Alot has changed

Here's some fun pictures of what I have been up to since my last post.

Bailey is back at my parents. She should be around another few weeks before her owner comes back from Texas. This is Bailey after Derek came to visit.  She is so good with Derek.

Derek came to visit me at work one Saturday morning in January.

My picture for the Dress of LLS. It's in May for companies to dress casual and support Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

One of my favorite ski club trips of the year. The view form Spirit Mountain. 

Skiing at Spirit Mountain in Duluth. It was 0 all day.

Goldy's Run April 13th with Tom Mathews, myself, Daryl Gabrielson and Steve Feeney. One of my favorite runs of the year.

Get Your REAR in Gear 5K April 21st. Post race breakfast at Bunny's. My favorite part of the race breakfast.

You can check out my moms recover on her caringbridge site CarolGabrielson.

Thanks for checking out my blog.
Now lets hope for some sunshine.

Anna

Current Update

Here is my current update.

I ran in the Monster Dash 10 miler the end of October
It was a fun race with lots of costumes.

My Dad and I babysat Derek so Dena and Chris could go out for dinner. My dad's job was to feed him and my job was to change his diapers.

Bailey is back for the winter. She did a great job of watching Derek with us. It's nice to have Bailey back.

Last weekend I ran in a Diva Dash with some girls. The first race that we had matching shirts.
It was in Anoka County and was a beautiful race.

Again we will be participating in the Anoka Area Relay for Life this summer. If you interested in joining our team. Let me know or visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=38793&team_id=1009094 Which should bring you to Gabe's Crew team website.

Also we are currently having a tastefully simple fundraiser for Relay for Life it ends November 28th.
https://www.tastefullysimple.com/secure/pomm/GuestResponseCatalogParty.aspx?pxid=9676406&key=cb89778b-a6df-4f20-8d2c-1368abd2a00f

I wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving.
Anna

The latest update

Here is what I have been up to since my last update. It's been way to long. First and foremost it's been two years since I finished my treatments and I'm still Cancer Free. What a great feeling. This summer was the first I felt like my life is back to normal.

This summer my parents and I went out to Pennsylvania for Roland's wedding on the way we stopped at Marblehead Lighthouse only to find it was closed.

We stopped went to Hersey, Pennsylvania. What a cool town!

Rolly and Karen

The family that attended the wedding. What a cool picture.

Myself, Justin Nicholson, and Reuben Wetterlund at the wedding reception.
Something very important must of been shared.

Tyler my friend at the wedding. Sandra's youngest (I think I was his favorite at the wedding).

Sometime during the summer I also ran in some 5Ks and had a Girls weekend at a cabin.

"Fast Jack" Beckman and myself at BIR for the Nationals. Jack is also a Lymphoma survivor.

Jason Line and Greg Anderson two guys from Minnesota that race Pro Stock. It's neat to see some locals racing.

We also had our annual trip to BIR to race the end of August. My dad was pretty happy with me. I dropped 2 seconds racing throughout the weekend.

I have also went back to my school year job. It's great seeing all the kids again.

Myself, my mom and Dena.
Jessica, my mom and I hosted a baby shower for Dena in September.

Myself and Dena after I ran the Twin Cities 5K. This is one week before Dena had Derek. My dad and Dena came to watch me run. They have been super supportive of my adventures.

Derek just a few hours old.
Derek was born on Monday October 10th.
He is the cutest little nephew.
I keep telling him I will be his favorite.

Thanks for all your support
Anna

Relay for Life 2011

On Friday June 24, 2011 we (my family and friends) participated in the Anoka Area Relay for Life.


I was the honor survivor again this year and gave my speech. Here is my speech. I hope you enjoy.

I was first diagnosed with melanoma on my left calf muscle 15 years ago. I was very lucky to have surgery and then go on living my life as a normal invincible 21 year old. Then 14 years later I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, this time I was still very lucky given a 95 % cure rate. When I was first diagnosed a friend told me God only gives you what you can handle and you have the strength to handle this. I also think that a positive attitude and being a little stubborn helped in my treatments.

When I first found out I that I had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, my sister took it upon herself to go to the doctor with me. I really think it’s because my doctor is very entertaining. When I was in chemo someone always went with me, my parents, my sister, or one of my friends.

Before my first treatment while in the waiting room at the Cancer Center I saw Julie Benson a swimming mom in for treatment. It’s amazing how much one person's presence can help calm someone. Julie also gave me words of wisdom from her experience. I'm amazed with all the words of encouragement, and generosity people have shown. I must say this wasn’t easy but it's a lot easier with the support that others gave me.

During a pre shaving hair cut, I was in the hairstylist chair telling her I wasn’t going to spend my money on a wig. I was going to be a hat and big earring girl (thanks to a cousin for the earring collection) when I lost my hair. She told me to call the Cancer Society and I could get a wig from them. It was fun trying on different wigs and trying to figure out my new look. I also took the Look Good, Feel Better class which was so much fun. Not only getting tons of new make up but also being with women who had gone through different cancers and were in different stages of cancer treatment.

I also took advantage of the Neighbor to Neighbor program at Unity Hospital. I was able to get massages, healing touch. Pilate’s from Pilates on the Porch by far my favorite. I wasn’t able to do much for exercise during my treatment so that made me feel like I was doing something.

Other then some respiratory problems I didn’t have any major problems with my chemo or radiation. On November 20, 2009 I was told I was lymphoma free and I could get my life back to normal. It’s a new normal I can’t do 100 things on one day but I can still do a lot of things with a nap in the mix. I also had all exercise restrictions removed. I will say my dad wasn’t overly impressed with the doctor the day he said I could start running with no limits. I’m not back to where I was physically but I’m getting there in time. I had a goal of running a half marathon last October and another one this fall. I have been lucky to run with my dad, sister or a friend. They are super good to me and don’t let me go run by myself and are helping me reach my goals.

