Heber City Century Ride 2008

Lately all I have been posting about is me and my little life set back. So, today will be one of those greats in my life. I'll not lie, it's been a rough year for our family in general-both immediate and extended. Our family was not only hit once this year with cancer but twice. One survived, and one did not.

Earlier this year, I rode my first bike race. I was suppose to ride it with my cousin Kim. It was a "Cancer" ride. Her father (my uncle) had just passed and it was just not the right time for her. I rode alone for him. A few months ago, we put together another ride. It was the Heber Century Ride. Everyone chose to do the 50 miler. Again this ride was for the Huntsman Cancer Center. Un-fortunatly I was not able to ride. Kim, asked her brothers to ride as well.

We have now put together a family team. This has become our family quest. One that I think will go on for a long time. Not only was it for an awesome cause, but we were together as a family, and without family, you have nothing. Tears, joy, pain, triumph and service were all wrapped up into one little package. What an incredible day yesterday was for our family.

We (Troy-mainly) designed the coolest team jersey. Our family biking cheer is now "Go Away Cancer!" Many of our family members have had their family experience this ugly disease that never sleeps. Because my cousin married Troy and their last name is "Boldt" we have combined both the "Boldts, and Preece's" to not only "Preece lightning, but to the Lightning Boldts as well. This ride was dedicated to those who have gone on before us, and to those of us who have survived. Sheesh, I never thought in a million years I would be having my name on a shirt and having people ride for me! It was very humbling.

My Daddy and Mom came from Idaho to see his brothers children ride for him (their father), and for me. Although I was not among the participants (this time), I was there cheering and being the pit crew. It was a beautiful day! We had 8 riders and each completed 50 miles. So our family rode 400 miles cumulative yesterday! AMAZING! I was so proud of each of them. The hardest part for me was seeing them start-and telling them "thank you", and seeing their success of completing a very hard ride-and thanking them again. What a great family I have.

It was so cool to see our team in matching jerseys. It was so cool to have people come up to us and ask us what team we were, and it was so cool to be able to say that I was on that survivor list. The people in charge of the ride asked our family for a photo. It was just a great day. I can't even begin to express the happiness, and gratitude I felt. It is such a great feeling to be a part of a cause and a good cause at that. One sleeve had "Preece Lightning" on it, the other had "Lightning Boldts"- The front has a BIG lightning bolt coming down with the words "Go away Cancer" on top. Our backs had stars circling in "Memory of" and the "Survivors". We also love our sponsors who helped us with these jerseys!

As for next season-I will be riding with Team Preece and the Lightning Boldts as we will continue to race for Cancer. My Dad, and Steve are even going to ride. Thanks to Kim Preece Boldt and Troy Boldt, Mick Preece, Jeff Preece, Diana Simpson, Nate Holt, and Belinda and Dave Told. You guys are awesome!

*** I suggest you click on the photos and look at how happy everyone is! It is amazing!

Here is team Preece before the ride began.


This is as close to the bike as I will get for the rest of the season (good thing its almost over!)

Here is Troy- Yelling- "Go away Cancer!" This photo is for little Ben his nephew who passed this past year to cancer as well!

Troy and Mick getting taking a break for a few!


Kim and Belinda--- it was a little chilly in the A.M.

Jeff-had 3 flats on this ride!

Preece Lightning and the Lightning Boldts


**I will post a slide show on preecelightning.blogspot.com soon if you want to see more coverage and photos.

GO AWAY CANCER!

I have been meaning to post all week, but have been waiting for my family to all be in one place at a time-since I cant get to them.

It is official-on Monday morning September 8 2008 I got a call from my doc. Did I mention that I love him, and that he is my hero! (He is the one who found my "C", and insisted on further testing-much to my dismay and frustration of it all-I am very grateful now!) My pathology came back. All of my cancer tags are clean, my fallopian tubes,ovaries, and cervix were all clean-and the cancer stayed in the lining of my ueterus. YEAH! I was doing the happy dance in my head all day and of course my family was cheering. I have none of my female organs left in me any longer and now all I have to do is re-coop. (yeah that one is not fun for me!) This means no chemo or radiation. Double yeah for me! I will have to follow up every 3 months for the first year and every 6 months for the next 4 years until I am officially in re-mission.

Todays technology is amazing, and my doctors rock! I feel so blessed. We are so happy and relieved. We again are so grateful to all of our family and friends and the fasting and prayers that were in our behalf. Wow!

