Many have already had too much fun with my latest television slot, but for those that missed it… here’s a link for your viewing pleasure…”This is MY rodeo!!!!”  (actually the Caldwell Night rodeo is really MY rodeo)

http://cdn.smugmug.com/ria/ShizVidz-2011030702.swf

Along with a TV commercial, I have also been involved with a documentary film which highlights young adult cancer survivors.  Not sure how much I will be featured, but a film crew flew out in June and filmed a full days worth of stuff.  If something does come of it, I’ll be sure to post where you can see it.

they filmed me coaching the javelin

Part of the reason I was chosen for the film was because I received the opportunity to attend First Descents this year.  First Desents is an outstanding non-profit organization that benefits young adult cancer survivors.  The particular camp that I attended was a week-long kayaking camp located just outside of Vail, CO at 9500′ in elevation.  It was so awesome and inspiring to be able to learn to kayak with 10 other fellow cancer survivors.  I have white-water rafted, and paddled in inflatable kayaks through white water, but let me tell you that if you have never been in a hardshelled kayak before, it is a lot more difficult than I ever imagined.  In fact… the first day I deservedly won the “swimmer’s award” for being more underwater and out of my kayak than actually in my kayak.

just demonstrating how not to kayak!

By Thursday and Friday I was hooked though!  Currently I’m actively searching craigslist for a kayak and looking for a group to be able to paddle with.

Tearing it up at the end of the week!

It’s hard to describe the connection that us campers had.  These people are just so awesome and inspirational.  As I think through all the treatments I have been through, I was always the youngest person in the midst of all older people.  It was very neat to be able to connect with survivors who are in the same phase of life that I am.  The instant connection, trust, and encouragement that we shared made us an incredible team where we were able to accomplish so much more than any could have done individually.  It just reminds me of how thankful I was for my team (every one of you reading this) that I was blessed with that helped support, encourage and pray for me.

-LivingSTRONG!

Tim

since I was in a rodeo commercial, I'd better at least prove that I've been on a horse before... at First Descents camp on an "off the water" day

I wanted to let everyone know how much I love my mom and appreciate all that she has done for me!  Though she has been my caregiver since I was born, she took on the official title when we moved up to Seattle last year for my transplant.  She is an amazingly strong and talented woman, and there is no way I could have made it through the transplant without her.  Her job was 24/7.  She did whatever she could to read and learn and find out what was best for me.  She prepared healthy meals, sanitized the apartment daily, changed my dressings, flushed my ports, went to every appointment and took notes, spent the night in hospital rooms, kept me emotionally strong, and prayed.  There is no way I can list all of the things she did for me, or put in to words how thankful that she is my mom… but know that I love her!

Here are some pics for your enjoyment…

the things we do for a certificate

My mom...safely on the ground

Matt and Marie getting ready to go!

Coming in for my landing

My st. patty's day "green" stem cells going in!!

Last night I filled out my March Madness bracket, and I was remembering filling it out last year the day before my transplant. At the time, I had just finished a 12 hour chemo day and did not feel well at all. There’s really no words to describe how terrible I felt. I just remember thinking that I have got to fill out my bracket because the games start tomorrow, but I feel so terrible that I’m not even sure if I literally have enough energy to do it. But I willed myself to grab my laptop and login and start filling it out. At the time my cognitive brain function was so bad that it was such a struggle and took every ounce of energy to even read the names of the teams and click a button to advance them to the next round, but I did it. The funny thing is, I looked at my results from last year and I got 2nd out of 31 teams. I can tell you that so far it’s looking like this year I’ll probably finish about 30th out of 31 teams.

Lastly, this past weekend I was in Chicago and had a great time seeing lots of family. Unfortunately, the reason for the visit was to attend my Uncle Darrell’s memorial service. He was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia in in April of 2010 and was approaching a stem cell transplant when he passed away. Please keep the family in your prayers.

Some of the Beck family while in Chicago

My mom and I waited anxiously in an exam room for the doctor to enter to give us the news of the recent biopsy.  As the door opens, the doctor makes brief eye contact as we say hello, but then he looks to the ground as his nurse follows in behind him.  While minimizing eye contact he begins speaking:

“Well, we got the results back from the biopsy, and it looks like it’s what we suspected, Hodgkins Disease.  I see you work in Caldwell, so I’ll go ahead and refer you to an Oncologist located there.  It should be real convenient for you.  The treatment results for this disease are really good.  Sorry to give you this news.  Hope you have a nice day.” And he exited the room. 
As the door shut behind him, the room was silent.  My mind was racing, my mom in shock holding back tears.  The nurse finally broke the silence and asked if we had any questions.  I think she was almost equally shocked at how the doctor broke the news to us.  My racing mind went blank… and then these same thoughts kept repeating through my mind “I have cancer?”  “That can’t be right…I’m not even sick!”.   ”Wait…What….I have cancer?”

I can’t even really remember if we asked the nurse a question or not.  What are we supposed to ask anyway?  My mom and I eventually left the exam room.  As we proceeded through the full waiting room, I stared aimlessly down at the floor as we walked out almost like I was sleep walking.  We got into my mom’s van, put our seatbelts on, and both just stopped to gather our thoughts.  Finally, I said, “So that’s how you find out you have cancer”.  Now I know. 

