Caregiver

Life with CF is hard

Well at least I imagine it is. Managing the day to day aspects of this disease involves hours of respiratory treatments, mountains of medication, doctors visits, procedures, tests and time spent in the hospital. All of the effort necessary to live with cystic fibrosis can take a toll.

hanging @ the CF clinic getting vitals taken

Fortunately, most fighting CF have a fabulous and extensive network of caregivers to help them manage the challenges that come with this diagnosis. This network of caregivers starts with spouses, parents, siblings and other family members, but also includes friends, teammates and other members of the community. In this podcast, Gunnar Esiason highlights some of his caregivers, and talks about the role of his college roommies at BC and how they supported him during that crucial time in his life. Search blogs and YouTube channels and you turn up several accounts of  caregivers that help CFers manage life so they can thrive. These caregivers provide love and support and among other things, they listen, provide transportation to appointments, nag give gentle reminders about meds and offer companionship during long hours of treatments or time in the hospital.

For a child with CF, the most recognized of these caregivers are parents and often the most visible caregiver is Mom. Courtney Schmidt reminds us in a column she wrote a couple of years ago for Mother's Day to remember the mothers of sick children. Her words eloquently describe the reality of supporting a child who is fighting for their life. When reflecting on these moms we consider not just the challenges they are faced with but also their strength and endless love. We admire them and feel drawn to help.

Moms Moving Forward

Last fall, right around the time it clicked for us that we needed to get more involved with advocating and spreading awareness for cystic fibrosis, I met Denise, a mom on a mission very complimentary to ours.

Exercise, running specifically, became a lifeline for her to manage the routine, challenges and stress that come with supporting a child with type 1 diabetes who also happens to be on the autism spectrum. Her time hitting the pavement and exploring the trails brought balance and peace and she knew that she needed to share this feeling with moms experiencing similar situations.

From there, Heart Strides was born. The mission is simply to help moms at a time when they are least likely to take care of themselves. Moms are the first to put their needs aside when caring for their children - especially if their child has an acute medical challenge, chronic illness or special need. Heart Strides exists to support that mom - who gives so much of herself - so that she can continue to be a caregiver and a leader of their child's fight.

Proud to be a Heart Strides Advocate

One of the simplest forms of self care a mom can do is take time for a few minutes of exercise - that is where Heart Strides lends a hand. By providing the appropriate gear - proper running shoes, socks and technical attire, and a bit of encouragement, Heart Strides helps moms get moving. Having found the balance I need to support Colin's fight with CF through exercise, I am excited to be able to support the Heart Strides mission as an Advocate.

Exercise is one of the most powerful therapies a person with cystic fibrosis has at their disposal and I suspect it is vital for the well being of children battling other medical conditions as well. A parent is often the most influential role model in a child's life - they have the greatest opportunity to encourage a child to make exercise a habit. It is because of this, I feel especially drawn to advocate for these moms. She is the heart of the family, support Mom, everyone benefits.


Do you know a mom in need of support from Heart Strides? If so, you can pass along her name to me or you can nominate her to receive a care package by filling out the form here. You can also help by donating new or gently used active wear and running shoes to Heart Strides.


Connect with Denise at the Heart Strides Facebook Page.


To that mom with the sick child, let's go for a walk or run sometime. ~ Kim

From the bottom of my heart thank you to all of the caregivers who help support Colin: Brian, Taryn, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Friends, Teachers, School Administrators, School Nurses, Coaches and his Medical Team. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful network.

2 Races to Go - Seven Before 7

Happy Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month

Hard to believe that it is mid-May already, March and April flew right by for us. Winter finally showed up in March and lasted into early April- even though we thought we were about to get away without much snow or cold.

Colin stepped up his battle with CF getting a gastrostomy tube placed on April 14. He has really adjusted well to his new nightly feeding routine which is such a relief for us - he is even gaining weight already.

May brings us busy weekends with yard work, spring sports, birthdays, a quilt to deliver to Kim and of course, races. We are looking forward to the warmer temps and fun ahead.

Seven Before 7 Update

Race 3

In March, I traveled down to NYC to run a half-marathon with 20,000 new friends. Too bad I had the flu and didn't get to really enjoy the experience. After crossing the finish line I went directly to the aid tent to warm up before heading back to my hotel to shower and catch the train home. Even sick, running the NYC half was such an amazing experience and I hope to get back to the starting line of that course again when I'm well. So many  memorable parts of that race - spending time with my great friends from OutRun38, the seemingly tireless crowds that lined the course, the energy of times square and the roar of the finish line. 

