Hello everyone, this is Bo and I just wanted to say thank you for all the emails and prayers. Christi got to break the news about me being accepted, so now we can start another chapter on this blog. I guess I will be reporting the day to day trials of someone going through a transplant. While it is not a cure, I sure hope this is a big step in giving science time to catch up with my problem. It is going to be hard, but for my little girl, wife, family, and friends it will be worth it to me.

ACC Tourn time in Charlotte. We need UNC to do well and make it back to Charlotte for the sweet sixteen!

Hello everyone, Christi. Bo and I have come to realize that the blog is the best way to get information out to everyone, so I apologize upfront to family and friends that should receive a personal phone call, you will get one later.
We got the call yesterday and Bo is accepted to be put on the list for a double lung transplant. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! I do say that with a little hesitation, a little, don't get me wrong I am excited and truly believe this is the best option, but I hesitate because of the seriousness of the procedure. (I would have to think you would wonder if I truly loved Bo if I sent him to something this serious without worrying, needless to say I do not handle the feeling "scared" very well. Hopefully it will pass soon) We did learn this doesn't mean that yesterday he was on the list, it means he was accepted to be on the list, we go up March 27th to sign the consent forms and get his Lung Allocation Score, to see where he goes on the list. There are not promises, but they typically get lungs within 1 to 2 months. So I feel like I am repeating myself, but I now have 2 weeks before my world is rocked again and we enter the waiting period of when do we get the phone call. I guess we enjoy this 2 weeks of stable and know that our path is widening with possibilities.
Thank you to everyone that has offered to help us, we will be taking your help in the near future. First and foremost we want stability for Addi (and the buddies) so you will be getting emails from me about our game plan.
Thank you everyone for your prayers, they are truly answered. I just have to ask though to keep praying to give us strength to get through the waiting and the procedure. It is weird to pray for lungs, because we know where they come from and the mourning that someone else is going through, but I do have faith that our paths will cross with the greatest of people and I can't wait to see where this journey will lead us now.
Thanks and Love,
Christi and Addi

Just a quick note. I am at Duke today and had a PET Scan. It came back pretty clear, just show of course the cancer in my lungs. The transplant team will have this information for their Tuesday morning meeting, so we will see what they say. I am going to still have chemo today, so I will have to assume that it will be at least a week or two before I go on the list. Remember, they still could ask for another test.

All is right with the universe again as Carolina beat Duke last night. I am going to have some test tomorrow, but I will not be wearing my Carolina blue.... I actually will have Duke's colors on, but it does not say Duke. I find it kinda confuses them....

I have chemo tomorrow as well as a PET scan. Once they read the PET scan, I might have one more test. Because it is so evasive, I will make sure that is the last test and if it does come back negative, they will promise to say yes.

I have really been working hard at pulmonary rehab. My coaches there are Brenda, Carmen, and Coach K. Her name is Keayra (sp?) and I could not remember for the first couple of weeks. I had to make up a nickname, so Coach K it is. When she makes me do squats, I picture her like a Coach K. They are all really very nice and it has really been a big help. As of now, I am lifting light weights, going 3.2 on a treadmill for 20 minutes, doing an elliptical machine for 10 minutes, riding a bike for 10 minutes, and trying to do it like circuit training. Off one and onto the next. I still have to wear oxygen, 4 liters while I exercise.

Christi and Addi are doing well. Addi is just a great kid and I do love her so much. She is so funny. Last night we went to dinner with Walker, Candace, Brian, and Jared. After that, we came home to watch the game with Brian and Addi was "calling" him on her barbie cell phone. It was SO funny. She is just a cool little girl. I really hope I am around for her. She deserves a Daddy.

I wanted to report to everyone the success of the event Saturday night. It looks like we raised almost $27,000 for lung cancer research and had a heck of a time doing it. I was very proud to be associated with Addi's Cure on Saturday night.

Remember - there are no administration fees for Addi's Cure, so all of that money will be going to lung cancer research. Great job everyone!

I also wanted to make sure everyone remembers Suzi Flynn. She died early this year of lung cancer and her husband Chris asked people to make donations to Addi's Cure in lieu of flowers. Many people did this, and we are honor to have them remember Suzi this way. Our event Saturday was for Suzi and all people who have had to go through this disease.....

Look for information on giving platelet's soon as well....

Hello - Bo is back typing on the blog. I know a lot of people want to hear from Christi, and she really helps me out keeping this blog up. I love when she puts pictures of Addi on.... She is my princess!

I wanted to tell you all how much fun Saturday night was. Party in Paradise was so successful. I will have a total soon on how much we raised, but everyone I think had a great time. There were a lot of very nice people that came. We had our diamond raffle give way and we had a very cool winner: one of my cancer docs! Can you believe it? Susan was so surprised!

It was really neat to see so many people having a good time for a good cause. We had people from GA, VA and MN there as well. People really can show their caring side....

On Sunday, Christi went with Brian, Jennifer, and Lena to see STOMP. I got the hang with Addi for the evening and we had the best time. She is so funny and she laughed a lot during the time we spent together.

I want to dedicate the blog today to Mindy, Michelle, and Randy. They did sooooo much for the event on Saturday and are the reason it was such a success!

Thanks Kilguard, Wright, and Tidrick family for coming so far!

Christi again. Well today is the day, it is time to PARTY! I am so excited for"Party in Paradise", we have been given incredible silent auction items: jewelry, purses, spa and oh yeah for the guys golf, fishing stuff and even a FISHING BOAT! Seriously people are incredibly generous and we are grateful to everything and everyone. A HUGE special thanks to Michelle and Mindy who have taking this dinner and ran with it...they have been amazing. Last night we might have lost it for a little a while, but I think we have got some sleep, a little, but we are ready to go. Michelle I saw you up and going around 7:00 and who knows how late Mindy was up.

I wanted to type first thing this morning also to share another incredible website that has taken the time to get to know us and our passion for fighting lung cancer. Bo is officially a "Smarty Dad" boy does the stuff he does around the house going to change. Please take the time to visit the link and read what these incredible ladies have created in Charlotte. It is truly amazing. Please also take a moment to say a prayer for Jen B and her family. She tragically lost her fight to lung cancer, but has created many more passionate supporters to help fight this awful disease.

http://www.charlottesmartypants.com/

Take care and see you tonight! I will be the one chasing Addi...

Alright, Christi again and I must be the spell typos queen instead of just queen. I guess that is just a sign I need to slow down...sorry.

I thought you all needed to see the Princess in Action.

First is Addi and her "Best Friends" Peyton and Patterson Graham. They got their medals in gymnastics and were so proud.

Next is Addi and her "Best Friend" Cousin Ryan - the picture is worth a thousand words.

And finally this one was just cute.

See you all Saturday for our

Party in Paradise!

Hello Everyone - Christi here
I just wanted to let you know that we heard from the Transplant Coordinator and we got the information we thought we would here. More testing...it isn't a no, but a little frustrating that they whole time we were up there everyone kept asking, "Why are you not having a PET scan?" This is the most typical scan to detect cancer and to see if it has spread elsewhere in the body. So guess what, in 2 weeks, (much to Bo's displeasure of waiting 2 weeks) we go up there for that scan. If that comes back negative (which we believe it will) then we will have one other test to perform to make sure cancer hasn't spread. The waiting period sort of stinks, but I perform to think that maybe God is giving us 2 weeks to enjoy life as we know it before our world gets rocked with the transplant that is going to happen. We can take 2 weeks as a family and play, play, play.
Speaking of playing, Addi is becoming one of the funniest kids I know. First she hero worships her friend Peyton...that could be an understatement. But one of her new things now is referring to Bo and I as the king and queen. (She is the princess) I cannot complain because heck I am a queen, but everyone morning when I get her from bed she says, "Mommy I need the king" Bo's ego doesn't need to be fed anymore than it already is...she also just started to referring to us as Joseph and Mary. I know odd little girl and I need to check into what they are teaching her at preschool, it is a church run program and at Christmas time she did love the manager scene, but that might be a little much. I will stick with the queen.

