"12-in-12-makes-24"

12 Sets of Wonderful Memories

2006-12-31T13:48:00.000-06:00

What a wonderful year I enjoyed throughout the "12 in 12" mission. I want to again thank all of those that made the year possible - through economic, emotional, spiritual and many other kinds of support. As I have told many of you, I gained far more than I gave this year. Getting to know more about the disease, more about those fighting it, meeting new people, seeing different places, uniting with family, and learning more about the limits of my own physical and emotional capabilities are experiences that are beyond priceless.

I am especially grateful for Ed, Dylan, Emma, Caroline, Paige, Ray, Leonard, Chase, Jonathan, Christina and Zach. They are the true heroes of 12-in-12. The courage and determination that you and your families have shown are an inspiration to us all. The fact that you shared your stories for the betterment of this project means more to me than I can ever express. Please know that your spirit carried me through the 314.4 miles and will be with me for days and years to come.

Many of you have asked a series of questions about the overall marathoning experiences. Below, I'll try to give you some highlights of the year.

January - PF Chang's - Phoenix, AZ
It was wonderful having a Kansas City Team-in-Training crew there to share the initial marathon of the year. A sore left knee didn't derail the project at its outset.
February - Mercedes Marathon - Birmingham, AL
I'll never forget the 16 degree weather and 20 m.p.h. winds. Also, snow flurries at mile 15. So much for going to Alabama for a bit warmer weather in February. Thanks to Rick Knight for making the trip with me. We enjoyed a visit to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame the day before the marathon.
March - Ocean Drive Marathon - Cape May, NJ
The course was about as pretty as you can find - up the coast of New Jersey and past harbors, marinas, beaches, and boardwalks. However, it was brutally cold and rainy. It was nice to have my wife, daughter, mom, and Uncle Doug and Aunt Alice there with me. We enjoyed a nice pre-race pasta dinner and a quick snack after the race before our mad dash for the airport.
April - Eisenhower Marathon - Abiliene, KS
This was a wonderful small town race with great organization. It would be hard to find a flatter course anywhere. It was nice to have Erin and Ellie with me again. This marked the first of many photos and rhymes that my nephew Charlie sent me before the marathons.
May - Green Bay Marathon - Green Bay, WI
A dream come true for a life-long Packers fan. I toured Lambeau Field on Saturday, then got to run through it at mile 25 of the marathon. The people in Wisconsin were terrific - warm, friendly, and eager to talk about the Packers. Friend Larry Butler drove up from Kansas City to run the marathon.
June - Grandma's Marathon - Duluth, MN
The attempt to avoid the summer heat in Minnesota failed miserably. Race temperatures were over 80 degrees with 90+ percent humidity. Runners were dropping like flies. This was my worst finishing time of the year. Nevertheless, we spent the following day - Father's Day - on the shores of Lake Superior and had a wonderful family weekend. I met new friend Laurie Comstock who qualified for Boston here despite the heat and humidity.
July - Sea Fair Marathon - Bellvue, WA
Erin, Ellie and I got to spend a nice weekend in Seattle with our sister and brother in law and their family. We had wonderful meals, toured Pike Place Market, and toured a beautiful winery. Heat was again a factor making this the second slowest finishing time of the year. The hills in this race were also pretty tough - steep up and steep down.
August - Park City Marathon - Park City, UT
A gorgeous mountain course that took us from 6300 feet to 7100 feet above sea level. Despite the altitude and climb, this was a very enjoyable race. Park City is a quaint little town that I'd love to return to in either the summer or winter. At the pasta dinner the night before the race, four of us sat down randomly for our meal. We got to talking and realized it was the 8th marathon of the year for each of us. Thus, the table of 8's was born. Jim, Tony and Martin are the kind of new friends that make marathoning such a great experience and that made the 12-in-12 project so memorable.
September - Lake City Marathon - Warsaw, IN
I was privileged to have my sister Beth and her daughter Sarah come down from Michigan to cheer me on. It was great to catch up with them and have their support. I suffered from the stomach bug for 3 days before this marathon and could not hold any food. As the temperatures during the run rose, I began getting dehydrated. Beth drove ahead and kept feeding me water and keeping me going. What a treat.
October - Kansas City Marathon - Kansas City, MO
I got to run the first 6 miles with great friends and running partners Norm Happ and Mark Copeland. They made the first quarter of the race fly bye. At mile 7.5, I was greated by most of the members from my law firm having a lawn party to cheer me on. What a boost. Several of them stayed the entire day and joined me for lunch after the marathon. Although I do not like to double up on states when running marathons (I already ran KC in 2003), I am glad I stayed home for this experience.
November - Philadelphia Marathon - Philadelphia, PA
I had the support of my east coast family and my honored patient and her family during and after this race. I was also treated to a great pasta dinner and Ohio State v. Michigan party the day before the race at the Dix's home. It was a nice tour of the city and a treat to see so many familiar faces. I pushed hard to break the 4 hour mark and missed it by 34 seconds. A stress fracture in my right foot became an issue, but not bad enough to stop the project before its conclusion.
December - Las Vegas Marathon - Las Vegas, NV
What a family affair. 20 members of my family made the trip. I could not have been more blessed than to finish the mission with them at my side. We had a wonderful weekend including a victory celebration after the race. The memory of eeing the various members of my family as I came down the last several tenths of a mile will be with me for the rest of my life.

