Pan Mass Challenge

For those of you who don't know Tim Smith, he is a friend of the family who has arranged "Team Chandler" participation in the Pan Mass Challenge these past two years. For those of you who've never met Tim Smith, let me tell you he is the best of the best.

The Pan Mass Challenge is a 200-mile bicycle ride to raise money for cancer research. More than 4,800 cyclists will participate this year, raising an estimated $27 million dollars. All money benefits cancer reseach at the Dana Farber Institute, where Barbara received her treatment. Cyclists begin their ride in Wellesley Ma., and trek to Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod. When Larry Lucchino mentioned "Team 9" in his letter to ET, he was referring to the team of Red Sox wives, staff and family members that participate in the race.

Last year, ET and Michael Smith participated in the ride, under sponsorship from another family friend. She and Michael are on the left in this photo from last year's ride:


Today, the ride commenced bright and early. Tim Smith called ET's message line to provide the first of his updates from the seat of his bicycle - the pre-dawn kickoff with the National Anthem.

Stay tuned. And Go Team Chandler!

[listen to Tim's update message]

View from the top of Red Sox Nation...

A few days ago I posted a plea to help contact the Red Sox on behalf of ET. Well, Jeff Moore and Billy Starr took the plea straight to the top. Yesterday, ET received a package from Larry Lucchino, President, CEO and member of the Red Sox Owner's Group. It contained a personal letter from Larry, along with a baseball signed by Jon Lester.

Here is the transcript of the letter:


Dear Elizabeth -

On behalf of all of us here at the Red Sox and on Team 9, we want to thank you for your past participation in the Pan Mass Challenge, and let you know that we're thinking of you here at Fenway. We are proud to have you and your family as ardent supporters of the Red Sox, and we wish you the best in your current hospital stay. As you know, one of our pitchers Jon Lester battled cancer this past year and just recently rejoined our roster. We are proud of his positive attitude and determination during his comeback, and thought a signed ball by Jon might lift your spirits during your treatment. Thank you again for the dedication you have shown as a Red Sox fan and PMC rider. We wish you all the best, and GO SOX!

Sincerely,
Larry Lucchino


Thanks to Jeff and Billy for making this happen - this was a wonderful surprise for Elizabeth, and really made her day.

--jimmy

Pictures from the Past

Hi,
Thank you mom, Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Jody for helping the blog challenged. I think I figured it out now.

Looking at all the pictures on the site inspired me to look through all of my photos for some good pictures of Aunt Elizabeth. Here are two good ones I found. It was funny going through some many pictures from the past. In every picture I found of Aunt Elizabeth or Aunt Barbara they were always smiling and enjoying their surroundings. They always knew how to make the most of every situation.

Kristy

Thursday, 8/2 - evening

ET has had a rough go of it these past few days, working on a partially collapsed lung. Its become very difficult to breathe, and there is always the threat of pneumonia.

On the positive side, she is eating well, she's alert, and strong enough to continue radiation treatments. She is nothing, if not a trooper. Go ET - you rock, girl.

Hey, thank you SO MUCH to all that have phoned in. Please keep those phone messages coming - ET loves them. I know from personal experience, as well as from others' experiences, that its VERY easy to leave the message and then simply hang up - its habit. I wish there was a way to get around the "#" key and the "1" key, but I can't - so please remember to hit those keys!!

thanks...
--jimmy

CHANDLER WOMEN

Elizabeth - Jody - Barbara - Pat

2006

CHANDLER GIRLS

Pat - Jody - Barbara - Elizabeth

Forty five years ago

Carcinomatous Meningitis

I wanted to clarify something that has come up since Pat posted about ET's "meningitis". What ET has is called Carcinomatous Meningitis, which is a non-infectious form of cancer affecting the central nervous system. From the Encyclopedia of Cancer:

Carcinomatous meningitis, also called meningeal carcinomatosis, neoplastic meningitis, or leptomeningeal carcinoma, is a form of metastatic cancer that has spread to the lining of the brain and spinal cord, the parts of the body that make up the central nervous system.


I just wanted to be clear, since seeing the word "meningitis" can cause alarm for visitors.

--jimmy