PAA 2015 is right around the corner and much has happened since I last wrote, some ups and some downs. In my last email, I mentioned that Crystal wouldn't be joining me this year on the ride, but two amazing friends, Eric Cattell and Bill Begien, stepped in to join Team V and fundraise for OMS and ride with me from LA to SF. Thanks to the generosity and support of family, friends, and extended community, we are only $5K away from hitting our $40K team goal...Thank You! And if you haven't donated already, there's still time, click here.
Furthermore, many of Keira's close friends pitched in to support their friend -- from organizing a fundraising walk, to emptying their own piggy banks, to waiting until Christmas to ask Santa to make Keira better -- her little buddies have shown tremendous compassion.
But unfortunately, there is also some sobering news to share. Last week we confirmed that after 9 months of remission, Keira was showing active signs of OMS again. After we got past the 6 month mark, and then started Kindergarten, we once again started hoping that her remission would last. But as has been her battle for the past five years, OMS reared its ugly head again. This time around, we aren't waiting and have decided to hit it hard again with a Rituxan/Dexamethasone combo.
The trooper that she is, Keira is back at Stanford and sitting right next to me now hooked up to the infusion machine getting her medicine.
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While the timing of this all may be coincidence, being on the heels of Childhood Cancer Awareness month and on the eve of PAA 2015, it's symbolic nonetheless. This is real and still a part of our lives even five years after cancer.
Thank you for your gracious support, kind words, pictures, text messages, FB messages, emails, food, and donations. We are truly grateful for it all. And thank if you've donated to PAA already and if you have not, there is still time.
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With gratitude,
Naveen, Crystal, Keira, and Akemi
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