Blue in September

The Village of Woodville, Ohio is lighting a Fontaine and Flag Pole BLUE in September! I can not wait to see it and take pictures.

Proclamations and Resolutions

I will do what ever it takes to raise awareness for Prostate Cancer! This is another blog that I have started with the Proclamations and Resolutions from the Cities, Villages and Townships in Ohio. Many of the have either sent theirs or made a commitment for September. Currently I have 161! My goal is 250 by September 2015, I am not sure if I will reach this goal this time, I'm not going to give up until every Mayor and Council Member has signed a Proclamation or Resolution.

Please support my efforts in raising awareness!
Ohio Supporting Prostate Cancer Awareness

Let's go fishing!

Arrrrg!!!

Petey visited Pirate Island

Petey visited the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The new ride this year is Pirate Island.

MINION SPOTTING

Petey spotted a Minion!

Petey's Sandbox

When you know you have to much time on your hands! Petey wanted to go the the Beach but we could not go. So Mom did the next best thing. Make him his own sandbox!!

The sand is the Kinetic sand and you can mold it over and over and it won't dry out.

American Cancer Society Dinner 2015

The American Cancer Society hosts a Survivors dinner. The Survivors can bring one guest. When we attend there are always two guests. Petey and his Mom!

Where ever we go!

You never know where we will start talking about Prostate Cancer. Like last night we were at Hobby Lobby and we met this Couple. The wife had Blue in her hair for the 4th. Ray seen it and started talking about Prostate cancer we talked for a little bit. Of course Petey made an appetence and had to share why the walnut.

Petey is always with me so you never know where or when he will make an appearance.

In this Corner

Here we have in the far corner is PSA Petey! And in the other corner we have Prostate and Cancer. It is time for Petey to KICK Prostate and Cancer out of the ring!

A Team Effort

I wanted to share our story with you. It is in the Summer Edition of the Patient Resource Cancer Guide​.  Everyone who reads our story likes it. Ray shared it with the VA and they did an addition to the Wyile Wire( the VA News letter on line}

This is the link to order a Free Copy. Patient Resource Cancer Guides

Show your support Mr. President

The White House supports ever other cause except Prostate Cancer. Are our families not important? Prostate Cancer is not an Old Man's disease. It is a Couples disease. June 19th 2009 we began our Journey with this horrible disease. At first when I would talk about it people would turn and run. Then I created Petey the Prostate Crusader and now people are listening.

How about you Mr..President it is time for you to hear our pleas!

ACS Survivor Dinner

Calling all Mayors and Council Members

Honorable Mayor and Council Members 

I would like to introduce myself my name is Linda Hoetger, I am the wife & caregiver of a Prostate Cancer Survivor, Advocate to raising awareness for prostate cancer and the mom of 4 sons. June 19, 2009 we were told the devastating news that my husband has an aggressive form of prostate cancer, we were both stunned, shocked and horrified. We had to learn a new foreign language PSA, Gleason, positive margins just to name a few. It is hard enough trying to deal with the diagnosis and finding even harder that when you say these two words Prostate Cancer, people run the other way. I know it is hard for the men to talk about being diagnosed with prostate cancer but this is not just a Man’s disease it is a Couple’s disease. For our families every month is Prostate Cancer Awareness month 24/7 365!

We celebrated our 6^th year after the diagnosis on June 19, 2015 and it has become my mission to raise awareness for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September. I am reaching out to every City and Village in Ohio asking for your support with a Proclamation or Resolution for Prostate Cancer Awareness month in September. 220,800 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer many will suffer in silence as this is a disease that robs the men from their feelings of Manhood. Sadly 30,000 men will die from prostate cancer. Since my husband’s diagnosis I have met many families of prostate cancer, sadly some of them have lost their battle from this horrible disease.  My heart breaks every time I hear the news and it makes me fight harder to raise awareness to let the families know that their loved one is still thought of and hopefully one day Prostate Cancer will be a disease that men will never have to hear those devastating word. I am sorry you have prostate cancer!                                     

I contacted Governor Kasich's office in 2013 to inquire about a Resolution for September in Ohio. Sadly there was not one, so I started the process to have one done. I am happy to say that as of September 1, 2014 in the state of Ohio the first Resolution was written and signed for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month by Governor John R. Kasich.

My blog is called Ohio Supporting Prostate Cancer Awareness and I share the overwhelming support that I have received so far. I have sample text of the Whereas for the Proclamation or feel free to use your own. Please feel free to share it with others as well it is my hopes that every City and Village will have a Proclamation/Resolution in place by September 2016.

My second part to my challenge to you is by September 2016 your city will also support us in raising awareness too by illuminated your City Hall or Landmark BLUE in September even for one day is a start or even the whole month would show the families of prostate cancer that We are not alone in the fight to raise awareness. Landmarks that are going BLUE in September, A Pond, City Hall, Clock Tower, Historic Site, and a message on a few LED message boards. I hope you would consider my request and have Ohio be the first State to have all cities supporting Prostate Cancer Awareness.

Currently there are 153 Cities, Villages and Townships supporting my efforts to increase Prostate Cancer Awareness. Can I count on your City, Village or Township?

Sincerely,

Linda Hoetger

Whereas, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men; and

Whereas, everyday approximately 240,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United Sates alone every year – one man every 2.63 minutes, roughly 30,000 die each year from the disease – one man every 17.52 minutes; and

Whereas, 1 in 7 man are diagnosed with prostate cancer. African American men are at the highest risk for the disease with a rate of 1 in 4 men. African American men are 2.5 times more likely to die from the disease: and

Whereas, Education regarding prostate cancer and early detection strategies is critical to saving lives and preserving and protecting our families; and

Whereas, all men are at risk for prostate cancer and we encourage the citizens of (City) to increase the importance of prostate screenings.