Smiling as I look for the finish line!

Race 4

After getting over the flu and a nasty ear infection, I turned my attention to a very different kind of race, a trail half-marathon on Cape Cod with my friend Robyn. We headed down to Falmouth on Saturday, April 9 for the Cape Cod Trail Race scheduled for Sunday morning.

On our way to the pre-race dinner!

This was absolutely the most beautiful race course I have ever experienced and probably the best organized and executed as well. The morning started off a bit chilly and windy but the sun was warm and once on the trails, the wind was blocked a bit by the trees. I think this race got Robyn hooked on half-marathons and if all goes well, hopefully we'll be back next year to do it again!

Brr, a little chilly at the start

One cool thing about this race is their focus on environmental impact. No disposable water bottles (we had to bring a hydration pack or hand held water bottle) and all trash was recycled or composted. Even the medals were recycled cohog shells.

Gorgeous!

There will definitely be more trail races (and races with Robyn) in my future! 

A very genuine finish line smile! 

Races 5-7

Injury, sickness and over-training have resulted in a bit of reflection. I have scaled back the distance for two of my last three races so I can finish strong at the end of the month.

Race 5 

On May 1, I traveled a few miles down the road to a neighboring town to run a 5K hybrid road/trail race with Robyn for to mark race number five.  Originally, I planned on doing the 10K, but was happy to toe the line for the 5K. Even better, Robyn PR'd and blew away her best 5K time by several minutes. So awesome!

Ready to finish before the rain!

Coming up. . . 

This weekend brings race 6, my first sprint triathlon in 12 years. Adding to the difficulty (because, why not?!), I plan on riding "clipped into" my bike pedals. This could make for an interesting T2 if I can't stop.

The day before Colin's birthday is race 7, Boston's Run to Remember. Originally I planned to run the half marathon but sanity has been restored so instead, I'm going for the 5 mile race. Joined by Robyn and some of my friends from OutRun38, I think this is going to be another really fun event!

After all of this racing for Team Boomer, I'm looking forward to a bit of rest and a hiatus from
training and racing and hopefully a bit of beach time with the family! 

Running (and swimming and biking) through May ~Kim

Yoga for CF

I am so excited to be teaming up with Tory J. Nash yoga for a second year to offer a Yoga by donation class to benefit the Boomer Esiason Foundation and Team Boomer! Come out an join me on the mat and support a great cause while giving yourself time and space to breathe.

Unleash your Warrior

Details

Date: Sunday, May 22, 2016
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Earthsong Yoga - 186 Main St., Marlborough, MA 01752

You may bring your own mat and props or use the mats and props available at the studio while participating in this class designed for all yoga skill levels.


Namaste ~Kim

. . . the Winner Is. . .

Quilt Raffle Winner

Big thanks to everyone who donated to the Boomer Esiason Foundation this month. I am overwhelmed by the response to the Quilt Raffle concept, thanks for the kind comments about the quilt and interest. I will definitely do this again next year!

The winner of the quilt is Kim Wiebe! Congratulations, Kim!

You can view a video recording of the drawing done using Random.org and the PDF of the spreadsheet the random ticket numbers in this folder.

PS - it is even signed by Colin

Spreading quilt love ~ Kim

Quilt Raffle to Benefit the Boomer Esiason Foundation

During the month of April, make a donation of $10 to the Boomer Esiason Foundation to be entered into a drawing to win this quilt - perfect for a picnic, day at the beach or to snuggle with someone you love. The raffle will take place on April 30 and the quilt will be shipped on Monday, May 2 - perfect timing if you are looking for a gift to give to a special Mom or graduate.

Spring Quilt Raffle Drawing on April 30, 2016

Lovingly made by Kim

Quilt details

• 100% cotton, premium quilting fabric and batting (Kate Spain, Canyon Collection for Moda Fabrics)
• Approximate size: 54"x 54"
• machine pieced and quilted by Kim Davis
• made in a smoke free home 
• because the cat (and children) supervise all sewing projects, the quilt will be machine washed prior to shipping 

Raffle details

• $10 minimum donation during the month of April 2016
• additional raffle entry for every $10 donated during the month of April 2016 (i.e. $50 -5 entries)
• If you donated $25 or more before April 1, 2016 you have been automatically granted one entry in the raffle  
• donate through my Team Boomer First Giving Page
• donate using cash or check payable to the Boomer Esiason Foundation (received by April 29, 2016) 
• opportunities to earn bonus raffle entries will be announced on Facebook and Instagram - be sure to follow Chasing Tomorrows and @kadavis975 on Instagram

The raffle will be recorded live and be conducted using an Excel Spreadsheet and www.Random.org. I will contact the winner and share a link to the recording and the final spreadsheet.

