Dancing for my dad

[Trickeration]

My dad died in 2002 of lung cancer. Just before he died, he told me he was sorry that he couldn't leave anything to us kids. I let him know that everything he taught us throughout our lives was much more valuable. For example, my sister and I are just as quick to look under the hood of our car if there's a problem as our brothers. All of us dig right into broken appliances, and can often repair them ourselves. We all play music, we can all fish and handle a boat. We're all self sufficient and are calm in crisis situations. I think of my dad often, especially when I'm digging into some electronic device or splicing wires for a prop I'm building.

This weekend, I'm dedicating my time to my dad as I participate in a 24 hour dance-a-thon to raise money for cancer research. So far the event has raised over $22,000 that will be given to City Of Hope at the closing of the event. I'll be dancing on a team called Lindy Unleashed. The team has to be represented on the dancefloor at all times during the event, so members will dance in shifts. I've got a shift on Saturday, but will also be there from about 4am until the end at 10am on Sunday and whenever else I'm needed. I'll only be going home to check on my kids, get them dinner and get them to bed. Also, though my dad is the one I'm dedicating this to, my mom is a two time cancer survivor, and my uncle is also a cancer suvivor. So my efforts go out to them as well, and to all of us who have cancer in there medical histories, and especially to my kids.

Okay, now here's the part where I ask for your help. Any donation would be wonderful, and can be made online at the dance-a-thon website www.danceathon.org . You can put donations under my name, Teresa Wyman, there. The site will tell you all about what's going on, too. By the way, if you've seen posts from OCNikki here, she's also involved in the creation of this really cool event.

Other than a donation, your thoughts and prayers would be great. For both the event and for my health. My family and I have been fighting the flu for almost 2 weeks now. I'm the last to get it, and expect to still be pretty tired, though no longer contagious, this Saturday.

Well, thanks so much for your time and support, and for letting me share about my dad. I'll be putting the names of several friends and family that have both won and lost fights with cancer on my team shirt. If anyone would like me to add a name for them too, I'd be happy to. Take care and God bless!

 

[Johnnysan]

Teresa,

What a great story and what a wonderful rememberance. You dad will surely be with you in spirit on the dance floor, as he is always. I just made a donation online at the dance-a-thon website in your name and in memory of your dad and my sister, Lucia, who passed away in March from multiple myeloma. Do well, have fun and good luck!

 

[Mycroft]

My dad died in 2002 of lung cancer. Just before he died, he told me he was sorry that he couldn't leave anything to us kids. I let him know that everything he taught us throughout our lives was much more valuable. For example, my sister and I are just as quick to look under the hood of our car if there's a problem as our brothers. All of us dig right into broken appliances, and can often repair them ourselves. We all play music, we can all fish and handle a boat. We're all self sufficient and are calm in crisis situations. I think of my dad often, especially when I'm digging into some electronic device or splicing wires for a prop I'm building.

This weekend, I'm dedicating my time to my dad as I participate in a 24 hour dance-a-thon to raise money for cancer research. So far the event has raised over $22,000 that will be given to City Of Hope at the closing of the event. I'll be dancing on a team called Lindy Unleashed. The team has to be represented on the dancefloor at all times during the event, so members will dance in shifts. I've got a shift on Saturday, but will also be there from about 4am until the end at 10am on Sunday and whenever else I'm needed. I'll only be going home to check on my kids, get them dinner and get them to bed. Also, though my dad is the one I'm dedicating this to, my mom is a two time cancer survivor, and my uncle is also a cancer suvivor. So my efforts go out to them as well, and to all of us who have cancer in there medical histories, and especially to my kids.

Okay, now here's the part where I ask for your help. Any donation would be wonderful, and can be made online at the dance-a-thon website www.danceathon.org . You can put donations under my name, Teresa Wyman, there. The site will tell you all about what's going on, too. By the way, if you've seen posts from OCNikki here, she's also involved in the creation of this really cool event.

Other than a donation, your thoughts and prayers would be great. For both the event and for my health. My family and I have been fighting the flu for almost 2 weeks now. I'm the last to get it, and expect to still be pretty tired, though no longer contagious, this Saturday.

Well, thanks so much for your time and support, and for letting me share about my dad. I'll be putting the names of several friends and family that have both won and lost fights with cancer on my team shirt. If anyone would like me to add a name for them too, I'd be happy to. Take care and God bless!

I did not know dance-a-thons were stil legal. Best of luck and what a great way to raise money. Remeber to take a coffee bath first to keep awake:coffee:.

 

[Trickeration]

Teresa,

What a great story and what a wonderful rememberance. You dad will surely be with you in spirit on the dance floor, as he is always. I just made a donation online at the dance-a-thon website in your name and in memory of your dad and my sister, Lucia, who passed away in March from multiple myeloma. Do well, have fun and good luck!

