Petey's raising awareness for prostate cancer: February 2020

Friday, February 28, 2020

Portage County Commissoners 2020

White House Oval Office 2020

New updated White House picture! Petey is waiting on his phone call President Trump to talk about Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education!

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Guys you say you are too young to be tested or get prostate cancer. I would like to introduce Trevor. At age 9 this young man battled his first battle with prostate cancer. He went through treatment and was in the clear for one year. Then his family was told it had returned. At age 12 Trevor had a Prostatectomy. He is now 15 and returns to Capitol Hill and shares his story. It is an Honor and Privilege have met him and follow his journey. Currently his results are NED (No Evidence of Disease) 💙💙💙

Pose Lounge 2020

After a long day on Capitol Hill. The view from the 18th floor of the hotel! The DJ said he had the Farris wheel turned blue for prostate cancer tonight.

Capitol Hill 2020

On our way to the Hill! We got two pictures taken today. Our last meeting was with a Representative Chabot and I shared Petey with him. He wants a Petey for the office. This staff photographer took a picture of us. I hope I will get a copy and if I do I will post.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Capitol Hill 2020

Capitol Hill day today!!! 6 meetings with Ohio Legislators. We will meet Legslative staff members and asking the Senators and Congress members the Prostate Cancer Research at the DoD. We are urging Congress to support $110M for the PCRP in the FY 2021 defense appreciations bill.

We are also asking to support additional CDC Prostate Cancer Outreach to High-Risk Men.

Also asking for support of the PSA screening for African-American and High Risk Men. H.R. 5200 would ensure screening coverage is provided with no cost sharing requirements to African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer under private insurance plans.

And to create a Clinical Pathway for Prostate Cancer at the VA. This one is so important for the Veterans who are being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

It might be a long day but in the end what do I want to see. That prostate cancer will be a disease that no family has to hear those horrible words that I as a wife had to hear almost 11 years ago. You have prostate cancer!

And Yes Petey will be on the Hill too!

Monday, February 24, 2020

ZERO SUMMIT 2020

This says it all to what I do! #pcam2020 #ZeroSummit2020

Friday, February 21, 2020

Chattanooga, Tennessee 2020

Thank you, Mayor Andy Berke, for your support fo Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month

Fairfax, Ohio 2020

Thank you, Mayor Carson Shelton, for your continued support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month.

Warren County Commissioners 2020

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

Mount Vernon, Ohio 2020

Thank you, Mayor Matthew Starr, for your support with Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month.

Tiffin, Ohio 2020

Thank you, Mayor Aaron Montz, for your continued support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month. Mayor Montz will be reading the Proclamation at the September 8th Council meeting in Tiffin, Ohio

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Reflection

I have been on this journey as a wife and caregiver going on ten years. I will not say it has been easy and so many things have changed. I am doing my best to cope. With my husband having prostate cancer our sons have an increased risk of developing the disease. Also, I am the grandmother of a bi-racial grandson with prostate cancer on both sides of the family. He is very young but prostate cancer does not discriminate in age. Sadly we knew a nine-year-old who battled this horrible disease twice. So as a grandmother I will keep fighting for early detection! If you are already seeing the doctor and he is requesting a blood draw. Have him or her check one more box a PSA. If they do not do one request one. If they say insurance will not pay for it and you will have to pay out of pocket. There are some labs that will offer free or low-cost PSA tests. You can find these by doing a search on the internet.

Continuing my mission

For the past seven years, I have been contacting elected officials for their support with a Proclamation or Resolution for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month in September. I had mainly been focusing on Ohio because this is where I live. I did contact Columbus, Indiana and Columbus, Georgia and ask for their support as my dad is from Indiana and three of my four sons are from Georgia. My oldest son and I are from Columbus, Ohio and our Mayor has declined to support. My husband is from Kingston, New York, and the mayor there has supported my efforts for many years now.

This year I have been sending out emails to elected officials thinking they are in Ohio. Only to find out they are in another state. A few that have sent back a response are from Illinois and Michigan with their support and words of encouragement. Currently, I have commitments from 66 cities and County Commissioners in Ohio and New York. People ask why am I doing this, it's not bringing in any money. True it's not! But sharing my story with others is getting men and families. I have had male elected officials share with me that they never thought about getting a PSA test until now. Some have had a family history and have been getting tested and will share with their Co-workers about the importance of early detection. One County Commissioner had never shared with his co-workers for two years that he had been undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. I shared my story with him not knowing that he was in treatment and he decided to share with the citizens in the County his story on the news that day. I do have to admit it brought tears to my eyes.

I will continue to keep advocating for early detection and awareness in hopes that one day men will not have to hear those horrible words uttered to them. You have prostate cancer.

After Petey's fall

A few years ago today Petey attended the grand opening of the Brew Dog Brewery. He wanted to take a picture on top of the barrels. So, of course, I put him on the barrel carefully. But he slipped off and cracked his head open. He told me its OK Mom you can fix anything. Thanks, Petey for the vote of confidence.