Special inscription on the back

Good luck and please spread the word! Kim

Happy Little Trees

Early in March, 15 wonderful friends - including two new friends we met that night - sent a few hours after a long day painting happy little trees at Paint Misbehavin' in Hudson. The owners were fabulous and made us all feel very welcome as we were expertly guided in reporoducing a painting - Gates Pond Walk.

We had wine, sweets, conversation and much good spirit and love in the room. And in the end we all went home with some very nice artwork.

In addition to a wonderful time had by all, 25% of the registration fees for the night went to the Boomer Esiason Foundation! Thanks to everyone who came out on a work/school night to make the evening special.

Painting for a cure ~ Kim

Picking up momentum - Seven Before 7 Update

On February 21, I completed the Old Fashioned 10 Miler in Foxboro, MA and my second of seven races before Colin turns 7 this May. Historically this race is cha-cha-chilly and locally well known for the warm food after and blankets handed out at the finish. Fortunately, the weather was an unseasonably warm 50 degrees and sunny - beautiful running weather, especially for February! I was very excited to wear my short sleeved Team Boomer shirt to proudly represent!

Before, After and the Bling

Nursing a foot injury has led to conservatively slow, easy running with quite a bit of cross training for me lately. My physical therapist gave me the green light - so down to Foxboro I drove planning to treat the race as a training run and gauge how ready I will be for NYC Half on March 20. Other than going a bit faster than I planned, I was very happy with how I did and felt afterwards. 

The race swag was awesome! 

bling, blanket and wool socks!!

Making a Difference

As of today, the Team Boomer athletes running the NYC Half have raised almost $53,000 for the Boomer Esiason Foundation - which is fabulous! I'm about 30% of the way towards my Seven before 7 goal of $5000. 

If you would like to help me meet my goal you can donate directly to my First Giving page or plan on joining us for one of the events/activities we have planned this spring. 

~Telling CF to take a hike! Kim

Team Boomer Athlete of the Month

On February 1, I received an email from my contact at Team Boomer, Michaela, letting me know that I had been selected as the athlete of the month for February. Given that I don't really think of myself as an athlete, I was surprised and extremely honored to be recognized in this way.

Likely the only time in my life I'll be a "cover girl".

There are so many amazing athletes involved with Team Boomer - runners, cyclists, swimmers, triathletes, many fighting cystic fibrosis themselves, I'm humbled to be considered part of the team.

If you have a few minutes please head over to the Team Boomer page to check out my athlete profile.

#Running4Colin ~ Kim

Gates Pond Walk

After spending many years together living in Boston, Brian and I weren't sure how we would adjust to life in the suburbs living on a tiny, dead-end street. Would we miss the convenience of walking everywhere, our neighborhood green grocer or friends who were a few blocks or T-stop away? We did miss all of those things (and still do) and it took us a while to get used to the quiet and make some friends in town. But we found that our "downtown" was a short walk away and afforded us a few spots to grab dinner or a drink, a hardware store and gift shop and a rail trail and soon settled into our new neighborhood.

In the past 10 years our town has really evolved into a local restaurant hub, we have made some great friends and are becoming more active in our community. We have quick access to two cities and a Target within 5 minutes, but also to apple and horse farms, rivers, ponds that are only a few miles away. As our kids have gotten a bit older, we have really enjoyed taking advantage of the natural resources in the area to get out and be active with the kids.

One of our favorite activities is taking the kids for a hike around Gates Pond. The 2 mile loop around the pond has much to keep them occupied and interested including places to toss rocks in the pond, rocks to climb on and flat areas to let loose and run.

