Inspiration is Everywhere

As we enter the final three months of Georgia's treatment, you might think she would be satisfied to just coast to the finish, not "try" so hard all the time. But you'd be wrong! Every day, she pushes herself to do more and go farther than the day before, and the places her quiet-but-fierce drive is most evident are in her PE, dance, and swim classes. In fact, she's got extra inspiration in PE, courtesy of her teacher, good bud, and fellow survivor, Meg Brown.

Coach Brown was recently featured in our local paper as she is preparing to run the LIVESTRONG Austin Half Marathon to celebrate her 10th diagnosis anniversary. Reading it, I am so thankful Georgia has such a great example of survivorship to follow, and I can't wait to see how she marks her own 10th anniversary.

Come and Run It

Hello all! Just a quick note to say that Georgia's counts were a bit low at Tuesday's appointment, but just high enough to keep on trucking with her meds at 75%. So we're still on track for late April and will have more information about the end of her treatment and some exciting announcements coming soon!

Also, I wanted to put a bug in the ears of all our runner friends - The Alamo 13.1 is happening in San Antonio on March 18th. This inaugural race highlights the beauty of the city in the springtime, and the best part is it benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Team In Training! So put on your favorite sneaks or cowboy boots, and get on down to San Antonio!

And speaking of TNT, don't forget our sweet Dianna and Will, who are taking on the Capital of Texas Olympic Triathlon in May. Go here to support their fundraising efforts and GO TEAM!

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Star of the Showcase

Today, Georgia volunteered as a tour guide for the Open House (or "Showcase," as they call it), at her school, The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. I can't believe that it's been a year since we visited the school ourselves, hoping that Georgia would get in, and now, she's a very happy student and a perfect ambassador!

Go Stars!!!

And in case the last post showed up as a big blank spot on your computer, here's a link to the 2011 slide show. You need Adobe Flash to view it. Hope you like it!

Year Two in Review

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Happy Feet

Today, Georgia had her first dance class in two years. She's been twirling around the house more and more lately, so we decided maybe it was time to get back to the real thing! We got her outfitted with new everything, from head to tippy toe, and she skipped off to Studio 4. An hour later, she came out beaming. Mommy was, too! So wonderful to see her, little by little, coming back to her whole health. It was a great day.

Also great? The report following day surgery on Tuesday - all clear. And because her counts are holding steady, we've decided to keep her meds at 75% and see how things look in two weeks. Don't mess with success, I say.

So, that's the haps around here. Now I've got to run - I'm being summoned for a pas de deux with my best partner.

 Tiny Dancer, 2007.

The Party Never Ends

More celebrations! Today is the 15th anniversary of the founding of LIVESTRONG - an organization and a cultural movement that changed the fight against cancer forever. Those little yellow wristbands have created a global shorthand we can all understand and appreciate, and we are so happy and honored to do our part in sharing the message of HOPE.

Also marking a major milestone recently is St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which has been a beacon for pediatric cancer patients and their families for 50 years. At the anniversary gala last night, the US Postal Service unveiled a commemorative stamp featuring the founder of St. Jude, Danny Thomas. What a legacy.

With inspiration and support like that, Georgia is fired up for the last leg of her treatment journey, which begins bright and early tomorrow morning with day surgery. Cycle 7, y'all - full steam ahead!!!

And We're Back

Back to school and back to work this week - but what a wonderful holiday we had! It was so nice to spend time with our family and friends and to reflect on the second year of Georgia's journey. We were just a few months into maintenance at this time last year - still learning the intricate medicine schedule and getting used to life beyond the clinic and our friends there. And now the routine is pretty much second nature. I suspect, though, that once Georgia finishes treatment, there will be a period of adjustment at that point, too, but one that we will happily - and gratefully - manage.

Now here are a couple of things we talk about A LOT around these parts, even just last month, but their importance really can't be overstated, so humor me. Today, I received an email from the National Marrow Donor Program, marking my third year on the Be The Match registry. In 2009, I donated blood (for the first time ever) and joined the registry following a dear family friend's lymphoma diagnosis. I never could have imagined that a year later, I would be encouraging all of you to donate blood in honor of Georgia. It really is such an easy thing to do, and so, as always, we hope you'll consider becoming regular blood donors and joining the bone marrow registry. You could save a life in 2012 - how's that for a New Year's goal?!    

And because we know RESEARCH is the key to finding a CURE, and research costs money, we have two fundraising events to promote. First, a reminder that our sweet Emily, a cancer warrior herself, is training for The Ultimate Hike in support of CureSearch and childhood cancer research. Go HERE to donate and tell her to walk on with her bad self. We love you, Em!

Also, the Bacons are back! Our TNT dynamic duo, Will and Dianna, are really putting the pedal to the metal in preparation for the Capital of Texas Triathalon! Team In Training events raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, so visit Dianna's page HERE to help find cures for all blood cancers. Go TEAM!

We're looking forward to a beautiful weekend here at home, and we hope y'all have a great one, too!

Happy 2012!

Right on the heels of a fabulous Christmas and a fun-filled birthday, Georgia had a fantastic New Year's Eve/Diagnosis Anniversary party last night, and we rang in the new year right. We have so much to be thankful for and even more to look forward to this year - and at the top of the list is finishing treatment! Thursday's appointment went well, so Georgia's on track to start her seventh cycle of maintenance in two weeks, and she's got her eye on the finish line in late April/early May. More details to come, but you have to know we'll be having a PARTY!!!

We hope you enjoyed our Twelve Years of Christmas pictures and that you'll be Keepin' Georgia on Your Mind in 2012. Thanks and love to all of you!