How can I donate to Super Sam in honor of Diane?

The race on Saturday went great! Ben got his donuts and I got to run for one of the most amazing women I know!

Montour Trail tradition

For those of you who read Diane's story, how amazing is it that she is pouring out love on Super Sam and his family!?

LOVE HER!

I spoke with Sam's mom, Leslie, and she couldn't believe that Diane wanted to bless their family in this way. Sam is doing well! His scans have been clear and he is making progress with his physical struggles. He even started kindergarten this year and is going to be a big brother again!!!

Roger and Leslie are so grateful for your donations and to Diane for her out pour of love!

If you have followed Super Sam, you'll understand why him riding a bike brings me to tears!

As you saw in my post prior to the race, I wasn't sure how to get donations to Super Sam. His daddy fixed that real quick! There is a link to Super Sam's PayPal account on Super Sam's facebook page. You can click on the link to make your donation. If you are uncomfortable with using PayPal or making an online donation, please contact me by e-mail, text, or leaving a comment on this post and I'll instruct you on how to send a check to the family.

Thank you again for your generosity and prayers for this little man and his family over the past 2 years!

What a handsome superhero!

Diane's story

It's almost race day again!!! The Montour Trail half-marathon is so special to me. Not only does it give me reason to head back to dah 'Burgh to see a ton of wonderful people, but it was the very first half-marathon I even ran. Aaron encouraged me to run this race to help reduce my stress and give me something other than cancer and a toddler to focus on. Paul and Diane Deffenbaugh joined Aaron and Ben to cheer me on. At mile 4, I passed them while they sat in the back of the Deffenbaugh/s van cheering with mouthfuls of powdered donuts!

Pittsburgh Parents (Paul and Diane)

This year, I have the absolute privilege of running for my "Pittsburgh Mom." Paul and Diane, along with their kids Sam and Danielle, never hesitated to take us in as family. Ben had sleep overs at their house each time we went in for surgery. Diane was always there to care for Ben so I could take Aaron to appointments, treatments, or the ER. It got to the point where Ben would cry if I opened the door in the morning and Diane was not there! The Deffenbaughs have been our prayer warriors and the hands and feet of God as Ben and I have journeyed through life with and without Aaron.

Diane and Ben on his first trip to the cabin

And then the heartbreaking happened. Diane called me a year ago to let me know that she had been diagnosed with cancer...pancreatic cancer. How is it that the woman who gave so much time and energy to love our family through cancer now had to endure her own journey!? However, her faith has shined through from the beginning. She sought God and asked "Lord, how are You going to use me through this? Who is it You have placed in my path? Help me to see them. Help me to praise You in the storm!" She has one of the kindest, God-seeking, giving souls I know. She is a light in the dark! Here is her story:

"Journey of Faith

My name is Diane Deffenbaugh.  I am 56 years old, married for 27 years to Paul and we have two children, Danielle and Sam.  Danielle is married to Isaac and Sam is a senior at WVU.

Isaac and Danielle's wedding

This is our journey.  

I went into the hospital in September of 2014 to simply have a stint put in to open up my bile duct, so we thought.  A scan revealed a mass.  While they put the stint in through an endoscopic procedure, they biopsied a 2 centimeter mass.  It came back as malignantpancreatic cancer.  The scraping from the biopsy caused a 5 day stay in the hospital with pancreatitis.  They could not remove the cancer until November when the pancreatitis was over.

In November I had a Whipple surgical procedure whereby they removed part of my pancreas, part of my stomach and a little of my duodenum.  I was in the hospital for 10 days, and I came home just before Thanksgiving.

I was able to enjoy the holidays before I started Chemotherapy in January.  Chemo lasted until June.  I had 3 weeks of chemo and then was off one week.   I had 18 treatments in all.

Rockin' the purple at the Pittsburgh Pancreatic walk/run

A mass on my ovary was discovered earlier through one of the scans.  They decided to wait until after chemo to remove it.  A total hysterectomy was done in July.  The biopsy came back benign.

It is now September, one year after our whirlwind started.  God has been our Rock through it all.  There are several scriptures that have sustained me through this journey. 

