Relay for Life Lancaster, Ohio

Last night our group had  tables set up at the Relay for Life Lancaster. I had Petey there along with the Proclamations from the President, Governor and Mayor of Columbus. All supporting Prostate Cancer Awareness.  People were saying they remembered Petey from last year or they have a Petey! It's so nice to hear that he is still helping to raise awareness in this horrible disease.

We had prostate cancer information on the table as well some took the information. At the end some came by the table when most of the crowds were gone and talked more about prostate cancer and took more information. Now it has my brain thinking for the next events.

Watch  out brainstorming about to happen. One idea is the bag ideas with the information inside. Hoping to get businesses to donate drawstring backpacks. If you know of a business or own a business an would like to donate any please contact me.

Email from Senator Brown

Dear Mrs. Hoetger:

Thank you for getting in touch with my office regarding prostate cancer. I appreciate your bringing this issue to my attention.

I have passed your concerns along to the legislative assistant in my office who monitors health issues. I will keep your thoughts in mind should this issue come before the Senate.

If you require any other assistance, please call my office at 202-224-2315. Thank you again for being in touch with me.

                                                            Sincerely,

                                                            Sherrod Brown
                                                            United States Senator

Celebrities, athletes support 'Light the White House Blue' petition

Petey is a Celebrity!

http://www.csnhouston.com/blog/other/celebrities-athletes-support-light-white-house-blue-petition

Dave and Connor cancer survivors

Utah father-and-son cancer survivors run ‘The Amazing Race’ again

Television » A serious injury forced Dave and Connor O’Leary out the first time.

By Scott D. Pierce
 
The Salt Lake Tribune

A year ago, fans of "The Amazing Race" were becoming fans of Utahns Dave and Connor O’Leary.

The father-and-son cancer survivors — Dave had prostate cancer; Connor had testicular cancer — were doing great on the CBS reality/competition show that takes contestants around the world. They finished third in the first leg of the race and were about to finish second in the second leg … when, suddenly, Dave felt something. Something bad.

He had ruptured his Achilles tendon.

With Dave on crutches, the O’Learys actually won the third and fourth legs of "The Amazing Race." But they were forced to drop out in Episode 5 so that Dave could go home and undergo surgery.

"It was a bummer, to say the least," Dave said. "It was a terrible way to leave ‘The Amazing Race.’ "

"Everybody was, like, ‘Oh, it was so heartbreaking you guys had to leave,’ " Connor said. "We definitely know it was heartbreaking."

Fans of the show — fans of the O’Learys — quickly began to speculate that perhaps the Utahns would be invited back to race again. About the only ones who didn’t think about that were Dave and Connor.

"At the time, I don’t think anything crossed my mind except the need to get home and have surgery," Dave said. "After the fact, we thought, ‘Boy, wouldn’t it be great if they let us come back.’ But we had no idea if that would happen. And certainly, we were dumbfounded when it did happen so soon."

The O’Learys returned to film Season 24 of "The Amazing Race," which begins airing Sunday. And they did it without hesitation.

"I didn’t even question it," said Dave, 59. "I said, ‘Yes, we want to do it again! We want a shot at redemption!’ "

His 22-year-old son was also quickly on board, but admits he was "a little nervous" about their second round on "The Amazing Race."

"I definitely didn’t want a repeat and have my mom mad at me for some other crazy injury," Connor said. "The Achilles was definitely on my mind."

This was not a minor injury. Dave was advised by doctors that rehab would take a full year.

"It was much more of a recovery process than I expected," he said. "I kind of thought I’d be back into things right away, but it took some time. But, fortunately, everything healed."

But just barely. When it came time to join the other contestants for an all-stars edition of the show, not quite a year had passed since the surgery.

And it wasn’t as if Dave was doing anything particularly strenuous when he was injured. Connor had already reached the mat that marked the finish of that leg of the race and Dave was close behind when the tendon snapped.

"It’s just a function of being old," he said with a laugh. "I hate to play the age card, but I’m old, compared to all these other people. I mean, there’s only a couple of other people who are even close."

