Friday, September 30, 2005

Friday Feature - Holly









This weeks Friday Feature is about Holly from Arlington, Va and of Tri and Be Happy blog fame. Some of you may know Holly, age 35, as a part of the Triathlete Alliance, as a graphic designer for the U.S government or as the fiance of Jim. More important than Holly's training is her daily fight against melanoma. While her goal remains to be an Ironman her main goal now is to beat this disease.

Holly was diagnosed with melanoma earlier this year. Melanoma as you may be aware is the fastest growing form of cancer. Usually found as skin cancer but can spread rapidly to other parts of the body. Her initial treatment included 20 rounds of Interferon (chemotherapy for melanoma). Holy writes in her blog "Interferon Cocktails are a b*tch kids". For those who have had interferon they describe it as having the worlds worst case of the flu ever with headaches, body aches, nausea and constipation.

Holly underwent surgery of her lymph nodes to see if the melanoma had spread....the good news was NO..in other words clean nodes.! The docs then gave her the better side of 50/50 of surviving! But then a few days later the bad news YES it was spreading. The early path report failed to pick up that the melanoma had spread. Holly said at the time:

Because the bastard cells were hiding out up at the top! Sneaky little freaky cancer!

Holly is currently in her 13th week of a 48 week interferon treatment...constant flu! But that hasn't stopped her in her training. This past weekend she ran/walked 15 miles with an average pace of 13 min miles. So don't you complain about your training run! Holly has also maintained her sense humor. Last Thursday she wrote of this exchange:

SHAME ON YOU!!

No, not you darling reader. Shame on the client who walked into the office today and said "Wow are you feeling okay? You look awful!!!"

My response: "Yeah sometimes Chemo does that to you!"

They were very apologetic and I accepted the apology but I felt justified in putting this person in their place. Don't tell me how bad I look because 9 out of 10 times, I am already aware of it but trying to work through it. Being reminded doesn't help!


This weekend Holly with her sister Heather , of adventures of a sufergirl fame, are doing the Army Ten Miler but she is already a winner in my book.

Hang in there Holly you are in our thoughts and more importantly in our prayers. Why not stop by Holly's blog Tri and Be Happy and write her a note.

8 comments:

Recovering Alumni said...

Great post...but I thought it was Thursday?

:) said...

Holly is such an inspiration and truly a winner in my book!

Lara said...

Lovely post!

Born To Endure said...

Very nice post!! Thanks I needed that!!

tri-mama said...

It's always so good to find heros in the everyday-way to go Holly and thanks for the post Oldman.

Jennifer P said...

What an inspiring post! Thanks for posting on my blog so that I could find yours!

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