MommaSTRONG

Well, the report from the 46 Mommas Shave for the Brave in Boston is: Wicked Awesome! Not only was the city so welcoming and wonderful, providing lots of fun and adventure for the Mommas and their families, but the shave itself was a great success - we've raised almost $215,000 so far this year! We did have some rain in the forecast for Sunday, so we made the decision Saturday night to move the event indoors, and it turned out to be the right one! Even still, it was beautiful and powerful and FUN!

My reason and inspiration for shaving.

Mommas Before

 This Momma During

Momma Alyson was my barber ...

And I returned the favor when she jumped in the chair at the last minute!

Mommas After

We were especially honored to have the Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh, join us and say a few words. He is a childhood cancer survivor himself, having beaten Burkitt's Lymphoma when he was seven. I could listen to him talk in that Bahston accent all day!

 Mayor Walsh with Momma Bekah and her girls, Esmae 

and Grace, who is a St. Baldrick's ambassador

Celebrity barbers Angeline-Rose Troy and JD Scott, whose *brothers*

I met at the Momma Shave in LA in 2012.

Besides the shave and catching up with Momma friends, the highlight of the weekend for me was the Red Sox game! I don't even really follow baseball, but who passes up a chance to go to Fenway?!

 Momma Monica showed me the ropes.

The 46 Mommas are nearing the $1.5 million mark and, as always, will be fundraising through the end of the year. THANK YOU to everyone who has donated so far (and for so long!), and if you haven't and would like to, click here or on the Momma button in the sidebar. We really, really appreciate your support!

And She's Off!

Yesterday was Georgia's first appointment at the survivorship center - so she's officially on her way to thriving after cancer! I've said before how fortunate we are to have this incredible resource available to us. They have Georgia's complete medical history and oncology records and know the tests and screenings necessary to monitor her as her body continues to recover. They know the late-effects and other issues to watch out for based on the treatment she's had. And they know that parents still have many questions and a need for information (ahem), so they provide a wonderful touchstone for us as well. Georgia will have appointments every three months for this first year, then every six months for the next two years. Her counts yesterday were beautiful, and the nurse practitioner, Sharon, is in contact - and agreement - with the endocrinologist about staying the current course of vitamin supplements for the osteoperosis. Before we head back in October, Georgia will have an EKG and echocardiogram, which she won't need to repeat for two years, plus more blood work. All signs are pointing up, though, and she is feeling great!

We celebrated at our favorite yogurt place by the hospital.

In more celebration news, today is my 46th birthday, but we had quite the party, with a cake full of candles, on Saturday night. Thank you to everyone who bought candles or made donations for my birthday - it truly means the world to me!

Tomorrow, I'll be heading out for the 46 Mommas Shave for the Brave in Boston. If you're in the area on Sunday, we'll be shaving at Boylston Plaza at the Prudential Center from 12-5. And don't worry, we've got a rain plan - ha! I'm looking forward to reuniting with some old friends, meeting many new ones, and raising funds for childhood cancer research through the St. Baldrick's Foundation. If you'd like to donate, click here or on the icon in the sidebar. Thanks, y'all!

All Smiles!

Shiny, new smile for the next two years!

And THIS! This is where your money goes when you support the St. Baldrick's Foundation - to the best and the brightest in the fight against childhood cancer. I'm SO proud to be a tiny part of this organization and can't wait to brave the shave for the fourth time next week! I still need SIX candles for my birthday cake and will love you forever if you help make my greatest wish come true, so please donate $10 per candle here. Thank you!

 

Mountain Momma(s)

As usual, Colorado did not disappoint! We all thoroughly enjoyed Breckenridge and a wonderful side trip to Pike's Peak. We also spent the first night on the road in Amarillo, and we can highly recommend the Texas show in Palo Duro Canyon - fabulous! All that mountain air is so restorative, for mind, body, and spirit, so even the two-day car trips are well worth it and quite tolerable. We always leave Colorado trying to hatch a plan for living there half the year, at least in the summer, but we are also quite happy back in our own little corner of paradise in Austin.

Palo Duro Canyon

World Famous Cadillac Ranch

Gondola at Breckenridge

 

Speed Racer on her sled

 Do you wanna build a snowman ...

Worth the hike to 13,000+

 

Representing St. Baldrick's!

Ready to tackle Pike's Peak

Made it!

 

In the snow!

Thoughtful on the train 

BEST chocolate donuts!

Fourth of July Parade

Until next time, Colorado - we love you!

Reminder - TWO weeks from today is the 46 Mommas shave in Boston! I'll be going bald for the fourth time, and while we've raised nearly $1.5 million, the fight against childhood cancer and the search for safer, less-toxic treatments for these kids is far from over. Just this week, we learned that one survivor friend faces permanent mobility issues as a result of chemotherapy, and another suffered a stroke - at 14 - due to vascular damage caused by the radiation that saved her life 10 years ago. And this piece by a fellow Momma, Bekah, is a great example of the challenges many survivors, like Grace, will face long after they've completed treatment. The need for research funding is greater than ever, so please consider a donation to the St. Baldrick's Foundation. We're so thankful that the effects Georgia has encountered thus far have been manageable, and we pray that continues to be the case as she moves further and further into survivorship.