So for now from the Queen and her Princess
Love to all

Sorry!

I know I said I would update you more last week, but it just got away from me.

I finished up testing last Friday in Duke. There were some highs and lows, but overall it was ok. It was really hard being away from family and work, but Christi, Addi, and Terri (Christi's Mom) were with me most of the time. Terri brought Addi up on Wednesday and of course she really lifted my spirits. Addi was a trooper and did spend some time at the hospital with Daddy. She kept saying "Nice doctor is going to make Daddy feel better" a lot and I think she really helped my cause. I will find out later this week what the docs think. It will be one of three answers: No, Yes, or more test. They want to make sure that cancer is NO WHERE else in my body. If it is, then no go. I really believe in my heart that they will do the transplant. By the way, I have some kick butt insurance. Every cost will be covered if they do the transplant. I thought that was neat. Now all the bake sales can be for Addi's Cure! :)

Thank you Terri. Coming out all week and helping us was great. We could not have done it with out you. We all miss the fried chicken already, but most of all we miss you.

This weekend will be the Addi's Cure party. I am really excited. We have sold over 250 tickets and we are expecting a crowd. It is a Jimmy Buffett themed party, so I know people will dress tropical and just relax. Dr. Crawford and Susan are coming. These are my doctors and have done such a good job keeping me alive.

Update on the chemo: Altima is what I am taking and it is working some. I had a scan last week and there is some regression on the cancer. This is good news. I am not sure how long this will continue working, but each day counts!

Last but not least, I have a message from my 6'6, 280 pound Uncle Terry from Kansas who can kick your butt: Be an organ donor!

Today was a crazy day. I had my assesment at the Center for Living for pulmonary rehab. They were very nice and they were really excited that I have already been doing rehab in Charlotte. After that, we did a cardiac cath consult to know what is happening tomorrow. Interesting to say the least. Basically, they are going in through my thigh and going to check my heart. I then had two scans, one a CT, and one a MUGA with RVEF. Basically what that means is that they measured the red blood cells going into my heart. It was a long day waiting but we did get done at 4:00 today.

I am feeling pretty good. I do think Duke is trying to decide what is best for me, and we will know more next Wednesday.

Thanks for all the prayers, and do not forget Addi's Cure. All of the money goes to a good cause, and we need the help. I will post again tomorrow.....

Christi here (sorry for the typos in advance)...we finally got the internet working, but it think it stressed Bo out more than anything now being able to work. Now that it is up he is exhausted, so now you get me. Needless to say we made it through Day 2 of the "testing" . Today was mostly talking and meeting the people that would weigh in on the decidion. But let me back track a little and get into more detail about Day 1 (Thanks Brian for posting and I apologize for all that have called and we haven't spoke with, cell phone reception isn't the best in a hospital. It might have something to do with the steel beams, the machines or possibly all the cell phones the doctors are on) Anyway,

Day 1 - Orientation - we met Ellen the social working extremely nice - 1st person to realize Bo and I talk a LOT
Then Blood Vials - like 15, I think they might feed vampires with all that blood
Fluoroscopy of Diaphragm and Barium Swallow - Bo has acid reflux, we knew this, he got to see it go all the way up to his clavicle - gross but interesting - I did not see this, but heard in detail from him
Back to the Pulmunary Lab for breathing tests- he did better than Jan. still not ready to run any marathons (we are hoping he did better because of the new chemo kicked it back some, but it probably won't get rid of the cancer. We just need it to work while we are waiting to hear about the transplant.)
Back to Radiology for Differential VQ scan - Lungs still bad with cancer - Confirmed again
We met Dr. Davis - the Transplant Surgeon, arguably the best in the country if not the world. We were extremely impressed, but did walk out a little down because we had to go through all the pitfalls (we knew about these, but sure did suck to hear about, but they have to cross their t's and dot their i's we get it...moving on) Hopefully we impressed him and he is willing to take the chance with us.
Then we thought it would be real smart to add an appointment with Susan our PA with oncology. She is so great. Susan and Dr. Crawford are coming to Party in Paradise, so we are excited for you all to meet the people keeping us alive and doing well, physically and mentally.
We finished the day, which started at 7:30 with chemo at 5:00...long day

Day 2 - pH/Manomerty aka a tube in Bo's nose and down his esophagus to measure acid reflux, Bo will not be piercing his nose anytime soon. We finally agree on something. He leaves the tube in his nose overnight... I pull out in the morning - wish me luck
Then we talked all day...a LOT...the psychologist - confirmed we are crazy, but it might work for us, Social Worker - Confirmed Bo having cancer sucks, but we talk a LOT, Financial Coordinator - Confirmed, we are nuts, but have wonderful insurance - Thank you BCBSNC and then met with Dr. Steele , Transplant Pulmonologist - Confirmed Bo's lungs do not work the best

So now we are sitting, missing our girl. Man are we missing her. She is the sweetest and everytime we talk with her asks for us to come home, but then says that Daddy's is with the doctors and "they will make him feel better" I like to think children talk directly to God, so for those with kids I might ask you to let them ask for a favor for us an make "Bo feel better"

We are certainly hanging in there. One doctor even said that he normally makes people cry, but he wasn't going to break me. I think June of 2006 is when I got the worst news of my life, everything from here is just battling to get what we think is best for Bo's future. And I plan on a great one with him and our little Addi Girl.

Take care and we will get some pictures up soon

Love
Christi

Hello everyone. It’s Brian Williams posting tonight. As many of you know, Bo is up at Duke this week undergoing eligibility tests for a lung transplant. He apologizes for not being able to post to the blog at the moment. He and Christi are having internet problems at their temporary apartment. So tonight’s post is my honor.

Today was day one of testing along with a Chemo treatment. And, as all of you can imagine Bo is charging through the tests as hard as he can. He did say that they are not easy and some are very uncomfortable. But, you all know Bo and he is taking it all in stride. In fact, his humor still shines through…..he told me that one test this week is a cardio catheterization. Basically, they will run a catheter through a vein in the leg up to the heart. He said “So it says in the literature to pack a bag because you might have to be admitted. I think that’s code for ‘This might hurt.’”

Bo promises to post an update as soon as the internet line is repaired at the temporary apartment. In the meantime, your prayers are extremely important this week!!! Stay tuned for more.

Hello everyone and huge apology from me about the Addi'scure.org website, we have been trying to update with the upcoming event, but to no avail right now. See here is the party information and a copy of the flyer. Please note that tickets must be purchased ahead of time so we can have a number count. We have about 100 tickets left so please, please let anyone know about the event and plan on coming. We have some great items being donated we have some incredible LIVE entertainment - JT Parrothead will be performing (some of you know him from the Raleigh area and the Margaritaville parties)

I cannot wait to see everyone there.

Christi and Addi

Hello everyone...I hope that the weather is treating everyone alright. I have family here right now which is really nice. A little bit of home is always good for the heart and soul. Bo stayed home today, he is still a little under the weather. He can't seem to get over his head cold and I am sure chemo every three weeks isn't really helping. We did get stronger antibiotics so hopefully this will knock it out.