For all of you reading this and who have followed the progress of this mission, I again thank you for your kindness. Although the 12 marathons are now completed, the fight is not over. There will be another project, another goal. As long as Leukemia and Lymphoma continue to affect the lives of so many wonderful people, I will continue to try to raise awareness and funding for research and cures.

December's Finale - A Family Affair In Vegas

2006-12-17T21:03:00.000-06:00

No Mr. French the butler, no Buffy, but definitely a "family affair." What a weekend! I could not have been more proud and more pleased than to have had my entire family - both blood and vowed - in Las Vegas for the conclusion of 12 in 12. The weekend was terrific - family meals, tours of the amazing casinos, rides in the gondolas, pictures, walks, etc. We developed a special affinity for the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris Casino just next door. It ended up being a place where people could meet, eat, drink and just stop to take in the view of the entire strip and the surrounding areas. An oasis for mind and body.

On race day, my brother Dave and father-in-law Bill joined me at 5:00 a.m. and rode to the start with an angry taxi driver - a hacked off hack if you are into puns. The gambling, drinking, party crowd was not in a god mood condsidering that the north-bound lanes of the Las Vegas strip were closed for the runners who would be headed that way in about an hour. It seems that traffic had been diverted all over town because of the race and nobody, except those running up the Strip were pleased. Dave and Bill waited until the masses of people took over the start area and made them begin to wonder if they had to leave or be forced to run at least a 5k. Opting to take pictures and lend advice, they soon began their 1.5 mile walk all the way back to Bally's to meet the rest of the family. What a blessing to have them with me for company and supply needs. To again show what a small world it is, as we walked to the start, I ran into a guy I met in August in Park City. Within the first three miles of the race, I saw Tony (who you've read about several times - Park City, KC, Philly), Glenn (Park City) and a man I met back in July in Washington state.

The first 2 miles of the race were wonderful - up the Strip after a fire works display. At mile 1.5 I saw Erin, Ellie, my dad and his wife, my mom, my sister, my sister-in-law Honey , niece Maggie, nephew Sam, and sisters-in-law Megan and Kara. They wore 12 in 12 shirts, held banners, waived pom-poms, and wore buttons - all in a color green to match my shirt. What a treat. I've run marathons with only 39 finishers in years past. On Sunday, I had 20 people cheering me on along the way of this marathon.

As we got to the end of the Strip, I saw the "run through" wedding chapel. People were actually getting married during the marathon. Several runners stopped to renew their vows or to get married for the first time. No, I did not ask Erin to consider this as a legitimate idea.

After the Strip and the Freemont Street Experience, I figured I was in for the most boring WINDY course I could ever imagine. Temperatures remained cool and drizzle began to fall. I certainly did not expect to see any of my family support crew, as nobody rented a car. I could not have been more wrong. Various family members met at a breakfast spot and mapped out where each of several small groups would go via taxi cab. Family members paid tremendous amounts of money to get to spots where they were able to watch me run by for only a few seconds (no, not because I'm fast - simply because gravity would get me if I didn't move forward).

At mile 18, I was treated to the sight of my mom, my brother, and my sister. At that point, I realized I was picking up the pace and again had a shot to break the 4 hour barrier. I saw them and told them nothing more than "I've got a shot to break it." I just couldn't say anything else. My brother and sister responded by telling me to "keep the pace - that I was going to make it." They both knew that the 4 hour mark was a feather in the cap for me and this project. They didn't push but added precisely the right amount of subtle encouragement.

At mile 21, I passed another section of family members. By that point, I could not muster enough oxygen to say much. I waved and tried to let them know that I was lucky to have their support. I was still barely on pace to beat 4 hours and could not stop to chat. At mile 23, I turneed a corner to the south and again picked up some of the worst wind I'd ever encountered during a marathon. It was straight into us, standing us up, making us search f0r cover behind fellow runners.

Again, I knew I was borderline on breaking the 4 hour threshold. Thus, when I saw my dad and ML at mile 25.5, I thought I acknoweldged them. Afterwards, my dad wondered if I'd even seen them at all. I guess I was not as obvious in my gestures as I'd thought. I continued on to see Megan and Daniel and kids, then my brother and his family, then the rest of the crew as I got to the finish. An unbelievable treat to see them as the last tenths ticked off. I crossed the line in 3:56:40, my fastest time of the year. I guess I didn't have anything to save it for.

Afterwards, we toured the shark exhibit, had a "hotel party" and went to a wonderful steak dinner. The weekend could not have been any better.

Zach Davidson was a tremendous inspiration. After I posted his story this month, I learned that he has also touched the lives of many people that I know. It seems that his spirit has reached throughout the community and extended all the way to Las Vegas. He is currently in remission and is a shining example of how money and time can make a difference. With the right combination of both, people can and will defeat leukemia.

Over the holidays, I will post a "summary" of the year. In the mean time, I thank every reader of this page for the kindness and support throughout 2006. In as many ways as it has been a long year, it has been a very short year. I would not trade the experience for the world and sincerely hope that it makes a difference, no matter how small.

Happy Holidays to all and to all good health.

Steve Gorny

The "Attack for Zach" in December's Finale!

