Most of you that read my blog know about Light the Night but for those that don't know Light the Night is held on fall evenings in communities across the U.S. and Canada, Light The Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's walk and fundraising event to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer. Thousands of participants raise funds for vital, lifesaving research and patient services and, on these special nights, they carry illuminated balloons in a show of support from a caring community.
Anyone can take part - children, adults and seniors are all welcome. This is a casual fundraising walk with no fitness requirements. There are many ways you can help. You can register to walk individually or as part of a team; just make a donation online; or become a volunteer or sponsor/partner.
Funds raised through Light The Night Walk support the work of hundreds of the world's best and brightest researchers in their search for better therapies and cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
Our team from Sept 2008 - we had join Seattle childrens because we didn't have time to form our own team that year.
Why is the Light the Night walk important to me and my family?
August 8 2008 I received that phone call that no one ever wants to get it was Dr. B (breast specialist) at Swedish hospital he was the doctor that performed my lymph node biopsy. He called to tell me that the results were in and it is Hodgkin's lymphoma. Vince and I had hope to celebrate our 4 wedding anniversary that night (yes I was diagnosed on our anniversary) but instead we spent the evening telling our families the results were in. that was one of the hardest things I ever had to tell my parents and family. I remember getting upset with Vince because he kept saying "Melissa has cancer" and I told him that "it is Hodgkins Lymphoma" I didn't like hearing that it was cancer. I received my first chemo on August 22. I received 6 rounds of AVDB - Doxorubicin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine. After I completed my Chemo rounds I under went 1 month, 5 days a week worth of radiation. Luckily my cancer responded really well to treatment and I was classified remission in December 2008. On July 19th had a follow up CT and everything still looks good! To this day I still continue to have some complications (decreased lung function) due to the cancer and the radiation treatments, we are working on my lung stamina and playing the wait and see game.
Here are some pictures from my battle/journey
Melanie and I snuggling after I needed to have a second surgery to have a drain placed in my armpit from having my lymph nodes removed for biopsy
Where my bone morrow tests were preformed
My armpit where the lymph nodes were removed
Where my port had been placed
My before PET scans. The bright yellow is the active (live) cancer
Vince and I during my first chemo treatment 8.22.08
Just waiting to begin
We were at the Mariners game when Hairmasters was there preforming $5 haircuts and the proceeds went to Mariners Charity Care. I figured that my hair was falling out anyways and I had no control over that but I had control of when I went bald.
My CLEAR PET scan
Christmas 2008
Getting ready for my friend Steph's wedding
Sleeping through my last chemo! 1.26.2009
Waiting on one of my radiation treatments
We really appreciate all the love and support that we have received over the last 2 years. I couldn't have stayed so strong through out the whole process without it.
For this years walk we are hoping to form our biggest team yet! We would like to invite everyone to attend the walk with us this year.
Here is the information (cut and pasted from my mom's facebook event)
Time September 25 · 3:00pm - 9:00pm (We are hoping to have a picnic before the walk.
Location Green Lake by the playground near Evan's pool
Please join us for our 3rd annual walk for Melissa!
Our goal is 50 walkers raising $100 each.
Raising $100 is easy! Send your online fundraising webpage to 20 or more people and ask each person for a donation of $10 or more. Even if only half of the people donate $10 or more, you will have raised $100 and most likely more.
...Team name - Melissa Powell
To register please go to -
http://www.lightthenight.org/wa/register/teams/#action=join_team;programGroupName=LTN
