Here we go...

Hello all. I realize that it has been quite a while since I checked in. That is mostly because we have been very busy trying to have a normal life for the last few weeks. Pam has not had any treatments since radiation ended and has been feeling great lately. This has resulted in many dinner get togethers, a trip to Boston with the kids for the Big Apple Circus, and moving many shrubs around in the yard!

Unfortunetly that is all about to change.

Pam starts the high dose of Chemo. tomorrow morning. She will have chemo. for 6 straight days, this is the most so far. We will be doing it as outpatient as long as everything goes well. She gets one drug tomorrow (last roughly 4hrs), then two a day twelve or so hours apart (8:30am and 7:30pm) Tues-Fri., and then another long dose on Saturday. We need to stay close to the hospital during these days so they can monitor her if anything comes up. We will come home next Saturday and Pam gets to have Sunday "off", (meaning only a trip to Fletcher Allen for blood tests.

Next Monday, she will get 1/2 of her stem cells re-infused, and the second 1/2 done on Tuesday. On Wednesday (5/9) Dr. Unger predicts she will have a White Blood cell count of .01, which means she will more than likely run a fever and need to be admitted to the hospital. She will then stay there until her counts are high enough and she is feeling well enough (i.e no mouth sores, diarrhea, or fever) to come home, about two more weeks. It will then take a few more weeks, after coming home, to get feeling well and get her strength back.

Obviously this is going to be a rough month, and we look forward to Memorial Day weekend as a date of moving into wellness and feeling better. Pam and I are obviously quite anxious and nervous about this whole process. We know you are all supporting us and we thank you for that.

That being said, here is what we need you to do: check the Blog. I will be updating every day or two for the next few weeks. Don't visit Pam unless you have been given the OK from me (Troy), I will let people know if she is up for visitors and when good times are. I might be seeking some of you out to be a visitor if needed. E-mails are great because we can read and that is it.

Pam's sisters and parents will be heading up the boys for the next few weeks. They might need a break, pat on the back or a glass of wine! The boys know what is ahead and we feel like they are pretty prepared, but they will certainly be missing mom and dad. They should be getting some extra attention if possible (distractions are great). They are quite busy with little league and soccer so they should have little time to think about things (mostly bedtime).

We are charging into this with the belief that this will be the final push we need to rid Pam of this awful disease that has forever changed our lives. Please continue to send positive thoughts and prayers our way.

Troy

The Sunshine Run

Hello all -
It's taken me close to a week to just enter this quick update. I think I've been in lah-lah land still from the event.
Last Saturday, March 31st, there was a 5K run/walk called "The Sunshine Run" held in honor of me/us at the Shelburne Athletic Club that a few amazing girls from our track team organized, all on their initiative. I learned the details of it the week before through my friend and fellow coach, as well as an article written in the Burlington Free Press about the event. (www.burlingtonfreepress.com - March 23, 2007 - High School Notebook)

I knew I'd be there for sure (actually our whole crew), I planned on walking the 5K, but I also knew by Sat. a.m., after another long week of radiation, fatigue accrues pretty good. It was a beautiful, blue sky, 45 degree morning and I felt energized just having my running shoes on. I started to think there might even be 75-100 people there between the track team and friends I knew coming. As we pulled in, cars were EVERYWHERE. The lobby was packed!! Walking in, I knew I had a smile from ear to ear, but behind it my mouth was quivering holding back the tears of joy. There were family members of ours, local friends and friends from childhood, their children, current and past teammates, their parents, fellow coaches, kids from surrounding track teams, collegues of both of ours, and supporting community members. IT WAS SO AMAZING AND INSPIRING!!!
200+ runners and walkers came out. I can't describe the energy and electric feeling I had standing in front of everyone, walking, visiting...I shared with Dr. Wallace the next morning, "you know, at one point, I actually had to hold myself back from running!" It was all right there again!
I can't thank you all enough that were there - it was so good to see each and everyone of you! And I can't thank Emily Olsen and crew enough for organizing this. I'm not sure they'll ever know the level of positive power, hope, and faith that reaffirmed in me and carries me.

We DO live in a special place and there ARE great people that surround us all each and every day!
Talk soon :)
Pam


p.s. here's the article that ran...

Running for Paradee

A group of Champlain Valley Union track team members are sponsoring "The Sunshine Run" -- a 5-kilometer run/walk on March 31 in Shelburne -- as a fund-raiser for one of their coaches battling cancer.

Emily Olsen, a senior, said team members wanted to do something special for coach Pam Paradee, who is battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and her family. Her husband, Troy Paradee, is a longtime CVU teacher and coach.

"It's open to all ages. You can run it. You can walk it. Everybody has a chance to win a prize," said Olsen, who is working with teammates Katie Parent, Kendell Frost and Danika Frisbee on the project. Olsen said Paradee, who is a Starksboro Elementary teacher, has worked on their behalf during their high school careers.

The top 24 female and the top 24 male finishers will receive a water bottle. All participants are entered in a raffle to win prizes, including Fleet Feet gift certificates, Lake Champlain Chocolate
products, running gear and more.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the Field House Athletic Club in Shelburne, with the race kicking off at 10. The cost is $15 and proceeds go to the CVU Sunshine Fund, which helps CVU family members with medical costs.

For more information email Emily_Olsen@cvuhs.org.
Contact Mike Donoghue at 660-1845 or mdonoghu@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com