Funny story

We are coming up on 6 years since Ray was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Prostate Cancer. Many people will not talk about prostate cancer. Many years ago I use to be the quite shy person but not now. Every chance I have to talk about prostate cancer I will take it. For the past 3 years we have went to Washington DC and spoke on Capitol Hill.  You want to know how serious I am about this subject.

September 13, 2015 was my first time ever of being in Washington, DC. We attended a ZERO Summit and on the last day we had meetings with Senators and Congress Members on Capitol Hill. Our first meeting was at 8;30am with Senator Brown so my excitement to meet with him to discuss prostate cancer got the better of me. At 8;15am I took a SPILL on Capitol Hill and broke my leg. The Capitol Hill Police wanted to call for the ambulance to take me to the hospital but I said no. I am going to these meetings they are to important for me to miss. So they get a wheelchair for me and off to the first meeting. We attended all three meetings that day and returned to Ohio and that is when I went to the hospital. I am called back and the Doctors asked how it happened. And I said I took a Spill on Capitol Hill. They laughed and said it is not funny but they way you say it.

Since then we have returned to increase awareness for prostate cancer. In 2013 I was disappointed that Ohio did not have any Resolution for September signed by the Governor.  So I made it my mission to change that. And last year the first one was signed. But again I did not stop there it was time to get the Mayors also involved with Proclamations. So I started writing to them and shared my personal story and was supported with encouraging emails of support. I started this blog and share the Proclamations/ Resolutions and emails of support. There are times that I get emails from others on how to get it started in their states. This is the link please feel free to share it with others. click here Ohio Prostate Cancer Awareness

Behind the 8 ball

Guys don't get caught behind the 8 ball! Have you had your PSA test lately?  Please get it done soon!

What encourages me in our Journey

Sadly one of the Survivor who wrote one of the Nomination letters in 2012 has passed away. When we started this Journey 6 years ago you very seldom heard those dreaded words.. Prostate Cancer. I am so blessed that Ray will talk about having prostate cancer in public and to others. So many families will suffer in Silence because they do not want anyone to know.

Ed Randall's Fans 4 The Cure

Last night was the Fans 4 The Cure game with the Columbus Clippers. Before the game the team signs the Blue Bat provided by Fans 4 The Cure and given away at the 4th Inning.  Volunteers pass out the prostate cancer information, last night I did passing out the information.

Men:  I know about Prostate Cancer. I had a test recently.
Me: What was your PSA?
Men: (SUPRISED Look)
Me: My husband is a 6 year Survivor of prostate cancer 
Men: my score was________

Then we talked a little more. At the end I Thanked them for getting checked.

Many years ago I was so quiet and shy. But look at me now!
Guys PLEASE be pro active and request a PSA test soon!

Patient Resource Guide

A very nice surprise  when we got home tonight. We got 5 advance copies of the Patient Resource Guides. And our story is on page 36! Wow we have come along way in our Journey with Prostate Cancer.

Relay for Life

Blog Name Change

I have changed the name of my blog with the Proclamations. When I first started it I was contacting Mayor's in Ohio. And then Council Members and Trustees are also doing Proclamations & Resolutions for Prostate Cancer Awareness month in September. Currently there are 153 Cities, Villages and Townships supporting my efforts of increasing awareness for Prostate Cancer in Ohio. My goal is to have every City, Village and Township have a Proclamation or Resolution by 2016. It is AMAZING on the support that I have gotten at this time and Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

http://ohioprostatecancerawareness.blogspot.com/

Prostate Cancer Awareness in Ohio

153 Cities, Villages and Townships are supporting my efforts to increase Prostate Cancer Awareness in Ohio! I have a blog as well with the Proclamations and Resolution that I have received so far.  A few Cities and Villages are lighting something Blue in September. Marysville is lighting a pond in Aldersgate Park for the first time. My goal is to turn ALL of Ohio Blue in September. On June 19th will mark our 6th year of dealing with Prostate Cancer it has been a hard Journey but we are Survivors.

Checkout the map I created with ZeeMaps: http://j.mp/1FW8FIy

Petey's waiting

These are Petey's waiting to be made. They are all cracked and cleaned. Now the long process of adding the arms, hands, feet and eyes.

Petey's Greenhouse

Giving our Feedback

Hi Linda, my name is Dr. David Hall, a urologist outside of Indianapolis. I'm working on a patient centered urology app and came across your prostate cancer page when doing some research. Our goal is to help connect patients and families struggling with specific urology conditions such as prostate cancer. We've created a beta version we're testing now to elicit feedback on the platform, the functionality, and the idea. I'd love to have your feedback on whether it would be something you'd find useful and perhaps see if you knew of anyone also interested in testing the idea. With time, we hope to build a social health tool to connect people around their health problems, questions, etc. It's only urology for now, but the plan is to expand to all specialties and even other allied health fields, fitness, etc.

Thanks for responding, no worries! I really appreciate your time and am glad to hear your husband is a Prostate cancer survivor! Yes, it is hard to get people to talk about Prostate cancer. The app we're creating is designed to help connect others around health conditions affecting them. You can login with any social account or simply create an account. After building a profile, you can explore topics such as Prostate cancer and as users join, even connect with others going through the same thing. The website is currently located at myud.sixfeetup.com (temporary location while we "test" the platform and function and gain feedback). I again appreciate your time and hope you're able to sign up and take it for a spin. Any feedback would be helpful. For example, what do you think of the idea, would you use it, would you invite others, how would you make it better? If there are other page members or friends and family that you think would benefit, feel free to share. I'll be sure
To check out his FB and blog also. Awesome mascot too!

myud.sixfeetup.com