New Angels

This has been a particulary rough month for rhabdo warriors. I continue to participate in an online rhabdo support group and within the last two weeks alone, we have 4 new angels: Danny Zabicki, age 17; Chloe Schmidt, age 7; Finn, age 3 and Elizabeth Doxey, age 8. Elizabeth was one who pulled on my heartstrings as I got to know her over the past year. It was so sad to learn she had earned her wings on Friday. Yet, she had been battling this horrific disease for 3 years, non-stop - so we are grateful she is no longer suffering and is now in comfort and peace. It is her mother and brother that I hope you will say a prayer for as well as the family members of Danny, Chloe and Finn.

Some days are very, very hard. Today is one of those days. Maybe we can all hug our children a little tighter; pray with a little more reverence; express gratitude with a little more sincerity; respond with a little more kindness; view our world, not just our homes, with a little more awareness; and love, love, love.

I am so grateful for Nick's remission, but I am fully aware of just how fragile remission really is. I know I watched a real miracle in his healing. From the very beginning, never once did any of us say, "Why, Nick?" or "Why, me?" but I do now wonder, "Why was Nick spared but not these sweet babies, who also had faith?" Some say this is "survivor guilt", but I'm not so sure. Nothing really feels normal anymore. I just look at Nick and think, "Wow, your purpose here on earth must be REALLY big." Then again, so is mine, and so is yours.

Just feeling a bit out of sorts trying to balance all the life and death going on every day. I'll hand it all over to Christ again and He'll help me stay in the spirit of gratitude and service and understand that unconditional love heals all.

Sheesh, see what happens when I give up diet coke and start training for the marathon in April (for Nick's Warriors).

Lori

King of the Castle

Hey guys,

Friday I had an MRI and CT scan like I have had every two months now.... And once again they are clear and show no evidence of dissease. If anything the scans look better than the last ones, according to the radiologist. So most likely my scar tissue is going down and almost fully healed. I also had blood work and a chest x-ray on monday that were also clear. (They had to take my chest x-ray twice because my lungs were so big. May be due to all the bike riding I have been doing to school.) I also rode my bike to the Huntsman center to meet with my doctor, and if you haven't been there before, you wouldn't know that is the steepest hill ever for about 150 yards to get there since its at the top of the hill. I almost died peddling up that hill, but I just kept saying to myself... "Lance has got nothing on me, Lance has nothing on me....etc." But when I made it to the top I thought I was going to have a stroke. Ha not really but I was definitely feelin it in the legs and lungs.
So to sum things up I have reached my 6 month mark in remission, so now I only have to have scans every 3 months. So that means I am good through the holidays! Next scans will be in January. Right around the time I will be turning 20, which I am really not looking forward to. Sounds old to me.
Alright got to head to class. Im probably late again. See ya!
Love,
Nicholas William Raitt

Mom's Favorites

Here's my take on the big softball tournament - it was a HUGE success! Everyone stepped up in a big, big, big way. Kelsey's team, the Bukoos, scored 34 runs over 3 games - the next closest team had 19. Yes, the umpires were given permission to call anything relatively close as "safe" in order to get the scores up, but still - 34 runs - that's fantastic!

Carly's team, the Xtreme, came as volunteers headed up by coach Wes White. It was particularly touching to see the older girls help the little 10 & unders in the skills contest, which they had never participated in before. As Nick described, watching those little girls run up to him to collect their prize (a gold childhood cancer pin) while yelling, "Nick! Nick!" was wonder to my heart as Nick grinned from ear-to-ear in response.

And, Nick's buddies came through, too. I must admit when Nick told me they were coming to help, I thought, "nice, they'll be here for a whole 20 minutes". I was wrong. The Xtreme team had to leave around 2:00, which is when the "gang" showed up. They happily took over the scorekeeping responsibilities and proclaimed, "We're here for the rest of the day for whatever you need us to do." And they were!

Other than forgetting to bring the actual game softballs (truly didn't even give it a thought - I just asked the umpire, "Don't they magically appear like they do at all the other tournaments?")- everything went off without a hitch. Enormous thanks to so many - friends, family, players, parents, coaches, umpires, field staff, vendors, etc. All in all, we raised (net) over $5,300! (Watson, Macrum & Ulvin families - YOU ROCK!) We are so excited for next year!

Here are some of my favorite pictures:



Pictures:
#1 - Carly & Lee
#2 - Volunteers
#3 - Nick giving out awards
#4 - Carly helping in skills contest
#5 - Lee, Carly, Kacie, Nick & Todd
#6 - Denise & Lori
#7 - Wes and a happy skills contest winner

My Tournament

Nick here,

September 13th my family and I hosted the First Annual Charity Softball Tournament at the Weber County Fairgrounds. It was a really good time and we raised a good amount of money that will go to my two charities of choice, First Descents and Cure Search. The tournament started at 7:30 am and ended around 7:30 pm. It was awesome to see how everyone pitched in and donated. One team mom made all the parents from their team pull out their wallets and give up all their money they had on them to donate. It was cool.
I was busy all day taking photos, handing out pins to the skill contest winners, and taking score of games. I was so tired at the end of the day as well as sun burnt. I have the worst sun glass tan line ever. Ha its funny. We haven't collected all the dontations yet but we so far have raised $4,000. It will be split up evenly between the two charities but $2,ooo will send two people to First Descents camp. I am honored to be a part of that.
I cant wait untill next year when the number of teams will be doubled and I cant even imagine how much more money will be raised. Its going to be huge! Anyways here are some of my favorite pics.

Dr. Rahbar, Part II

I received the following email from Dr. Albritton this morning:

"Dr. Rahbar and radiologists reviewed films at conference and felt images most consistent with post-surgical (and radiation) changes, and that surveillance should continue..."

We're clear until October!

Mom

First Annual Charity Softball Tournament

It's almost here! The players are ready, the coaches are ready, the umpires are ready and the volunteers are ready!

8:00 a.m. Saturday morning, September 13th at the Weber County Fairgrounds - the games will begin for our First Annual Charity Softball Tournament. All net proceeds (after tournament expenses) will go to Nick's two favorite charities: CureSearch and First Descents.

It's not too late to pledge money for your favorite team. Kelsey's team, Bukoos, is playing in the 12u bracket - you can pledge $1, $5, $10 - whatever you want - for each run scored in all 3 games (I'm estimating 12 to 15 runs). Or you may make a donation to the Empowered Wealth Foundation (which will split the donation between the two charities) or donate directly to CureSearch or First Descents. Go to the link below for a pledge/donation form:

http://quadrantliving.com/Events/documents/EWF%20Softball%20Pledge%20Form.pdf

Please fax form to: c/o Lori Brower, 801-397-3301, or mail to:
The Empowered Wealth Foundation
801 N. 500 W., Suite 200
Bountiful, UT 84010

If you have any questions, email me at: lorib@quadrantliving.com

Pictures and highlights will follow next week!

Go Cancer Warriors!

Dr. Rahbar says it's ok...

Just received an email from Dr. Albritton. She just received an email from Dr. Rahbar after he reviewed Nick's scans and he thinks the scans are consistent with post-op and post-radiation changes - probably fine. He will still present scans at next week's head and neck tumor board to be sure. I'm satisfied with his assessment as he was the one actually looking at Nick's sinus area in living color, up close and personal.

It looks like we are in the clear for another month! Nick, about your laundry...

Mom