Yesterday, on Christel Chesney’s Facebook page, she noted that she completed her every-other-day 6.2 miles training-walk for her 2010 walk to end breast cancer. Soon, she’ll begin 8.2 miles every-other-day with similar walking incremental increases every two months. “The days I don't walk I go to the gym and work my legs and arms for one hour. That's what the plan is thus far. I want to get my speed up to 3.5 miles an hour. But I also like to smell the roses along the way or look for sea glass,” Christel mentioned today.
In training for her second year 60-mile walk, Christel told me how after her flight arrived in Cleveland, Ohio for the 2008 60-mile walk, she felt prepared and ready to go.
About 2500 signed up for the walk ,but 25% were no-shows. There’s a reason and Christel, full of enthusiasm, (and those who know Christel, know that she can get really enthusiastic!) would quickly discover why 25% of once-committed walkers changed their minds.
The 60-mile route started at Thistledown Racetrack. Walkers trekked through downtown Cleveland, pass Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport, up to Lake Erie and then ended at the Cleveland Convention Center.Day-one, Christel recalls, “I was overwhelmed and very proud, to say the least, but I was surprised to see so many injuries.” I was so excited and encouraged by people in cars honking their horns. People in neighborhoods turning their water sprinklers on, even letting women use their bathrooms. Complete strangers handing us popsicles and ice water.” The adrenalin Christel hoped for got her through her first 20 miles. At day-one’s end, they pitched their pink tents, shared stories and dreamed about conquering day-two.
Bladder infections on a walk like this are not abnormal. Just 3-miles short Christel’s second 20-mile round, she was rushed to the nearest emergency room.
Christel retells her painful experience, “(In the training) they tell you to check your urine for color. Well how in the world can you check your pee in a porta potty? You are looking at a black hole. I drank a lot of water. When I stopped at a McDonalds restroom, my urine was abnormally dark. Along the walk, I stopped at a drug store and bought every over the counter med I could. By noon I was not feeling good at all and prayed I finish my commitment.” At mile 17, organizers pulled her off the walk, and called for transportation to the nearest hospital.
Antibiotics did their job and Christel spent the night in her pink tent again.
Day three: Tears, anger, and pride. Our next Blog.
Many elements obscured the final year of my half-sister’s life, so I was unable to
find the cause of her death until three days ago when her death certificate arrived in my mail box. I ripped open the Arizona postmarked envelope, rapidly unfolded the 8 x 10 document, fully expecting to read pneumonia as the cause of death. My head fell and tears filled my eyes when I read in the tiny box for Primary Cause of Death “Metastatic Breast Cancer.”
Personally, I remain shocked and disturbed.
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/metastatic.asp describes the condition:
The term, metastatic, describes a cancer that has spread to distant organs from the original tumor site. Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage (stage IV) of breast cancer. Cancer cells have spread past the breast and axillary (underarm) lymph nodes to other areas of the body where they continue to grow and multiply. Breast cancer has the potential to spread to almost any region of the body. The most common region breast cancer spreads to is the bone, followed by the lung and liver. Treatment of metastatic breast cancer generally focuses on relieving symptoms and extending a woman’s lifetime.
Clearly, this cancer was a part of my sister’s life for more than a year. She had mentioned some liver problems, but nothing about breast cancer, which was odd, because she knew I was a survivor and she was not the kind of person to withhold truth. My personal suspicion is her possible inability to pay for or neglect of annual mammograms.
For this reason, and because no woman should die of breast cancer for these reasons, I pledge 10% of every sale of a whole house water treatment system (which spouse and I explored and developed after my breast cancer survival). I will track the amount sold on this blog. Please feel free to visit www.riptidealchemy.com. You can also email me at santafemotherblogger@live.com for more information.
Photo: My sister Joanne Bryant
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