I did want to send a little reminder. We are now officially less than a month away from the next Addi's Cure Function. So please, please tell everyone you know to come. You do have to purchase ticket ahead of time for $50 and for anyone looking for tickets either email info@addiscure.org, call me, some girl friends of mine are selling some or stop by Bo's office the front desk is selling them when Bo and I are not there. We are trying to bring another 100 people to this event, so we need some help recruiting people to this outstanding event, if I might say so myself. Just a reminder to bring cash, this is truly a cash bar, no credit card machines. There is also an incredible silent auction thanks to Mindy and Michelle, actually a huge thanks to them for the whole event. We are also have a diamond raffle that night and tickets are $50 for that as well. We will give more specifics on the diamond later. (I have to find a way to keep you all reading for more info) We do need to have most of the tickets sold by February 15th, so if you are planning on coming please look to purchase soon.

Thanks fo everyone for supporting Addi's Cure and I can't wait to see you all in your tropical, summer attire March 1st.

Christi and Addi

Just a quick note today. I am at home today. I had chemo on Monday and I think I am getting a little of a delayed reaction. I did not go to pulmonary rehab today either. I really feel tired. I am still trying to work some from home, but basically have been sleeping all day. This chemo seems to do it after a few days, so i will be ready for it next time. Christi and Addi have been taking care of me really well.

Christi's family is coming in this weekend so we are excited. Post again soon.

I hope everyone is doing well. I know you guys love it when Christi does her posts, and I try to encourage her to do them often. I am feeling pretty good from chemo yesterday, maybe a little tired. I was not sure how much I told you about my pulmonary rehab, so I thought I might explain it a little. I go on Tues, Thur, and Friday every week. I have been 4 times now I think where I am actually working out. i have improved each time, and I am already over what Duke will require for the transplant. I am trying to get even better. Today I went and I rode a bike for 8 minutes, did the treadmill for 15 minutes at 2.7 miles per hour, did an arm machine for 8 minutes, did the row machine for 6 minutes, and of course did the warm up with the group. It is pretty funny, i am the youngest in there of course, by 20 some years. The warm up is not hard but it is good since I have never really stretched before. After the warm up, I have to get on oxygen to so the exercises on level 4. However, my oxygen saturation levels have been good. I start lifting next week and I have already gained 4 pounds which is good as well. It is all the way in Charlotte which is a pain, but it beats having to be in Durham and going to Duke. I may have to do that later. I will have gone 13 times before I go to Duke for my evaluation, and I hope they will see this as positive.... I am also hoping they will let me stay in Charlotte while I am waiting on the list.... We will see.

I really believe this chemo is helping. I was really on a downward tick before and I feel a lot better. I believe if this chemo had not kicked in, I was really in trouble. Good thing it did.... Bought some more time. Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts. Still need them!

Hello everyone, Christi here. Just a little update, we are getting chemo today....we had a great weekend. FIG had their End of the Year Celebration this past weekend and it was a great time. At celebrations like this you are greatly reminded about how many wonderful people enter your life and support you when times are tough. I cannot express to everyone there a great thank you from me to the support and love that you all have for our family. So many people care about Bo and our fight that it is almost overwhelming to know that you all are there for us whenever we need you. I do have to say that going to FIG's celebration each year reminds me of how Bo and I started our journey together. (For those that do not know, I interviewed with FIG - Bo was the interviewer, I know HR nightmare, I didn't get the job at the time it took me 2 more years to get hired and I interviewed with Bill and Jo the next time.) But never for one second have I questioned the path and the choices I have made. The greatest thing that ever happened to me was not getting the job I wanted, but getting the life God laid out for me. Things happen for a reason just give it time and like Bill said enjoy the journey in life not just the year end celebration.

On another note everyone sure did looked wonderful! You all clean up real nice. As soon as I get pictures I will post some. I have to have people send some to me, because Bo wouldn't let me run home to get the camera I forgot. (We were 2 minutes away)

Also for those that do not know today is Bo's Birthday. I just reminded him a lunch that every day with me it like a birthday and he adamently agrees. So to you Bo

Happy Birthday Bo! We all Love you!

Love
Christi and Addi

PS Happy Belated Birthday Niece Ryan, she turned 2 Saturday

PS Happy Birthday Clint - His birthday is today as well. Don't worry I woke him up singing a great song today. Love you little one!

PS Go and see 27 Dresses, I loved that movie

Finally, I have something to update about the lung transplant situation. Duke called me to schedule my 1 week evaluation. I go on February 18 for the entire week. This is the evaluation and test process. I was very disappointed to have to wait until the 18th, but at least I am in. I go back to Duke for chemo on the 28th, and I will talk to them again then. After the week of testing, the doctors will meet about my case. At that point, I guess I will go on the list if they deem it ok.

I am happy to get started, just wish it was sooner..... It is a roller coaster of emotions....

Oh - went to the dentist yesterday and got a good checkup. Just thought you would like to know.

I wanted to have a quick update for today.

I am feeling better and at work today. I did very little this weekend, just hung out with Addi and Christi. I am trying to gain some weight, so I am drinking some protein shakes and stuff. It has been a long time since I have tried to gain weight..... I am now at 155 pounds and that is what I weighed in high school. It is weird....

I am VERY frustrated with Duke as of now. I met with the transplant people on Jan 3, and I am still not knowing what is going on. I am trying to be politically correct and going through the proper channels, but the further it is out the worse I feel about it. I have been trying to email and to work some magic, but nothing so far. I go back up on the 28th of January for chemo, and if I have not heard by then then I am going to have to become "crazy" Bo.....

My KS family is coming out in early Feb so I am glad about that!

Hope everyone likes the pictures of my beautiful little girl. I wish Christi would put pictures of herself on as well, she is beautiful too.

I am at work today, so I do not have too much time. I am supposed to be at a meeting in FL today, but I decided not to go earlier in the week. Things are going better, that is for sure, although I am still not sleeping well. I also have a hive-like deal going on from the chemo, and while it is not to bad, just annoying.

I am going to pulmonary rehab today for my exercise. I went yesterday for testing and consultation. The people are really nice and are very interested in me. I am the youngest person there as far as I can tell by 25 years, but that has been really everywhere. I hope it goes well.

So, basically I still have lung cancer but am feeling better. :)

I know I am very late on posting some pictures of Christmas...but here are a few of my favorites and one of Addi Painting today. We got a bunch of rain and a little snow, so we played indoors all day while Daddy went to work. Thank you everyone for all the prayers and support. We will type more later...

Love Christi and Addi

It has been a few days since my last post, and several things have happened. The first few days after chemo on the 8th, I was fine. I could not sleep hardly at all, but that was my big problem. On Friday morning, i went to have an x-ray because I thought I may have another collapsed lung. Dr. Thomas did the x-ray here, and he did not see anything. I went home on Friday afternoon and just felt really bad. We stayed home all weekend and I was like a zombie. I could only sleep 1-2 hours at a time. It was weird. All I did was watch football and play some with Addi. I worked from home on Monday and I went to the pulmonary specialist that afternoon.

-- Soapbox time: I had to go to the pulmonary specialist to get a referral to go to have a consultation with rehab.... What a waste of time! --

I saw Dr. Meade and he gave me the referral to go to rehab in Charlotte. I also asked him about oxygen, and he made me do a test called the 6 minute walk. When I did the test, he found that my blood-oxygen level went below the normal levels with exertion. Basically, he said I needed oxygen when I exercise and he wanted me to use it when I sleep. I had a service come over yesterday, and I now have oxygen. This is embarrassing for sure and makes me feel like I am moving down in health, but I still am hopeful this is temporary as the lung transplant will come to be.