Only one, actually. Of the other 20 people in the race — there are 11 two-person teams — nine are in their 20s, eight are in their 30s and two are in their 40s. Only one, 56-year-old Margie O’Donnell, is close to Dave O’Leary’s age.

"If it wasn’t for having a good teammate, there is no way I would’ve gone back," Dave said. "If it was me and another 60-year-old, there’s no way I would have done it."

"I definitely would say I felt more protective than the last time around," Connor said. "I mean, I know my dad is fully capable and can do everything fine. But — I don’t want to say I sheltered him. But I just kind of did as much as I could to make it easier on him."

The O’Learys are, perhaps, operating at a disadvantage in this all-stars edition of the show. Margie and her son, Luke Adams, are one of three teams returning to the race for the third time. As a matter of fact, all but one of the other 11 teams has run more legs of "The Amazing Race" than the O’Learys.

"Going back, we said, ‘Shoot, we don’t have a prayer … against all these young people. Some of them are professional athletes.’ "

Those would be the Harlem Globestrotters duo — Herbert "Flight Time" Lang and Nate "Big Easy" Lofton.

"I got to know Connor and Dave really well," Lang said. "Good guys. They’re both cancer survivors, and my dad passed away from cancer so I had a link with those two from the beginning. Running a race with them was so much fun."

And fun was what the O’Learys decided to have on "The Amazing Race."

"When we went into it last time, we had no idea what our chances were," Dave said. "And at the end of the second leg, I ruptured my Achilles. So from that point, we said, ‘We’re in this for fun.’ We knew we couldn’t win. And we had a great time."

And the great thing about "The Amazing Race" is that if you make it through two legs or six legs or all the way to the end, you get a chance to visit some cool places and experience cultures far different from what you’ll find in Salt Lake City.

"Honestly, the draw of going on the race for me initially was seeing some amazing places," Connor said. "You’re a winner regardless of how far you make it."

spierce@sltrib.com

Twitter: @ScottDPierce

David O'Leary

Remember Dave and Connor O'Leary from the Amazing Race? They were the Father and Son team from a few years ago but was not able to continue as Dave tore his Achilles heel and had to with draw from the race. I was heart broken as they were my favorite team.
Dave was diagnosed with proatate cancer and Connor had cancer also. Well this last season they returned and again my favorite team! This time they were able to finish and WON The Amazing Race.
A few days ago I tweeted to Dave and tonight he retweeted. I was so HAPPY I got choked up some. He even had another guy sign the petition.
One day we will get the White House BLUE in September for Prostate Cancer Awareness month!
Dave is signature #1304!
THANK YOU Dave!

My feelings as a Caregiver

Five years later…June 19^th 2014 it is now 5 years later as a Wife/Caregiver to a prostate cancer Survivor! There are still good days and bad days of this horrible disease, it is not an Old Man’s but a Couple’s disease. Yes the men have the cancer inside them and have to deal with the treatments, side effects, PSA tests, Etc. As the Caregiver we suffer along with our men but in a totally different way.

June 20^th 1983 I met my husband who was stationed at Rickenbacker ANGB aka Lockbourne AFB at which I was born there in 1963. Must have been fate that we meet! It was love at first sight and on September 28^th we were married. I was a very happy Air Force Brat/ Wife now. Our four sons were to follow after that 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1990!  Now we are a family that will live happily ever after. But on June 19^th 2009 our lives had changed forever. Words that a family never wants to hear. “I’m sorry you have prostate cancer.” My husband’s cancer is an aggressive form. For me when we were told it felt like it was a bad dream and was going to wake up anytime. Except it was not a dream it was real! Emotions were running ramped shock, silence, tears and then over and over again felt like hours but just a short time, The doctor gave us time to absorb the news and when we were ready to talk about the biopsy results were would be able to ask questions. But one question that I wanted to know the answer to was. Why? But there was No answer for it. As far as we know my husband is the only one in his family to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. His father passed in 1987 from a heart condition.  Ray went into the Air Force in 1971 and retired in 1991 while in the Military he never Stepped Boots in Vietnam. So the Military is saying that his cancer was not caused from Agent Orange while doing research this could be disputed. He tried to get the Agent Orange Committee at the VA to possibly give some answers but was basically denied due to not Stepping Boots in Vietnam. His first career in the Air Force was a Firefighter stationed in England. One of his stories of putting out a fire that puts questions in my mind and the response from the VA really upset me some. During the time of the interview a question was asked why he thought his cancer was caused by Agent Orange if he never Stepped Boots in Vietnam. My husband’s response was that while fighting a truck fire there were some barrels in the fire. The question from the interviewer. What color were the barrels? Were they Orange? My husband’s response I don’t know they were black when the fire was out. Interviewer if the barrels were not Orange then it can’t be Agent Orange. My training in firefighting is from what I have seen from things that have been in a fire they are black when they are put out. So needless to say my husband was denied further testing to see if his cancer was caused by Agent Orange. I know that it would not change him having prostate cancer but some answers are all I am asking for.

