July was spent visiting family and friends, spending quality, relaxing time on the Cape with my parents, enjoying days that had no schedule to them. Yancy and I tried to fit as much training for the PMC in as we could, but that proved to be as difficult as we had imagined.

August was kicked off with the PMC two day ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown. Team Superhero was amped up, and we knew our mission. Yancy, Kate and I, along with the other Team Superhero riders, had an incredible weekend. The 110 miles the first day were actually intensely fun. We were definitely wiped at the end of the day, but felt great the next morning as we started day two. Our family met us at a Brewster waterstop on Sunday. It was great seeing everyone, all of whom have been so supportive of our ride. Our kids enjoyed their special weekend with Grandma and Papa. It was hard work, but we all felt like we had trained enough, something I know I had doubted going into the ride. There is so much to more to tell, so many inspiring moments, emotions to explain…that’ll come with time, another entry at some point.

While Yancy went back to work the next day, the kids and I stayed on the Cape with my parents. We enjoyed lazy days, hanging at the house. While I wasn’t physically sore, I was extremely fatigued…the energy I expended during the weekend, the emotions, and the absence of the adrenaline I had been running on for the past days…it all caught up to me. The kids enjoyed great quality times with Papa…projects around the yard, returning empties to the redemption center, breakfast and lunch treats, wiffle ball and catch, Papa’s evening stories by the fire.

Wednesday, Ethan and I went into Boston for his 2 year post transplant checkups. We drove back to the Cape feeling great, knowing that we had a 7 year old boy in great health! His labs looked phenomenal, his heart very healthy, and lungs super-strong! Emma and Eliot spent the day with Grandma and Papa, enjoying some time at Nauset in the waves, collecting the best rocks in the world.

We departed the following Friday, sad to leave, but knowing we’d regroup in only a few days in CT for the 3rd Annual Ethan Lent Golf Tournament, organized by Kate and Nick.

Yancy, the kids and I attended the golf tournament. All of my siblings were there, and Dad drove in with his friend from NY. It was to be a great day. The tournament was a success, with over $4000 raised for the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Ethan played all 18 holes of golf with Yancy and Uncle Nate. Unfortunately, Dad wasn’t feeling well that morning, so instead of going to the tournament, he went to the local ER. I wasn’t playing golf, so Eliot and I went to spend time with him at the hospital.

Papa wasn’t feeling well, to say the least. While he went in for back pain, the pain was so bad he was vomiting, and the doctors chalked his sickness up to food poisoning. I left for an hour to take Eliot back to the golf course. I return to see Dad still very sick, very tired. By 4 pm things take a turn for the worse, and I call my siblings to come as soon as they can. By 7pm, our Dad had passed away. As I write these words, my eyes fill, and my stomach turns. It is still so surreal.

Dad’s four children were at his side…what a blessing.

Those next 7 hours are some of the worst of my life…comprehending, knowing our Mom wasn’t there with him, getting our Mom to him, telling our Mom…losing our Dad…

We manage to wade through the hours of the next days…an autopsy reveals Dad had an thoracic dissected ascending and descending aortic aneurysm. We relive every moment, including the what-ifs, whose fault is was, what to do, who to blame, how come…in the end, several days later, we conclude there was probably nothing anybody could have done…

We all spend the next week and Mom and Dad’s house in NY, we grieve together, talk about Dad, continue to talk to Dad…we save services for a later date, after this makes sense. We don’t rush, we don’t make rash decisions…we try to comfort Mom…we all take comfort in knowing we’re together.

We’ll continue doing this for some time…time…time is what will heal. So overused, but so true. We take comfort in our blessings, as we have learned over the past two years. More hurt, more sorrow, but more love in our hearts.

We’re really excited to announce that Team SuperHero has acquired another rider! Yancy has decided to ride PMC 2009…Both he and I are really excited. Thanks to all of you, I have surpassed my minimum required fundraising goal of $4200. Everyone’s support has been amazingly generous, and has blown us away!….THANK YOU! We’ve come so far in the last couple years, raising another $4000 for Yancy to ride is a challenge we’re feeling up to.

If you haven’t donated yet, and would like to make a very WORTH-WHILE tax-deductible charitable contribution, we welcome you to click on the PMC logo to the right.

Thank you for your support! We’ll start posting our training progress soon!

A retrospective to come soon…

“Life is my best moment…”,

Suddenly, my day is put into perspective.

Emma, congratulations on your fantastic report card. I am very proud of you.

Almost two years ago (22 months to be exact), Yancy and I sent out an e-mail sharing our devastating news…our son Ethan, who was five years old, was diagnosed with leukemia. The doctors gave him less than a 30% chance of living. Since then, most of you have followed Ethan’s unchosen journey, which resulted to a miracle, and has now transitioned into the beautiful life of a typical seven year old boy. Everyone’s prayers, support, powerful thoughts, love and friendship carried us, and Ethan, through our worst nightmare.