Just a quick update. I did chemo yesterday and feel pretty good. I have not gotten sick yet or anything, so I think we will be good to go on this drug as well. I do feel like I am breathing better, but I am not sure if that is wishful thinking or really happening.

Thanks you for all of the notes you leave. It makes me feel really good that people are actually reading this. It is important for anyone that has a problem to be able to chat about it, and having you read it makes it better for me. Thanks!

Just a quick update, more later....

Headed to Duke tomorrow for Alimta but got some really good news today. The lung transplant doctor is willing to go the extra mile with me and do more test. While this does not mean I am accepted , it is very positive that he has decided if I can take the operation, I am in. I should test over the next 30 days, and then go on the list soon after that. I do not know what these test are, but I am hopeful I will do well. If I get a lung transplant, and if the cancer does not come back, here are my percentages:

Not reject after 1 year 90%
Not reject after 5 years 65%
Not reject after 10 years 30%

I will take those over my current odds!

Not much to report this weekend. I stayed around the house, just having trouble breathing. Addi and Christi stayed close as well, so I spent a lot of time with Addi. We watched the games, and of course watched Kansas play on Saturday and Carolina play tonight. My Mom made us dinner tonight, so Christi got a break.... kind of, she still had to take care of me! :)

I go back to Duke on Tuesday for the new chemo and I really want to go. I am having trouble sleeping as I can not breathe really well. I hope it will push back the cancer some to help my stamina and breathing. The only problem is I can only take it 8 times every 3 weeks. A short term fix. Would love to play golf again, but walking up stairs is tough now.

When I started this blog I said I would alway tell the truth on what was happeing to me. Above is the way it is now. I am scared about what will happen next, and feel that without the transplant I might be on the way down. I am not depressed or mad, just trying to explain where I am. Looking forward to some good news soon.

New update from Duke today. We went up and met with Dr. Palmer who is the director of the lung transplant area. He is very nice and SMART, and he is just a bit older than me. (He was the smart one in school!!!)

He talked to me about the procedure and he is going to look into my case. He is really going to consider it, and that is the best news I could have received. This is not a guarantee he will let me do this, but it is a first step. It was a good meeting....

Chris Flynn, Suzi's husband, asked me if he could have Addi's Cure be the charity that is listed at Suzi's funeral in lieu of flowers. I was honored. He said Suzi would have wanted it this way, and I believe him.... I will miss Suzi.

I promised an update for you from Duke today, and I wish I had better news. My scans did not go well. They show a growth of the cancer. Dr. Crawford has decided that we need to switch courses and try some new things. I am going to stop using tarceva. I will keep using avastin, but add another drug to it. It is called ????, I will let you know later..... I will have to go to Duke every 3 weeks for this treatment. It will take about 3 hours and will be done intravenously. It was not good news, but at the same time, it was unrealistic to think any medication would last forever. I am glad to know we are moving forward to another chapter....

I want to report some sad news as well. Many of you have read from time to time about my friend Suzi from back home. She lost her fight with lung cancer this morning at about 10:15 am. She had been fighting hard for 3 years.... I was very sad to hear this. Thanks to everyone who sent in money to Addi's Cure on her behalf. Please remember her family during this time. She has a 5 and 3 year old.

I will be meeting with the lung transplant doc tomorrow, so I hope I will have some different and better news.....

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a good holiday. The Johnson Family had an interesting one....

I first wanted to say I go to Duke tomorrow for scans and then stay over for a January 3rd appointment with Dr. Palmer, the lung transplant guy. I will know a lot more on Jan 3rd and will report. I am worried about the scans, like always. This time I am for sure breathing different, and I have no idea what is going on. I will be glad to know, that way the docs hopefully can do something.... Dr. Palmer is the man that makes the decision about the transplant, so I hope I impress him.... Might wear a suit, just kidding.

We are going to present Duke Research with a check from Addi's Cure tomorrow as well. I am so proud of Addi's Cure and what it has become. It is all due to every ones help! We are going to donate $61,289.35 to lung cancer research. We also have over $98,000 in our interest bearing account for endowment. Everyone has done such a great job with this. We have decided to hold our first Addi's Cure event for 2008 on March 1 in Cornelius at the Peninsula Yacht Club. It will be with a Jimmy Buffett theme and should be a lot of fun..... Please make plans to come if you can....

Alright - holiday update. I was not able to go to Kansas because of my breathing. Christi and I were disappointed, but we did think it was best. I will have to get back there soon, I miss my Kansas family. Christi and Addi have a blast and Addi went sledding with her BFF forever Ryan. I added a picture of Addi (eyes closed of course!) and Ryan with Uncle Curtis at the top....

Merry Christmas everyone from the Johnson Family.

We have had a wonderful holiday here in NC. Today, Addi got her first dollhouse. She was so excited that she really did not look at anything else Santa brought until the afternoon. It was very cute. We had Bill, Jo, Aunt Bobbie, and Tracia over for lunch today as well. Tonight, Addi can not stop taking pictures with her new Fisher Price camera. A lot of pictures!

My holiday really started on Sunday when we went up to Hendersonville for the Johnson dinner. A lot of people were there and it was really nice. We then went to my Papa's house and opened up presents. Addi had a lot of fun. Papa gave me something really to treasure. When my grandmother (Mama) was still alive, she was such an influence on my life. She was really a great woman, and really funny. Any way, for their 50th anniversary, Papa gave Mama a liberty 50 dollar gold piece on a chain. I always loved that piece and thought it was awesome. Papa gave it to me for Christmas. It is very special to me and it will be something I pass on to Addi so she will have something of my grandmothers. I was very shocked.

Monday night we went to Jo's house. Just in case you do not know, Jo is my Mom. I call her Jo because of work, and it has just stuck. (I know when Lena reads this she will be yelling at me to call her Mom...) Daniel, Andrea, Joe, Scout, Mike, Caroline, Christi, Addi, Aunt Bobbie, Jo, and Bill were there and we had dinner and opened presents. It was really fun. I think everyone had a great time. We left that night, and went home to help Santa get ready for Addi..... :)

Back to our house today - Addi's third Christmas was so cool. She really understood a little better about Christmas and what it means. Don't get me wrong, we still have a long way to go.

Christi and I had a good Christmas as well. Christi hit the jackpot! So did I. Honestly, we just enjoyed each other and Addi. I hope all of you understand how special EACH holiday is. I will be seeing my KS family soon!

I hope everyone had a good week. As you can see from the last post that Christi did, my family is really a great asset. I love Christi and Addi so much, and I hope that I do not leave them. Addi has been so sweet about Christmas and I am really just glad I am still here to see it.

Update on me: I have been hearing a weez lately when I take a deep breath to cough. Susan heard it as well when I was at Duke. What could this be? It could be the cancer blocking my airway, or I am hoping it is still the talc from the collapsed lung. To be honest, i am not sure. I am coughing a lot more....

I am very excited about Christmas and the thought of spending time with my family in NC and KS. When you are in my situation, you never know if this is the last one you will have. I try my best to have the best time and not think of it, but I do think of this all the time. I have tried to ask God to take it away, and I still think of it.

I wanted to say thank you to everyone that has given money to Addi's Cure this year. We raised more than last year, and we will be giving Duke a lot of money this year. They are amazed at what you are able to do. Yes, I said YOU. Our next Addi's Cure function will be this spring in Cornelius and will have a Jimmy Buffet theme...... SOUNDS FUN!