Johnnysan,
I'm so sorry to hear about your sister, I'm sure she is greatly missed. I'll keep your family in my prayers, and I'm here if you ever want to talk. And thank you so much for your support and kind words. I'll add Lucia to the names I'll be wearing this weekend. I'm really looking forward to being a part of this event, I feel like I'm really 'doing something'. I'll be sure to take pictures and post them so you can see how it went. Thanks again and God bless! Trix (Teresa)

Mycroft,
Thanks a lot! Yes, I think this was a great idea. I'm amazed at just how big this has become. And don't worry, I think they've been stockpiling coffee for a while to prepare for the event !

 

[Rigby Reardon]

For my Dad, but only through your efforts - Thank You

Coffee bath? Hmm...I'd keep a bag of chocolate-covered expresso beans nearby...and maybe soak a headband in cappucino so it just keeps soaking in... ...ooh, or an illicit nic patch!

Trix/Teresa - Donation made in your name, but for my father's memory. Won't recount the details of suffering here, but suffice to say lung cancer and the associated health problems all caught up to him at once last year. At least he was lucky - he was relatively healthy until they found it, just three months before he passed away due to complications. If you've got 'Dad' written down anywhere, that will suffice for him as well, but he went by 'Jerry'. If you'd like a last name, I'll send it along by PM...

And THANK YOU AGAIN for your efforts. I don't recall from the other thread, but if you are going to swing by the QM at all, have Dan point me out, and I'll thank you properly by offering you a drink. :cheers1:

 

[Trickeration]

Rigby,
Thanks for the donation, and I got your PM. Your dad's name will be added to the shirt, and I'll keep you all in prayer. My dad's situation was VERY similar. He was diagnosed the Saturday after Thanksgiving and was gone 3 months later. It was hard on all of us, but we were thankful that he didn't suffer long.

My husband and I were planning on going to the QM on Friday, but now it's not really in the budget. However Wild Root has about got me talked into at least stopping by after dinner to visit, since we live in Long Beach. Dan is an old dear friend, and said he pass on the itnerary for the weekend, so if we don't make it Friday night, we'll probably check out some of the Indy stuff Saturday. So, I should be there at some point anyway. I look forward to meeting you. Take care. T

 

[Rigby Reardon]

Okay, I'll keep this from being graphic, but I will tell you more, because the timing of our fathers' passings are nearly identical - eerie!

My father was sick w/ a long bout of what turned out to be pneumonia right through December - round about btwn Christmas and New Years they had an inkling of what was wrong, in January they found the tumors, and in April he passed away. The three months to spend getting things in order (and making sure EVERY member of our far-flung Irish clan visited) were a blessing. Dad almost beat it...it took the combination of the emphysema, the pneumonia, the just completed full course of chemo - which appeared to be successful, and the months of coughing together weakened his tissues in his lungs and a major blood vessel to cause the rupture that finally, and thankfully quickly, ended his fight. And he was right there with the doctor and nurses and my mother with him, in a hospital - and LAUGHING, when the rupture occurred - nothing could have possibly been done. He'd beat it all, as far as I was concerned, and stayed upbeat and positive throughout - but got called up on a technicality. He's my hero - he didn't die of the cancer, he died in the fight.

I forwarded the website info on to my family...most probably won't pick it up until tomorrow, but my Mother already sent back a Thank You specifically for you. So my far flung Irish family will all stop to think of you at some point this weekend.

I'm looking forward to meeting you if you do swing by the QM. Make Dan get you a wheelchair so you can REST that wknd.

 

[Trickeration]

Hey Rig,
Thanks for sharing. Your dad was quite a fighter. I know chemo can be tough, my mom has survived cancer twice. She had colon cancer in '93 and just beat breast cancer last Christmas. Her first chemo session almost killed her.

My dad was diagnosed as stage 4 and terminal pretty much right off. When he went to the hospital that November, he was in pain, but we had no idea why. They knew it was cancer by the following week. It had gone into his bones and spine already, so he never did walk after coming home. He stayed in good spirits, though, and my family and I came down to Oceanside to see him every weekend. Christmas was really awkward, though. What do you give a dying man for Christmas? The week before he died, my mom called and said he was really antsy about us coming down that weekend. We promised we would, and I even talked to him on the phone that Friday. On Saturday, he was kind of crabby, but all was well once we got there. He had all of his kids there, and we each spent time with him. Sunday morning he couldn't speak, and couldn't really move by evening, but he could hear us. My husband and I went in and prayed with him and talked to him, and he seemed calmer. We called hospice at little before 9pm and the nurse came out. She said he was dying (which made my sister mad, because she said it in the room with him), but it seemed like it calmed him more. It was like he was thinking "Okay, if this is it, I can handle it". He died just after 9pm. His death was very calm and easy, and his family was all there.

Our stories do have some similarities alright. It's always been a comfort to me when I meet someone who really knows what I'm talking about. When my mom was about to start radiation treatments for the breast cancer last year, I found out that one of the vocalists in our big band had just gone through the same thing with her mom. She was such a help, and gave me so much piece of mind. It's been great being able to share with you, too.

Now put a lighter spin on things, I would probably have gotten teary writing this. But the whole time I've been writing, my macaw has been saying his newest phrase, "peek-a-boo" over and over. And just a minute ago, my daughter went over to his cage and told him "It's not cute anymore, so please stop!"

