#WhyIPMC guest blog post by Jimmy Hoar, 2-year, Team KP Beast Mode rider
Living in Yarmouthport on the Cape we always would watch the PMC riders whizzing past our home. Supporting many friends over the years it was always a dream of ours to ride together as a family. My daughters Megan and Kristen always dreamed of riding one day with Dad.
In the spring of 2014 our youngest daughter Kristen was expecting her first child - needless to say all of the family was beyond thrilled. Kristen was a guidance counselor and track coach at Stoneham HS. Dad was a Special Ed teacher at Dennis Yarmouth and a longtime track coach. WE shared many track meets together with both teams.
In the spring of 2014 our youngest daughter Kristen was expecting her first child - needless to say all of the family was beyond thrilled. Kristen was feeling uncomfortable and went to her pediatrician - they told her that she was fine yet she still didn't feel right. Mom urged her to go to a specialist which she did. What they discovered was that Kristen had stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It was throughout her body - her ovaries - spleen – kidneys and brain basically every where.
Doctors at Brigham and Women's Hospital immediately started treatment. It was very difficult as she was 7 
months pregnant. Treatment was tricky as not to injure her baby. Do you save the baby or the mother. Doctor Joyce and her staff were amazing and were able to save both. Her son Cayden (meaning fighter) was born early and was on the small side but healthy Both Kristen and Cayden were fine.
The story was not over, after Kristen went into remission and we thought we were safe. Unfortunately the lymphoma returned 2 more times. The last time was the worst as the lymphoma went to her spine and then to her brain.
Kristen transferred to MGH for an experimental treatment. Car-T-cells infusion. Taking out her T-Cells – they send them out to be grow millions of cells that will kill the cancer – sort of like pac-man destroying the bad cells. What happens is that Kristen loses her memory and all faculties. It was a very long three days and finally Kristen returned to us. IT WORKED !
Kristen was healthy for two years - after one of her 6 month checkups the cancer returned. They tried the Car- T-Cell transfusion for a second time. This time it did not work.
It was a long and debilitating fight. Chemo - followed by radiation - blood transfusions - immune therapy for over two years. Cayden continued to grow and prosper while her mother deteriorated before all of our eyes. Kristen celebrated her 36th birthday at MGH.
Kristen passed away on Dec21st 2019 - that is why I ride the PMC. It was our dream to ride together as we live on Cape Cod and see the riders go by our house each year.
