…78 Days Until Race Day
You’ve already met today’s warrior.
Back on day 6 of this journey, we learned Colt’s story.
Colt was diagnosed on August, 25th, 2016, one month after his 3rd birthday, with rhabdomyosarcoma in his bladder and prostate.
I had read an update on Colt yesterday and the news wasn’t good. His mom, Cortni writes so emotionally that I feel her words in my heart and my stomach. This was yesterday’s post:
“This tiny little amazing warrior needs a lot of prayers. MRI results are back and there has been absolutely no change in his tumor. 15 extra weeks of chemo, 28 days of putting him asleep, 28 days of proton radiation and NOTHING! All the sleepless nights of research and traveling for second opinions to make the best decision for our baby and now this? I’m in complete shock and lost for words. Our family is heartbroken all over again.” – Cortni
Today, I was less than enthused to run. I had a very sub-par run yesterday and with a long race coming up on Saturday, I didn’t want my confidence to erode even more if I’d had another bad run.
I was running today no matter what, I just wasn’t expecting much from myself so I wasn’t sure I was even going to dedicate the run to anyone.
I put my running clothes on and headed towards the door, BUT, something told me to check Facebook. Not any particular page, just to check so before I turned off my phone, I looked on Facebook.
The first story to pop up was an update on Colt from Cortni. This was literally at the top of my feed:
“We are settled in on the oncology floor. Colt started throwing up nonstop at 8 and finally at 2:45 they were able to get it under control. It was nonstop, no letting up, no catching his breath, nothing but stomach bile over and over and over. The very thing that should be saving his life is making him VERY sick. We poison him and get results that don’t show change. My mind and heart are so broken watching the littlest love of my life suffer.” – Cortni
I turned my phone off and out the door I went…angry at myself for thinking the way I did about yesterday’s run. I’m ABLE to run, so good run or bad run, I need to be thankful and celebrate each as a victory.
As angry as I was at myself though, I was more PISSED OFF at cancer and what it is doing to Colt, his mom and his family.
NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO ENDURE THIS!!!
My run was better than yesterday’s.
I know it’s because I ran content, regardless of my results.
I know it’s because Colt and his condition motivated me to burn off some emotion and because I said some prayers for Colt during my run.
Right before I sat down to write this, I looked up Cortni‘s page again. She posted this one minute before I sat down:
“Dr. talked to radiology and if you look at a certain angle it looks a little smaller, not significant but maybe a little. Good news is it hasn’t grown and it isn’t anywhere else they can see. It’s very hard to tell what’s dead and alive even with a pet scan. A pet scan lights up organs and cancer cells. The biggest problem with this is the bladder because urine also will be completely bright and even if the tumor is dead there will be no difference in the illumination. They are discussing what they think is the best option to see the tumor. The tumor has shrunk enough to completely fix the kidney issue he was having. Another bit of good news. There is 0 reason to believe his prognosis has gone down at all.” – Cortni
Reading that glimmer of good news tells me that today’s run was SUPPOSED to be for Colt. You see, today was a double workout. An hour run followed by 2 miles then 30 minutes of overpass repeats, then 1 mile.
In overpass repeats, I run up, over and down an overpass, turn around and do it again. It describes a cancer battle to a tee, a series of ups and downs that beats you up, wears you down until you become stronger and reach the finish line.
Colt, in the grand scheme of your battle, my running didn’t do anything for you, I know that, but hopefully the 114 minutes and 52 seconds of prayers and energy I sent for you today will have a positive effect soon.
Who will you meet tomorrow?
#Snowdrop175AcrossItaly #UMS17 #ABC13 #Evamor #TheNew93Q#Coltdaddystrong
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