Our first full loop around Gates Pond - Fall 2014

When we began organizing activities for 2016 to build awareness and support the Boomer Esiason foundation, we thought it would be good to try something new. A local shop owner suggested a Painting Party, intrigued we looked into it a bit more. We learned that you arrive at the studio and after picking your easel, you enjoy wine, snacks and conversation you lean how to pain the chosen project. Well it sounded like a great idea to us! Once the date was booked all that was left to do was to pick out a project for the evening. We left that up to Colin and he chose a project called Gates Pond Walk. Perfect considering how much fun we have there as a family.

We hope you will consider coming out to join us on March 2, 2016!
Click here for more details and registration link.

Kicking off - Seven before 7

Happy New Year from Chasing Tomorrows!

Seven before 7 - Race 1: Freezer 5, Sterling, MA

Today, I completed the first event in my Seven before 7 series, the Freezer Five in Sterling, MA. This was supposed to be my first race of 2016, but instead because I am nursing a bit of tendinitis in my right foot, I was relegated to walking with a few run intervals thrown in to stay warm and a short jog to the finish. The enjoyable company provided by members of the local running club and two really nice people I met along the way, made the miles fly by. I am fortunate to be able to move my body and happy to have started off the New Year in a positive, healthy way.



Training and racing (regardless of pace) is hard work; honoring your body's needs and resting so you can keep moving towards even bigger goals can be even harder. I was happy to bring up the rear today and spend some time in the back of the pack. It really is more fun!

Unsuccessful a selfie with Mount Wachusett

Great turn out by the Highland City Striders

The next race on the schedule is the Old Fashioned 10 miler on February 21 in Foxboro, MA.

2016 Fitness Goals

During today's five miles I reflected on my fitness goals for 2016. Some of the goals are very specific and others are meant to reflect lifestyle improvements.

• Run with my heart and focus on the current mile
• Get outside more with my family to run and exercise
• Complete first Trail Half Marathon (signed up for the Cape Cod Trail Half on 4/10/16)
• Make strength training a priority - target 2x/week (in addition to my regular yoga practice)
• Complete at least 1 sprint triathlon

A bit less formal than the goals listed above, I also plan to continue my yoga practice, keep up with swimming and spend some time cycling (to meet goal 5). I hope this year that Brian and I can run a race together or even better - perhaps the four of us can cross a finish line together.

The medal and running gloves coordinate nicely with my Team Boomer toque, don't you think?

How did you start off 2016?

Kim

Spreading Kindness

A few years ago, we adopted a tradition that both Brian and I enjoyed growing up in the 70's and 80's - a felt Christmas Tree Advent Calendar complete with felt ornaments to add each day as we count down to the holiday. Aside from the occasional arguments over who hangs which ornament where, (sharing is hard when you are a kid) we have all really enjoyed our little felt tree.

Felt Advent Calendar

Taryn and Colin are now at the age where they really love getting presents and like many children, that has become a big focus of the holiday for them. Despite the fact that we lead a relatively secular life, I found myself wanting to shift their focus off of the material aspects of Christmas and instead channel some of their boundless energy in the direction of doing nice things for others.

Random Acts of Kindness

In late November, a few friends in my Facebook feed were sharing the Coffee Cups and Crayons Random Acts of Kindness calendar. After a bit of discussion with Brian and the kids, we reviewed the calendar and searched Pinterest for additional ideas and decided on 24 small acts of kindness we could do each day to spread joy in our community. Megan from Coffee Cups and Crayons offers a printable calendar on  her blog, but we decided I would write the activities on paper and tape them to a dollar store calendar we have hanging in our kitchen. That way, we can move the activities around if needed. It isn't fancy, but it is a start and next year we can always change the system around.

Our Not-so-fancy Kindness Calendar

Activities

One of the things I always worry about when taking on a new tradition is how much time it will take to prepare and execute. When choosing activities to do, we tried to balance the preparation time and complexity so we had some very simple tasks to execute as well as some that require a bit more planning and work to execute. We also tried to spread the more time consuming items around the calendar to allow for ample time to prepare.

Some examples of the simple tasks include: telling a joke, leaving a note for a friend, calling a loved one and smiling and greeting everyone we meet.

A few that need more preparation and coordination include: scheduling time to socialize the cats with the local rescue group, leaving kindness stones along our favorite trail, place pine cone bird feeders at the park and bringing cookies to the fire station.

Leaving Popcorn at RedBox

I am really looking forward to the activities where we get to prepare something together as a family - like the kindness stones or cookies and then have a little adventure to execute our act of kindness.

Does your family have a tradition that helps spread holiday joy?

