Myeloma 5K

This past Saturday, a team of 50+ friends and family headed down to Philadelphia to participate in the 3rd annual 5K Miles for Myeloma race.  I'm assuming most of you reading this know by now that my mom was fairly recently diagnosed with a rare blood cancer called myeloma, which is why we were specifically heading to this 5K. 

I have been torn about what and how to write about my mom's health on this blog, and so decided until now not to post anything.  It's hard to write about something so personal and emotional, especially when I don't know who all is reading this and how my words will come across.  But all that to say, the last 7 months have been an awesome testimony to God's grace and strength in time of need.  

For those of you who may not know, a quick summary is that my mom went to the doctor at the end of last August with pelvic pain and ended up finding out late September that she had a malignant tumor on her left pelvic bone, for which she had 10 days of radiation in the beginning of October.  

Unfortunately, another bone marrow biopsy showed that the cancerous cells had spread to the other side of her body, indicating that she had a blood cancer called myeloma.  (Basically, myeloma is "adult" red blood cells that are not acting the way they should, and leukemia is the "teenage" red blood cells not acting correctly - a lot of people ask if she has leukemia)).  

She goes in for monthly blood work and as long as her levels remain stable, which so far they have, she does not need to start chemo.  Once her levels begin to change, she will start chemo and may or may not need a blood transfusion.  But so far, she has not needed any of that and, other than a once a month IV drip of bone strengthener, is living her "regular" life!

Overall, she really is doing well and is feeling mostly herself despite more tiredness and achiness than normal.  It has been so amazing for me to watch my mom respond to this over the last few months and just how much faith she has in God's goodness and sovereignty in all things.  I often feel like she is encouraging me rather than the other way around!

I know there are SO many of you that are faithful prayer warriors for her and we are just so thankful for your dedication and support.  We have no idea, not that any of us do!, where the path ahead will go, but day by day God has been giving my mom life and that is awesome!  So keep praying!

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Here are some pictures from the race... 

The race was along MLK drive (by the Art Museum) and so the walk was right along the river - above is boathouse row.

My mom and I getting ready to "race".

My dad heading up the registration table and giving everyone their shirts.

My brother Dave, cousin Johnny, and Mitch betting who will win.

The Hollenbach crew - Matt (my sister's boyfriend), my brother Dave, my dad, my mom, Mitch, me, my cousin Johnny, my brother Sam and (up front) my sister Anna and Sam's girlfriend Anne.

My mom and dad!

Here we go!

Dave and Johnny were the first to come back running (I was the picture taker as I was NOT running this time!  I haven't run for over a year so maybe by next year I'll be ready to race!).

Here comes Mitch - only trained for about a month and ran the whole thing!  

Anna and Matt going strong!

And here comes Anne and Sam!

This is  (almost) our whole "Libby and Friends" contigency!

Finished strong!

Anne, me and Anna

This is a picture of the back of the UA shirts my brother and mom designed and Sam's company donated for the race!

I read a quote on one of my friends' blogs awhile back and I love it - helps remind me that our perspective is so small and that somehow everything God does is truly for GOOD:

“God gave me what I would have asked for if I knew everything He knew”