2006-11-30T20:32:00.000-06:00

Good friends of mine introduced me to the story of a young boy in Kansas City named Zach Davidson. As the Las Vegas Marathon this month brings about the "grand finale" of the 12-in-12 mission, I am proud to run in Zach's honor and want you to hear his story for several reasons. Importantly, the Davidson family's battle with Leukemia is so recent that you can still hear the struggle in their voices, see the strain on their faces, and sense the urgency in their demeanor. This family has unfairly been exposed to cancer during what should be the happiest time of the year. Three-year-old Zach was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) on November 8, 2006. That's right, less than one month ago, Zach, his parents Jeff and Laura, and Zach's 7-year-old sister Samantha started down a road they never imagined would be laid out before them.

In early November, Zach had a low grade fever and flu like symptoms along with some leg pain that lasted for a few days. Jeff took him to his pediatrician. Wisely, the doctor ran several routine blood tests. Please try to imagine what Jeff Davidson experienced that morning. He sat in the doctor's office waiting for a basic prescription or the doctor to simply tell him to put Zach in bed for a few days to let his flu symptoms subside. To the alarming contrary, within minutes, Jeff sat there holding his child while listening to a doctor tell him that his boy had cancer. Jeff was instructed to immediately take Zach to Childrens' Mercy Hospital in downtown Kansas City. Once there, doctors conducted bone marrow tests, spinal taps, a battery of blood tests, and delivered a host of transfusions. What began as a routine "sick child" visit to the pediatrician had, in the course of a few hours, turned into an intense hospital stay and a fight against cancer. Chemotherapy on the three-year-old began just four days later.

Zach is now out of the hospital, but as Jeff and Laura describe, the little guy has a "tough road" to navigate over the holidays and in the days and months that follow. He is immuno-compromised which means that he is extremely succeptible to illness and infection. People that visit him are required to wear hospital masks and carefully wash their hands and faces. How do you explain that to a 3-year-old just before Christmas?

The other reason I feel that it is important to share Zach's story is to remind you that "ALL" is now one of the more curable types of Leukemia. Statistics (and as Jeff points out - they are just numbers, Zach is a real little boy) indicate that almost 90% of kids with "ALL" achieve remission and outright cures. Why is that material? Because such success would not be possible without the support of people like those of you reading this - people who give of their money, their time, their efforts, and their kindness to bring about a day when no child, no family has to endure a life with Leukemia.

As you spend this holiday season with your loved ones, please remember people like Zach and the Davidsons. They will beat this disease. They are a strong, caring family. But, they could use your support, your prayers, your good "karma", and your well wishes. In this, the "Season of Giving", I am blessed that Zach has given me overwhelming motivation to endure the final 26.2 miles of this year-long journey. His tremendous spirit, that I am sure you can recognize from his pictures, will guide me through December's marathon. Of that, I am certain. My hope is that I can give him, in some small part, a quicker path to recovery and to Leukemia being a memory much farther than 314.4 miles in his rear-view mirror.

Please Donate to "12-in-12-makes-24" and the LLS

2006-11-30T12:32:00.000-06:00

We are getting very close to reaching our goal, both in dollars raised and miles run. We would very much appreciate your donation by following this link: www.active.com/donate/stevegorny

100% of the donation goes to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The Streets of Philadelphia

2006-11-21T10:15:00.000-06:00

"I was bruised and battered, and I couldn't tell what I felt. I was unrecognizable to myself. I saw my reflection in a window. I didn't know my own face. Oh brother, are you gonna leave me wastin' away - on the Streets of Philadelphia." (Bruce Springsteen). Sunday's run felt a bit like that at the end, but was for the most part one of the more enjoyable marathons I've run this year or any other. The weather was perfect. A nice, cool, sunny morning in Philadelphia. The course was relatively flat compared to some others such as Park City. However, there were far more hills than advertised in the race brochure. Crowd support was pretty good, even on the out-and-back section along the river. The first part of the course ran through the historic parts of the city, along the Delaware River, through my brother's alma mater - Drexel University, by the zoo, and in front of the art museum. The second half took us up and down the Schuylkill River on Kelly Drive. It was a beautiful place to run, as we passed the famous Boathouse Row. Strangely, my 11th marathon of the year was also my fastest of the year. I got to the 20 mile mark and realized I had an outside chance to run under 4 hours. Thus, I emptied the tank on the last six miles. The stress fracture in my right foot started acting up at about mile 21. However, for some reason, I found that the faster I went, the less it hurt. Thus, I decided not to let it slow me down. Unfortunately, I missed the 4 hour mark by 34 seconds. However, I caught up to my friend Tony (who I met in Park City and saw again at the Kansas City Marathon) with about 15 yards to go, and we crossed the finished line shaking hands. Pretty cool way to end a tough but enjoyable 26 mile trek.

As ideal as the conditions were, the experience would not have been the same without the people in Philadelphia that made the trip so memorable. Saturday night, Dr. Scott Dax and his wife Carrie hosted my brother and me for an Ohio State v. Michigan party. Carrie, an accomplished chef, was kind enough to cook a tremendous meal of pasta and chicken. It's hard to imagine a better pre-race meal than that one. My brother stayed downtown with me on Saturday night. Despite horrendous snoring, I was lucky to have him with me the next morning. He went with me to the start, carried clothes and supplies, and was a great all around help. At the 10 mile mark, I was greeted with signs and bells from none other than my mom, my sister-in-law Honey, their children Maggie and Sam, and Christina Loeffler and her entire family - Dad Dave, Mom Sue, and sisters Britney and Bridget. It was such a boost to meet them and have their support during the race. The signs were neon green like my race jersey and seeing Christina holding one that said "Run This One For Me" melted my heart. The crew greeted me again at the 20 mile mark. I was not too sociable, as I was pushing about as hard as I could at that point.