While I am overjoyed and blessed to have Ethan still with us, and our two other healthy children, I still struggle emotionally. How could I ask for more than that? But, knowing that other children are still struggling with cancer, or have lost their lives to cancer, kills me inside. I wonder why I get to keep my son, while another mother loses her son. I think about this every day. Currently, it’s my personal struggle. I wonder what I am suppose to do with “our experience”. I haven’t quite figured it out yet.

Many of you generously supported Yancy last year for his 2-day, 200 mile ride in the Pan Mass Challenge, from Sturbridge to Provincetown, MA. He rode hard, had an unbelievable emotional experience, and was proud in the end that he had more than doubled his fund raising goal of $4000…thanks to so many of you, Yancy was able to raise over $9000 for the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Every dollar of the $34 million that the 2008 PMC raised, goes to cancer research, the families of children battling cancer at Children’s Hospital Boston, and the adult patients across the street at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Almost everyone knows someone who went there, or goes there: moms, dads, sisters, brothers, grandmas and papas, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, teachers…unfortunately, the list goes on.

I don’t want to lose that priceless perspective on life we gained through this unchosen journey we’ve traveled. I want to stay connected, I want to help, I want to give back. This year, I choose to ride the 2009 PMC. I haven’t biked 200 miles before. I think 20-30 miles is probably the most I’ve ever biked. I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone, knowing that Ethan’s strength, and the strength of all the other Superheroes out there, will carry me to the end.

This year, the fund raising minimum is $4200, and in this state of the economy, I realize that every dollar in your pocket is precious. If I could ask you one more time for your support. Any amount. No amount is too little.

I will pray while I’m riding. For miracles. For healing…healing of children. And healing of families that have lost their children. I will ride in honor of my Superhero, Ethan…and Charlie, Connor, Candy, Jane, Mary and Susan. I will ride in memory of Tim, Jessie, Jonathan, Brave Will and Uncle Martin. I will search for my purpose, my mission. I will try to come up with some great thing that I can do. Some way that I can make an impact. Perhaps until I come up with this, I will keep riding the PMC…knowing that every dollar counts.

I will post my training progress, my fundraising progress, and most importantly, Ethan’s continued progress, on our family website, www.lentfamily.org . Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for supporting us in so many ways over the past two years. I can’t believe we’re asking for more…but together, I think we can make a difference. Please visit http://www.pmc.org/mypmc/profiles.asp?eGiftID=JL0283 to make a contribution, and a difference.

With love, much gratitude, and great hope for a cure,

johanna

p.s. please forward this on, to a friend or two, letting them know their help is greatly appreciated. thanks.

p.s.s. team superhero currently has 3 riders (johanna, kate (johanna’s sister), and susan (superhero charlie’s mom)…we would love for you to join us if you think you’re up for a challenge! think about it…

ETHAN’S HEALTH: Ethan is doing so well! His last clinic appointment was on October 29…in which he passed with flying colors. All blood work looked great. They told us to come back in six months…six months?!!!…that puts us in April 2009. They couldn’t even book our appointment, as their calendars didn’t go out that far. As always, they tell me if I have any concerns in the interim, call, e-mail, come on in…they’re always there for us.

1st GRADE: We never predicted that Ethan’s adjustment to first grade would be so seamless. Socially, academically and emotionally, he is thriving. We have occasional mornings that he doesn’t want to go to school…I think it’s really related to how tired he is. We really couldn’t be happier for how well he is doing.

Holidays were amazing…full of joy, gratefulness, love…and food of course. And Ethan turned seven. We’re blessed, and continue to be full of hope. Our holiday vacation was fabulous. Lots of fun, games, family, ice skating, movies, rest…so good, all of us wanted it to keep on going. But inevitably, we return to work and school..

And upon that return, Ethan blossoms…he seems to be full of energy, full of laughs and giggles. His reading skills are emerging. The other night was unforgettable, as he giggled and commented while he read the entire book of Morris the Moose to me in bed.

He starts taking karate…and loves it. He has a smile from the moment he walks in, ‘til the moment he leaves.

Our dream is coming true…Ethan is growing up…Ethan is reading…Ethan is learning new things every day.

Emma and Eliot are thriving as well. Yancy and I are becoming more relaxed. While we are in a “normal” routine of life, we try our best to maintain perspective…don’t sweat the small stuff…remember where we’ve been…remember what we have. We make time for our health too…

Yancy has begun training for a marathon in May. He recruits Nick and John (Johanna’s brother-n-law and brother) to run too. I decide to ride the PMC this year…mainly because Kate, my sister, has said she would ride with me. I’ve never done anything that arduous in my life, but know that our experiences, Kate at my side, and thinking of others will get me through it. We found a bike, and next week, January 20th, Kate and I will sign up for and commit to the weekend ride of 192 miles. The next seven months will be filled with learning a new sport, and much training. I look forward to it…

Johanna_on_Radio_103_3.avi
- Since its 105MB you might want to download (right click on link, save as) and listen from your pc.

Johanna, you were amazing! Absolutely amazing.