I would like to share my background with you first. I grew up playing sports. After I graduated high school, I started having these chest pains. I spoke with my parents about them and we figured it was simple growing pains. During this time my father had several minor heart attacks and was seeing a cardiologist and my pains were getting worse. I made an appointment to go in and see my father’s cardiologist as well. While being checked out the doctor did find something with my heart. As he reviewed it further he diagnosed me with heart disease and an enlarged ventricle of my heart. I was only 18 years old when I started seeing things start to spiral downward. It was determined by my doctor that I should take a Nuclear Stress Test. For those who are unsure what this test consist of it is the following: You have an IV line in your wrist which the doctor will administer a dose of radioactive dye into your system.
Approximately 32 pictures of your heart are taken at various angles by a machine. There are two stages in this where pictures are taken while you are resting and the other after a physical activity (Treadmill running) and each time the dye is injected into your system. A month prior to my test a guy I worked with had to have the same exam, but he actually had an allergic reaction to the dye and did not survive his reaction. I was petrified for my exam. The time of my exam my father was not around and my mother was in the hospital for her medical reasons. I drove myself to the doctor’s office. I did not know what to expect and while in the waiting room for my exam I realized I was the youngest patient there and that I was all alone. I made a vow that if I made it through this exam I would change my life and help people. I drove myself home that day after a 5 hour exam and slept for 14 hours. When I went to collect my results from the doctor I was informed they were inconclusive and that I had to retake the Nuclear Stress Test again. I walked out of the office that day and went to another doctor to get a second opinion. The second doctor told me I have a heart condition that is non-fatal. I have Mitral Valve Prolapse or MVP as it is referred to. I am healthy and the doctors encourage me to continue with my exercise. Well here I am today and I still live by my vow to help people every day I wake up.
As of 8/13/2015 I have been cleared of any heart issues. The cardiologist has told me that my heart has become stronger from all my exercising and cycling.
What encouraged me to sign up for TNT was a friend of mine that came on to my MS 150 team, where I was a volunteer, and encouraged me to ride. At this time I only had a mountain bike and did not feel I could complete the MS 150 with this bike. Through his encouragement and guidance I purchased a road bike to do longer bike events. This past year he himself was diagnosed with cancer and has been undergoing treatment for it. He has inspired to do more and this is just a start to my illustrious journeys through TNT. He is a firm believer in TNT and a coach. This was my inspiration to join a great family of individuals and to continue my journey to help finding a cure!
I have a mission-to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, I’m participating in a sports endurance event as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training. Like the other members of TNT, I will be raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. I’m improving the quality of my life by participating and with your support, I can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well.