After the race, my family and the Loefflers went out for pizza. It was a true pleasure to get to know them a little bit better. Sue told me how strong Christina has been through her entire battle with cancer. Their story again shows how much we can learn by watching our children. Throughout this year, I firmly believe that my honored patients and their families have taught me far more than I could ever teach them. If you would like to learn more about Christina's story, you can visit her web page at www.caringbridge.org - page name Christina.

A Run For Christina In The City of Brotherly Love

2006-10-31T10:35:00.000-06:00

This month, I am proud to run in honor of Christina Loeffler, a 10-year-old girl from Pennsylvania who continues to win her battle against a life-threatening brain tumor. Christina was diagnosed with the tumor on March 17, 2005, and was rushed into surgery the following day. The procedure lasted 8.5 hours, but because the tumor was so entrenched, the surgeons could only remove about 20% of it. Another 13.5 hour surgery followed shortly thereafter. Surgeons were able to remove approximately all but 10% of the tumor.

The surgeries were, to put it mildly, brutal. They left her face and head so swollen that her parents, Dave and Sue, could hardly recognize her for days. The surgeries robbed her of some of the sight in her left eye. She had to undergo speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Toward the end of the lengthy hospital stays, a joyous celebration ensued after Christina walked the lenght of her hospital hallway - a distance of 220 feet - by herself. With the wonderful treatment, she was able to slowly regain her normal routine. Last winter, she began going to school part time and is now in the 4th grade. She has continued to increase her activity, despite countless follow-up CT scans, MRI's, spinal taps and other examinations.

Although she contined to make progress, a small portion of the tumor was still present. Christina underwent a host of treatments including extensive chemotherapy and radiation. She traveled around the east coast, to Maryland, Delaware, and Boston, to meet with oncologists and discuss the best way to treat her cancer. Many doctors and nurses offered advice to her concerned parents. They settled upon a physician in Boston to go after the remaining tumor with radiation. In order for them to administer the radiation treatments, they had to make a special device to hold Christina's head still. They fitted her jaw with a mold and a brace. They then use the contraption to fix her head to the table so that it remained in the same spot during the radiation.
Like with the rest of her medical ordeal, Christina endured this process with hardly a complaint. In fact, she became so accustomed to the treatments that she began assisting the nurses in removing IV lines and changing dressings. She is another remarkable example of a person with strength and courage well beyond her years. Christina has been so good through all of this that her mother considers her - the child - to be the rock and the hero. Please add me to the list of people who think Christina is remarkable. There is no way I will quit during the 26 miles in Philadelphia with Christina as my inspiration.

This will not be the first time this wonderful child motivated somebody to run 26 miles. Last year, I had the priviledge of running in the Marine Corps Marathon with my sister Beth and brother Dave. For his 40th birthday, Dave brought us together to run the marathon and he did so in honor of Christina. As you can see, this girl touches a lot of lives and a lot of hearts.

HOMETOWN TREK MAKES TEN

2006-10-17T09:39:00.000-05:00

The Waddell and Reed Kansas City Marathon was an enjoyable morning jaunt around my home town. It was great to sleep in my own bed the night before the marathon, drive my own car to the start, and see so many familiar faces along the way. I told people that I ran with for a while that it didn't seem like an actual marathon. It had been years since I ran on the streets comprising the course, but I drive on them all the time. I guess, in a way, it almost seemed too comfortable. The weather at the start was perfect - in the mid 50's. It got a bit warm during the second half of the run, but not enough to completely drain my tank before finishing.

Huge kudos to the many people from my firm who came out at the 7 mile mark to lend their support. Oh yeah, they were also having an early morning party. I was happy to provide them with an excuse to tip a cup so early in the day. Kim, Kacy, Lisa, and Kylie were the ultimate troopers by sticking around for the entire race and waiting for me at the finish. I really appreciated them being there and enjoyed the lunch afterwards at the Cashew.

Many of you also know my friend and former co-worker Peter Obetz and his wife Christie. At the firm "yard party" I was stunned to look up on a ladder and see Peter there taking pictures. Christie was at his side manning the equipment. Leaving no stone unturned, Team Obetz had mapped out my mile times on a course diagram. Using their plan, they met me at several more locations during the run. They too were waiting at the finish line.

I had the pleasure of running the first six miles with two great friends, Norm Happ and Mark Copeland. They were running the half marathon as a training run for upcoming races. Norm and Mark were kind to slow their pace and keep me company. They even waited while I made a little call to Mother Nature at about the 3 mile mark. Talking and laughing with them made the first quarter of the race go by in a flash. It was a huge boost.

I was also lucky enough to see many other familiar faces along the way. My father-in-law Bill came out and took pictures. He also carried my camera after an equipment malfunction. My brother-in-law Andrew and nephew Charlie also walked over to the course to lend a hand. Proof that this journey has forged new friendships, I saw two guys I met at the Park City Marathon - Glenn and Tony - who came to run in Kansas City. When the heat and hills started mounting at mile 20, I ran into Jen, a TNT friend who was riding her bike along with a nearby runner. Talking with her helped get me through the toughest part of the course.

