Caregiver Month

November Is National Family Caregivers Month is Important

National Family Caregivers Month in November provides resources for self-care, advocacy, and de-stressing for our caregivers. The month is dedicated to supporting caregivers as they care for others. This year's theme is “Caregiving Around the Clock."

Shark story

Petey loves being active! He had a great PSA score so he celebrated with a fishing trip. Boy did he ever catch a whopper of a shark! 

 

National Caregiver Month

 This popped up in my memories! 11 years ago I added caregiving to my role. When we first started out with Ray being diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.  There was so much going on appointments, researching treatment options. Ray chose surgery. There were side effects but he is still alive. I have had my issues of not taking care of myself. My depression and anxiety has gotten worse. And insomnia has been an issue. But thankfully I have started treatment!

Emails of support

 Please share We need your help! Once we get the supporting emails for the license plates. We will turn in the supporting emails to them. And they have verified the information. The BMV will start production. 

Ray and I are excited to share the news that our ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer License Plates will soon be available through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Due to COVID-19 we are allowed to accept emails with the information below and will serve as a signature. The next step is getting the required 150 emails that will serve as the BMV for 4820. This form requires a signature. We need 150 or more emails As Soon As Possible.  This is an intent to purchase if the license plates become available. There is an additional cost of $35 ($25 for ZERO The End of Prostate Cancer and $10 to BMV).

Please email the information to Linda@zerocancer.org

Funds from the ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer license would stay in Ohio to provide free patient navigation services to reduce financial toxicity among prostate cancer and free transportation for prostate cancer patients to doctor appointments.

Subject: Petition To Establish ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer License Plates

First Name

Last Name

Phone # (Including Area Code)

Address

City

Zip

Current License Plate #

Ohio DL or ID Card #

If you prefer the paper BMV form 4820 I can email it to you. This form does require a signature.

Hamilton County Commissioners 2020

 

Muskingum County Commissioners 2020

Thank you Muskingum County Commissioners

for your continued support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education!

This the Petey that I made for Commissioner Poter in 2018 when I learned he is also a prostate cancer survivor. 

 

Sandusky County Commissioners 2020

 

ZERO Rhe End Of Prostate Cancer License plates

 ZERO The End OF Prostate Cancer License Plates was signed into law on October 22, 2020! We need 150 signatures but with COVID, events have been canceled and is making it more difficult to get signatures. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles said they will accept emails with the needed information from the BMV Form 4820. And it will serve as a signature.

 

Funds from the ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer license plates would stay in Ohio to provide free patient navigation services to reduce financial toxicity among prostate cancer and free transportation for prostate cancer patients to doctor appointments.

 

***But it must have all this information listed.***

 

Subject line: PETITION TO ESTABLISH ORGANIZATIONAL LICENSE PLATE - ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer

First name:

Last Name:

Phone Number (With Area Code)

Address:

City:

State:

Zip:

Current License Plate #

Ohio DL or ID Card #

 

Email to Linda@zerocancer.org

 

ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer License Plates

Our license plate bill was signed into law today! So now we need to get the 150 valid signatures to have them made through Public Safety. I’m asking for your help in getting the signatures by sharing with your family, friends and co-workers. With COVID it has made it more difficult to get the signatures. 

To be a valid signature all lines needs to be filled out. You can have just one name on the form or have all lines filled out. These needs to be done and sent to the Public Safety Department. I will be happy to pick the forms up from you or you can send them to my by email. And if you prefer to send in the mail PM me for my address.

Adams County Commissioners 2020

Thank you Adams County Commissioners for your continued support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education.

 

Lithopolis, Ohio 2020

Thank you, Mayor Eric Sandine for your support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month.

 

Logan, Ohio 2020

Thank you Mayor Greg Fraunfelter for your support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education  Month.

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Conneaut, Ohio 2020

Thank you, Conneaut, Ohio Mayor Jon Arcaro for your continued support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month.

 

Brookly, Ohio 2020

Thank you, Brookly, Ohio Mayor Katherine Gallagher for your continued support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month. 

 

Bethel, Ohio 2020

Thank you, Bethel, Ohio Mayor Jay Dee Noble for your support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month.

 

Proclamation 2020

 Proclamation 144, 145, 146 came in the mail today! September is officially Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month. But for those families living with a prostate cancer diagnosis every day and month is Prostate Cancer Awareness. Just because the month has ended it doesn't mean we can leave our guard down. I will keep sharing my story and raise awareness all year.

June 15, 2009, the urologist office call and said that Ray needed to return as the doctor want to speak to both of us. The appointment was set for June 19, 2009, I was clueless as to why I had to be there. The urologist came in and did a little chit chat. But then we learned why we both needed to be there on that day. Words you never want to hear as a wife! Ray, you have an aggressive form of prostate cancer. I felt like I hit a brick wall at full force! Then the tears starting flowing. Sorry, the news I just got was not wanted I was prepared for. The urologist said when I was ready he would answer any questions that I had. One question I had was. What is prostate cancer? I can honestly say before June 19th I was clueless to what it was. There are to this day that can not be answered. Was it something I did? Will my sons get prostate cancer? Is it genetic? He assured me it was nothing I did. It is genetic. I don't know if it is my family or not. This could increase my son's risk even more. The best advice the urologist gave us before we left was. Become students and learn all you can.

