Meet My Hero: Peyton

Posted on by May 23, 2013
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Peyton feeling good enough to paint nails in the hospital.

Peyton feeling good enough to paint nails in the hospital.

Meet Peyton. She is a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor and my Team in Training hero. Members of TNT choose to run, swim, and/or bike in honor of those who have been diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma. These heroes inspire us to do our best and serve as a constant reminder of why we are running, biking, and/or swimming so much. Each chapter of Team in Training has an honored hero, and individual members often select someone they know to be their hero. In fact, that’s how I heard about Team in Training—a few years back a friend from high school asked me if I could be her TNT hero for a season (it was an honor).

I first heard about Peyton nearly two years ago, when she was three years old, through a friend at work who asked us to pray for her. Being a leukemia survivor, I know that I owe a lot of people a lot of prayers, so our family decided to pray regularly for Peyton. This little girl had been diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy at 17 months and received a heart transplant in October 2009. Her “Inspired by Peyton” facebook page explains what happened next:

In August of 2011 Peyton became very ill again. She was showing symptoms of several different types of possible illnesses. The doctors at Cincinnati Children’s tested her for meningitis, bone cancer and several other things. Peyton was put through the ringer for several weeks. The diagnosis given was finally PTLD (Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders).

For nearly two more years Peyton would continually be in and out of the hospital. Her new condition required her to undergo multiple rounds of chemotherapy while dropping the anti-rejection medication for her heart. She responded well to the chemo, but then her body started to reject her heart. When they upped her anti-rejection meds, the cancer returned. This see-saw battle between the lymphoma and heart rejection went on until very recently. Throughout it all, this little girl was extremely sick and constantly fighting for her life.

Peyton was more concerned about playing than meeting me. Smart kid!

Peyton was more concerned about playing than meeting me. Smart kid!

I had the privilege of meeting Peyton twice. Last year I was sitting at a local restaurant with my family when Peyton walked past me. I instantly recognized her as the girl we had been praying for. I was able to talk to her mom for a while and get a picture taken with Peyton. A little while later, I saw her at a rummage sale fundraiser for her family. She was in a good mood that day and played some hide-and-seek with me.

Last month, on April 22, Peyton was finally declared cancer free! She has gone through multiple surgeries, hospital stays, and rounds of chemotherapy. Even after being declared cancer free, she has faced some trials. She developed an infection in her central line (PICC). Her family’s apartment had flooded and some mold had set in. The apartment manager had said the mold would be taken care of, but when Peyton was finally released from the hospital, they discovered that the apartment was covered with mold. Not only is this dangerous for the average person, but for someone with her weakened immune system, the mold is far more dangerous.

Here's a picture of Peyton that my daughter drew for her.

Here’s a picture of Peyton that my daughter drew for her.

We praise God that she has made it through so many critical health struggles, and pray that this latest ordeal will be resolved quickly. Peyton has been a trooper through all of this and has inspired so many people around her. I am honored to be able to call her my hero.

To remain informed about Peyton and her family’s current needs, please “Like” the Inspired by Peyton page on facebook.

If you would like to partner with me to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society so that they can find cures and help families struggling with these diseases, please visit my Team in Training fundraising page. They helped me and my family out when we were struggling. I am hoping to raise $1800 and compete in the Nation’s Triathlon in Washington DC—a race whose proceeds also go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Any donation you can make is greatly appreciated, and anyone who donates $50 or more will receive a copy of my book, God and Cancer: Finding Hope in the Midst of Life’s Trials.

Help Me Find a Cure for Leukemia with Team in Training

Posted on by May 19, 2013
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Third round of chemotherapy in 2006. I've come a long way since then.

My third round of chemotherapy. I’ve come a long way since then thanks to groups like the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Readers of this blog may know that I am a leukemia survivor and have participated in a few triathlons and other endurance events. By joining with Team in Training, I have an opportunity to use these events to raise awareness and money to fund crucial research to find cures for various blood cancers through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). In just 25 years, Team in Training has raised 875 million dollars for leukemia and lymphoma research. (See the purple box to the right for details about my fundraising.)

On July 12, 2006, I was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. At the time, I was a Christian school teacher earning about a third of what a public school teacher makes during a year. In other words, not very much. And since I couldn’t teach for the first few months of the school year, the school could not afford to pay me. We had virtually no income for several months other than some donations from generous individuals. And while insurance took care of the vast majority of our medical expenses, it would not cover the cost of some supplies I needed once I was released from the hospital. The LLS stepped in and paid for these necessities for us. We were told that they didn’t normally cover the items we needed, but they made an exception in our case.

I completed the swim portion of a half-Ironman relay in 2012. My dad did the bike and my sister did the run.

I completed the swim portion of a half-Ironman relay in 2012. My dad did the bike and my sister did the run.

One of my goals was to complete a sprint triathlon within one year of being diagnosed. I failed to finish the Galena (IL) triathlon in May 2007. Just a few weeks later on June 10, 2007, I completed the Green Bay Triathlon and reached my goal. After taking a few years off from these competitions, I started up again last year and was reminded of just how fun and encouraging they can be. I finished the swim portion of a half-Ironman in August 2012 and did a 5K in October. Earlier this month I completed my first half-marathon (13.1 miles), and I am planning to do several more races this year, including the Aurora BayCare Olympic Triathlon (Green Bay) in June and the swim portion of the Muncie, Indiana half-Ironman in July.

I signed up with Team in Training for a few reasons. First, I want to do my part to help the LLS continue their work to develop cures for these awful diseases. Second, I want the LLS to be able to help others who are in situations similar to what I was in. Third, I’m excited to be part of a team that will improve my ability to complete triathlons and other endurance events while raising vital funds for a great cause.

With my wife after we finished Cincinnati's Flying Pig half-marathon on May 5, 2013.

With my wife after we finished Cincinnati’s Flying Pig half-marathon on May 5, 2013.

I need your help. I am currently committed to raising $800 to participate in the Cincinnati Half-Marathon on October 19. However, I would really like to raise a little more than twice that amount ($1800) so that I can register for the Nations Triathlon in Washington D.C. in September instead (which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society). I donated the first $75 and now I need your help.

Would you consider partnering with me to attain these goals? All donations to Team in Training are tax deductible and at least 75% goes directly to the mission of the LLS. Donations can be made on my Team in Training fundraising page or feel free to leave a comment below for me if you’d prefer to send a check, and I’ll let you know the options for that.

Any donation you can make is greatly appreciated. Also, if you donate $50 or more, I will send you a complimentary copy of my book, God and Cancer. Check out the book’s Amazon page for details and reviews.