Perhaps one of the best moments of the race came at mile 8. My assistant Mary and her boys made a huge poster with Jonathan Shipp's picture on it. Under the photo read "This one's for Jonathan." That image stayed with me for the rest of the marathon. I have said many times that I truly enjoy the actual races (I could do without all the training sometimes). This one was certainly no exception. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to get through the tenth leg of the journey here in my hometown, and I hope that it eventually makes a difference for people like Jonathan and his family.

October's Honoree - Jonathan Shipp - A Kid Who Never Gives Up

2006-10-02T21:41:00.000-05:00

I have met nine-year-old Jonathan Shipp several times while working with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He and his family have been true champions of the Society and its efforts to raise awareness and funds for life saving cures. I'd like to say that I've met Jonathan repeatedly for nothing but happy occassions. However, that is simply not the case. He has endured a number of set backs over his 7-year battle with Leukemia. All the while, he never gives up and keeps finding the "positive" in every situation.

Jonathan's father Phil works for Waddell & Reed, the title sponsor of the Kansas City Marathon on October 7. Thus, I could not find a more fitting honored patient for this run than Jonathan. The Shipp family has shared their story at Society events on several occasions. I am proud to introduce you to them and their refusal to give up or give in. As told by Phil:

Seven years ago, on June 15, 1999, our lives were changed forever. It was on that date that our son Jonathan, then 3 ½, was diagnosed with leukemia. Two years ago, our lives were again turned upside down when we learned that Jonathan’s leukemia had returned. Jonathan really has two stories. The first story is his original battle with leukemia. That story includes the 3 ½ years of chemotherapy treatment that Jonathan underwent to keep his leukemia in remission and includes the 5 years that Jonathan’s leukemia was in remission. Jonathan’s second story involves the events of the last two years after we learned of his relapse.

Upon learning of that relapse, Jonathan was immediately admitted to Children’s Mercy Hospital to undergo surgery to have a catheter inserted into his chest through which he would receive chemotherapy and have blood drawn. The chemotherapy was started immediately. One week after beginning the chemo, he was admitted back into the hospital for 3 days because of low blood counts and high fevers. He would spend 15-20 days in the hospital during the course of the summer to fight the combination of low blood counts and high fevers. He spent hours and hours at the Children’s Mercy Hemotology/Oncology clinic receiving chemotherapy. One drug, in particular was so powerful and was potentially so damaging to Jonathan’s kidneys, that Jonathan was required to receive IV hydration 24 hours a day. Our young son carried a backpack full of fluids everywhere he went for 7 days and nights. Jonathan received multiple blood and platelet transfusions. He had a severe allergic reaction during one such transfusion, causing him to have a major attack of hives.

He missed the first day of third grade, usually a time of great excitement and anticipation for a kid. Jonathan entered the Bone Marrow Transplant wing of Children’s Mercy Hospital on September 20th. As we were buzzing the nurses to open the door to the floor, I asked Jonathan if he was ready. His response was "yes", that he was willing to do anything to get healthy again.

He underwent three days and six sessions of total body radiation. He also received three days worth of potent and highly toxic chemotherapy, all in an effort to completely obliterate his entire immune system in anticipation of receiving clean and healthy bone marrow stem cells from his sister Jensen - who thankfully was a match. The transplant itself occurred on September 28th, the exact same day as Jonathan’s 9th birthday. The period in the hospital was a very dangerous one, with the risk of potentially deadly infections very high. Immaculate hand-washing was required. Jonathan’s room was cleaned and wiped down thoroughly each day. Jonathan’s diet was strictly monitored. Many foods he regularly enjoyed were forbidden. Jonathan experienced some of the common side effects that bone marrow transplant patients experience, including mouth sores, nausea, fatigue, and loss of appetite. He developed a terrible rash over his neck, arms and legs.

Jonathan’s stay in the hospital lasted 36 days. During this time, he was prohibited from leaving the bone marrow transplant area. We tried to make life as pleasant as possible for him, by decorating his room, and bringing our DVD player and GameCube system to the hospital. Jonathan was described on multiple occasions as the truly ideal patient. On Jonathan’s second day in the hospital, the male nurse that was taking care of him commented to me that he could sense something very different and special about Jonathan. Jonathan was released from the hospital in late October of 2004, but his body and immune system were very weak. He was prohibited from going into public places until his immune system strengthened.

One of the post-transplant medicines Jonathan took caused some pressure on his kidneys. To help combat this pressure, Jonathan was required to receive IV hydration for 12 hours during the night. This lasted for months and months. Each night Jonathan would climb into the top of his bunk bed carrying this backpack full of fluid that would drip into his catheter over night.

Finally, after six months, Jonathan was cleared to return to normal activities near the end of March. Upon receiving this green light, Jonathan has never looked back. He played soccer this spring and quickly regained his old playing form, scoring a goal in the first 10 minutes of his first game back. He also played baseball last summer. We began trying to help him live the life of a normal 9 year old and tried to take his focus off of the cancer.

