Bullet Points

We have been bad about updating you all via our blog the past month or so.  Instead of boring you with the details, here are the important updates along with a few photos:

• We made it to Jarod and Laura's (JOLT) wedding in beautiful Colorado.  It  was amazing.  Literally, rainbows appeared when Laura walked down the aisle.  We were so grateful to be there and participate in the whole weekend of events.  It wasn't always easy with altitude, radiation effects and pregnancy, but we did our best.

• We celebrated our 5-year wedding anniversary in Colorado the day before the JOLT wedding.  I am proud to know we are such a good team together.    
• After Colorado, my Mom came back to Seattle with us to observe the 4-year anniversary of Dad's death.  Time goes fast, but August 11 is a day that our family will not forget.  Dad's spirit was radiant at the JOLT wedding and it was in Seattle too.  We went to see Wilco, which was one of Dad's favorite bands.  I had a blast.  Mom was reminded why Wilco was Dad's favorite band but not her's.  The most important thing was that we were together.  I think Brim is a Wilco fan, and we know Dad would have bought the onesie.

• Radiation effects have been the most difficult after it ended.  Don't worry, this is common and what doctors generally expect.  I really had low energy 2-3 weeks after finishing treatment.  It feels like my energy level is finally improving this week, so we will call that a win.
• The Be Positive movement just keeps rolling along, and is amazing to watch.  Stickers are getting plastered from the top of ski areas in Colorado to our local bars and restaurants we frequent in Seattle (and of course on boards and other gear).  The freaking Avett Brothers even wore the stickers for their show in Washington D.C. last week thanks to Aunt Linda and the Kushners.  It really does give Kim and me a lift.  Thank you!  (If you want stickers, let me know.)

Photo by Rebecca R. Photography (http://www.rebeccarphotography.com/)

• Chemotherapy is planned to start on Monday, 8/24.  I won't get into details, but here is the summary:  Each cycle is 6 weeks; It is mostly pills, with a few IV injections at specific times of the cycle; The side effects are difficult to predict, especially the first cycle(s).
• Brim is doing perfectly according to the doctors and from what we can tell with all the kicking and activity that we feel in Kim's belly.  Kim is in the sweet spot of pregnancy, as she puts it.
• We went to our first parenting/childbirth class last night.  We are also preparing for Brim's arrival by starting to rearrange some rooms in our home to set up the nursery.

Love to you all.

Radiation Complete (and TV)

My 33 radiation treatments over the past 6.5 weeks are complete.  My last day was Tuesday, 7/28, and now I am in recovery mode.  It feels like a nice milestone and accomplishment, but at the same time it is only the first step.  The doctor did say the peak of side effects is when treatment ends and I believe her!  I am feeling fatigued and generally low energy this week.  My health objective for August is to recover and heal as much as possible to go into chemotherapy strong.  Chemotherapy is scheduled to begin 8/24.

Cannot wait to celebrate Laura and Jarod at their wedding next week!  As we know my sister is an amazing planner and I know the wedding will be absolutely spectacular.  And we get to officially welcome Jarod into our family.  Add to that all the amazing energy that family and friends will bring.  I am very grateful that my treatment has worked out so I am on my "break" next week.

Last night Kim and I were on the local Seattle news, King 5.  A reporter contacted us because she heard about the Be Positive movement via word of mouth through my friends in the standup paddleboard community.  We decided to give it a go because putting some energy to a positive cause gives Kim and I energy and motivation to keep moving forward.  The reporter, Natalie Swaby, and cameraman, Eric, came to our house yesterday afternoon and interviewed us in the backyard.  They were super professional, very nice and I think were genuinely interested in us and our story.  We think they did a great job in creating a nice piece that is consistent with our approach.  It is amazing to see the Be Positive message starting to spread to more strangers and in particular people that have been affected by cancer.  It makes us feel even better that funds from the shirts are going to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA).  We have even met with SCCA fundraising staff to make sure Kim and I can be involved with earmarking these donations so they are used to have the most positive impact possible.

Here is the TV link:  http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/seattle/2015/07/30/be-positive-cancer-patient-/30868413/

Be Positive 2

It has been amazing to see photos of everyone with the Be Positive t-shirts.  I am sure I missed some photos, but I tried to grab as many as I could find.  Keep posting the photos and add #btpositivity so we can find them easily.

Some friends and family missed the first round, so a second round is live (link below).  Feel free to spread it on.
http://www.booster.com/be-positive

Love to you all!

Strength in Numbers

So much of life is centered on community: family, friends, neighbors, people on the bus, etc. We are constantly forced, and also choose, to interact with others. Brian and I are seeing the purpose and importance of this everyday as he works through treatment, and Brim grows bigger.

One of the attributes that most attracted me to Brian was his ability to build community. He throws dinner parties, inviting friends and neighbors, without worrying about the fact that the table only fit 6, or that we don't have enough plates. He will learn a new sport, and instead of dabbling in the hobby, he jumps all in with competitions, gear and training, and doesn’t hold back from bringing people with him and making new and lasting friends. With calm confidence, Brian marched his way straight into my heart, and I’ve seen him do it with countless others. We both have benefited from this attribute with the amazing friends and close family connections that we have.

Recently, we’ve been able (with the support of family) to travel to be with our families.  We spent the 4th of July weekend in Chicago, saying goodbye to Brian’s childhood home (because Marla is selling it) and hello to friends and family who needed to “lay some eyes on us.” We felt so loved.The following weekend, we flew into the Redmond Airport to spend a couple of days at Cultus Lake - the favorite Bennett vacation. We got to spend quality time with the village that raised me. It felt so good to be in a space that is a home away from home, and to reconnect with close friends and family.

Here at home, our community feels stronger than ever. In short amounts of time, you have all raised over $7,000 in Be Positive T-Shirts, and raised money to pay for a two-person outrigger canoe. The inspiring and supportive comments on these websites fill us with hope and love each day. This push to be positive truly seems to be the key to managing cancer treatments and difficult times. People continue to remind us of this as we meet others going through treatments at the proton center, and from friends and family who have survived cancer threats. 

After the seizure, Brian kept saying that if we put enough positivity out there, then that message will keep coming back to us as times get hard. This is what we’ve seen, and we cannot thank you enough for that. We’re learning to be okay with feeling crappy or tired, and to find the love and light in the little things during this gorgeous Seattle summer. We are grateful everyday for the community that we have around us. You are a comfort that continues to keep our spirits high as we start down the road of dealing with cancer and starting our family at the same time. We love you!