Spreading kindness, Kim

Seven before 7

For the past six years we have found ourselves engaged in efforts to raise awareness for cystic fibrosis by partnering with groups including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Boomer Esiason Foundation, Rock CF and OutRun38. Our involvement has ranged from participating in walks such as Great Strides to organizing fun runs and taking on new athletic endeavors in an effort to rally support while challenging ourselves.

Living with cystic fibrosis isn't easy. Colin has already shown amazing maturity and commitment to his treatments and routine - inspiring us daily. We know that there are even greater challenges ahead for him. Challenges that in addition to a great team of doctors and supporters he will also need to rely on his own commitment, bravery and inner strength. 

When adding new treatments to his regimen that are time consuming and replace fun activities - he needs patience and commitment to keep up with those routines. 

The first time he needs to spend extended time in the hospital he will need to be brave.

Sometimes medical procedures and tests cause pain and discomfort and he needs to rely on his mental toughness knowing that the discomfort is temporary and will be beneficial in the end.

On a smaller scale, by challenging ourselves to take on new distances and achieve goals that are a bit outside of our comfort zone, we model these behaviors for Colin and show him how to approach new experiences, work through challenges and set-backs and celebrate the results of commitment and focus.

Seven before 7

In May of 2015, I ran my first half marathon to raise awareness and support for cystic fibrosis and Team Boomer. During the first half of 2016, I will tackle seven races before Colin turns 7 at the end of May. As I write this, the schedule starts with a 5 mile race on New Year's Day, 3 half marathons including my first trail half marathon, a 10 mile race and at least one sprint triathlon or duathlon. I'm also hoping to find the perfect 5K for us to complete on his birthday as a family crossing the finish line together. 

Along the way, in addition to raising awareness and seeking donations for the Boomer Esiason foundation, I will also be reflecting on how I can further develop and model the traits of commitment, bravery and mental toughness. I look forward to sharing my journey with Colin and with you. 

If you have a suggestion for a race or would like to run, bike or swim with me, I would love to hear from you. You can also support my efforts by making a donation to the Boomer Esiason Foundation via my First Giving Page.

Thank you for your love and support, Kim

Anything Is Possible

On September 12, 2015, Brian and I traveled to the coast of Rhode Island to meet up with a group of like minded friends we met through social media. The plan was to have dinner and then get up very early the next morning to run and spectate a race. I would be running my second half marathon and Brian would be cheering on a group of more than 100 of us running the 5K or tackling 13.1 miles.

Misquamicut State Beach, RI

We both knew this experience would be unforgettable but we didn't anticipate the extent of the impact it would have on our lives.

Dinner was fabulous, we met the founders of OutRun38 - including Liz who is the inspiration for the the group as well as other parents with children fighting cystic fibrosis. We also met a courageous woman with CF who would be running her first half marathon accompanied by her doctor and would be cheered on by her family - including her son, also fighting CF. We felt so welcomed by this group of virtual turned real-life friends - the conversations flowed easily and it felt like we had been friends forever.

It wasn't hard to wake up early on Sunday morning to head to the starting line. I was excited but felt amazingly calm - my goal, to run with my heart and take in every moment, every sight and every conversation I had along the way. I got to run with so many wonderful people all supporting each other running for the greater purpose of raising awareness and proving that with a bit of effort and focus anything is possible.

Anything is Possible

During the race I had the pleasure of running several miles (and cartwheeling) with Nicole, one of the founders of OutRun38. We spoke about life and our families, Colin's diagnosis, her friendship with Liz, our hope for a cure and the future of OutRun38 as the organization was nearing its first birthday. Of course as it happens whenever two type A mothers who want to take it all on get together - the creativity flowed and so many ideas percolated during that conversation, so much possibility to raise awareness and to spread the message that anything is possible.

Chasing Tomorrows

Just shy of three months later, I still haven't processed that weekend fully. I came away knowing that there is more we have to do and more for us to share. This blog and social presence is the start as we chase a future of tomorrows for Colin and others battling cystic fibrosis.

Brian and I started running so we could be healthy and strong to care for Colin but also to set an example for Colin and his sister, Taryn. Not just sharing the practical lessons of self care and health but also what we learn about ourselves and others along the way. We are not waiting around for a cure to happen - we will fight for it and encourage others to join us because anything is possible.

We hope you will join us as we Chase Tomorrows.

Chasing Tomorrows