Hello Everyone Christi here...things here are good. Addi is really into Santa Claus which is so fun. I might be a little crazy taking her everywhere to see Santa, but Christmas is only one time a year, Right? Anyway things went at Duke as we sort of expected. They are not completely on board, yet...but hopefully with some perseverance and information we will sway them in time. Bo really believes this is his best chance, so a lot of prayers would be great. I just wish he didn't have to do something so scary and serious (sorry i can't think of a better word), but I guess cancer is pretty scary and serious. I knew life with Bo would be exciting and never calm, but I just hope the holidays will be and then we will know what to do. Take care and have a wonderful Holiday Season.

Love Christi and Addi

PS If you see Santa tell him Addi says hi! They are on a first name basis now.

Tomorrow is a big day. I am going to Duke, and we are going to talk about me having a lung transplant. I have decided I will insist on doing this asap. I talked to Gerald Dash on Friday, and it was cemented. Gerald has had the transplant done, and although he was very honest with me about how he is feeling, etc., I still think this is the best thing. I hope Duke will say yes, because if not, I will be moving to CA. I either have to be within three hours of the facility where the transplant will take place, or I have to be there period. Either way, I am hoping I can be near my family.

Just wanted everyone to know....

Addi and Christi are doing great. I will ask Christi to put some pictures on the blog this week....

Please say a prayer for Darlene. She wrote an article about me for a paper, and she just got the news she has breast cancer....

A mid week update, are we all lucky! :)

I went to Pinehurst for a meeting with a company we do business with. We played Southern Pines Country Club. Tim hit one onto the roof of the snack shack that was between 9-10-11-12-14. It stayed and he played it as it lies. It was a par three and he made a 4. It was amazing. We got pictures, and I will try to post it..... I was supposed to play No. 2 today, but I did not because I was really embarrassed by the day before. It sucks, as much as I like golf, that I could only play nine holes. I am a little worried by this, but it could be still from the talc from the collapsed lung. I am going to go with this theory. I will be trying to build up for my next golf trip in January. I am not sure how to accomplish this, but I will try. If I can not do this, I will have to find another hobby? Any ideas????

I hope everyone had a great weekend. It was a fun week at work, and there is a lot that is happening. This is a really big time for us.

This weekend we went to go see Santa at Interstate Motorcycles. This is the motorcycle group that raised money for Addi's Cure with a Poker Run. They did such a great job and raised a lot of money. I hit some golf balls and played with Addi. Christi and Addi have been seeing Santa all over the place. Addi is really excited about this season.

Update on Suzi - Someone asked me to update everyone on Suzi. She sent me an email today and she is doing ok from what I understand. She is starting radiation on Monday again and I am so glad. She is having some trouble but I hope that it will get better for her. She thanks everyone for the prayers and thoughts. She needs more! I want to issue a challenge for you readers - send a $5 donation to Addi's Cure and in the memo section, put Suzi. Let her know she is being thought of.... See how I am always looking for an angle!

Addi's Cure is winding up our first full calendar year. This year has been awesome. We have raised awareness and money, and I want to do more. Please help us spread the word about lung cancer and funding. They do not have to send $$ to Addi's Cure, but send some somewhere. There are some many good causes, get into one and give your time as well. Remember the girls from Touch a Truck? Awesome ladies....

I would like you to say a prayer tonight for a sweet little girl. McKenna Johnson died this week. She was 10 years old and lost her battle with cancer. Please say a prayer for her family and for her. I am sure she is in Heaven and in no pain, and playing like a 10 year old should. Cancer SUCKS! Here is an entry from her blog:

Saturday, December 1, 2007 10:32 AM CST
Dear McKenna,We are so proud of you! From the moment you were born, you brought us so much joy, and love. You were such a happy baby and we loved you from the first instant we found out we were going to have another child. You were such a happy baby, and you were our first little girl. So precious and sweet and you were ALWAYS in pink.When we first heard the words, “Your daughter has cancer”, I thought our worlds were coming to an end. I had never felt that kind of pain, desperation, fear and anguish. How could this be? Such a perfect, sweet, innocent little girl….diagnosed with cancer at only 2 years old? We wished we could take your place. We would have given anything to have it be one of us, not you, our child. In those early years, we watched as you suffered through painful procedures and many treatments. You were stuck in the hospital countless times and endured chemotherapy, radiation and a bone marrow transplant. During it all, you remained happy and you would tell us not to worry and not to cry. Everything was going to be okay. You made the nurses, doctors, and staff fall in love with you. You had so many of them just eating out of the palm of your hand! You’d walk the halls of the hospital, tethered to your pole, with your cute little slippers on and sometimes, sunglasses or purses or hats. Always so stylish and cute and sassy! You were the brightest of angels, even back then!Following the successful BMT, you remained healthy for 5 years and 2 months. We are so thankful for all that we got to do with you. You showered us with so much love and you, soaked in and basked in, all of ours. You grew into such a beautiful, healthy young lady and we will never forget all the wonderful, special times we spent with you. We will never forget your spunk and your attitude, your humor and sarcastic comments. You were sassy and stubborn, but also sweet and loving to the core. You were such a mother hen. You loved babies and small children and would play for endless hours at Nana’s with all the babies in her daycare, holding them, playing with them and showering them with your attention and affection. When you were diagnosed this February, we were all crushed. We were all a little older, and wiser and so very, very scared of the road you would need to travel down. You helped your teacher tell your class that you had cancer and wanted to be able to answer any questions to your classmates. Such a fearless little girl! We watched as you took it all in stride and bravely went through all the new treatments. The lung surgery and the chest tubes in June, were the most painful procedures you had ever had. I cried and cried during the times you would get to finally rest and sleep, for all the pain that you had to endure. Tom our neighbor, remembers that shortly after your surgery, you were RUNNING and playing Ships across the Ocean, at their house and when you were getting tired, you said to Tom, “Tom, can you carry me? I just had part of my lung removed!”. I will NEVER forget that story. It is so you!During your BMT this August, we once again watched as you suffered. There was so many horrible side effects to your chemo. Nausea, vomiting, GVHD and all the horrible things that go with that. We watched as the strength was sucked out of your body, but never the spunk and your spirit. You fought so hard and you made it! You got to come home for 3 weeks!!! Home at last! We watched as you quietly, soaked it all in. You were so content to just sit or lay on the couch and watch your brother and sister in whatever they were doing. You didn’t have the strength or stamina to want to do much, but you were still so happy to be home with your family. You got to pick out your own little puppy, your loving little girl Emmie, and you bought her with your own money. She made you so happy and we are so glad you got a chance to do this, even if you really only got to enjoy her for 2 weeks. We will never regret the decision to let you have your own puppy and so grateful for the extra smiles it gave you. When we were told you had a virus…RSV, we really thought nothing of it. So what? Big Deal! Our McKenna is so strong, nothing can stop her, is all we so blindly were thinking. Never did we think it would devastate and destroy your lungs the way it did. I can’t even explain the pain that we felt as we watched you struggle to breathe. When you needed to be intubated and put on a breathing machine, I asked if you were scared and you said no. Always so brave! We were with you every day at the hospital, your entire family would take turns coming to visit you. We always thought you were going to wake up and couldn’t wait to see your eyes open and your see your beautiful smile. We wanted to hear your sweet voice again so badly. It wasn’t meant to be. You had to leave us on Tuesday. You had to go. Your body was so tired and worn out and it had suffered so long and hard. We knew it when we saw you that morning. It was over, you were done fighting, and we were telling you it was okay. It was your time to go fly, sing and dance with the angels. We understood that, finally, and we were ready to let you go.You left us, your entire family together, in your hospital room, surrounding you with our love. You are so brave, strong and courageous and we will never forget the lessons you have taught us. WE will cherish everything we had with you and you will be with all of us in our hearts forever and ever. You were the best little sister to Kalen, and the best big sister to Jadyn that you could possibly be. They are both so proud of you and will forever miss their sister. They are glad that you are now in heaven and cancer free. They both know that you are busy with all the angels, but know that you will hear them when they talk to you. They LOVE YOU!Mommy and Daddy are going to miss you forever. Your absence has left this family with a void as big as the Grand Canyon, and we are going to have to learn to live with it. You will always be with us and we are so blessed to have had you for as long as we did….we know that and we know that you are in a better place, free of pain and suffering. That is what gives us great comfort at this time!You changed lives baby girl! You inspired and touched so many people’s hearts! You lived life to the fullest and packed in an entire lifetime in just 10 short years. You are AMAZING and we will always carry your spirit in our hearts as we continue on here on earth. We will see you again princess McKenna….in every pink sunset, rainbow and twinkling star. We will know you are watching over our family for the rest of our lives and when we get to heaven, we’ll be able to hold you and laugh with you again! For now we will just continue to love you and remember you and miss you with all our might!See you later Boo Boo McFoo!!!

