June 19, 2009 our lives changed forever! We were at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base sitting in the Urologist office. And then the words were uttered by the Urologist that no family ever wants to hear. I am sorry you have prostate cancer, and to make it even worse it’s an aggressive form. We heard those words on this day! Tears, disbelief, anger, fear, Information Overload, etc!! It felt like I hit a brick wall full force.
I could have chosen to sit back and say...poor me, but I chose to be an Advocate of prostate cancer awareness! They say there is a reason for why we were chosen for this mission in life. I might not understand it all right now but one day I might!
Ray had a Prostatectomy on October 12, 2009, after the surgery the doctor came out to give me an update. I was praying for good news, but that was not the case. The cancer spread outside the prostate into the lymph-nodes. My heart sank again and that brick wall was back! The most important thing he survived prostate cancer. We both are dealing with changes in our lives. Some will understand what we are going through on our journey. Prostate cancer is a couples' disease. Every three months Ray gets his PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test done. Until the results return Undetectable it's stressful, for both of us. Thankfully Ray has been in Remission for awhile now. I will not say he is cured as we know the cancer can at anytime return. Which scares me, with the unknown. One day at a time! Why us? It has been said, God gives us what we can handle. It will either make me stronger or make me weak. I have been on both sides!
I started advocating and raising awareness for this horrible disease that no one seems to want to talk about. In 2012, I began working with ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer, a national nonprofit with the mission to end prostate cancer. ZERO advances research, improves the lives of men and families, and inspires action. Working with ZERO has given me so many more opportunities to help raise awareness and to be part of ending prostate cancer.
In 2018, we started working with our Representative Richard Brown and Representative Scott Lipps in Ohio having Prostate Cancer license plates Bill introduced in the Ohio Statehouse. It passed both the sides of the Ohio Statehouse June 11, 2020. And now is awaiting the signature from Governor DeWine. The bill was signed October 22. 2020! All the signatures we collected and the artwork has been approved for the first in the Narion ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer License plates. Should be available late July early August!
Ray is a 20 Veteran of the Air Force. We need to prove that the herbicides and chemicals that he was exposed to in the Military contributed to his prostate cancer. Veterans who are exposed to herbicides like Agent Orange are at increased risk for developing prostate cancer, and are more likely to have an aggressive form of the disease. Education regarding prostate cancer and early detection strategies is critical to saving lives, preserving, and protecting our families. The economic and social burden of prostate cancer is huge. Prostate cancer is estimated to cost over $8 billion in direct medical expenses.
Petey is 10 years old now and still goes with me everywhere! I have done many different scenes with him. Just another way to have a visual of how this little nut is related to prostate cancer. The walnut is the size of a normal prostate.
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