Fall Season Week 5

"Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right." - Henry Ford,

Fundraising Tip
Email your monthly update reminding others to donate. This is a great way to keep people up to date with your training and fundraising progress. It's also a great time to update your potential donors on your honored patients status.

Training Tip
Endurance Nutrition
During endurance training you have to take in more calories than normal because you will be expending more calories than normal.

Don’t try to think of this as a weight loss program. You may or may not lose weight. But that’s not the goal. Hopefully, you will lose some fat and gain some muscle.

You have to properly fuel your body to sustain the training regimen necessary to complete a full or half marathon. Food is fuel. If you put junk fuel in your car, it won’t run properly. If you put junk fuel in your body, it won’t run properly either.

Your diet should consist of 60% carbs, 20-25% proteins,15% or less fats.
Carbs should be complex carbs, as much as possible. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains. Minimize processed sugars, sodas and junk foods. Protein is necessary for building muscle. Whether you are a vegetarian or a meat eater, make sure you get plenty of protein.

Reduce your fat intake. Some fat is necessary and some fats are good for you. Try to eliminate saturated fat (solid at room temp). Use mono and polyunsaturated fats in your cooking. Avoid trans fats (hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils) at all costs.

4 – 5 small meals a day is better than 3 big meals a day.

Put the note “Food is Fuel” on your refrigerator door to remind yourself that eating is not only ok, but necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS MYELOMA?
Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, a type of white blood cell found in many tissues of the body, but mainly in the bone marrow. In myeloma, a plasma cell becomes malignant. It grows continuously—especially in the marrow—destroying normal bone tissue, causing pain, and crowding out normal blood cell production.
Malignant plasma cells produce an abnormal protein called monoclonal immunoglobulin. Immunoglobulins (or antibodies) are an important part of the body’s natural defense against infection since they recognize microbes that invade the body and permit them to be removed and destroyed. The onset of myeloma interferes with normal production of antibodies and makes myeloma patients susceptible to infections.

Mission Moment
Gavin Nicholas Ontiveros
Hebron, IN
Living with ALL for 2 years, 8 months
Age: 18

On Friday June 3, 2005, I was diagnosed with Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL T- cell). All patients with T-cell are considered high risk regardless of age and white blood cell count.

I was born in Chicago & have family in Mexico (Chihuahua, Jalisco, Guanajuato), US (Illinois, Indiana, Texas & New Mexico). My parents Cayetano & Martha, gave birth to their first born Giovani, second Nicky and last but not least, Cathy.

A personalized Web page, called a CarePage, has been created, so you can easily receive the latest news, view photos and share messages of support. At http://www.carepages.com (GavinNicholasOntiverosCarePage).

"My Life with Cancer - My Life Has Change"

• I have Cancer, (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia); it has been a big shock for family and friends to find out. • I turned bald at 15, on New Years Day I turned 16 and it turns out that I still have cancer. I look different on the outside but I’m the same person. I don’t have the choice in many things, but I could choose to make the best of the situation. CANCER will not conquer me.

• I try to make myself happy. Even on "bad" days, between treatments, it always makes me happy to take a week off from treatment.

• I have choices and I can still make some decisions. I chose whether to be asleep or awake for some procedures, and I chose not to eat hospital food.

• I am very independent and I cook whenever I can, but some days I can’t work up the energy to do it.

• I hate different smells. To help make my room more enjoyable I spray the room or use candles of smells I like.

• I try to make the best out of everything. But there are days that I want to stop with the treatment.

• I am determined to fight Cancer, to live my life to the fullest. I see things in a different way; I learned that the unexpected gift of cancer is a way to appreciate life more. I have strength and tolerance to pain that I did not know I had.

• I can say that cancer has made me different. It can make me feel very alone sometimes. When it comes down to it; I’m not alone - I have my family & friends!!! I am very surprised to have such great support from all the people that have made a difference in my experience with cancer.

• I want to fight for my life with cancer and want to live. Everyone dies, but not everyone truly lives.

• I have not been able to return to school and homebound school service has not been approved; the relationship with the school has not been positive.

• I have a life with cancer and I have many family and friends who are caring, concerned and always fun to be with. Fortunately, they can not have been more supportive. They will do anything they can to help in any way: phone calls, visits, gifts, prayers, fundraisers, donations and most of all, words of encouragement and love. These are the things that keep me going. Some days are bad, some are good, and some are great. If I look depressed, someone will always be there with a smile and a big bear hug.

• I can say as awful as cancer can be, it has brought my family and friends together, and we all have grown closer because of it. I guess you could say that I put my family and friends to “the test” by having them deal with cancer right along with me. The result: nothing will ever change the relationship I have with my family and friends. I have the best family & friends anyone could ever have!