From McKenna:

Brick Wall, WaterfallDaddy thinks He’s got it all
But he don’t, cuz I do!
So, Boom with that attitudeBoom with that attitude!
Peace, Punch, Captain CrunchI’ve got something you can’t touch!
Bang Bang choo choo trainWind me up, I’ll do my thang!
I know Karate, I know Kung FuMess with me…I’ll mess with you….FOO!!!


Love McKenna!

Hello and I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I was very lucky this Thanksgiving as I saw everyone in Hendersonville for lunch, and everyone in Charlotte for dinner. Just because of the travel, etc., we did not go to Kansas, where Christi's family is. We made a decision a couple of years ago that we would go to Kansas for either Thanksgiving or Christmas, but not both. I am really bummed that we did not see the Kansas family. Distance is hard.

I went to a couple of Bobcats games this week as well as seeing our PITIFUL Panthers today. They are really not good. I did see my old friend Susie Harvey. Susie is pregnant with her first, and really looked great. I have not seen her since at least 1990. We only got to chat for a minute, and it was the awkward surprised chat. You know what I mean.....

Several people have asked me about my friend Suzi Flynn and her struggle with cancer. I sent her an email tonight, and asked if she would give me an update and permission to post. We will see what she says.....

Addi and I have been learning letters tonight via the Internet. She loves Sesamestreet.com and is really funny participating. She likes to make sure you know she is doing well. She did the same think at gymnastics. It is very cute and I am glad she makes me feel very important. Christi does such a good job with Addi. She is really growing up to be a little lady.

People keep asking how I am feeling. I am doing pretty well. I am still having trouble sleeping because I am coughing. It is weird, I cough so much when I am horizontal. I have been trying to go to sleep with Christi, but instead of keeping her up, I am going to another room. My wind is getting better, but still not all the way back from the chest tube on the collapsed lung. I am feeling like it will keep getting better. My wait has leveled at 162, and I hope will trend back up. It is nice being skinny, but you know, I need my winter weight. I also still have the rash on my face, but it has calmed down. Think of Bo at 15, you will get the picture.

Last but not least, i have to tell you a funny story. I have three dogs, which I did not want. Christi brought them home without my knowledge. (I would say permission, but there are knives in the house.) I have grown to love these dogs. I still do not want them, but love them A LOT. Long story short - I am getting to my office on Wednesday of last week. As I am going into my briefcase to get some papers, I notice a smell. Kind of like a rotten smell, but faint. I pull out a plastic sleeve, and it is wet. Basically, one/two/or all three of them went pee in my briefcase.... Did I mention I love those dogs?

See ya....

So much has happened since my last post. If I forget something, sorry!

Today I went and got a treatment of Avastin. I found out that each dose cost over $10,000 and I go every three weeks. The nurse also said it was a wonder drug, and I needed to make sure I got each drop. I guess I have to thank Blue Cross and Blue Shield. I feel a little tired, but basically ok.

Sunday I hung out with Addi and just played with her until about 5:30. Christi, Brian, Jennifer, and I went to dinner and to a play, The Drowsy Chaparone. It was great. We had dinner at a little resturant downtown, and then walked to the show. I had a great time with my crew....

Friday and Saturday, I went to Hendersonville to a golf outing for Addi's Cure. It was a lot of fun. Lee B. put it together and he is such a good guy. Friday, we all went to dinner and caught up. Amy, Tippi, Steve, Steve L, and many others were there. It was fun to see my high school friends. Saturday, we went to the golf outing and it was COLD! My dad played also, and we were in the same 4-some. My group came in second, and we rasied $1500 for Addi's Cure. I was so proud of Lee, he did such a good job. Jim, Justin, Shawn, Phil, Brian, Zack, Adam, Billy, Dave, and Mike came up and really put in a huge effort.

Thanks to everyone....

Hello everyone, Christi here, boy is it nice to have nothing new to report. I am good with boring for a while. I am afraid the holidays will pick things back up, but you have to love being with family. Anyway, just a short shameless plug out there for everyone shopping online this Christmas. Please consider going to http://www.igive.com/ and registering. You can choose Addi's Cure as your choice of charity or any charity out there. This is a great website having the big stores give a percentage back to charity. If you download their software, igive will automatically pop up and you do not have to shop through their website, they will link it up for you and boom money is given. Thanks to those that are already using it, we have raised a couple hundred dollars for doing nothing but buying presents for loved ones. Please see the info and link below if you want to link up with Addi's Cure. Thanks for all you help and feel free to email info@addiscure.org if you have problems logging in and downloading.

Take care
Christi and Addi


Use this link if you want to register with Addi's Cure...

Hi_______here, along with iGive.com, inviting you to change YOUR online shopping into support for a truly worthy cause.
I'm supporting Addi's Cure, just by shopping online at over 681 online stores. And right now, my surfing can help too: when I visit online stores through iGive.com, it counts as an entry in iGive.com's Surfathon sweepstakes for a chance to win a $1,000 donation! They're giving away $1000 to 5 winning causes, every month for 10 months! I hope you'll join me for more chances to win - just join iGive.com for free and check out their stores. You don't even have to buy anything!
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HOW IT WORKS:
1. Join iGive.com to support Addi's Cure It's free, safe, and easy to join.
http://www.iGive.com/html/refer.cfm?memberid=485982&causeid=38872
2. Shop through iGive.com OR just surf their stores Their online mall features trusted online retailers like Lands' End, Staples, NORDSTROM, JCPenney, eBay, Expedia.com, Barnes & Noble, QVC, & PETsMART to name just a few!
3. Watch the $$ roll in for Addi's Cure!
Up to 26% of EACH purchase is donated, plus a bonus $5 donation if you shop within 45 days. The more stores you visit, the more chances to win a $1,000 donation during the Surfathon!
So, to recap:
Join for free, shop within 45 days of joining, and you'll get an extra $5 donation, FREE. And even if you don't shop, simply visiting stores through iGive.com means more chances to win a $1000 donation during the Surfathon! This is a limited time offer - you can click the link below to learn more:
>> http://www.iGive.com/html/surfathon.cfm
----------------------------------------------------
Use this link to JOIN FOR FREE and begin supporting Addi's Cure:
http://www.iGive.com/html/refer.cfm?memberid=485982&causeid=38872
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I hope to see you at iGive.com soon.
Christi
P.S. iGive.com would like you to know that all the causes at iGive.com have been listed by members for their own and others' benefit. They don't endorse the causes, and the causes don't endorse them. But I DO! So, c'mon, click on that link above.