Psalm 139: 13-16  “For You created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.  God is sovereign over all things.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you.  He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.”  (He doesn't send a messenger. He sends Himself to our aid.  Emmanuel.  We are so thankful for such a personal God.)

Psalm 112:7 “They will have no fear of bad news;  their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

Danielle and Sam still love playing in the church nursery!

The most difficult thing for me was telling our kids and this ordeal created hardship for my family and friends.  I have learned the power of prayer and the need for the body of Christ.  We have received so much support and love during this time.  God is faithful.  I knew that I could trust Him whether He decided to heal me or not.  He has a purpose for it all.  I have met people such as doctors and nurses that I would never have met and been able to tell of the goodness of the Lord.  I continue to seek Him and what He has planned for me because of it."

How can you honor Diane and get involved?

1. Run/Walk/Cheer with us: If you are in Pittsburgh, come on out to run/walk the 5K or half-marathon or you can join Paul, Diane, and Ben with some powdered donuts while they cheer on the runners! Online registration is closed but you can find all the information on the event here.

2. Donate: As I've said, Diane has such a tender heart and love for people, especially children. She has asked that all donations made in her honor be made to Super Sam, the sweet, brave 3 year old boy I ran for in 2013. Praise God he is cancer free now!! I'll have more information on how you can make donations after I spill the surprise to his mom!!!  DONATIONS CAN BE MADE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, EVEN AFTER THE RACE! 

Diane can usually be found loving on our kids

3. Spread the word: Would you share this with your friends and family? There are so many ways to share information: Twitter, Facebook, E-mail, conversation. Would you please share this light with those you know?

4. Pray:
* Praise that Diane is currently CANCER FREE!!!
* Pray that she remains cancer free and never hears this terrifying diagnosis again.
* Praise that God has organized His children in community to allow us the privilege to pray for and with one another and bear each other's burdens.
* Pray for endurance through continued follow up.
* Praise for the joy and light of Christ that Diane was able to share through this journey.
* Pray for the runners, walkers, volunteers, spectators, and organizers of the race.

Montour Trail half-marathon: Post Race

Today would have been Aaron's 31st birthday. It is amazing that only a year ago we got a phone call at 8 pm letting us know the chemotherapy seemed to be working and we would celebrate his 30th birthday with a day-long celebration. How much has changed over the course of a year. I have felt the heavy grief at the loss of Aaron, the uplifting joy of watching my son grow and learn, and the peace of knowing that my God is in control of it all.

 

Today I write about the longest race on my race schedule. I ran it last year because Aaron encouraged me to do more than I thought I could. This year he wasn't there to give me a high five or hold Ben or cheer me through the finish line. He wasn't there to call me crazy for running the distance we drove to church. However, he was there last year, though pain and exhaustion. His fight with cancer reminds me that through God we are all capable of much more than we think.

Montour Trail half-marathon

13.1 miles! That is just under the total distance of my first 4 races combined! There is only a walk and one more run left. Total race distance so far: 59.6 miles given for families and organizations. Wow!

The warm up is very important, Mamma. Let's get you warmed up by snuggling!

Of course my #1 fan and coach was there to cheer me through the race. I was blessed that so many friends from our church in Pittsburgh also planned to run. It was so encouraging to be surrounded by these women before what I thought might be an emotionally difficult race.

This was the first half-marathon for four of the women from our church! I am so proud of all of you!

Prayer before the race. Ben even joined in with us. So blessed by these friends!

Not only did I get to see friends from church, but Adam, Sarah, Grace, and Baby came as well. I met Sarah through the Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma committee. We started talking about our cuties and became instant friends (kids will do that to you!). Her husband, Adam, also serves on the committee and celebrated 5 years cancer free in November, 2012! He ran his first 5K since his surgery to remove the tumor from his pelvic bone that day and finished in 32 minutes carrying Grace across the finish line!

Love this family!

Ben was excited for the juice box...er...I mean to see Grace and watch the race.

Ben and Grace fueling up for the race. It's a hard job to be a spectator!

Our cheer team hung out around mile 4 (going out) and mile 9 (coming back). There were ready with chairs, snacks, and signs. This is the one spot I was really nervous to go through. This is the exact same place they set up last time and I knew Aaron was not going to be there. However, the Lord gave me strength physically and emotionally and I was able to joyfully think about seeing him last year and seeing my boy and friends this year. God's ability to sustain and heal amazes me constantly!