Being the parents of 4 sons and knowing that their risk of prostate cancer has now increased due to the fact of Dad being diagnosed is hard for me. I never want to hear that one of our sons has been diagnosed. My husband was 56 at the time of his diagnosis!

October 12^th 2009 was the day of Ray’s prostatectomy and I thought and prayed that the cancer would be gone. Sadly that was not the case after the surgery and the doctor came out to tell me how the surgery went. The news was not good! I am sorry the cancer has escaped the prostate and into the Lymph-nodes. Again felt like I hit a brick wall, stunned, silence and tears. But I could deal with it at that time I had to see my husband after the surgery. I had to be strong at that time but it was really hard. After he was released from the hospital it was time to be seen for post-op follow up and the plan of attack for the remaining prostate cancer. From now on he has to have PSA tests every 3 months, it only takes a few minutes to draw the blood and takes days for the results to return. The waiting is the hardest part it feels like years before the results return. A stressful time but when it comes back as in remission they joy for the next 3 months. The plan is to have hormone shots for the rest of his life or until it is no longer effective. To this day the hormone shots are still working and have kept the cancer in Remission. Unfortunately I am having some growing concerns as one doctor suggested that Ray have radiation treatments done to see about killing off the cancer in the lymph-nodes. He had 7 weeks of radiation in late October 2013 to January 2014 since then his PSA has started to rise slightly. Does this mean that the cancer is coming out of remission? I don’t know! This is not suppose to be happening remember we are suppose to live happily ever after into our Golden years!

Now living the life of a wife/ caregiver there are two words that seems to be taboo to say Prostate Cancer. I can honestly say that until my husband’s diagnosis I never heard of Prostate Cancer. Since 2009 I have become and active advocate to raise awareness here in Ohio, and on Capitol Hill. With all the other support that all the other cancers, and causes that are supported in Ohio. Why can’t we add just one more Prostate Cancer? There is no real support from businesses like there is for breast cancer. One day I hope to change that and during the month of September which is Prostate Cancer Awareness there will be public service announcements, commercials, fundraising at the checkout lines. 

Canal Winchester Cancer Survivor Lunch

 Petey Welcomed everyone to Relay For Life at the Canal WInchester High School.

Petey having lunch!

Ray
5 years with Prostate Cancer

WOW!

I sent a tweet to Michael Skupin from my favorite TV show Survivor.  He favorited it!

Petey's Brownie Bite

Petey had to go out with Ray and I for our 1st Date Anniversary.  He finished all his dinner and so he got desert.

Cancer Survivor Dinner

The Cancer Survivor Dinner in Lancaster. Petey had to go and support our Prostate Cancer families. Mom win the Relay for Life Travel bottle.

Response to my email

Linda,

 No need to apologize for informing me and sharing your passion!! I appreciate you sharing your experience and sharing such a personal story.

Michael

Michael Stinziano

State Representative

Help Petey!

Petey needs your help! Please go to and sign the petition and share it. Encourage other to slso sign we can get the White House BLUE in September for Prostate Cancer Awareness!

WhiteHouseBlue.org

My response to Representative Stinziano

Good Morning Representative Stinziano,

 Thank you for considering the petition for Prostate Cancer.

