Diagnosis Anniversary, Bengal Triathlon

 Ty was diagnosed April 21, 2011.  One year ago!  Today we went to the Bengal Triathlon who donated the money they raised to local children fighting cancer in honor of Ty.  What a perfect perfect way to celebrate one year of beating cancer! 

 We got to see Bristol who fetches the tee for ISU's football team during games.  Ty went to a game and helped Bristol as their special guest a few months ago.  You can see that story by clicking on NOVEMBER 2011.

 We got to cheer for Bristol's owner Smitty as she finished the triathlon.  I've been thinking a lot about how even though the battle against cancer is super crappy, there is a lot of good that comes from it too.  A lot of that good comes from other people.  People like Smitty.

 We got to hang out with daddy who has been gone training for work for two weeks.

Thank You Thank You Bengal Triathlon!!  And Thank You KPVI for telling Ty's story and mentioning our blog Idaho Fighters!!  We are so greatful that you are willing to help us!
 Over the past year our eyes have been opened to a world that we knew nothing of. 
We are so thankful for the organizations, doctors, and nurses who put so much into Childhood Cancer. 
They have come so far over the past 40 years, raising the survival rate from 10% to 78%.  Even so that means that over 1 in 5 kids diagnosed will still die from the disease, and the suffering they endure to try to survive!
 It is heartbreaking to learn of the burns, puking, mouth sores, rashes, constipation, relapses, feeding tubes, pokies, transfusions, surgeries, kidney stones, infections, fevers, hair loss, (endless side effects) and siblings who cry on the phone cause they miss their mama.
 I hate giving Ty little poison pills every day and watching him be sedated for procedures and seeing the side effects of it all...but Ty is considered to have the 'good' kind of cancer!  When the docs and nurses say that they are indicating that the treatment is much much worse for the other types of childhood cancer and they are right!  Most of the children that do survive suffer medical effects of the 'treatment' the rest of their lives.  They are more likely to have heart problems, and more likely to have cancer.  Yep that's right, the treatment for childhood cancer causes cancer.
 I could go on and on but I will just say Thank You Smitty, Thank You Ainsley, Thank You Bengal Triathlon organizers and participants.  The money you earned today will help some families in our area with the expenses of driving back and forth to Primary Children's.  It means a lot to us cancer families that you are aware of us and are willing to help alleviate some of our burden! 
THANK YOU!!
*We did more fun stuff later today and I have other thoughts about Ty's diagnosis and the past year but I will save it for another post.