Cheering is serious.

"13.1 Only half crazy!" "Run like the wind!"

Surprisingly, my half-marathon was my best race yet! I felt really strong the whole way through and actually enjoyed the race! My goal time was under 2 hours since I finished in 2:07:32 last year. I cut off 11 minutes from my time and finished in 1 hour 56 minutes and 32 seconds (8:53 min/mile pace)!!!! It was an emotional finish for me, full of joy and relief! That night, some of us went out for frozen yogurt to celebrate! We got to the yogurt place to receive homemade medals made by one of the runners daughters. We wore them with pride!

Race medals!

I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you who have prayed over the 13 in 2013 race initiative, donated, ran/walked, and shared my story and the stories of these families. 13 in 2013 began as a way to give structure to my chaotic new life and allow an outlet for healing. God has used you to turn it into something truly amazing, impacting lives of those who are hurting and in need. As of today, the total amount raised through this initiative is $10,335! I am still stunned as I let that number sink in. $1,000 would have surpassed my expectations, but more than $10,000 completely knocks me over. That is money to help with medical bills, research funding, groceries, a family adopt a child, spread the gospel, and so many other blessings. Thank you!

Mamma, can you believe this!?

No, Peanut, I can't believe it! God continually surprises me!

Coming up:
October 13: Step UP for Down Syndrome walk in Grand Rapids, MI. I will be walking in honor of Ellie Helmus.

November 2: Give Kids the World 5K Gingerbread Run in Kissimmee, FL. I will be fundraising for Give Kids the World.

Completed Races:
Montour Trail Half-Marathon (13.1 mi) - 1:56:32   Donation total - $10,335
Red Carpet Run (5K) - 25:05
Gopher the Gold (10K) - 55:12
Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma Walk/Run (5K) - 25:15
Volkslaufe (10K) - 55:21
Caledonia Kilt Klassic (5K) - 24:20
RHGYC Trail Run (5K) - 24:28
Kona Run (10K) - 51:22
Fifth Third River Bank Run (10K) - 51:37
MOM 5K Walk/Run (5K) - 24:14
Run with the Cops, not from them (5K) - 24:32
Passion for Life (5K) -  26:27

The Montour Trail half-marathon benefiting the Gideons International

100th post right here!!! What a change since the first post! This blog began as a way to keep everyone updated on our little Peanut

November 2012

then to updates on Aaron's health

July 2012

and now to updates on my races and fundraising efforts (and I promise I will get back to adorable pictures of Ben!).

13 in 2013

It is amazing to think how different things are now, how our lives have changed during the short time this blog had been up. So much has been learned, mourned, loved, feared, rejoiced, and molded. Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us this:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

How true this is! There are many things, like Aaron's pain and cancer, that I would never in a million years have brought in to our lives. In the same breath, I am unable to deny the beautiful blessings that have come through these fearful, heartbreaking events. Through Aaron's death and the ability to understand the shoes cancer patients and their families are walking, the 13 in 2013 series was birthed. Out of a need to do something, to heal, to have some normalcy, I began to run hoping to make a small dent in the dark that surrounds cancer. Little did I know that God had plans to use this little healing process in a big way! 

Saturday will be my 12th race! That means there will only be one left. Wow. My 12th race will be my longest at 13.1 miles (half-marathon). All of these races have been in memory of Aaron but this one is special. 

My guys before the half-marathon

After his PET CT scan on July 17th, we found out that the cancer was back. Actually, it wasn't just back. It was back and had spread from his spine to his sternum in only 6 weeks, radiation and surgery were no longer options, and chemotherapy was a long shot. It was the first time we were told that the goal was not to cure the cancer but to give Aaron as many days as possible. Aaron overheard a friend "nagging" me to consider running the Montour Trail half-marathon and Aaron encouraged me to sign up. I had not been training, the race was 10 miles longer than I had ever run, and we were going to get really busy with chemo and appointments. That was exactly why he wanted me to run. He wanted me to have something that was focused on something positive, something healthy, something other than cancer. Race day came and Aaron and Ben came with dear friends to watch me run. I still remember running by around mile 3 or 4 to him sitting in the back of a van feeding Ben powdered donuts...while I ran a half-marathon.