My personal connection with Prostate Cancer started June 19, 2009 this is a day that will forever be a day that I would love to forget. My husband had a PSA test and biopsy on June 15, 2009 as his PSA was elevated a few months earlier. On the day of the biopsy we drove to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as my husband is retired Military and we go there for Healthcare. After the biopsy we drove back to Canal Winchester not thinking that there was anything wrong. But on June 18th my husband got a phone call from the Urology Department that the doctor need to discuss the results of the biopsy and I needed to be there. No RED flags going off in my mind that there was anything wrong.

We return back to Wright-Patterson AFB on June 19th and check in at the Urologist office. The urologist had cleared his schedule for that morning to speak with you. Again No Red flags when off! We are met by the urologist and go into his office sit down and he had an look that there was something wrong. He proceeds to discuss the results of the biopsy. The results from the biopsy shows that you have an aggressive form of prostate cancer at the age of 56. My husband is just as shocked, stunned and devastated. As for me I was the same but when very quiet as and just wanted to wake up from this horrible nightmare. Except this was not a nightmare it was real! The Urologist gave is time to absorb the news and when we were ready he would and answer questions that we had and discuss treatment options. But my husband's only option that he wanted done at that very moment was to Take it out now (That very minute)! But that was not possible so soon after the biopsy he had to wait at least 6 weeks and also weigh the treatment options. We asked the questions How? Why? But my major question were Did I cause it? And then it hit me what about our 4 sons in their 20's now their chances of prostate cancer had increased. Now I feel even worse! I brought 4 lives into this world that they could die from prostate cancer! There is a chance that it will not affect them but the unknown is hard. After the tears, fears he proceeds to give us the information that we needed. But with all the information I felt like I was in information Overload. The Urologist said to become students of prostate cancer and learn all that we can on the treatment options. The trip home that day was the longest ride of our lives. Very quiet and more tears! The next morning I did as the Urologist suggested and to become a student and with the internet I started searching for more information about the treatment options, and also for a support group for both of us as I know that I needed a support group. As now I have moved from the roll of a Wife to a Caregiver!

Once I found information about the options I shared them with my husband. But he did not want to hear any option but surgery. Take it out now! He along with I started to become depressed so the support group would be a much needed system. During the calling of the support groups that I called the response Sorry No Women allowed. But wait prostate cancer is not only a man's but it is a couple's disease. Many time I told my husband to attend one of the groups but he always said No we are in this together! It took from June 19 to August 10 to find a support group for both of us. That day I called an Us TOO International Support Group in Lancaster and asked if both Men and Women are Welcome. Of Course! So on August 10 we found a new extended family of Prostate Cancer Survivors!

Now we are getting to the option that my husband had chosen surgery. We have a surgery date of October 12, 2009. We are now having the surgery in Columbus as Wright-Patterson AFB did not have the DiVincci Robot yet. The day of the surgery my husband was wheeled into the operating room and for me I had to stay strong seeing him enter the operating room. I was praying so hard that after the surgery there will be no more cancer! After he was out of my sight I broke down and cried and prayed it felt like it was days that he was in there but it was only about 8 hours. I get the call that he is out of surgery and in the recovery room and the doctor will be out shortly to talk with you. The Surgeon came out and said he did fine in the operating room. The prostate is out but the cancer has spread to his lymph-nodes. He said that at the post-op appointment we will discuss the options for treatment. Again more tears,  fears! The options that was chosen was hormone therapy and started on that soon after surgery. Has been doing hormone shots for the pasts 5 years and did radiation for 7 weeks from October to January to treat the prostate bed and also the lymph-nodes hoping to eradicate the prostate cancer in the lymph-nodes. Sadly it did not eradicate it.

Every 3 months he has his PSA test to make sure the prostate cancer is still in remission. Having the PSA test on takes a few seconds to draw the blood. It feels like years for the results to come back but it is only days. Yes it is stressful waiting on the results but for right now. The USPSTF has recommended that men do not get the PSA test I disagree 100% without the PSA test we would have never known that my husband has cancer. Last year I had sent letters to Representatives in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 10 and both my husband and I testified in support of it. I still follow it on the Legislative website as it is waiting on Governor Kasich's signature. I will do whatever it takes to keep the PSA test as it is currently on only test available.

