They Walked. They Ran. They Broke Strides for Lung Cancer.
Thank you to all who participated in our first annual walk/run. “Magical” is a good word to describe the event and all of YOU! We are OVERWHELMED by your dedication, generosity, sticktoitiveness and love. At the moment, we have raised over $165,000. More important, as Bonnie expressed, “We need each and every one of you to eradicate Lung Cancer.” Tune back in for more details and pictures. In the meantime, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts and lungs. See Cheryl Jennings‘ Report on Zheng Cao, survivor and BJALCF Board Member.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE…it’s not over til the most wonderful Opera Singer in the world, Zheng Cao, sings again and again!!! This site will remain open through August.For inspiration: An open letter from Jill’s mom, Mary Costello:
Dear Friends,
I have to borrow the words from Jillian (caringbridge.org/visit/jillcostello) and just say: “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Your prayers and positive energy are working!” You have all been so incredible—truly, I don’t have the words to express our gratitude. From cards to texts to blogs, flowers to cookies, brownies to books, dinners to prayers—you have helped us in every way you could imagine. Your thoughtfulness and generosity and kindness have no limits. Thank you.
Your greatest gift has been your prayers. Your prayers have an incredible power. Jill and I have felt them ever since that first chemo treatment—we continue to feel them. When we wonder if we have the faith and strength to continue, when we ponder whether we will ever find peace, when despair creeps closer—we feel them. I thank you for them and I ask you to continue them. Cancer will always be a part of our lives—we will try to control and limit him, but we will always have to deal with him (hopefully from a far distance!)
The scans after just three bouts of chemo are amazing—the consulting doctor we saw at Stanford told us to consider the treatment a success if there was simply no new growth. There is no new growth—AND all tumors have shrunk to varying degrees, metastasized sites are healing. We were happy when her cancer marker CA125 had dropped from a high of 170 down to 69—and now it is 36!
The radiologist who read her scans compared the one after three bouts of chemo (and many, many prayers) to the one before treatment, and wrote that her ovaries were so improved in size that he “assumed the cysts have been drained/surgically removed.” There was no surgery, but I believe there WAS a miracle.
Summer ’09 has not been like anything I ever anticipated. I felt like Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz”—my house had been whirled about in a tornado and I was dropped in a strange land. After two months, I am waking up a bit out of the dream (nightmare?) I see that my house is still whole, but we have a new occupant. Now we live with cancer. But we make him stay in his own room! He cannot take over our whole house! Like the Cowardly Lion, we see now that the courage has really always been there; like the Tin Man, the heart was always there–all your love is there. The Wizard said, “A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.” In your kindness and generosity, you have shown Jillian everyday how much she is loved. You have all demonstrated the power of faith and prayer. Thank you.
We consciously choose to find the good and joy in each day. But there is inescapable pain and sorrow. I struggle to embrace the joy thru the pain. I do not want to lose one minute of today’s joy by worrying about tomorrow. I try to find peace during the struggle, but it is elusive. I am still the crazy lady crying in the back of church, but I am still recovered by the time I walk home.
The Bible tells us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:29 Each day I try to calm my heart and not be afraid—it is a struggle everyday. I suspect it always will be. But I have faith that the peace is there. Your prayers help me keep my faith. I often recall Dr. King’s words, “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” I still don’t see the whole staircase, but I still walk in faith. Honestly, sometimes when I think I cannot take another step, I feel the power of your prayers holding me up and pushing me forward. Thank you.
I told Jillian the story of the sage who when asked what the meaning of life was, responded, “That you can reflect God’s light onto others, so that they can see their own brilliance.” Now I see that all of YOU are reflecting God’s light onto others and I see YOUR brilliance. I hope you see the power of your prayers and kindness.
I realize this summer has not been a 21yr old’s ideal, but I have enjoyed being with my girlie 24/7 for the past two months—a bit of a blessing for a mom (if not for the 21yr old!) I haven’t had this much time with her since she was a newborn! (Altho next summer, maybe we can do Paris instead of chemo!) This summer I have learned about the awesome power of prayer. I have been inspired by the kindness of friends and appreciate the beauty of family. Thank you.
We will continue with Jill’s present drug regime for two more cycles. Then one of the drugs, Cisplatin, will be discontinued—it is too toxic to continue for more than six cycles. Luckily, she is young and strong and has tolerated the chemotherapy amazingly well—but no one who endures chemo remains unscathed—she is definitely battleworn. Battleworn, but hopeful. Battered, but strong spirited. Bruised, but faithful. Tired, skinny and thin haired, but still praying.
Jill will then continue with one chemo drug, Alimta, and Avastin every three weeks for at least a year. She will have regular scans to determine if other drugs will be necessary. But in the mean time, she will live her best life. She will return to school for her senior year and continue with whatever adventures greet her. We will make whatever accommodations we need to make for her continued health and well being. “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 So we will trust in God’s Word and His plans for us.
Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” We don’t know if the world will go to pieces tomorrow, but Jill will go back to Cal this month and continue her studies. We will still plant our apple tree.
Gratefully,
Mary
PS Thank you to everyone who participated in the Bonnie Addario Lung Cancer Walk on August 2. Over 100 people walked as part of “Team Jill” and many more are sponsoring the team. What an amazing show of support for Jill! “Team Jill” has been the most successful fundraiser so far! Check out great pictures below.
PPS please pass this along to whoever would be interested