Powdered donuts are the natural snack of choice for a half-marathon

He stood under an umbrella holding Ben in the pouring ran at the finish to cheer me through. It was such a special moment for me and so speaks so powerfully of his love for me. 

Don't mind my face. I just ran 13.1 miles...

September 28th would have been Aaron's 31st birthday. 

Aaron's clue cards for his 30th birthday surprise day!

When I would have leftover gift money, Aaron would ask me to donate to the Gideons International, which is a Christian organization working toward sharing the gospel. Aaron loved God, understood his need of our Savior, and desired others to know Him also. God gave him the gift of compassion. Aaron was able to meet people where they were and share how he was able to live each day with joy, freedom, confidence, and faith. The Gideons International has the same desire to "go in to all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15)." In honor of Aaron's birthday month and the race he encouraged me to run despite my doubt of my ability, I will be fundraising for the Gideon International this race. 

Our big gifts for Christmas 2011 were Bibles with our names engraved in them

How can you help?
1. Donate: By Check - Please send a check written to the "Aaron R. Moeller Memorial Fund" with "Gideons" in the notes section. If you need my mailing address, please email me or leave a comment with your e-mail address so I may reply privately. Online - Please go HERE to donate. If you choose to donate online, please remember to send me an e-mail so I can continue to keep track of how much is raised through this race series. I will be taking donations for the Gideons International through the month of September.

2. Run: Yeah, I would call me crazy, too! Except there are so many friends coming to run or cheer at the race! You can register HERE or find information on where to cheer!

3. Spread the word: Please share this with your friends and family through e-mail, posting this link on your Facebook...

4. Pray:
* Prayer that that Good News, the gospel of Jesus Christ, will be shared with many through the work of the Gideons International
* Praise for organizations, like the Gideons, who focus on reaching many for Christ
* Pray for me - that I would be bold like Aaron and that God would emotionally and spiritually sustain me through this race
* Praise for the many loving friends who will be there to run
* Pray for the runners and the fundraising efforts of this race and race series

Mamma did what!?

Daddy, we've finally done it. We've driven Mamma to the edge!

From mid-July to early September, I have been training for my first half-marathon. I know, crazy!

Say what? Yeah, that is crazy!

After the PCS 5K in July, a friend asked me to think about running the Montour Trail half-marathon, known to be a great first half-marathon course.  Aaron encouraged me to do it and I started training on Monday and ran again on Tuesday.  Tuesday was July 17th, the day we saw the unexpected PET CT results that Aaron's cancer was back only 6 weeks after surgery.  Tuesday evening, during a quiet discussion trying to make sense of everything, Aaron asked me if I was going to continue to train.


"Uh, what?  We just found out the cancer is back...in your chest...where they told us they got everything only 6 weeks ago."  How could I even think about training?  Yet, he told me this is exactly why I should keep training.  The stress is only going to increase and I would need something, a break, a goal, every day to focus on something other than the C word.

Mamma is about to run...without being chased!

So, I continued training and ran my first half-marathon on Saturday, September 8, 2012!  I ran 13.1 miles in 2:07:34, which is about 9:44/mile!

Red arrow = me starting my watch as I cross the start line

I was so excited that Aaron was having a good day and able to cheer me on!  Benjamin came to see his crazy Mamma, too.  Our good friends, Paul and Diane joined my guys.

We are going to eat donuts while watching people run? I'm there! Oh the irony!

Keep going! Only 4 more miles left!

All was going well with a slight drizzle until my last 1/2 mile when the skies opened up.  I pretty much swam across the finish line.

The cold rain felt so good!

How did I celebrate accomplishing this goal?  I took a 45 minute shower (I couldn't move any faster) and passed out napped for an hour and a half.  Oh, and let's not forget the Chick-Fil-A cookies and cream shake for dessert!

This is Jenny high on running. This is Benjamin photo-bombing.

Aaron and other family and friends have asked if I would run another and I think it is inevitable! Perhaps Benjamin will be joining me some day.

I might get a medal of my own some day but for now, I'll wear Mamma's.