We had a great weekend. Christi, Addi, and I went to Middleburg, VA to see an art show and spend time with Bill and Jo. Dennis E. is a person that we buy some art from, and he was having a show. He had Yuri Gorbachev in town for the show. He is from Russia and is an incredible artist. We also saw Jason K and Emily K, with their daughter Grace on Saturday. Tom and Lisa K. came to see us at the art show. We stayed on an estate that used to belong to the Warburgs. The Warburgs were part of the famed German and later New York banking family. It was really awesome.

Tonight, I spoke at a meeting on lung cancer. It was a good meeting.

Just wanted to check in this Thursday evening and say hello. We are so busy at work. Addi's Cure is doing really well. Remember, we started this year with $35,000 from last year. This has been growing in interest all year and was have of course raised a lot of money this year. We are over $125,000 for the year, so we will be able to give Duke more than last years $35,000. I think we will do better, but we can give them at least $62,500 this year.

I will check back with everyone on Sunday. I feel good and am looking forward to the weekend.

Make sure you look below for some pictures of me and Addi at Halloween!

This weekend was really great. I had the best time and really was surprised and amazed. I am going to start on Sunday and go backwards.

Sunday

I woke up and it was nice to be able to "sleep" in. The time change was nice, and of course Addi woke us up when she was ready. Christi fixed pancakes for Addi and I so it started off really good. We just hung around all morning, and Dr. Dan made a house call around lunch. He is the person that preforms acupuncture for me. I could not go as much as I needed last week, so he is really cool and came over. I stayed pinned for about an hour. Then Brian, Justin, Phil, Donelle, and I went to the go cart track. This is the real deal, where they go up to 60 mph. I cam in last, and Justin beat us all. It was a lot of fun. Brian and I went back, and with Christi, Addi, and Jennifer, watched the New England vs. Indianapolis game. Basically after that, paid bills, etc.

Now to tell you the other part of my weekend, I have to start on Friday. Friday the family headed down to Myrtle Beach for Richard Berry's client appreciation event. That meant I got to spend a lot of time with Addi and Christi in the car. Unfortunately, I was on the phone a lot. We got down to the hotel, and it was on the beach, so we took Addi to the beach. She found several shells and was highly upset to leave for dinner. We met the Berry's for dinner. Have you ever met someone and knew it was right? This is how it is with the Berry's. They work with my company, but our relationship is far from business now. It is truly friendship. We have done this with several people that work with us. For me, I can think of Kevin S., Larry G., John K., and that is off the top of my head. Very blessed for these relationships. We had dinner at The Brentwood in Little River, SC and it was awesome. Food was awesome as well, but company was better. All of the Berry's (Richard, Jan, Jana, Jamison, and Jordan) were there, as well as Jim and Jamie, Tracia, Caroline and Mike, Bill, and Jo. After dinner, we all went to bed.

On Saturday, we woke up and had breakfast. We went to the Berry's Client Appreciation Day at The Dixie Stampede in Myrtle Beach. Now, whatever i say from this point will not do justice to what happen. The worse part is I know I will leave things out as well. Trust me, it was really amazing. The Dixie Stampede probably holds about 1,000 people, and over 800 were there. There was a horse show and lunch, and it was really good food and fun. Addi loved the horses. Richard came out of the ceiling in a super man outfit and proclaimed himself the safe money man. It was hilarious. Addi called him the "money bird" and really laughed and thought he was funny. Then they called us down and made a presentation. They had raised $7,505 for Addi's Cure. I have never really put numbers with people, but I was amazed at what they had done for us. American Equity was there and they presented Addi's Cure a check as well. Last but not least, Michael C. and his company gave a donation as well. All in all, I was overwhelmed. Christi was too.

There is really not much I can do to show my appreciation for what everyone has done for Addi's Cure. I try to tell the stories of what the Berry's and others do for the cause, and I hope it is not lost my admiration for all the help I have been given. Addi's Cure has been a great distraction for me, and your support has made me believe that anything can be done. I will post soon and let you know the total for 2007 as well as since inception, but it will make you cry. Every dollar, I mean every cent, will be used for research. I hope we can make a dent where the government is short. Did you know that the government approved a study for yellow bees and pumpkins that will have more funding than lung cancer? What in the world!

This weekend was special and I hope I did some justice to it..... Thanks again to the Berry's for a wonderful weekend.....

Sorry to take so long here are some Halloween pictures...

I am sorry it took me so long to post this week. I want to say first that I am really pumped about my doctors visit on Tuesday. I think everyone can agree that I thought the results were not going to be good. A lot of people were concerned I was down, but I just felt there would be a negative reaction because of what my body was telling me. When I had the last collapsed lung, the procedure they did really is taking a long time to heal which is giving me real symptoms, but it seemed like it was from the cancer.

Susan, one of the doctors I see, came in because we had been waiting awhile. She could not see us right then, but she did say the scans are good. Later she came in and talked more. I wanted you to know this part of the story because that is an example of why I am so happy at Duke. She did not have to do that. I really believe they truly care about me.

I do want to say I am still going to go for the lung transplant. While I am stable, science tells us that eventually, the Avastin may not work. I will always try to do something to make me stable, but in the end, I think I will have to go for it.

Three great things from this week. First - Charlotte Business Journal picked FIG as the 3rd best place to work in Charlotte. We were in the medium category, and there are over 1700 businesses with 50-175 employees. This is something that our employees were surveyed for this honor. This is not something we paid for, it is really a big deal and I am very proud of our company. Second - this weekend, one of my clients is having a client appreciation dinner. One of the things they are doing is having a fund raiser for Addi's Cure. They have already donated themselves and had many of their clients donate also. The Berry's are a great family. I could go on and on. The third thing is very exciting as well. There is a Bush Series driver named Jennifer Jo Cobb (http://www.cobbracingteam.com) and Addi's Cure will be on her car. One of the companies I work with is The Annexus Group. These guys decided to sponsor her car. Out of the goodness of their hearts, they decided to put my charity on the car. I was so touched, it was crazy.... She is the only female driver, and she is from Kansas. Watch the PHX Bush race and look for the Annexus Car with Addi's Cure on it...... Thanks Don and Ron!

Last, but not least, THANK YOU. I know there are a lot of people out there thinking of me and praying for me. We all know that is why I am still here. I have had some good times and bad during the crazy time, but the bottom line is the support I have is awesome....

We, Christi here, just got back home, of course the computer was down at Duke otherwise we would have posted sooner. The scans came back STABLE! Bo is still a little dumbfounded on the doctors saying that everything looks as good as before the collapsed lung, that he didn't know what to say when they told us things looked good. I would have to say he was speechless. Bo will update more later, but at this time we are going to stay the same course and enjoy the holiday season. There will be tons of pictures showing our celebrations and living life to the fullest. Thank you everyone for praying and pumping Bo up. You truly are amazing friends far and near. We love you all!
Love
Christi and Addi
PS Good Luck Freedom, she is one of our favorite helpers at Duke and she is due any day now with a little girl. I will see you January 2nd for our next set of scans.

