The Dennis-Yarmouth Relay for Life will be held June 18-19 at D-Y High. Maureen came home from school and told me about the school relay “Team Special K” named in honor of Kim Oliver an eight grade science teacher who passed away after a battle with Breast Cancer.
Maureen told me she was volunteering to walk so I thought it would be great to support her efforts and will join her in the Relay. Even though I love to ride my bike, I really hate to walk and don’t do well. Maureen’s gonna kick my butt!
During her high school years Amanda walked with friends, later I found out that one of the reasons she did was because of my earlier diagnosis of Melanoma. She never made a big deal of it.. just did it.
Well fast forward. I’m now Stage IV and fortunate to be in medical trial that seems to be working. Last year I couldn’t walk to get out of my way. This year I feel more like a 20 year old.
The Melanoma Foundation of New England is my favorite Melanoma charity, and I’ll work hard with whatever time I have left for them, but I would like to ask you to consider a small donation the American Cancer Society in memory of Kim.
Lets back up a bit, rewind if you would. I’ll do my best to keep the update to the point.
December 2009.
440 miles on the bike at Planet Fitness. I was all set for 500 when I came down with the “cold from hell.”
The holidays were great. Nice crowd at Mary’s Christmas Eve and a great breakfast Christmas Morning. NO TEXTING AT THE TABLE GIRLS!!!! I guess I’m just an old fuddy duddy.
January 2010
My 48th week in the trial was reached on January 5th. Last year as we were getting the trial info Dr. Atkins told us that he had a patient in a similar trial using the same treatment that was then at week 48 and it was a milestone. Well I found out that that gentleman is still going strong at week 96. Scans were good and treatment went well with a few minor side effects. My immune system seemed to go crazy attacking the “cold from hell.”
Seems kind of funny sitting out during a snow storm. I did get one call to help out the young man who took over my plow route.
February 2010
My brother surprised me when he told me that he was selling his landscape business and was going to work for Penny, his wife. They expanded the offerings at the Village Store and Charlie was going to be the “Sandwich King” of the Dog House Deli. Charlie was even going to deli school.
Let’s get one thing out of the way first. I’m a sentimental, emotional person. PHEW! That’s enough for now Dr. Freud.
When I started riding the bike and decided to make it something serious I took my new bike helmet with me to my appointments and asked all the health care professionals who worked with me to sign the helmet. It reminds me that it’s taken a whole team effort to get me riding and somehow it makes the sore butt and muscles worth the effort.
After a relative of a Warrior Angel asked permission to write names on his NY Marathon shirt I decided to add the names of Melanoma Warriors and Warrior Angels to my bike. The Trek Hybrid I picked up has a good sized frame and there are so many spots to put names. I want people to know why I’m riding when I start entering fund raising events. It will also give me a sense of purpose as I pedal during training and honor all who are listed on the bike.
The first name on the bike is that of my uncle/godfather John Sullivan, Warrior Angel.
I’d be honored to add your name or that of your Warrior Angel to the bike. Please send me an email Jerry AT JerrySullivanCapeCod.com
Everyone who asks about the names will get a brief written request for support of a melanoma charity of their choice.
“People die … Why we should go on, you might ask? Why don’t we all just stop and lie down where we are? But there is another truth, too. People live. It’s an equal and opposing truth.”
“What are my chances? It was a question I would repeat over and over. But it was irrelevant, wasn’t it? It didn’t matter because the medical odds don’t take into account the unfathomable. There is no proper way to estimate somebody’s chances, and we shouldn’t try because we never can be entirely right, and it denies people of hope. Hope that is the only antidote to fear.”
Lance Armstrong. It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life. Berkley Books, New York, 2000; 3-4.
“I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes.”
Rev Charles Swindoll.