Here is a photo of my family (Im not standing straight yet). The story behind the photo is---My cousin's(Kim and Troy) two nephews who had down syndrome and both brothers just passed away in the last year from cancer. Ben (the younger)watched Josh suffer and die, and then himself passed with the same disease. He would put his hand and arm in the "Superman" pose and yell--"Go away Cancer!" That has become our family theme as of late.
My cousins and dad will be riding the Heber City Century ride in a few weeks in memory of our family members who have lost their lives to this terrible disease, and to the few of us who have survived. We are team Preece, and our family theme is "Preece Lightning".Striking out cancer! We have a lightning bolt across each of our chests that say-"Go away Cancer"! Although I wont ride this year, I will be there with the team Preece vehicle cheering my family on! (my surgeon will be riding this ride as well-pretty cool) I will ride next year! All proceeds go to the Huntsman Center Cancer Research. I love my family and the support and strength they give me each and everyday!

Home Sweet Home

Im home now. It is so good to be here. As much as I wanted to be home, I was nervous to leave the safety and security of the nurses. I am doing well. My pain is very low if I stay ontop of the meds etc. So I am resting comfortably. The only time I really feel the "Pain" badly is if I sneeze, cough or laugh. I have been coughing alot-due to laying down, I have a slight cold in my chest. It is typical I guess.

Before I left the hospital-the doc had a "come to Jesus" talk with me. Kind of scared me a little. He told me that the surgery I just had was serious and huge. That next to cracking open a chest this was the next hardest to recover from. Only because of the way the incision was cut. So-I will not be lifting or doing anything for "real" for 6 weeks. For me this will be sheer torture! He told me that many people will start feeling better and 5 weeks into their recovery they end back in the hospital starting over. So I guess I am really and truly grounded for 6 weeks.

I had a panic attack last night thinking about my mom leaving in 5 days. BUT- I am tough and I can do this! I have to keep telling myself that things will get done and I dont need to worry. I am learning lots of lessons right now.

I wish I had photos of something exciting to post but posting a shot of a belly with 27 staples and tubes just does not sound too great. All in all I am doing good. I dont feel weak or sickly- just sore and frustrated. I am ahead of schedule and as the doc says I either have a high tolerence for pain or I am tough as nails....Hmmm I have not figured out which I am. But I do know that I will be back to the gym the end of October--slowly but surely.

Gratitude Part 2

I am sitting here in the hospital- I am proud to say that I am a "Cancer Survivor!" My surgery was postponed yesterday for a few hours, so we waited for nearly 4 hours. All went well. My Docs were the best! I felt blessed. I have had the best nurses, and PCT's. Docs feel like they got it all! They opened my uterus up after it was safely removed from my body and the cancer had not penetrated the walls. This is a good thing. It pretty much means that it hadnt spread. They took a bunch of lymph nodes out for testing. I am resting now at UVRMC. My pain has not been too bad as I have a catheter pump in my incision that pumps pain meds. I've had lots of visitors and it has been so wonderful to have the support.

Day 3-I am doing well. I do not get to go home for a few days still. Cath is out and IV's are out, and I am up and walking-but still need to be watched closely. Some of the pain meds have not worked for me, so that has to be under control before I get to go anywhere. I miss my kiddo's but realize this is where I need to be. I am so grateful for all the prayers and fasting in our behalf. Our biggest hurdle has been jumped and I will be down for at least 6 weeks. Now we wait for the pathology report. We are hoping the race is over. Keeping our fingers crossed.

Gratitude

Where does one begin, when a heart is full. Emotions are on the rise and life is unpredictable. I have been very vague in posting the events happening at our house lately, yet many of our close friends and family all know what has been going on in our lives. I have recently been diagnosed with uterine cancer. Adeno-carcinoma to be exact. This past month has been extremely hard on me (us), as we have met with specialists-and doctors to make the right decisions for me. Somedays are just plain hard. It comes down to faith versus fear. I cry, I yell, I am silent, and then I cry all over.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the big day. The countdown began at 21 days til surgery-and now we are at 24 hours. I will have a complete hysterectomy and lymphectomy tomorrow. It's all coming out-including some lymph nodes. Because it is a cancer surgery the incision will be much different. So recovery will be harder. I am finally at peace with the surgery. I know that everything will be ok. We are focusing on the positive in hopes for "clean markers" when pathology comes back after the surgery. I feel blessed because I will have the best doc from the Huntsman Center, and my doc as well. I know I will be in good hands.

I am humbled, as I have the very best family. Both the Preece family and the Scoresby family have shown us so much love and support through this trial. My mama is coming for 10 days to help me-for that I am so grateful. I also have the best friend support in the world. The calls, cards, goodies, flowers just have not stopped. I have friends that make sure I am ok on a daily basis...sometimes several times a day. I so appreciate the support-the love-the friendship etc. It has helped me stay focused on the positive and has helped me to keep things in perspective.

For me, my life has changed. Nothing matters more to me than my family and my friends. I love each person that has touched my life. We have felt the prayers and fasting this past weekend. We love and appreciate each of you. I know that I have a lot to live for and alot to be grateful for. I am tough and I am a fighter! And tomorrow, I will be a cancer survivor!

My Cute Mace

My Angel Mikayla

The love of my Life

My little sweetie Meg!

My greatest blessings!