 What I didn’t know at the time, is where I would be 2 years from that day.  At the time, the future was unknown.  But, here I am, 2 years later…healthy and happy!  God has definitely provided every step of the way.  Don’t get wrong, I’ve still got lots of things wrong with me…and I’m still recovering…and I’m still at a high risk for a multitude of things, but I’m just so thankful with how well I’m improving. 

Many of you may remember that back in March I received a phone call from one of my biggest role models, Coach Chris Petersen. The call was perfect in timing and such an encouragement. Well, through another set of circumstances I got invited to attend Boise State’s practice Tuesday night and meet Coach Pete personally in his office. Once again, I was just blown away by how personal he was with me, and what a 1st class program that he runs. Practice was definitely cold as it was right in the middle of a blizzard, but it was definitely awesome. Coach V, the director of football operations, took us (my brother Benjy went with me) around all the football offices, and even broke down some film with us among other things.

This week there is a crew of us heading down to Reno to spend Thanksgiving with family on my mom’s side… oh… and there also just happens to be a football game on Friday in Reno between BSU and the Wolf Pack, so we’ll all be going to that too. How convenient

Well, that’s all for now, enjoy the pictures… and Happy Thanksgiving!

Coach Pete and I in his office in front of both of his Paul "Bear" Bryant awards after a COLD practice in the snow

Benjy and I...snowing on the blue

gotta get a display case for this!

I’ve got lots of good news to report since my last post.  The first bit is that I had another PET/CT scan about 2 weeks ago and received the results and everything is all clear!  I also had a biodex test on my knee last week to test the strength after my ACL surgery, and I passed with flying colors.  The doctor has released me for full activity.  The next bit of exciting news, was that Matt & Marie and the kids were in town during the month of August, which made for a fun month.  And lastly, I just got back from Washington DC where I was able to watch the Boise State-Virginia Tech football game. in person. 

I was kind of nervous about my immune system traveling on the airplane and through the airports, but it seems that I made it back without getting sick.  The only thing is a horse voice from yelling too much at the game!  I had a really good time.  I went to the game with some college buddies that live out east whom I haven’t seen for a while, Tom, Nate and Kent, and then I also got to see Josh and Ann Marie.  I really want to thank Raquel for giving me her frequent flyer miles so that I could have free tickets!

Nate, Tom and I catching the Nationals/Mets game before heading to the big Boise State football game

This past month I also started transitioning back to work.  I get really exhausted at work and have to go home often to rest.  I talked with the doctor this past week about my fatigue and energy levels and he said it’s normal and  usually takes up to a year to get back.  I’ve also been having problems with my arms and legs going numb, and also some nerve shocks going up and down my spine.  So they scheduled a MRI for the end of the month and I may see a neurologist if necessary.  Also I’m supposed to get my first set of immunizations at the end of the month as next week will be 6 months post transplant.

Beck family pic

pre-game

Fightinghodgkins.com golf team! Tyler, Clint, my dad, me, and my brother Benjy

Looks like today is exactly 2 months since my last update.  Time flies when your recovering from a stem cell transplant.  I am recovering well.  I am slowly beginning to get out more and more.  I find that my spurts of energy are a little longer and my recovery periods are a little shorter.  This week I started physical therapy.  I was pretty sore after my first session and it seemed like I hardly did anything, but in time I’m sure I’ll back to benching 400lbs  

As you can see from the photo, I was able to golf at the Nampa Rotary Golf for Hope tournament.  Unfortunately we didn’t cheat enough on our scorecard to win.  My next scheduled PET scan is the first of September.  The other day I had to go in to the barber for the first time in 8 months to get my hair trimmed!  For those wondering, yes, it’s still pretty thin on top, and I’m not very optimistic that it’s going to fill in much more.

Well for those wondering about my health, I am still improving every day.  I was referred to a doctor here that did his fellowship up at Fred Hutch, so he is familiar with all the processes.  I saw him twice last week and really like him.  Though I’m starting to look “normal”, minus the hair and minus 30 lbs (of muscle might I add), I still have a very weak immune system and have to follow strict guidelines on where I go, what I do, and what I eat.  Here are just a few of the can and cant’s:  can’t mow my grass for a year (I’ve hired some kids); can’t golf for 6 months (though I negotiated with the doctor and brought it down to 3 months if I promised I would be careful); all fresh produce has to be washed and scrubbed, so for instance I could eat out and have a burger at a clean establishment, but I couldn’t have any fresh lettuce or tomato on it because I didn’t know if it had been scrubbed; can’t have sun tea, but I can drink tea if I boil the water first and then put the tea bags in; can’t drink well water, but can have city water since it’s been tested every day.  Anyway, this is just a very small list of the many things I have to be careful of. 

As for the future, I will probably have another scan in about a month, at 6 months I will start getting my immunization shots (that’s right, I have a brand new immune system and so any immunizations I had before are useless… also it’s possible that things I was allergic to before transplant I may not be allergic to now, but I may be allergic to new things), and then at 1 year I will head back to Seattle for an extensive week-long follow-up where they test and check just about everything. 

So, that’s my update for now…  

overlooking the treasure valley with bogus basin in the background

Lake Lowell sunset

Idaho rainbow in my backyard