12 Shots: 2014 blog posts

By Lance Shaw

In February 2013, my son Brian was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He was four years old. The following year, as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program, I completed a century ride (100 mile cycling event) in Lake Tahoe to help raise money for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma research and patient assistance programs.

My fundraising goal was $37,545.13, which was the average charge for a single injection of a chemotherapeutic treatment delivered to our Little Man last year. He received 12 of these injections over a two-month period. Thanks to the tremendous generosity of donors, I was able to exceed this fundraising goal.

This ebook replicates the postings of a 2014 blog I wrote during a four month fundraising campaign for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I wrote the blog to honor my son and share with others what it’s been like for him to be diagnosed with and treated for leukemia. This book is distributed free of charge and represents part of an effort to build awareness and support for families dealing with blood cancers. I hope you enjoy it enough to pass along to your friends, family, and colleagues.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lance Shaw
• Release date: Feb 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311701916

Book preview

12 Shots: 2014 blog posts

Published by Lance Shaw at Smashwords

Copyright 2015 Lance Shaw

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. Thank you for your support.

For Little Man and Jayda

Table of Contents

Introduction

2014 Blog Postings

Afterword

What You Can Do

Also By the Author

Connect With Lance Shaw

Introduction

This ebook replicates the postings of a 2014 blog I wrote during a four month fundraising campaign for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). I wrote the blog to honor my son and share with others what it’s been like for him to be diagnosed with and treated for leukemia. This book is distributed free of charge and represents part of an effort to build awareness and support for families dealing with blood cancers. I hope you enjoy it enough to pass along to your friends, family, and colleagues.

Now, enjoy the 2014 blog posts!

My Fundraising Page | Sunday March 9, 2014

Friends and Family,

Last year (February 22nd) our son Brian was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).  He was four years old.  This year, as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program, I have pledged to train for and complete a century ride (100 mile cycling event) in Lake Tahoe to help raise money for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma research and patient assistance programs.

I have set an ambitious goal of raising $37,545.13 by May 1st.  $37,545.13 was the average charge for a single injection of a chemotherapeutic treatment delivered to our Little Man last year.  He received 12 of these injections over a two-month period.

If you would like to donate to my fundraising campaign, please use this link to donate online quickly.  Though this link you will also be able to learn more about the Little Man’s progress, my training, and a bit about what it’s like to have a child with blood cancer.  You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.

ALL is a rare disease, but it is the most common form of childhood cancer.  Acute refers to the rapidity with which the symptoms present themselves and are followed by death if left untreated.  As recently as 40-50 years ago, the disease was 100% fatal.  Death usually occurred within several weeks to months of diagnosis and was particularly horrific – lots of bleeding, pain, reports of bones literally fracturing due to the strain of rapidly dividing leukemia cells struggling to escape from the marrow into the bloodstream, etc.

These days, it’s very treatable and someone like our Little Man, who is considered a high risk case, has a 5-yr Event Free Survival rate of ~90%.  (The story of how the treatments were developed is quite interesting and speaks to the courageous and heroic efforts of the pioneering clinicians, pathologists, and researchers – not to mention the patients and their parents – who had a real sense of urgency about their task.)

Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.  On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thank you very much for your