I just wanted to quickly post that all is good with my Dad. All clear and he doesn't have to go for another scan until 2 years. Yeah! Just the beginning of good news! Tomorrow for us will be a long day, so don't worry if we don't post until late. Thanks and keep praying.
Christi

Hello everyone, Christi here. I just wanted to Thank everyone for their support, kind words and silent prayers. Bo, Addi and I truly appreciate all that you do for us. We are hoping and I am expecting great news on Tuesday, but together with everyone we will handle whatever is thrown our way. I have no doubt that there is greater plan out there for everyone of us that we do not know at this time and in my heart I know Bo will come through. So Tuesday is big in Bo's mind, but in my heart it will be just a clarification on the path that we are to take. Please pray that we handle everything with grace and acceptance and good news will prevail. I would also like to ask everyone to say a prayer for my Dad. On Monday he is going in for his first yearly checkup since being diagnosed with colon cancer. I expect and pray that he will provide us with the first good news to report. Big week here and we will share whatever news with everyone when the time is right.
Thank you again
Love
Christi and Addi

When I typed the blog entry for yesterday, I had no idea it would cause such a stir.... I got many calls/emails yesterday and today, as well as several entries into the blog. My purpose of this blog is to always be as honest as I can about how I feel and what is happening. (remember the doctor and his finger from the beginning? :) ) During my time living with this mess, I have been very lucky from the standpoint of having a great support cast. I won't even talk about Christi and Addi because you know, but my parent, friends, and a lot of people just showing they care. This has carried me a long way and has given me many positive days. However, I knew there would come a time when I would have some bad days. What surprised me most was the same support really came through again. Candace called me and yelled at me, Caroline wrote me a long email as well as Jeanne, and Christi stood by me like she always does.

I am sick still, and I do not feel very good today, but I am feeling better mentally than yesterday.

I think that the pressure of dealing with this has gotten to me. I also think it is affecting my job as well, which is very important to me. Bill, Jo, Brian, and everyone at FIG is really stepping up, but it bothers me. I just want to go back to a normal life, and that is just not possible anymore no matter what I do.

Just wanted to make sure I explained a little more. I am still fighting, and will not give this up ever because of Christi and Addi. I am sure there are better days ahead....

It has been awhile since my last post, and a lot has been going on. Christi and I just got back from Cancun, Mexico and we had a pretty good time. I got a little sick at the end of the trip, and in fact am still sick today. I am not sure if the two were related since there were different symptoms, but never the less, sick is sick. In Cancun, Christi and I relaxed some and we even swan with the dolphins. We stayed at a place called Le Blanc which was nice. Caroline and Mike, Justin and Rachel, Wade and Kenda, and Hamilton were also there from FIG. It was a reward trip for Annexus. I think everyone had a good time.

I also have been doing acupuncture for a little while. It has been interesting to be sure. It does not hurt, and they do not put the needles on fire.... Rumors. I will let you know how it is going.

Update on me - like I said, I am sick today. I have a cold. It seems that any time I travel I get something, a direct effect from chemo and my immune system being down. I do believe that my cancer is getting worse, and I think they will confirm this on the 30th. I am having more and more trouble breathing with any more than normal excursion. I am also going to for sure ask them to put me on the lung implant list. I feel like this is something I have to do. I do think the medical community is doing a lot now for detecting cancer early and better, but it seems to me that the things they are doing are all for stage 1 or stage 2 people. Also, for every death of breast cancer, they are spending $13 for research, for lung cancer, they are spending $1. This is pretty telling to me. The more "sexy" cancers are getting the dollars, while people have a stigma about lung cancer. I hope Duke says ok for the transplant.....

Christi has been really worried about me and my attitude towards this situation. I do not think I have changed at all, just think I am not going to live in a dream world either. I am worried there has been a change, and it does bother me. I am still eating great, doing all of the alternative things I can do, and praying every night. It is hard to get up every day and face the facts. I think every understands life and death, but most people do not face it daily. I am not going to just die one day suddenly, it would be a process. I wonder if that is better or worse?

Some Pictures from her Big Day!

She really liked, but didn't understand the bull's tongue.

Hope everyone had a good weekend. We sure did. This was Addi's birthday weekend. On Saturday, we had a party for her at the Lazy 5 Ranch. This is a place where you ride a wagon around and see different animals. Many of her friends joined us, as well as Tracia, Caroline, Mike, Grams, and Bill. We saw zebras, elk, giraffes, pigs, prairie dogs, and many other animals. I think everyone had a great time. We had pizza and cupcakes as well. That night, we had a second celebration with my dad and my grandpa. Tracia, Caroline, Mike, Grams, and Bill came as well. It was fun.

Today we are going to take it easy and let Addi play with the many toys she got. She is such a good little girl. It is really amazing have Addi around.

A big thanks goes to Christi for this weekend. She planned and did everything for Addi. She is a great Mom and deserves the credit.

Hello everyone, sorry for the slow post but things are getting busy here with our little girl turning 2 on Saturday. She is going to have a birthday party at Lazy 5 Ranch. There everyone gets to ride a wagon through this animal farm and feed them from the wagon. Do not worry I am sure there will be tons of pictures posted.
Bo also took his first plane trip, we all sure did hold our breath, but everything turned out fine. I think he was excited to get that little bit of independence back since the collapsed lung. Looks like the procedure worked. I know this is early to ask, but please pray for Bo's scans on the 30th. We are extremely anxious about these scans, since we haven't had any since the hospital stay. We are really nervous that the uncomfortable feeling Bo is having is the procedure and not the cancer. So a few extra prayers for good results and something to calm our nerves. (3 weeks is a long time from now)
We will post pictures soon of Addi turning 2. It truly is hard to believe she is two.
Love Christi and Addi
PS A special shout out to our new friend Preston Jon Graham who arrive Monday at 5:37, 8 lbs an 20 1/4 inches long. I can't wait to take Addi over to meet him!

Just wanted to make sure everyone knew that we got two big donations in today. Equitrust gave a donation to Addi's Cure today. It was very nice and I was really appreciative. Heather Kane brought it to the office.

Allianz also gave a donation as well. They doubled what they did last year, and it meant a lot that Eric Thomes brought it in.

I hope everyone is having a good day!

I thought you all might enjoy some picture of the corn maze and bike race...

Hope this email finds everyone well. It has been awhile since I posted, so I wanted to make sure I let you know about last week. We did a lot of work, Addi went to school, and it was a good week. This weekend Kevin and Theressa Meyer came down to visit from MI. Friday night, we went out to eat. Saturday we went to the Amazing Maize with some people from work. Christi, Addi, Bill, Jo, and the Meyers won the competion in 42 minutes. It really was neat. That afternoon we went to a fund raiser for Addi's Cure. More below. Sat night, we just hung out and watch all of the shows we put on DVR and had Chinese food. Sunday, we went to play golf. I shot a 94 and did pretty well. (43-51) I got tired at the end. Trying to get back into it. I really hoped the Meyers could have stayed longer. We owe them a trip, so we need to go to MI next summer.

I wanted to talk more about the fund raiser that happened Saturday afternoon. It was really awesome. 49 bikers had a poker run for the charity. Interstate Motorcycles was a big sponsor, as well as Red Bull. They had a cookout after, it was really cool. Lauren in my office helped with it, but her parents were the ones that really brought it together. I could not believe what a good job they did.

It is very endearing to see people working together to do things that show society cares.... Very nice. For as much bad as we have in the world, we do have good. Keep the faith!