Through it all, Jonathan has remained patient, happy, and full of faith. We are so proud of him and our sweet daughter Jensen who really saved his life. One of Susan’s childhood friends, who is an elementary school teacher, had her class create a book of drawings for both Jonathan and Jensen last year upon receiving the news that Jonathan would be undergoing a transplant and Jensen would be the donor. Jonathan’s book was entitled “What is Courage” and Jensen’s was entitled “What is a Hero.” She truly is a hero to our family.

As you can imagine, Jonathan has missed out on many of the things most young kids (and their parents) take for granted. He lost countless weeks at school, was unable to play sports season after season, missed out on church services and activities, and every day life with his family and friends. Nevertheless, whenever I've come in contact with Jonathan, he smiles, laughs and fails to let you know just what he is battling and what he has over come. Jonathan, compared to what you have endured, running a marathon in your honor should be a piece of cake. Thank you for being such a tremendous inspiration!

Hoosierland Dehydration Marks the 3/4 Point of the Journey

2006-09-11T15:50:00.000-05:00

Saturday's "Chase for Chase" through north/central Indiana signaled the 3/4 of the way home point of this mission. The midwestern course was far closer to sea level and much flatter than in Utah two weeks ago. However, I had some "interesting" new challenges associated with the Lake City Marathon. On Wednesday, my stomach and intestines decided to go on strike. No, that's not to say I was dieting. Rather, my system decided it would boycott the retention of any solid food matter. If you have not yet realized, I am politely describing a three-day battle with diarrhea. I lost a few pounds from lack of food and a few more from worrying about whether I could run while lacking proper nutrition. This continued up through Friday night when my pasta dinner stayed with me just long enough for me to get home from the church hall in which it was held. Certainly, this little health issue is nothing in comparison to what Chase and the rest of my honored patients have been through in their battles with cancer. However, it was cause for serious concern. Its not as if I am wearing concealing clothing while taking these jaunts. Furthermore, I anticipated that the course was (as advertised) very rural and without many creature comforts such as flush toilets. My sister, who drove down from Grand Rapids with her daughter Sarah, was kind enough to scout the course map and to give me the details on the location of each "Johnny on the Spot." Who says little sisters are nothing but a pain in the back side?

Friday night got more interesting when we learned that the Penn State Blue Band (the football team's marching band) was staying at our hotel, as South Bend was approximately 45 minutes away. At about 11:30, one of their drummers decided to log some practice time out in the hallway. I thought about mustering a bit of tact and telling him to knock it off. I also thought about telling him that Notre Dame was going to destroy the Nittany Lions the following afternoon. However, a little voice on the other shoulder whispered to me that such comments would only insure that by midnight there would also be a tuba player and a trombone quartet outside room 213 of the Warsaw Ramada Inn. I covered my head with a pillow and went back to sleep. My sister was not as patient. At 3:00 am, she had enough and told them to get out of the hallway. They listened to her. More proof that all men fear the wrath of a pregnant woman.

Well, most of the worrying about the literal lack of intestinal fortitude was for naught. By the grace of some almighty force, I awoke Saturday and found my stomach had settled to a large degree. I was able to hold down (or up as it may be) a Power Bar and begin the customary ingestion of GU (a liquid-ish nutritional product that looks, feels, and tastes much like its name suggests - goo). As the race progressed, my fear of gastro distress subsided and I was able to enjoy the relatively cool temperatures and lack of sunshine on the first half of the course.

Second half - different story. The most common side-effect of three days of a stomach bug came to fruition. That's right, dehydration. In one of the photos I took, you see Sarah with a big sign of encouragement. Immediately thereafter, Beth took a picture - one along a lonesome country road. If you look closely (you can click on the picture to enlarge - unfortunately it also enlarges my rear end), you'll see the "MILE 18" marker on the right side of the road. It was at this point that I told Beth that all of the fluid I tried to take in over the last few days was just not going to cut it. My legs were locking up and the last 8 miles were going to be less than enjoyable. As if Mr. Murphy was issuing legislation from above, it was also at this point when the sun came out from behind the clouds and the temperatures rose to over 80 degrees.

Leave it to Beth again - she started driving ahead and scouting out where water stops were located. If they were a ways apart, she met me in between and gave me water. This extra hydration kept the problem from getting any worse and got me through to the finish. It was a huge boost to have Beth and Sarah at the race. They met me at more than 10 different spots along the course and surprised me with signs, cheers, and high fives from little Sarah. Considering that I learned 5 minutes from the start that my I-Pod battery was dead (must have turned on in my luggage - probably bumped the switch with the bottle of Pepto and Immodium AD pills), it was a blessing to have their company. After the race, I could not count how many people came up to them and thanked them for the support and encouragement. A four-time marathoner herself, Beth knows that even though we look like crud, telling us at mile 21 that it looks like we are running strong makes a huge difference. A lesson learned for the rest of you - if you want to lie to and/or unnecessarily flatter a distance runner, speak your mistruths at any point after mile 17 and he or she will believe every last word.

The scenery around Warsaw was quite amazing. We ran around Winona Lake (picture from mile 2.5) which is a hidden gem in the middle of Indiana corn fields. I enjoyed the people at the water stops and those that I met during the race itself. The pasta dinner (although briefly enjoyed by my body) was as charming as they come. The volunteers made all of the fixings, including baking muffins and cakes with icing that read "Welcome Runners." I would recommend this small town experience to anyone.