Since my husband diagnosis I have become a very active advocate for Prostate Cancer Awareness. In 2010 I won an award for my part in trying to raise awareness. In 2012 my husband and I went to Washington DC to attend the ZERO The End of Prostate Cancer Summit. On the last day of the Summit ZERO sets up meeting with our Representatives from Ohio our 1st meeting was at 8:30 am with Senator Brown September 13th. My first time on Capitol Hill was another day I will never forget! I TOOK a SPILL on Capitol Hill and broke my leg. The time was about 8:15 am when it happened but that did not stop me from attending the meeting and sharing my story on how prostate cancer has affected my life as a caregiver. So many of the Survivors from the Summit seen me and said that I was a very dedicated person to continue my day with a broken leg. Yes there was pain and I continued to the other two meetings but it was to important for me to go to the hospital at that time. I will go after the meetings were done. When we get to the Emergency Room they asked how did I do it. Same response I Took a SPILL on Capitol Hill! They chuckled but were also impressed with me continuing my day. Dedication!

I apologize for this email being so long now you have a small glance into the life of a Prostate Cancer Caregiver's life. My next challenges for Ohio is to have a Prostate Cancer Day Proclamation and also one for September for Prostate Cancer Awareness month. I am proud to say that now Ohio had one for Movember as I was persistent and one was written last year for the first time.

Thank you for your time and consideration in what is very important to me as a Wife/Caregiver and Mother of 4 young sons. The pictures are of my creative way to raise awareness for prostate cancer. He is Petey The Prostate Crusader and is my creative idea.

Linda Hoetger

Representative Michael Stinziano

aterday 

For the past few day I have been sending out this picture along with the blurb. Help support Prostate Cancer in September. I have sent it to anyone that I can think of  Adults of course both Men and Women. In hopes of one day getting the White House to support our families in our battle with prostate cancer. 

This is an email response that I got yesterday (Father's Day) from Representative Stinziano. This morning I sent an response of my personal connection to prostate cancer. It ended up being a large email but I shared my personal connection to Prostate Cancer as he asked. 

Linda,

 Thank you for sharing with me your support of the White House petition .

I will certainly review the petition and appreciate you sharing with me your personal connection to prostate cancer.  I share your support for raising awareness!

Please do not hesitate to contact me further regarding the petition or other issues I may be of service in addressing.

Michael

Michael Stinziano

State Representative

Circle of Hope picnic

Yesterday at the Circle of Hope Cancer Support picnic.  Our Prostate Cancer Support group was invited to attend. I took the Proclamations from the Governor and Mayor of Columbus to share with them. The Center one is for Movember. Ohio did not have one but with persistence of emailing the Governor's office and getting the proper wording...Ohio now has one for Movember!

City of Columbus Proclamation

I did not know that Columbus had a proclamation for Men's Health Week until this year.

Blue Cure

Petey needs YOU!

Sign the petition and help get the White House BLUE

in September for Prostate Cancer Awareness! 

Have you signed it yet? I have signature #106

Please sign by June 28, 2014 to make this a reality Support Prostate Cancer Awareness and Light The White House BLUE in September: Prostate Cancer Awareness

My husband was diagnosed with an Aggressive form of Prostate Cancer at the Age of 56 on June 19, 2009. It is so important to raise awareness as this is not an Old Man’s disease.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/support-prostate-cancer-awareness-light-white-house-blue-september/0JHTqTk9

#signforPETEY

Petey wants to see the White House turned BLUE in September!  He is returning to Washington DC again to talk with Ohio's elected officials on Capitol Hill!

Yay!

Time to have some FUN on the hills!

City of Columbus Men's Health Week

Men's Health Week from Governor's Office

It's National Cancer Survivor Day!

 I know many Prostate Cancer SURVIVOR'S! But still very little is said and AWARENESS is raised for this horrible disease. The other sad part the Caregivers are not getting the support we need and it is also a Couple's disease. 

For all my Facebook Prostate Cancer Families enjoy you Day and for the those who have lost their battle WISH you could CELEBRATE with us! (((Hugs)))