One Year Ago...Merry XMAS

This morning I went for a run. No surprise there I know. I was thinking where I was last Christmas Eve. I wasn't running, I was sitting in the waiting room at Lutheran General Hospital.  It was honestly the scariest Christmas Eve I have ever had. Today marks the one year anniversary of my Dad's Triple Bypass Surgery. There was no running that day. I was running on 2 hours of sleep and doing anything to keep awake and keep my mind busy. 
You know what happed 20 minutes ago? I just got off the phone with my Dad. Telling me he can't wait to meet my girlfriend for the first time tonight. All I can think that there is no gift is greater then still having my Dad in my life. It was the greatest gift in the world when I finished Steelhead70.3 this summer and seeing both of my parents waiting for me. I was so happy I cried in there arms. It wasn't the fact that I finished one of the hardest challenges in my life but the fact that my Dad and mom were there to help me celebrate it. 
I don't care what Santa brings me tomorrow, because I still have my Dad and no gift is greater. 

On a side note I am hoping for some winter running gear or a iPad.

This July I become a Half Ironman to find a cure for Cancer.

This year I decided to race in the 2010 Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead Triathlon this July in Benton Harbor, MI. More importantly I’m doing this to raise money for cancer research.

	In March of 2002 my Dad, Bob Sr., was diagnosed with cancer. Thanks to a combination of radiation and chemotherapy he survived. On Christmas Eve 2009 my Dad had a heart attack. The Doctors told my family that one of the contributing factors of my dad’s damaged heart was his cancer treatment. My Dad survived again and in my mind became Ironman for facing death twice.
Me with my Dad, AKA my hero and mentor

So I’m racing a half Ironman as a member of Team In Training to push myself to my limits, just like my dad and every other cancer patient that had to keep going to cross their own finish line and become healthy again. I’m raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) because it’s believed that once we find a cure for blood cancers other cancer cures won’t be far behind. Besides, I want to find a better cure so every cancer patient doesn’t need to be cured and then face another health challenge.

LLS has invested more than $680 million in research, approximately $69 million in fiscal year 2009 alone. Programs like the Specialized Center of Research (SCOR), which brings together teams of scientists from different disciplines and our Translational Research Program, which funds research with a high probability of producing innovative patient treatments in an accelerated time frame, have directly contributed to many breakthrough cancer treatments.

So PLEASE donate at least $1 on my fundraising webpage. My goal is to raise $2,600 for the LLS by July1st. Look out for other fundraisers through this blog and my twitter page.

For example,  my Party at Pump It Up Glenview on Monday June 21. Kids are $15 and Adults are free but asked for a $5 donation.

I Love you - Wish me Luck – Rock and or Roll \m/ – GO TEAM

Merry Xmas (AKA How I'm trying to make the most this day)

Today I tried to make the most out of this Christmas day. All of my plans of a normal Christmas flew out the window when my brother called me Thursday night. On the night of December 23rd my dad had a heart attack. Thank god for a quick ambulance and the fact that my family lives two blocks away from Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. I spent the entire Chirtmas Eve, with 45 minutes of sleep under my belt, in the waiting room as my father went under triple bypass surgery.
My dad is fine now.  Today I've spent the day with my mom keeping her calm by seeing Sherlock Holmes and going out with her as my dad slept. Tomorrow I'll have a chance to run on the treadmill then have lunch with my grandparents. I'm really looking forward to a run to relive some stress.
I spent a lot of time contemplating whether I should write a blog or not about it. I've been witting some cryptic updates on twitter that only my family and close friends knew what was going on. I need chance to thank the doctors and nurses my dad is in the care of. I also needed to vent. This has been a very scary time for my dad and all of my family. Scarier then anything I've been through or seen my dad go through. As you readers know my Dad is a cancer survivor. That was a tough time seeing him sick all the time. I'm sure anyone that has seen a loved one covered in tubes and monitors all over knows how I feel.
All I need are prayers for a good and quick recovery for my dad. Without going into all the gory details my dad is fine and outlook is looking good so far. I saw him tonight and he looks a lot better then he did two days ago. His doctors have been telling my family good things and everything is going as hoped. This has been a scary ordeal for myself and my entire family. I'm so glad everyone in my life has been very supportive and able to lend a ear when I needed to talk. I really appreciate the personal sacrifices the staff at Lutheran General Hospital for taking such good care of my father on this holiday.
The best gift I received today is that my Dad is still alive. I love you all and Merry Christmas. Go hug the ones that you love.