My Mom, Franky, was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized to her liver in the spring of 2014. The day we learned her prognosis was 18 months changed our lives forever. While we knew that our matriarch was entering her sunset years, there is no easy way to accept that the woman who gave you life was about to enter into a battle to keep hers. Despite these tough odds, Mom still chooses to fight and we are with her every step of the way. Although she is no longer in remission, we are still fighting!
As we approach year three since her diagnosis, I often think of the day we received the news from her doctor but I focus on God. Through him, Mom is beating the odds. Mom's spirit and sheer determination in combination with prayer, support, and excellent oncology care are major contributing factors to her blowing past her prognosis. But none of this would be possible without the ground-breaking research driven by the American Lung Association. The research that allow treatment in pill form that ends the cycle of symptoms such as hair loss or that targets the DNA of the Cancer cells. Why do I Climb? To raise money so that other cancer patients can blow pass the odds and prognosis too.
Let's fight the odds. Let's change the odds. Let's beat the odds, together.