A Little Boy Named Olin

A week ago, our team learned about a little boy named Olin. His story is one more poignant reminder of why we do Team in Training. Why we get up at 4AM and 5AM to train in the dark. Why we ask and ask again for donations, even when it feels a bit uncomfortable, even when we suspect people are sick of us asking. Why we push ourselves physically to do our miles, even when tired, cold, hot, or wet. Why we are relentless for a cure. It is not right that little children, and their families, have to go through this. My fervant hope is that someday relatively soon, they won't. Someday there will be sure cures for these terrible diseases, and if I am still on God's green earth when this happens, I will rejoice knowing that my little efforts had a tiny part in making this happen.

Here is his story, written by his parents:

Olin is 3 years old and is battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). In August, when he was only 19 months old, Olin woke up from his nap unable to walk. After a month of testing, x-rays, and head scratching-during which Olin became fussier and suffered constant fevers and leg pain - a final blood test on September 25, 2007 gave us the bad news: Olin had leukemia. He immediately began more testing and chemotherapy at the University of Virginia Medical Center. A month of intensive chemotherapy sent his leukemia into remission. But then he suffered a very significant stroke caused by the chemotherapy (a rare yet known potential side effect of the cancer drug asparaginase). He was left unable to speak and completely paralyzed on the right side of his body.

Now, after five months of rehabilitation, he is able to walk and speak but has not yet gained back the full use of his right arm or hand. Olin has 3 more years of chemotherapy ahead of him and many more months of rehabilitation. It's been tough. But Olin's magical personality - his undiminished smile and good humor - have remained; he and his equally sunny sister have made this bearable.

Olin's unflagging good spirits and strength of will remind us that he will fight this and win. Leukemia is no match for Olin! Our family is deeply grateful to everyone out there running/walking/cycling for Team In Training to raise money toward less toxic treatments and, ultimately, a cure, for leukemia and all blood cancers.