Run For The Rose Countdown: 18 Days (3/25/2015)

In the video posted by the Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation, a doctor at the Mischer Neuroscience Institute states, "We don't have a cure for Glioblastoma as of today, but by doing this, it gives them a mental boost, which you don't get from the drugs. They walk away today feeling encouraged and inspired."

I can't express enough how true those words are, how much of a mental boost we received last year from the Run For The Rose, how much encouragement we received at just our first trip to the run.

And this year, this year we've almost doubled the number of people joining us for Team: BTHO Brain Cancer- which means we've doubled the number of people that will bring encouragement and inspiration to so many other brain cancer fighters and families. It helps you feel as though you aren't alone in your journey, this run helps so many families, just like mine, realize that there are so many people who are willing to take time out of their day, and money out of their pocket for something that means more to you than they could ever know. 

The mental boost. The encouragement. The inspiration. 

This last week has been very difficult in our family, that I can not deny. I've had many sleepless nights, many days filled with tears and feeling just down. We've been comfortable this last year with our treatment options- Avastin and chemotherapy. We've been comfortable with our plan, and God has without a doubt thrown us for a little loop, a bump in the road.

To say I don't have fear of another stroke, a much bigger stroke, after last week, would be a lie. I do have this fear, and I'm so desperately trying to rid my thoughts of this fear. But it lives there. Along with the fear of leaving town, being too far away if something bad were to happen again. I think it will take longer than a week to rid my mind and thoughts of this fear, and I think this is completely normal. Yes, I am a Christian. I have very strong faith in a much greater power controlling it all, but I am human. 

I like control. I like planning. I like knowing. And right now, my life is lacking all three of those things. 

But as a Christian, I have turned to this higher power. My talks with God were very dark and filled with pain this last week. My talks with God were not of praise, but of dislike in our journey, dislike in our path. 

I've moved from the hate, dark and pain, and attempted to find the good in this little bump in the road. It's when I realized that the Run For The Rose is closely approaching, and again, I remembered how perfect God's timing really is. 

This event is coming at the absolute perfect time, a time where my family could use the encouragement and inspiration provided during this one day event. A time where my family can look around and think "Wow, all of these people are here for something that means so much to us!"

I would love to see each of you at the Run For The Rose, flooding the course and the event with our maroon shirts, and supporting so many families on their path to fight brain cancer. 

There is still time to join our team, make a donation, or purchase a Team: BTHO Brain Cancer t-shirt. Visit our team website below, or email me with any questions you may have (glenzwhitney@gmail.com).

http://runfortherose.racepartner.com/run-for-the-rose/bthobraincancer

We knew our path to beat brain cancer would not be easy, and these last 17 months have proven just that, but we've been given the gift of so many wonderful friends and family on our journey- and for that, we are blessed.

Continue praying, as we continue fighting, to BTHO Brain Cancer!