Five years ago, I found myself as a newly licensed nurse accepting a job at Children’s Hospital Boston and starting a career on 6 West, the bone marrow transplant unit.  The years have passed at high speeds and looking back, I can’t seem to remember all the technical aspects of the job or focus in on the lessons I have learned as a nurse. It all seems blurred compared to those emotional lessons I have learned as a person.  

I have witnessed the daily struggle of parents being forced to quit their jobs to ensure they are by their child’s side every second of every day.  I have seen the constant battle of being a parent to a child with cancer as well as finding the strength to be parents to a child with a brother or sister with cancer.  I have seen husbands and wives; grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles hold each other up when they want nothing more than to collapse themselves.  It is then that I find myself holding up strangers who are now my family.  There is no end to the hope and determination these families possess, many traveling across the country and even the world to seek a cure.  And while most would consider my job a heartbreaking one, I can only describe it as moving and inspiring.  In fact these kids keep me going many days.  It’s the silly jokes, the 3 am dance parties complete with glow sticks and disco ball, the laughter and smiles, the excitement for birthday cake, pizza and holiday decorations, the imitating a favorite Bruins player during a mock hockey game in the hall or the play by play of each and every Red Sox game.  Despite their situation, no matter the pain or discomfort, these kids, our kids, find a way to live their lives and enjoy the things “normal” kids enjoy.

I can’t claim to know what these kids and their families are going through but I can hold a hand, sooth fears and answer questions.  Everyday I am inspired by the personal strength, determination and never-ending hope of these families.  This is why I have chosen to ride, to give back and hopefully make the journey a little bit easier.  I don’t ride for one child; I ride for all the children diagnosed every day with cancer.  I ride for those children, past, present and future, in hopes that my physical challenge can help make their ride a bit smoother.

The Pan Mass Challenge is a two day, 192 mile bike ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown, MA that raises money for the incredible work that Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital Boston do for patients battling cancer.  Last year, the dedicated riders of the PMC raised over $33 million dollars and this year we hope to succeed that goal!

I am privileged to be a part of the 33rd annual PMC riding as member of team Pedals for Pediatrics.  This dedicated team aims to raise funds that will go directly to the children and families facing the diagnosis of cancer at Children’s Hospital Boston.  As an oncology/bone marrow transplant nurse, I am touched by these families each and every day and with this donation I am able to see the positive effects first hand.   
 
Please consider helping me in this by making a donation to my 2012 ride.  Every dollar that you give will go directly to Pedals for Pediatrics to help families with financial support, aid in research projects, and help fund projects to make our inpatient floors and clinics provide better care.  Whether you can donate $5, $50, $100 or even $500, no donation is too big or too small.  My goal is $4300 and I would love for 40 of my friends and family to be able to contribute. 

Total Raised

$1,270

Goal

$4,200

Progress