“It’s about Kickin’ Melanomas Butt.” Jerry Sullivan
Look a Likes
I am am not a VICTIM of cancer. I am a person fighting an illness. I do not mind sharing my story. JOKE with me, LAUGH with me, CRY with me, TALK with me, TOUCH my life, but never PITY me ~jerry
UPDATE – April 26, 2010
Relay for Life.
Maureen and I are participating the Dennis Yarmouth Relay for Life. We would appreciate your consideration of a small donation. We will be members of Team Special K formed by employees at Wixon Middle School in memory of Kim Oliver a grade 8 science teacher who passed away from Breast Cancer.
Today a woman I know called me her hero. I thanked her and as she continued on she explained that because I was in a medical trial she felt it was easier for her to consider a trial for her own battle with an advanced cancer. We chatted for awhile about treatments and hospitals and are forever bonded by the shared experiences.
I’ve known this kind lady for many years, but until recently not for much more than a hello and how are you and the family, but now we had something real and threatening in common. It’s easy to stop by and chat for a moment and add a couple of encouraging words and understand a bit of what each of us is experiencing. Read More »
What is it about this seasonal delicacy that drives people crazy, almost a lust, have to have it, hunt different farm stands for the best ears. After all this innocent looking veggie has been around since the before the pilgrims landed in nearby Plymouth.
In our little corner of the world real corn season starts around the tail end of July and is usually over by mid September. This year seems a bit of an oddity or maybe we’ve just spread our wings a bit in our search for late season delights. Let me set the record straight before I go any further. Real corn can rarely be bought at supermarkets. So rare, that we’ve only encountered decent “store bought” corn one time in the last ten or so years.
The butter and sugar (yellow & white) variety is by far the local favorite and in my opinion only grows well in the soils north of the beaches of RI and south of the White Mountains. We’ve been fooled in southern Rhode Island with some very flat tasting fresh off the stalk corn. It must be the soil in the area. Locals liked it though.
It’s maintained that corn should be picked and cooked immediately as the sugars start converting immediately after picking. I think that is overstating the case, but not by much. Fresh corn is not 3 days old on the shelf. Today’s corn should mean picked this morning, sold today. Read More »
The Register did a feature on me last week to chronicle my experiences since I announced my melanoma diagnosis to the voters in January. The online edition broke it into two stories. By the way Monty stole the show.
YARMOUTH – In January, Jerry Sullivan wasn’t sure if he’d be able to complete his sixth term as Yarmouth selectman. He had been diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma.
Now, he’s talking re-election.
The news was scary. Sullivan had six measurable tumors in his brain plus numerous “floaters,” a tumor in each lung, one on his adrenal gland and one in his small intestine.
In late 1999, Sullivan was diagnosed with Stage I Melanoma and got into a trial where he was part of the control group. He didn’t receive any medicine but was monitored with quarterly evaluations and blood tests and scans if needed.
It was one of these regular evaluations that uncovered the tumors late last year.
I believe this to be part of one of the internet “made up” stories. I’ve excerpted the main message as it is worthy of repeating.
“People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
So live like a dog:
Live simply
Love generously
Care deeply
Speak kindly
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy
Take naps
Stretch before rising
Run, romp, and play daily
Thrive on attention and let people touch you
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree
When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk
Be loyal
Never pretend to be something you’re not
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently
The following was shared on a forum recently. I think it sums up a lot. ~jerry
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home.
“The remarkable thing is that we have a choice each day regarding the the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have – and that is our attitude.
“I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes.”
Jen Ouilette the reporter for our local weekly paper The Register, requested an interview for a update story about the melanoma and treatments as I had made the condition known during the first selectman’s meeting after the initial hospitalization and the paper felt that the townspeople might want an update.
Monday morning Jen arrived and was promptly commandeered by Monty. Within ten minutes the photographer arrived and suggested that Monty be in my lap for the photos. You know what they say about babies and puppies… Well he stole the show.
The photo was published with the article today and he looks just like the Prince he has always claims to be.
I’ll post a copy as soon as I can get a digital copy.
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