Looking back on the year, it is hard to believe that I am 9/12ths of the way to the finish line. (thus the 9 finger photo with Sarah) I feel blessed to continue to hold up physically and remain mentally focused and challenged. I hope that September, on a much more serious scale, holds the same adventure and promise in its hands for Chase Graham - the chance to overcome an illness and to move on down the road to better days. He certainly deserves to look back on this experience with Lymphoma as merely a speed bump that slowed him down, but failed to stop him from reaching all of his goals in life.

September's Chase for Chase

2006-09-05T09:47:00.000-05:00

Those of you who know me may also know my friend John Graham. He has a twin (and I mean twin) brother Joe who lives in Texas with his wife Jennifer and their two children. This summer, their six-year-old son Chase was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer - Burkitt's Lymphoma. It is an aggressive lymphoma and only 300 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. Fortunately, because the cancer is agressive, it is also very responsive to chemotherapy. Thus, instead of spending time at the pool, playing with his sister, going to the zoo and those types of things, Chase lived his summer in and out of the hospital receiving several rounds of chemo. It appears to be working as he was officially declared in remission as of last week. Chase still has another round of treatment toward the end of September. Hopefully, it will be the last one he needs.

Joe and Jennifer found it difficult being so far away from their family in Kansas, but Chase and the Grahams received a great deal of support from local friends, neighbors, and Joe's co-workers. Chase turned seven in August and by October, he hopes to return to his second grade class and to playing tennis, soccer and basketball with renewed strength.

Through their ordeal, Joe and Jennifer learned how dire a diagnosis of Burkitt's Lymphoma was for a child a mere ten years ago. Research and testing over the last decade have developed better diagnositic techniques and treatments so that young kids like Chase can beat this disease. The Grahams are thankful for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and all that it has done to increase the odds for their family and others like them.

A true testament to the fantastic powers of youth, Chase tackled his disease with bravery and an incredible attitude. It never ceases to amaze me how much about life adults can learn from those who are so young. We can see the world differently through the eyes of a child. Often, that perspective is a much better one than we develop over the years. Chase is an inspiration and living proof that with determination and the right outlook, one can overcome any obstacle. I am proud to head to Indiana for September's "Chase for Chase."

A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE IN PARK CITY

2006-08-28T08:57:00.000-05:00

The Park City Marathon was a wonderful experience! The course was one of the most beautiful I have been on. We ran through meadows, among Aspen trees, over streams on wooden bridges, up and down breathtaking hills (lots of them), and through Historic Main Street in Park City. Temperatures were ideal – starting at 49 degrees and finishing in the upper 50’s. I think my hill training in the heat of the Kansas summer paid off as I tied my second fastest time of the year – despite altitude and a climb to 7,041 feet at mile 17. That 4 mile climb to the summit was brutal, but we were rewarded with a steady down hill grade for several miles. My dad called me “crazy” for training in mid-day temperatures of 95+ degrees. But, I was just so tired of feeling like I had a hangover on top of the flu by mile 17 of the last two “hot weather” marathons, that I knew I needed to acclimate to the temperatures. I am hopeful that the rest of the dozen will be run in similar, cooler climates.

There was a somewhat spiritual character to this race. At the beginning of the run, around mile 2.5, my hands were numb and my chest was burning like I was shoveling snow on a sub-zero winter morning. Seems that running through Kansas farm fields just doesn’t prepare one’s blood for the oxygen deprivation felt between 6 and 7 thousand feet. Wondering if I was in for a very long and difficult day, I noticed on the horizon, above the mountains, the sun was peeking through the clouds. (photo from mile 2.4) It seemed like a light was shining down, warming us up and signaling that everything would be okay. Within the span of the next mile, the clouds cleared and the morning sun shone brightly, but without accompanying overbearing heat. That sunrise, at a time when I was wondering if my body could adjust to the drastic change in altitude, calmed me down, restored my breathing to a normal rate, and helped me set a pace that varied very little throughout the run. In fact, I ran matching splits – a 2:04 first half and a 2:04 second half.

There was another “strange” encounter when I reached the halfway point of the marathon. We ran around a famous Park City barn that is featured on the marathon’s logo. Just as I was passing in front of the barn, an older gentleman appeared on the path. This was odd because I had not seen many spectators over the first 13 miles and none had actually been out on the path during the isolated sections. To add to the irony, he was wearing a hat that read “Save The Green.” Certainly, the message on the hat had nothing to do with me and was likely aimed at the planet Earth. However, I couldn’t help smiling at the notion that my 12 in 12 jersey is bright, lime green. I asked him to take my picture and he did so with the barn, adorned in the American Flag, in the background.