After the opening ceremonies, they started the laps for the relay. The first lap is the survivor lap, followed by the caregiver lap and then the team lap.

Carrying the banner for the first lap of the evening the Survivor lap

The second lap caregivers where added. My sister is right behind me and my parents are in the white shirts.

Daryl (my dad), Dena (my sister), myself, Carol (my mom), and Tom Mathews (a family friend)
Our team lap Gabe's Crew
Tom Mathews, and my dad are carrying the banner. The team consisted of Daryl and Carol, Dena and Chris Bucksa, Tom Mathews, Steve and Kathy Feeny, and Rick and Cindy Scheevel. Thank you to Tricia and Judy for coming to support me during my speech. Thanks to Jenny Hines for coming and singing the National Anthem. Thanks to Bryan, Jessica, and Kennandi for coming and walking with us later in the evening.
Thank you to Monica Mathews for the art work for the banner and Jenny Giese from RPM graphics for making the banner. Chris and Dena before one of the theme laps later in the night.

Thank you to all who have supported us

Relay will be the same weekend next year.

Anna

Relay for Life and Update info

My family is participating in the 2011 Relay For Life of the Anoka Area June
24-25, 2011 at Anoka County Fairgrounds. I will also be the survivor speaker
that evening. The excitement of being in remission for a year and a half.

My team website is

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11MW?pg=team&fr_id=30260&team_id=783888

If you would like to join us or donate.

Also I'm having a fundraiser right now I'm selling Butter Breads.
They are $10.00 a piece. The flavors they have are Strawberry & Cream
Cheese, Apple, Cinnamon, Blueberry & Cream Cheese, Bavarian Crème,
Raspberry, or Caramel Rolls (9 per package). They have a special order
$40.00 for 1 NEW Almond Cream, 1 Blueberry & Cream Cheese, 1 Strawberry &
Cream Cheese, 1 Caramel Roll, 1 Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (32 oz.
package). The order deadline is Wednesday April 13th. They will be
delivered the weekend of April 29th.

I will be having one more fundraiser a Tastefully Simple fundraiser coming
soon.

Here is an update

Joe one of my cousin's was in town from Wales.
(Joe, John (Joe's youngest son), and myself)

When Joe was in town I got to meet his kids for the first time. Daniel and Sarah. They are very sweet kids. I was even friends with Sarah.
On Saturday I ran in the Goldy's Run with my dad, his friends Steve Feeney, and Tom Mathew. The run started and ended at TCF stadium on the University of Minnesota Campus.
It was a fun run. We are putting it on the calendar for next year.

Us on the field at TCF stadium after the run.
The finish line was the 50 yard line of the stadium.
Very Cool.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

We had some exciting news before Thanksgiving. I went to see Dr. Larson for my three month check up which was also my one year anniversary of being lymphoma free. I'm now on every 6 month visits. For the most part my life is back to normal. It's taking a year to recover, but I'm doing almost everything I did before and then some.

I had some fun goals to meet before my one year anniversary being lymphoma free. One was to run in a half marathon.

On October 23rd Dena and I ran in the Mankato half marathon. My goal was to finish and I did that. Dena was a great sport and joined me in my training. Dena told me she's won't be running in a half marathon next year. We did a great job of planning some runs before the half, like running a bunch of 5K, 10K, and a 10 miler. My parents and Alyssa Gabrielson came to cheer us on. Alyssa, thanks for taking time off to cheer us on. I will say it was a lot of work, but tons of fun.

Me actually running during the Mankato half marathon. It was a hot October morning. Who would think you could actually wear shorts (or a running skirt) in October. We brought enough running clothes along for a week.

Bailey is back to my parents for the winter. Over Thanksgiving I was resting only to find out I had strep throat on Friday morning.

On Christmas Eve we went to my grandma's and grandpa's. Jake and Mel Nicholson were in town and they have a cute little guy for me to entrain.

Any of my cousins who missed Christmas eve. We have the normal picture of Grandpa to show. Yes we are singing and reading the Bible story of Jesus birth. And Grandpa's resting.

My hair is back. I'm able to get it up with out using bobby pins. My goal now is to grow it out and donate it to Locks of Love when it's long enough.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Anna

BIR

Since my last blog entry, Dena and I ran in the Lumberjack days 5K. Again I dropped a few minutes in my time. We had fun stopping for coffee and a little shopping after the race in Stillwater. Next year we might be up for trying the 10 mile.

The Lumberjack Days 5K was the same weekend as the Annual Tennant Family camping trip. It was fun going and seeing everyone. I was able to go on a bike ride. They have really nice trails at Baker Park in Maple Plain, MN.

After my dad was in Scotland for two weeks for work. He returned just in time to go to Brainerd International Raceway for the Lucas Oil Nationals. We went for the day on Saturday and had a great time seeing people and watching some good races.

This is a Ford Mustang that I would buy when I win the lottery. You can buy it directly from the factory, bring it to the track, and race it. It goes 8.9 to 9.0 in the quarter mile.

This is "Fast Jack" Beckman, a professional funny car driver, a fellow Lymphoma Survivor.

Ashley Force Hood, another funny car driver, at the ropes signing autographs.
We went back to have my picture taken with Ashley but she was already done.

Jason Line and Greg Anderson (both from Minnesota) racing in Pro Stock. Picture was taken from our seats.

This is my dad and Jason Line. Jason is from Minnesota and remembers my dad from his days of racing at BIR. He is telling my dad that he still has his old race car and he's bring it home to North Carolina. It's pretty cool that he remembers where he came from.