Bert’s Blog

We have finished with another exhausting 3-Day Cancer Walk this year. Ashley took a year off from walking and did crew with Peggy and I. Ask Peggy and Ashley how challenging it was to serve lunch to over 3,200 people each day for 3 days with only 20 people for food, water, and Gatorade. Their arm muscles are very sore today. I did medical transport again this year, and unfortunately, we were very busy. From severe dehydration to sprains and fractures, to severe allergic reactions, to…………… I have never seen this many people just pass out….boom.

This event is always good to refocus us on what is important in life. Every person has his or her story. We met many survivors who were walking or crewing, thankful that they have continued to beat breast cancer. I worked with and transported 2 women who were in chemo, but still wanted to try to walk at least some part of the route every day…. remarkable. From Pam, the Dallas Police Officer working the medical tent that had a spinal tumor removed, to the many walkers who lost mothers and sisters to breast cancer, to Bill’s wife, who is an RN and a 7 year survivor and was on the medical crew; the stories were very touching. This disease touches 1 out of every 8 women, and impacts men as well. Very sobering.

This DFW event raised $7.9 million dollars to support finding a cure for breast cancer. We had about 3,200 walkers and over 375 crew members supporting this event. I slept in a car both nights, that is to say when I was not transporting and picking people up from hospitals or urgent care facilities. Friday night (Saturday morning), I finished at 3:00am and woke before 6:00am. Yet, my job was easy compared to the people who walked 60 miles in 3 days. It may not sound like much to you, but try it sometime. The sheer will power of these people was inspiring. It was also hard to watch women that were within 6 miles of the finish line, yet were deemed by the medical crew to be unable to complete the route…the risk was too great. To see them break down in tears was very hard. Kudos to the medical staff for having the patience and compassion to handle these emotions so professionally.

We are taking a year off next year due to another personal commitment the weekend of the walk, but I promised Mindy, the medical transport team captain, and Tara, the medical team captain, that I would be back. Those of you who know me well also know that I am a man of my word. As my father likes to say…life is a schoolroom. What I say is, life presents you with situations all the time. What you do with these situations determines whether you grow, learn, or stay stagnant. It determines who you ultimately become. The fight in these women who are either undergoing treatment for breast cancer, or who are survivors, is to be admired.

Every day that I wake up is a good day. Every day that I can say I am healthy is a good day. Every day that I can look at my family that loves me is a good day. Yes Garrett, earrings are for girls, Mr. potato Head, and since you have not noticed yet….Papa as well. Love life; live it to the fullest; hug someone today. Life and health are a gift not to be taken for granted. Lynee, we carried your picture on the back of our lanyards. This walk was dedicated to you. Fight hard!

Scroll down to see some pictures.

The big weekend is coming up this Friday to Sunday. This year the Cancer Walk is expecting over 4,000 walkers compared to 2,400 last year. I am on the Medical Transport Team again this year, and I have a feeling we will be very busy. Since I am on call 24, I have decided to sleep in the transport car. This allows Peggy and Ashley to share a tent. They are working the lunch tents, so they will be leaving early every morning to set-up. Since I have a car, I get to at least go get a Starbucks:)

This year we are dedicating our walk to Lynee, who is in chemo now. We have pictures of her and another of the whole family that we will carry respectfully in our lanyards. This is a tradition that we learned of last year, and carried pictures of Branden, Chris and Garrett with us.

The route is planned, and we are starting and finishing at the same locations as last year. The actual route is somewhat different, but about 65% is the same, and there are some nice areas that the participants will walk through. I am always humbled by the dedication of family members, survivors, and people in treatment during this 60 mile walk over 3 days. The three of us are honored to do our part to help fund the cure.

For those of you who are interested, I am going to try to post from my mobile blog during the 3 Day Walk. I hope every one is safe this weekend.

It has been enjoyable to watch Branden adapt to the role of a road warrior. For each new city he travels to, he takes the time to explore the area. He does this whether he is by himself, or with someone else. When I was first starting my international travels over 20 years ago, I tended to not explore if I was by myself. I don’t really know why, but that was just the way I was at that stage in my life.

