- Melissa
Dayla Dintelmann Austin and husband Jasper started the trail 2 weeks
ago in heavy snow. Slow going but weather now much better. Doodlebug's Dad
------------------------------
--- Dayla (trail name- Doodlebug) Austin wrote:
Hi Everyone,
For those of you who may not have heard, we are hiking the 2179 mile Appalchian Trail this year, in fact, we have already begun and are nearly done with our first of 14 states. Tomorrow afternoon will find us at the Georgia/North Carolina border, having hiked about 75 miles of the trail. It has been a long road over the last year since we had hoped to start in 2009. Going through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation was really no fun at all and I am very glad to have it all behind me. I have had several people ask what my long term prognosis is- no one can really answer that. I have had no trace of cancer since my surgery- the chemo and radiation was "insurance" to kill any undetectable residual cancer cells. Statistics tell me my 5 year prognosis is about 85-90% chance it won't come back. So all I can really do is cross my fingers and try to get as healthy as possible and live my life with no regrets!
So we are going hiking! And we are hiking to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation Livestrong. We joined a team called Hikestrong- made up of a dozen or so people hiking on both the AT and the Pacific Crest Trail to raise money for Livestrong. I chose to hike for a foundation that supports those with all forms of cancer, not just breast cancer.
Livestrong Manifesto
http://hikestrong2010.giving.
I have a hard time putting into words what going through cancer treatment has been like. I feel like I have just been hanging on by a few threads, just trying to make it through, but also feeling like I can't really catch my breath and feel on top of things. For me, I know of no better way to hit "reset" than to go for a nice long walk. We have hiked 67.5 miles of the AT already and I already feel stronger and more positive. I feel very blessed to have been able to start slowly and have good hiker friends here in Georgia who have been helping us tremendously and allowing us to slowly ease into the hiking lifestyle. Jasper (aka Didgeridude) has enjoyed his introduction to long distance hiking. I am constantly pinching myself amazed that he wants to be out here hiking with me! He is an awesome hiking partner, I am incredibly lucky.
We made a slideshow with some of our pictures I hope you will enjoy. Please click on the link below.
Our slideshow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
The website for Hikestrong, with online link to donate.
http://hikestrong2010.giving.
Our online Trailjournal
http://www.trailjournals.com/
which includes a link to a list of maildrops in case you'd like to send us some goodies :) I love gummy candy and Jasper loves chocolate.
If you are on Facebook, there is also a maildrop list under my Notes tab.
http://www.facebook.com/
Please forward the link to our video to any of your friends and family who might enjoy it!
Thanks for your love and support
Dayla and Jasper Austin (Doodlebug and Didgeridude)
No comments:
Post a Comment