It was 3 years ago today…May 7, 2007…

The pediatrician called me into the office with Ethan, and told me my little boy had leukemia.  While I don’t consider myself an overly religious person, my first response, reflex rather, was to make the sign of the cross and ask God to watch over us.  My disbelief lasted for all of 5 seconds, and my fighting instincts kicked in.  We had a plan.

The “plan” included Children’s Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, amazing doctors, nurses and support staff.  “Psych-social” help for Mom and Dad, sibling groups for Emma, meals to gather as a family…And the treatment plan…LIFE SAVING.  The odds were against Ethan…he beat the odds.  He is now almost 3 years in remission.

It’s my mission to give back…In three months, on August 7 and 8, I will ride the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) 2010.  This 192 mile bike ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown, MA:

• raises money for life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• gives 100% of all dollars raised to the Jimmy Fund

Yancy and I are eternally grateful to have our son with us today.  Our heart breaks for the families that lost their children.  We are riding for a cure.

I don’t like asking people for things, especially money.  This cause however, is so near and dear to us, that I will go out of my comfort zone.  If you could make a donation, it would mean a great deal.  Any amount is appreciated.  I realize that not everyone is in a position during these times to make a donation.  Please help spread the word.  It’s an amazing cause…Unfortunately, it touches all of us in some way.

To make a much appreciated donation, click here:  http://www.pmc.org/profile/JL0283 to read my story, or click here to get to the donation form:  https://www.pmc.org/egifts/giftinfo.asp?Paceline=donate&eGiftID=JL0283 . Thank you for your support.

With love and great hope,

Johanna Lent

So, to these viruses we can’t seem to kick, please go away…And to these relaxing sunny days, filled with happiness, comforts of home and togetherness, please come every day.

Check out the video below to see why Ana rides…
AnaPMC2010_web

The puppies won’t be born until the December time frame, and won’t be coming home to us until January’ish’. Good timing though, as it’s something exciting to look forward to down the road.

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!