Fall Season Week 3

The only thing that stands between a person and what they want in life is the will to try it and the faith the faith to believe it possible.

Fundraising Tip
The best tip we have this week is to strongly encourage you to attend the Fundraising Clinic this Tuesday, June 9, at 6:00 pm at Healthwise, 2601 N. Bogus Basin Rd., Boise. Our top-notch Fundraising Committee has all the information and advice you need to kick off your efforts and ensure your fundraising success. Don't miss it!

Training Tip
WARM-UP EXERCISES

Write the Alphabet (This one is a MUST!)
This exercise is done sitting with one leg crossed over the other, ankle resting on knee, or standing with one foot raised. Begin “writing” the cursive letters of the alphabet using your foot, making the largest letters possible. Start with the first half of the alphabet and when the shin and ankle get stronger and more flexible, continue with the rest of the alphabet. Do this with both legs.

This exercise will strengthen the ligaments in the ankle and shin, increasing their range of motion. It is particularly helpful when walking on hills and uneven surfaces where ankle and shin strains can occur more frequently. You should do this at least once a day!

Hip Circles
Hold on to a waist-high wall with feet shoulder-width apart and the arms relaxed and fully extended. Lean your hips toward the wall and rotate them in a large circle to stretch the entire mid-section. Do this 8-12 times then repeat in the other direction. Begin with small circles and gradually make the circles larger as the muscles warm up.

Hurdler’s Drill
Stand about 2-3 feet away from a wall, holding on for support. Lift one knee out to the side and slightly to the back. Keeping the knee bent 90°, circle the leg forward as if clearing an imaginary hurdle. Ideally, the lower half of the leg should be parallel to the ground until the leg clears the hurdle. Do five rotations with each leg and repeat with the other leg.

Standing Torso Twists
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Keep arms relaxed and straightened out to the sides at shoulder height, parallel to the ground. Twist the torso slowly to the left and then the right while keeping the arms extended. Make sure and keep the arms in one straight line with the body. Feet remain in place with knees straight. Repeat 10 times.

Windmills
Start with arms straight down along the sides of the body. Twist arms so palms face away from the body. Begin walking while swinging the right arm backward and completely around the shoulder, in a backstroke motion. Try to keep the elbow straight, the palm facing out and the upper arm as close to the ear as possible. Hold the other arm gently against the back with the elbow bent or resting in front across the waist. Walk in a straight line 20-25 steps, maintaining correct hip rotation, with right arm rotating. Stop, turn around and return, doing the same thing with the left arm. After completing one circuit with each arm, repeat another circuit with alternating arms like a windmill. Repeat the entire process.

YOU ARE STRONG AND POWERFUL!

Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS LEUKEMIA?
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood-forming cells. It originates in a primitive blood-forming cell in the bone marrow. Leukemia occurs when immature blood cells accumulate in an uncontrolled manner in the marrow. The marrow often can no longer produce enough healthy red and white blood cells and platelets. The loss of red cells leads to anemia. The lack of functional white cells impairs the body’s ability to fight infections. A shortage of platelets result in bruising and easy bleeding.
The major forms of leukemia are divided into four categories: acute and chronic myelogenous and acute and chronic lymphocytic. Myelogenous or lymphocytic denotes the cell type involved. Acute leukemia is a rapidly progressing disease that affects mostly immature cells. Chronic leukemia progresses slowly and involves greater numbers of more mature cells.

Mission Moment
Son Ngoc Dang
San Diego, CA
Lived with AML for 3 years, 7 months

We just had our second daughter (our first was 2) when Son Dang started to have symptoms of leukemia. A month later, after many tests, his was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) at the age of 34. That night, we laid in bed holding hands staring blankly at the ceiling with tears streaming down our cheeks. We were both watching our dreams of a “normal” life disappear. We did not know what lay ahead of us, but inside we shook in fear of this unknown disease that adopted itself into our family. Son was lucky to have his sister’s blood cells match his for a bone marrow transplant. He was thankful that he had this choice to do the transplant, but we did not realize how much our lives will change afterwards. For the next 3 ½ years, Son had to deal with Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD); effects of the transplant. Life for me, his 2 girls (5 and 3) and his mother (who lived with us to help us out) was not easy. Every day I watched him fight for his life. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, 2002 I got a phone call from his doctor that he suspected stomach cancer. A few days later it was confirmed. On January 22 he was admitted to have part of his stomach removed. He never came out of the hospital. A month later he passed away leaving me 5 months pregnant. Miracles do happen; just in unexpected ways. For all the families who have to go through cancer with a loved one, I reach out to you in prayer for strength and support. And I pray and hope for many other cancer victims out there that your journey to fight for your life will be surrounded with love and happiness as it was for Son Dang.