Run For Ian |
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To raise awareness and do something that would require hard-work and dedication, Kristen Sheffield will be running six half-marathons in 2010 to honor her husband Ian. Her goal is to raise $1,000 for each half-marathon for The American Brain Tumor Association exists to eliminate brain tumors through research and to meet the needs of brain tumor patients and their families.
Schedule of Kristen's Six Half-Marathons Museum of Aviation Foundation Marathon, Warner Robins/Robins AFB Callaway Gardens - Pine Mountain, GA ING Georgia Marathon Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon Atlanta Marathon Kiawah Island Marathon Ian's Story: In May 2008, my husband, Ian Sheffield, began complaining about “episodes” that he was experiencing several times a week. They would consist of a sense of awareness, numbness, and a euphoric high following an exhausting low and a taste of metallic in his mouth. We didn’t think too much about it since we were just moving into our new house and planning our wedding. After our June wedding I scheduled a physical for Ian. I remember getting a call from him at work, all he said was “come home now, I need you.” That’s when the roller coaster ride began. In August, 2008 a brain biopsy showed that he had a grade II Oligoastrocytoma brain tumor. The doctors threw out scary words like cancer, inoperable, life expectancy, and showed us pictures of a very large tumor. They talked about our treatment options and in October, 2008 Ian began chemo treatments. His symptoms have gotten progressively worse over the past year (extreme fatigue and nausea) but all in all he is still able to function somewhat normally. He goes to work, school and still sees family and friends outside of home while he is on chemo. In fact, if you didn’t know he had a tumor you might think him a healthy young man. Ian has just completed his 12th round of chemo, we know that there has been some shrinkage to his tumor and we are evaluating what route we will pursue if his chemotherapy were to end. Ian and I have talked a lot about this over the past year. It’s a frightening place to be, not knowing the direction we are going to take and potentially having to make some kind of decision within the next couple of months. We have faith and work at being positive while trying to find strength in each other. I am excited to think about what I will accomplish in 2010 and extremely appreciative of the encouragement I have received so far. This goal helps me feel that I am somehow taking control of an obvious uncontrollable situation. I hope that by doing this, with the help of my family and friends, Ian and I will make a difference in not only our lives but hopefully others who are going through something similar. I would like to end by saying thank you to my family and friends for their incredible love and support this past year. Please check out our web page at http://www.runforian.com/ for updates on Ian’s progress. Thank you, Kristen Sheffield |
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Run For Ian
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