I took his advice and was learning all that I could. I will advocate for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education in Ohio and on Capitol Hill! In 2014 I started asking elected officials for their support in my awareness Campain as well. Some have support for years and I am grateful for that. Some have even opened up and shared their story with their community as well. I love also hearing the elected officials encouraging their residents to talk with their doctor about prostate cancer. Thank you!! I hope to have even more elected officials supporting Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education in 2021!

Montgomery County Commissioners, Ohio 2020

Thank you Montgomery County Commissioners for your support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month.

 

Mercer County Commissioners, Ohio 2020

Thank you Mercer County Commissioners for your support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month

 

Ashtabula County Commissioners, Ohio 2020

 

Ostrander, Ohio 2020

Thank you Mayor Robert Taylor and ity Council for your support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month,

 

Macedonia, Ohio 2020

 

My Name is Linda Hoetger, I am asking for your support for the 7,030 men impacted by prostate cancer and their families just like mine. Some who live in your community and are not ready to speak up yet and share their journey. I'm asking for your support with a Proclamation or Resolution. I share the Proclamations and Resolutions through social media, in Ohio, and on Capitol Hill. I ask for your support yearly so that one day we can be part of a cure and zero out prostate cancer and educate the next generation about this horrible disease. The nation recognizes Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month in September.

On June 19, 2009, my life forever changed as a wife. I had another title added to it. Caregiver. On this day my husband was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. It felt like I hit a brick wall. After all the tears there were questions that needed answers. One was. What is prostate cancer? I had never heard of prostate cancer before and was clueless. But now that my husband was diagnosed with it I needed to know what we are dealing with. Also being the mother of four sons it was even more important to know more. It was hard enough hearing my husband has it. I do not want my sons to hear those horrible words we heard. You have cancer! Ray is a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force. After he graduated from Kingston High School in 1970. He enlisted in the Air Force as a Firefighter and served 4 years in that career field stateside and in England. Being a firefighter there were countless contaminates used to distinguish fires and also used to decontaminate the military airplanes. Also, herbicides were sprayed around the military installations to control the weeds and foliage. We believe that Ray's military career caused his prostate cancer. He is the oldest of three sons in the family and he is the only one of three sons with prostate cancer. Though Ray never stepped boots in Vietnam, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and the children have been affected with birth defects. Two marriages and seven children, of which five children were born with birth defects. I know that there is an increased risk of prostate cancer and never want them to have to go through the journey my husband and I have as a couple. Since Ray's diagnosis, I was not about to sit back and do nothing! I started advocating and raising awareness for this horrible disease that no one seems to want to talk about. As the wife/caregiver of a retired Veteran, and military brat. And for the thousands of Veterans battling prostate cancer alone, we need to let them know they are not alone. This is unacceptable and the need to screen and educate the Veterans about prostate cancer is important in 2020 and beyond.

I have become an active advocate ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer in 2012. Since 2014 I have asked for your support throughout Ohio and have been truly blessed with the amount of support. I share my journey with you and you shared the impacted prostate cancer had made in your life as well. In 2018 had a Bill introduced in the Ohio Statehouse to have ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer license plates, funds from the license plates would stay in Ohio to provide free patient navigation serviced to reduce financial toxicity among prostate cancer and free transportation for prostate cancer patients to doctors appointments. As of June 11, 2020, it has passed both sides of the Statehouse and is waiting on the Governor's signature. We have been invited to attend Council meetings for the Proclamation readings. Which is an honor to attend to share our story and raise awareness. Having the support from elected officials throughout Ohio will let the men and families impacted by prostate cancer let them know that their elected officials care and encourage the citizens to take action in awareness as well. Also, I hope that with me sharing my story they will share their story. And get more men talking so that one day there will be a cure for prostate cancer and more lives will be saved. I hope one day to have a Prostate Cancer Survivor from all areas of Ohio. Encouragement from Legislators, Commissioners, Mayors, and other elected officials to support the families of prostate cancer and to educate residents about this horrible disease with a Proclamation and Resolution. Working with ZERO has given me so many more opportunities to help raise awareness and to be part of ending prostate cancer. Each year Ray and I speak to our elected officials at the Annual ZERO Prostate Cancer Summit in Washington, D.C., and work locally in Ohio and across the nation to secure proclamations from each local government. I keep track of all the Proclamations and Resolutions on Google map and would be honored to add yours to it as well.

Westerville, Ohio 2020

 Thank you Westerville, Ohio Mayor Kathleen Cocuzzi for your continued support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education!

Youngstown, Ohio 2020

Thank you Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown for your continued support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month in September.

 

Zero License Plates

All men are at risk for prostate cancer and we encourage the citizens of Ohio to increase the importance of prostate screenings. Funds from the ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer license plates would stay in Ohio to provide free patient navigation services to reduce financial toxicity among prostate cancer and free transportation for prostate cancer patients to doctor appointments Please feel free to share it with others as well! Email the form to Linda@zerocancer.org