<p>Hello All</p>
<p>Lately I'm called Turtle , a name picked up at First Descents (FD) last year. I just want to say, Thanks for helping with such an awesome program! I was mostly pushed into one of the week long camps last year from the folks at Children's Hospital in Denver, CO. When at the time my diagnosis of; a class 4 stage 4 uber rare cancer, and with a name only Mary Poppins might say rightly. I was given about a week to a month left originally. Ahead the prognosis was still fresh and looming larger than life. Figuring I'd be dead in a few months the idea of learning to kayak would be a fun way to go out in style. River Kayaking had always been a goal unrealized in life! The now, life long friends and relationships seriously helped through the entire treatment regimen. Especially the times some of us would get together after camp to go paddle the rivers. A great time was going out half about way through 2 months of radiation by Glenwood in Springs class 3 rapids. My hands finally got to weak to paddle and Brad Ludden (FD's creator and friend) grabbed my kayak and we floated the rest of Shoshone together. Well looking back on the last year's fight through treatments plus everything going down hill after radiation I now thank God for you guys and F.D. as something that helped buoy me through tough times, and monotony of long drives to Denver for chemo every Friday. So the now that I'm finished chemo on Feb, 29th; kayaking this spring with a good prognosis will be my spring board for PT and rehab. Who knows... Teva games this year or next? The Cancer also made me quit schooling and work so now I'm going for another unrealized goal: EMT training this spring. Pray chemo brain doesn't get too hairy. </p>
<p>Any running event is a long ways off till I get a bit of muscle back on this stick figure body; however, If Ullman decides to get in any kayak event let me know I'll be there paddle in hand. So again thank you. My thoughts are with you all fighting the hard fight.</p>
<p><font face="Comic Sans MS"><em>Turtle</em></font></p>