The Park City Marathon also introduced me to several new friends – Jim, Tony, and Martin whom I met at the pasta dinner the night before the race. Believe it or not, the four of us sat at dinner sharing our marathon experiences only to learn that Park City would be the 8th such marathon for each of us this year. As I told you before, there are a number of “crazies” out there in the running world. At the dinner, I also met Dane, who is running a marathon “a week” this year to support a cause dear to his heart in Alabama. Yes, once again, I felt like a slacker. Marathon morning brought a familiar site to my eyes as we were readying for the race near the start. What did I see but a Free State Brewing Company shirt from good ole’ Lawrence, Kansas. (Home of the country’s best college basketball program and its most exciting place to watch a game, Allen Field House). The wearer of the shirt was Kelly Wilkinson, from Olathe, Kansas. Kelly likes to think of himself as a “novice” having finished 6 prior marathons. However, talk to him a while and you’ll find that he’s got the system pretty well figured out. I had the pleasure of enjoying a “few” post-race beverages with Kelly, his wife Pam, and Craig from Minnesota. I left Utah hoping that we end up running into each other many more times on the marathon trail. Incredibly, Pam is walking in a breast cancer fund raiser this fall in Kansas City. She will walk 20 miles per day for 3 consecutive days! It is great to meet such generous people giving of their time and themselves to better the lives of others.

For all of you who continue to support this mission, thank you for helping me through another very enjoyable leg of the journey. After the race, I toured Old Main Street, Deer Valley, and the 2002 Olympic Park. It was quite a (short) trip.

August in Honor of Leonard Doerhoff

2006-08-10T10:57:00.000-05:00

This month, I have the priviledge of running in honor of my co-worker, Mary Winter's late father, Leonard Joseph Doerhoff. He fought a long and valiant battle against multiple myeloma. He shows us that the disease strikes those of all ages and can be devastating to everyone who shares in the struggle. Mary lovingly describes her dad in the following words:

Leonard Doerhoff, my father, was a man of unstoppable energy and ability, and a true member of the Greatest Generation. In life, he taught us the virtue of impatience. Not the impatience of intolerance, but the impatience of looking for what needs to be done and then doing it, as well as the impatience of not quitting on anything until you have left it better than you found it. And in dying, he also taught us the virtue of patience. The blood cancer known as multiple myeloma robbed him of his incredible energy and his ability to care for those he loved, and eventually even himself. It caused him to suffer excruciating pain. With incredible patience, my father endured with dignity, never uttering a word of complaint or showing an ounce of self-pity. To the end, my father’s thoughts were of others and God.

It is difficult to adequately portray the depth of Dad’s character and the experiences that shaped it. He was a man of many accomplishments, yet placed his needs behind those of his family, faith, and community. He earned the respect and admiration of countless people, even though he lived and died in the same small town where he was born. Having lost his mother at the age of 11 years, and the eldest of six children, he learned early to be responsible for others, resourceful and strong. My father knew neither privilege nor opportunity, yet he made opportunities happen.

My parents remained madly in love through their 66 year marriage. Drafted to serve in WWII only 6 months after their wedding, he left his then-pregnant wife and headed to war, not seeing his first-born son until the age of 2 ½. When my father returned home he quickly began building his family and his community. My parents raised and inspired five children, of whom three are medical doctors and two are attorneys.

My father was a Postmaster for 47 years, and a Lt. Colonel in the US Army Reserve for 33 years. He was also an accomplished musician, playing tenor saxophone in a swing band known as the Doerhoff Orchestra from 1938-2000. During the swing era the group played over 100 dances each year. Betrothed couples set their wedding dates based on the availability of the Doerhoff Orchestra, and later planned their anniversary celebrations based on that same criteria.

Among Dad’s greatest attributes was his good example. He never argued and he never spoke ill of others. He never quit and never sat still – except to watch the evening news He enjoyed a cold beer, but never drank more than two. He had a delightfully quick wit and a healthy curiosity. He served as president of more that 20 service, professional and religious organizations -- not to build a resume, but because he was recruited for his abilities to get things done. He taught us to be involved in our community, but he also showed us the world.

On June 17, 2006, multiple myeloma finally weakened my father beyond life. But his legacy is strong. Leonard Doerhoff was an extraordinary man who showed us how to live an ordinary life in extraordinary ways.
Mr. Doerhoff's character and spirit will be with me throughout the 26 miles in Utah and for many days thereafter. I am proud to run in his honor.

THE JOURNEY

2005-12-06T10:35:00.000-06:00

January (15) PF Chang's Marathon - Phoenix, Arizona - COMPLETED!
February (12) Mercedes Marathon - Birmingham, Alabama - COMPLETED!
March (26) Ocean Drive Marathon - Avalon, New Jersey - COMPLETED!
April (8) Eisenhower Marathon - Abilene, Kansas - COMPLETED!
May (21) Green Bay Marathon - Green Bay, Wisconsin - COMPLETED!
June (17) Grandma's Marathon - Duluth, Minnesota - COMPLETED!
July (9) SeaFair Marathon - Bellevue, Washington - COMPLETED!
August (26) Park City Marathon - Park City, Utah - COMPLETED!
September (9) - Lake City Marathon, Warsaw, Indiana - COMPLETED!
October (7) - Waddell & Reed Marathon - Kansas City, Missouri - COMPLETED!
November (19) - Philadelphia Marathon - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - COMPLETED!
December (10) - Las Vegas Marathon - Las Vegas, Nevada - COMPLETED!

Disease Information - Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

2005-11-01T13:17:00.000-06:00

For information about blood-borne cancers, the continued fight for their cure, and patient services, visit the LLS at www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.

Please Donate to "12-in-12-makes-24" and the LLS

2005-11-01T13:07:00.000-06:00

Please go to www.active.com/donate/stevegorny to make a secure donation to the LLS. Thank you for your support. We are getting close to reaching our goal and have 10 days to make it happen.