Please tell you're mom "hi" for me, and my mom sends her best to you both, too. Also, I just found we'll be on Fox 11's "Good Day LA" at 7am Sunday, so if you're in the area, check it out. Thanks for all you support, and take care. T.

 

[Rigby Reardon]

Hunh...getting sleepy...I thought I hit submit, but my post isn't here. Need sleep. To recap the lost post:

1) That was a very personal story, I know, Teresa - thank you for sharing it with us. It sounds like your Dad was very blessed indeed to have his family there when the time came, to know you were near and still hear your voices when he decided it was time. That was a gift.

2) I'm going to go set my DVR to record Good Day LA now.

3) I feel for that macaw, that's what I keep hearing from my friends as well. ("It's not cute anymore, so please stop!")


J

 

[Trickeration]

I survived

Hey there,
I just woke up and I'm still a little fuzzy, so this post will be short. I'll put up more details and photos when my head clears. I just wanted to let you all know that the dance-a-thon raised over $45,000. I did 12 hours. I have a cramp in my left leg, but otherwise, I'm good. I'm going back to bed now . I'll write again soon. Trix

 

[Johnnysan]

12 hours! What a trooper! Way to go, Trix and thanks for your outstanding effort for this great cause!! :clap

 

[Rigby Reardon]

:clap WOW! :clap Great job, T!

I thought you had a team, though - ? Were you the anchorman who kept the team on the floor, or was it one of those 'James Brown' moments when they just COULDN'T get you to leave?

 

[Mycroft]

Nice work, I still can not even think about the 12 hours without getting sleepy. Great work again, how did the coffee bath work?

 

[Trickeration]

Pictures

Okay, here's the link to the pictures:

http://community.webshots.com/album/498988297UPBPQt

Hi guys! Thanks so much for your support. It really kept me motivated.

Here's a rough idea of how I spent my time. I was at the dance for 5 hours yesterday. I danced my shift, and was a relief dancer if someone needed a break. I love to dance, though, so I only sat out a few songs to catch my breath. I went home and got my kids dinner, then slept for about 3 hours. I went in again at 2 am and stayed until 9 this morning. Got to dance with Wild Root, by the way. He joind up late, but I'm glad he made it. By about 6am I was giving myself half-hour goals. Get to 6:30, get to 7 etc. From about 5 to 7am I danced extra shifts so the rest of the team could work on a routine to perform at 8:30. That was fine though, it was easier to stay awake with a job to do, and some of the moves weren't really mine or my partner's style. Plus my dance partner was tired (see pics).

Didn't take a coffee bath (I'm a Diet Coke girl. I like the bubbles )

I actually really enjoyed the whole thing. Even being tired. And the organizers scheduled live bands, lessons, contests and stuff in between the DJ'd music so there was plenty to keep your mind and body busy. I'm used to fairly late hours too, from playing in bands for so long.

They made pancakes for breakfast, and we ate in shifts. I got a real kick out of watching people eat. Some were struggling a little opening their syrup, most were glassy-eyed, and pretty much everyone looked like they were moving in slow motion. I'd wanted to stay until the end of the event, at 10am, but by 9 I was feeling pretty tired and felt like I'd have trouble driving home if I stayed awake much longer. I used to do night deliveries, so I have a pretty good idea what my limit is. I stayed until after the team routines, danced a few more times, then headed home. I went to bed around 10am. I'd only slept 3 hours since 9am Saturday, but it was worth it.

Anyway, after some sleep, and a little motrin I'm feeling like my old self. I had a great time and it was great to be part of something that could do so much for so many. And I'm so glad I could represent your families, too.

Well, I'm really tired,and here it is 1:30 am. What am I doing awake? Good-night all, and thanks again. It was nice to have some folks in my corner. I'll ee ya around the lounge, and maybe we'll meet at the QM or some other event! Take care and God bless! Trix

 

[Rigby Reardon]

Thanks for the pictures, T! I'm forwarding that link on to my family so they can see it...'A Hero'...aw, thanks...:cry:

Glad you're bouncing back quick - I'd still see if I could get Dan to arrange a wheelchair for you at the QM, though.
J

 

[Trickeration]

Hey, there!

Just wanted to let you all know that a check for $48,000 was given to City Of Hope! :clap I never guessed we'd raise so much! Just a week before the dance, we were told that we were at $22,000, and that they were hoping we'd get 30k. Thanks so much for all of your support.

Also, I just got an email form my friend Pete in Michigan. His dad had died of cancer in 2002, just 2 months after mine. Then a few months later, Pete was diagnosed with bladder cancer. I can't imagine how his mom got throught that news. He had surgery and chemo, but the cancer came back. More surgery and more chemo. In Dec. of 2003 he went in for testing and was cancer free.

Over the weekend (during the dance-a-thon) Pete had emailed and said that he was going in for a check-up this Tuesday and to please keep the prayers coming as bladder cancer has a very high return rate. Today's email came with his results. Cancer Free!! I'm so happy for him. Anyway, I just had to share that news, too.

Well, take care. Trix