Single Digit Days....

You see this disease (Parkinson’s Disease)….it’s tricky….  Some days are good….some days are “bad”…actually everyday is “bad in the eyes of the beholder”  but some things don’t seem to be as scary when you have experienced the worse days.  I guess I should talk about the disease itself for those who don’t really understand it, I mean this is why I want to do this and make a difference for someone else.  I don’t want some other daughter/son  to feel the anxiety to turn their phone to “phone calls only” setting before they go to bed every night just so IN CASE there is that terrible call of something wrong  because of Parkinson’s Disease….  (That is usually my last thought before I go to bed of my anxiety something could go wrong)

Some days dad can speak to where we can make out the words a little more clearly, his muscles in his face have been taken over by the disease making it extremely difficult to have control over them that creates the hardship with eating and speaking. 

Some days (when dad could walk) he would shuffle his feet more than other days causing difficulty for him to walk.  Maintaining balance is tricky too…causing many falls through this process.

Some days, his hands would shake a little more than they did the day before….those days he would sneak his hands in his pockets and proceed.

NOTHING….nothing stopped this man when things got difficult….he was at Cross Country meets with a cane still making sure he could get to a few spots and cheer on the kids. 

We take for granted how “easy” we have it even on days we think are hard.  This disease scared the $h*t out of me when we found out.  (Sorry there was no other word to express the truth there)….. It was even scarier because we didn’t know exactly what it was….”Dad has Parkinson’s Disease….what’s that”…then proceed by the Google searching, which we all know the worst case information make the top search results.  Then the freak out stage…which for me was years….maybe even my own stage of denial…I mean dad still “seemed fine”…maybe if I forget this because he isn’t like these other cases online it will make “all this” easier.  Well….nothing is easier.  We discovered the Michael J. Fox story…over time it was so much easier to say “It’s what Michael J. Fox has”…then people were like “ohhhh……”  When you can say that….that’s when the truth comes out that YES…ONE MAN/PERSON can make a difference. 

Dad has had a few pretty difficult days due to the hardships of being confined to bed and the effects of the effects are sometimes the worst conditions.  His vitals were low yesterday morning, he’s been a lot sleepier then normal, and he has an infection in his leg.  His alertness has been a little shy of normal…. Those are the scary days.  I called to check on him a short bit ago and they teased and said he woke up around 10:30 or so and he hadn’t stopped eating since J  He hasn’t eaten much if anything in about 3 days….  So this is GOOD NEWS…and a BETTER day J  Denny made his visit with a chocolate milkshake in hand…and that always makes the day better for dad.  If you ask me I think dad’s spoiled J

I feel as if I’m having a “Dad Day”…I have so many stories and things to tell you….Dad never quit talking J   

We had a GREAT and successful evening at the Parkersburg Country Club Wednesday evening.  It was so nice to have an evening to catch up with many, and just share in doing this for dad.  I was so touched by those who were able to make it.  We raised around $1450 at this event!  Watch out….next year will be bigger and better J  (I’ll try to organize it with a little more than 20 day notice) J   We were SOOOOOO close to reaching our goal…we just needed a few more “things/events” to push us just a little bit closer.  As I type this our online total amount is  $7,611.45.  I have mailed in the checks to the Michael J. Fox Foundation to be credited to our account, so those are pending, and a few more I received in the mail today.  If my math is right (give or take a little for me in case)…we are around $8,400.  I would LOVE to tell dad when I stop to visit on the way to NYC and give him the Team Fox Banner we all signed at the Country Club…to tell him we reached $10,000! 

Some of the Silent Auction Items on Display

Showing of the Team Fox Video

 

I know several have been wandering about dad so I wanted to send a little blog update….thank you for all your continued prayers, support, and thoughts of our family.  They have made “all this” a little easier to deal with knowing we have so many people thinking of dad.

Have we really officially snuck into the single digit days until the marathon?....I swear we just started training for this last week it feels like……

Now…..this hurricane Sandy better get her route heading in the other direction….we have a marathon to run in NYC J

Panic Mode....

As many of you have discovered if you didn't know already....I get nervous...almost about everything. I have been trying to keep my hives under control but the buildup of SOOOO many things coming up is starting to ignite this panic mode (however they say that comes with tapering).....

Yes...I know... "Relax...it will all be ok..." (mom has been saying that for 30 years now)  Well, easier said than done. I'm a perfectionist and a people pleaser, we don't really relax.  I really want our event to go well tomorrow…. In case you’re thinking “What event”…well you now have plans for tomorrow at the Parkersburg Country Club! 

 

I wanted this to be a BIG fundraiser for us, but most of all it’s an excuse for an opportunity for us all to get together for awareness.  I keep stressing about the little things, and I know it will all come together. I just hope for a large crowd.  So please feel free to bring a carload of people (and in the meantime tell 5 others) and enjoy the evening! J  We have some great silent auction items (and would always welcome more) and will have T-shirts there and lots of fun!

Now…on the fundraising side of things, I am trying to keep my fingers crossed because if we can make this a GREAT event….this could push us towards our goal of $10,000.  I’ll be honest, I really didn’t think we’d get that far in the beginning….as I said then…dad always said to make a goal, but then push it a little more.  The committed amount needed to raise was $5,000…so in my over-achieving obsession of ways…why not double it…just thinking it would be something to strive for.  With 12 days to go till the marathon….we actually are really close!  (A couple pending donations we are about $6,700)

**Please don't forget tomorrow...I have a Team Fox Banner I want everyone to sign that I will be giving dad before leaving to NYC....he LOVED the poster we did at the Fair...so we hope to fill the banner for him to hang for the race :)

We are currently in 9^th place on the NYC Team Fox Runners (over 200 off them) for fundraising…how awesome is that!? 

I do think having this fundraiser coming up has allowed me to stress about it and not the 26.2 mile run!  It’s been such a mental game, mostly because I have to convince myself…I am not RACING this….I am finishing this.  This is such a new territory of a challenge....I will be surrounded by people at all times of this race (there are 47,000 people you know)….and passing someone and passing the person in front of you take on a whole new meaning….  This will be my motto:

The run last night was scenic and peaceful.  The temperature was perfect, the leaves are BEAUTIFUL…and I “only” had a 40 minute run. 

 

I kept thinking ohhhh legs please feel like this on November 4^th….temperature….please be this temperature on November 4^th….   I think about just how far we have come in this journey.  There are moments I doubt what I’m doing…only because I know I can be overbearing in wanting things to be the best, wanting to make sure all I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed.  Pushing…and Pushing…to get the most out of someone/everything.  I second guess myself at that…but then I realize…I’m exactly that way because dad raised me that way.  Walking off the gym floor after scoring 40 points….and dad’s words to me, “You know….you would have had 42 if you would have made that lay up”….  There is always something better you can do…always….and NEVER chose to be satisfied.  So…. I try not to be mad at myself for pushing for the best, because at the end of the day, I don’t think that’s necessary a bad thing….it will only make me better. 

Now….I hope to see you tomorrow….let’s fill the room!

Where in the World is Team Spangler?

COLUMBUS!!!

 

We had some support for Team Spangler in the Columbus Half Marathon this past weekend J  Shaun Snodgrass and friends sported Team Spangler shirts for the run! 

If anyone ever needs to know a sports fact, ask this guy J  I think he kept me straight about statistics most days when I couldn’t remember numbers from specific games.  Of course Shaun had to move to Columbus about right after I moved back to WV for me to have a WV friend nearby J  I think Dad and Shaun spent MANY conversations on reflecting about sports, memories, strategies, and opinions J 

Thank you Shaun for helping us in this journey J