the participants in this campaign that I have met are notable in their desire to defeat blood cancers in our time by raising gobs of cash for cancer research. That is our prize. Collectively we want to throw enough money at this monster that we can drive it back to the hell from which it came! We are all one in this.

The moniker of Man and Woman of the Year? No. That is not our goal. Money and lots of it for research to defeat this monster cancer. That is our goal. We don't want titles. We want a cure. Now.

So who is the real Man and Woman of the Year? What is the definition of a Man or Woman of the Year? Could it be an individual or couple who is brave, resilient, fearless, and so full of life and enthusiasm for it that they can daily look in the face of their child and continue cheer them on through endless chemo and transfusions?

It's clear to me that every Mother and Father of a leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma victim is the real Man and Woman of the Year. To all of those moms and dads, and especially to Dan and Jo Ellen to whom I know and love personally, I dedicate my campaign.

You are truly the Men and Women of the Year!

Day 52 of 98 Days...Ride like the Wind

When you are in a fund-raising campaign it is such an emotional wild ride.  Some days you are riding like the wind flying so high and incredibly thankful for the generous donations.  The close to 600 downloads of the Light The App to date and the heartfelt dedications coming in brings you to tears.  You think yes I was meant to do this fund-raiser, develop the iPhone app and with you by my side we can make such a difference.

And then you get an e-mail that makes me realize oh no we only have 46 days left to climb a mountain.  So you get in the fastest car you have put your foot on the gas the petal to the metal and ride like the wind.  You can't take the turns slow you have to take some risks and climb knowing the odds.  You have to bring an energy level one that has to come so deep within you are almost flying to get to the top.  Because not reaching the pinnacle the peak is not an option, running out of gas is not an option.  You have too many people counting on you 900,000 in fact and you give it all the power you have.

Because when you are talking about life or death you find new ways to reach out to people complete strangers and share with them the importance of this fund-raising campaign.  You tell them Tressa's story and how you never want to see another parent lose a child to blood cancer and you say with your help we can do this we can fund research and find a cure.  So will you come with me and ride like the wind by donating and spreading the word.  So in the next 10 minutes we won't keep losing another to blood cancer.

Make a donation: http://in.llsevent.org/PAM

Light The App site with link: http://lighttheapp.org

Day 51 of...98 Days...A Series of One Liners

"Houston - we have a problem."  We recognize time is running short and that we have to step up our efforts.

"A 'wish' changes nothing. A 'decision' changes everything!"  We have new ways we are going to reach out in the hopes we gain momentum and brand new supporters.

"The heart has reasons which reason does not understand". Our dedication to this fight is one of pure emotion of wanting to make a difference so not another parent loses a child a sibling, a family member, mom dad or grandparent with blood cancer.

"You had me at 'hello.'"  We hope with our new efforts we will have your support.

"One meeeellion dollars."  No just $50,000.

'The Force will be with you, always."  As you spread the word and get others to join this fight we can fund research and find a cure for blood cancer.

'Here's looking at you, kid." Thank you in advance for your support and donation and I will see you tomorrow night right here.

Day 50 of...98 Days...Walking in the Shoes

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to walk in someone else's shoes?  Who would you pick? A known leader, a born genius, a scientist, movie star, an athlete, a billionaire, a politician, a neighbor, a teacher... In one snapshot of time you would get a glimpse into a day in their life. 

Well what if that one moment in time you were walking in the shoes of a parent with the most loving child. In that moment you were in the hospital watching over the bed of this child who you absolutely cherished and could not love enough.  And you were sitting witnessing them cry in their sleep from nightmares because they were both frightened and in pain.  They were on a ventilator with tubes going every which way and the world at that moment looked surreal.  Everyone was talking about the importance of platelets where they were none existent in her body. You looked around and thought to yourself this couldn't be real.  You just wanted to grab that child and run but you couldn't because you knew this was the only place she could possibly survive if she/he was going to.  You felt helpless and just spent the day just watching and praying the nightmare would come to an end.  This was the day in the life of Tressa parents and families watching over our honoree who had Leukemia and was taken from this devastating disease.

I just know through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fund-raising campaigns like this one with everyone's help we could come together to fund research and find a cure.  Let's not let another parent or family member walk in the shoes of watching a loved one affected with blood cancer.

Won't you take part in this fight and donate where every single dollar can make a difference...
Make a donation: http://in.llsevent.org/PAM
Light The App site with link: http://lighttheapp.org