When he was in Australia this year, he stayed at the perfect spot in Sydney, The Rocks by the harbor, and had a ball. In fact, he fell in love with that city. When in Brazil, he explored the city he stayed in, and was lucky to have Chris join him for a few days.

He is now finishing a quick trip to London and Brussels, and enjoyed exploring Brussels last night. In fact, when he got lost, he stopped into a pub….gee what a shocker there…..and met someone from Sacramento who gave him directions to where he wanted to go. I have really enjoyed his mobile blog on these trips; I recognized the picture from his hotel room in Brussels, since I have stayed at a hotel on that same square. For those of us who are beer drinkers, we know Belgian beers can be a bit unusual and a challenge to drink. Ashley is a bit concerned with Branden’s consumption of the strawberry beer that he had later in the evening. Have fun, explore, travel safe, and for the HD group, screw it, let’s ride!

Thanks to the plowing up of our wonderful green belt area in preparation for the stupid road going through our neighborhood, the snakes are out. When I was mowing yesterday afternoon, I almost ran over a 3 foot snake. Before I could get something to kill it, it slithered away into the ivy at the side of the house. I figured I would leave it alone, and it did not look poisonous.

This afternoon I went to let Izzie out in the backyard, and saw a similar snake….maybe the same one, sunning itself by the house. Now I figured, you are in my backyard, and you might get my dog, so you are done. I loaded my 9mm with snake shot, got a shovel, and went to work. I was trying to get the snake to be off of the retaining wall, since I did not want to get any ricochet shot. It hid itself in one of the bushes, and I could not find it. Since I was unsure that it had not gone into my back neighbor’s house, I called him to make sure that he knew because of his dog and child. He came out and helped my spot the snake as I poked various bushes. I first thought it was a garden snake, but when it struck at my shovel and I saw that white open mouth, I figured we had a venomous snake.

After shooting it three times, with the last one being in the head, it finally was no longer a threat to us or the dog. I carried it in a shovel to the woods at the end of the street and left it for the other animals to eat. My adrenaline was pumping so much that I had to jump in the pool to cool off.

Our friend’s cat was bit by a copperhead this morning, and is in the hospital for the rest of today to get him better. So watch out for snakes for a few weeks until they find new homes. Thanks to our wonderful City Council for pushing the road through. Will you call animal control when one of the lovely snakes finds you, or do you live far enough away to not be bothered?

I received an email from a women in my town to attend a fund raiser for the 3 Day Cancer Walk. She noticed my name on the Crew list, saw that I lived in the same small town, and thought it would be nice to meet one of the people who work to support this cause. I was unable to attend due to family commitments, so I sent her an email wishing her much success with the event, and to tell her what assignments that Peggy, Ashley and I had for the 3 Day Walk. I told her that since I was on Medical Transport, I hoped that I did not get to meet her in that venue. I read my email this morning, and here is what I found.

Yes we did have a great night at Potbelly’s raising over $600 for the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk.  I too hope me and my team do not need your services but I am very thankful you will be there just in case.

Please thank Peggy and your daughter Ashley for volunteering at lunch crew.  I will look for them.  Thank you to your whole family for dedicating yourselves to this worthy cause.  I am going in tomorrow for round 5 of my chemo treatments and I am grateful to people like you who make it possible for all of us to walk in November.

Hope to see some of your family at the 3-Day!

Kathryn
Dallas 07 Walker
Dallas 08 Walker &Survivor

Quite the woman to thank us while she is going through chemo. It again puts things into perspective. Live every day to your best, Don’t sweat the smal stuff. Tell someone you love them just one more time today.

Well Peggy is adjusting to our new family member, and Izzie is little-by-little adjusting to us and the crate.  We know we cannot trust her totally on her own yet, but she seems to be easily trainable. Peggy has assumed a huge responsibility in my absence this week (Thank You!), and Izzie is responding to her very well. She loves to play, chase and retrieve the ball, and walk. I think long-term Izzie will be much easier to train. One step at a time…..

Tee, why not bring over your two dogs someday to let them play:) Just keep them away from the spa:)