Foot Soldiers

Tom, Laurel, and Tom Nealon

For us, the Boston Marathon started on Sunday, April 14^th.  As has been the pattern in the last four years, we were invited to a brunch for the ALF’s Run for Research Marathon Team. It’s always a cool event. This year was the 25^th anniversary of the formation of the RFR Team. They put together a clever video which consisted of interviewing other team members about their most bizarre chafing areas, how to spell cirrhosis, and to show their “finish line faces”.

Tom and Courtney at the brunch

There was also a wonderful speaker, Laurel, who told the story of her illness, transplant and recovery.

And then the ‘drumroll’ while they announced the current funds raised – which was a wonderful 1.1 (and more) million dollars.

We left the runners with our good wishes, and promises to see everyone after the race back at the Westin Hotel to celebrate.

The next morning we arrived somewhere around 10 or 10:30 at the “Liver Mile” (mile 16.8) in front of the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. We greeted old friends, mostly liver patients and their families, the ALF staff, and of course, the New England Organ Bank who sets up their table next to us.

Elizabeth, Diana, Celinda

The weather was fantastic, the music from the NHW ERG spot was loud and energetic, and the free BBQ lunch was delish. We planned to leave around 1:00 to head to Boston. I was tracking several runners on my phone, and we realized that Courtney, who was one of Tom’s transplant nurses, was going to be coming by our location soon, so we decided to wait for her.

After she went by, we headed to the subway, clutching our VIP finish line passes. The next plan was for us to meet Courtney at the finish. It took a while for us to stow our chairs in the truck, and then hike back down the hill to the MBTA stop. It took even longer for the Green Line train to get to the Hynes stop.

Finally, along with many excited Red Sox fans (the game had ended by now), we made our way to Boylston street and began working our way to the finish. And I had just received a text alert that Courtney crossed the finish line at 2:48.

BANG. Smoke.

“What was that? A bomb?”

“No, maybe not, maybe just a loud musket/canon for the Marathon. Or maybe a restaurant stove exploded.”

Another BANG and more smoke. Now the bomb question seemed more apt.

 

The crowd was pretty thick where we were, and everyone started asking each other what had happened. We saw a good amount of smoke up the street, and no one really knew what to do. Some started towards the smoke, and some retreated. Very soon there were cops telling us to move back, get off the street, NOW. 

We moved back and got on the sidewalk. Still there was that state of unease and confusion. After a few minutes of questions and wondering, we realized that we should just head for the Westin Hotel. We had to divert our travel a few blocks out of the way to get there, but that was OK. Cell phone service slowed down to non-existent.

So many ambulances

Now, we saw no carnage, no damage. We would never get close enough to see anything, (which is just as well). But what we did see was unsettling just the same. We saw runners with their space blankets wrapped around them. They looked displaced. We kept seeing the confusion on everyone’s faces, but we also started to see tears. Tears and comforting. So now we knew something big and bad had happened. 

As we got a little closer to Huntington Ave, we saw Donna, a woman whose son, Scott was a very active member of the RFR. We asked her to come with us to the Westin, and as we moved along, she told us that she’d heard from family members at home who were watching the news, and that there were reports of fatalities and lost limbs. She had not heard from Scott yet, but was pretty sure he had not reached the finish line, and therefore was safe.

And right before we got to the hotel, we saw another RFR volunteer, Alice. Alice’s significant other Jim (who ran for Tom last year), was still out on the course, somewhere, but she too was pretty confident he was safe.

Finally, we got up to the fourth floor where the ALF had the post-race headquarters set up. Right away we were hugged pretty tight by Lauren and Helen from the ALF. All they knew was that we had left Newton quite a while before, and were supposed to be at the finish line when the bombs went off.

No one had heard from Courtney yet, she had not checked in.

So we waited. We made small talk with a few runners who had already come back, compared notes with them and other family members waiting for their runners. Slowly phones were working OK again. I had voice mails, Facebook messages, and texts waiting. All asked the same thing, “Are you guys OK?? Call as soon as you get this!!”

After a while, only a very small number of RFR runners were coming back. By now, someone found a radio and a group formed around it, listening for whatever news updates were available. MBTA service was down. There was a reported fire or some disturbance at the JFK library, and the airport was closed.

Blurry photo of SWAT officers

And soon we learned that the hotel itself was on lockdown. No one in or out. And then we also realized that the floor below us was being used as a command center for the Boston Fire, Police, FBI, the Governor, and more. The escalators were shut down.

It was waay too much like 9/11. Too many conflicting reports, too much confusion, way too much fear.

We were safe enough, but the uncertainty was not easy to take.

FINALLY, Tom spoke to Courtney on his cell. She was fine. But – the explosion happened right near her. I can’t imagine the chaos she witnessed. She told Tom that she was SO glad he was not there with her. 

I’ve been hearing and reading on Facebook how this act will not deter us Bostonians (either by real estate or by heart) from being strong. Some of my “liver friends” are vowing to run next year. My Tom was already planning on it before this happened, now he is even more inspired. Or folks are planning to go ahead and attend big sporting events in town. And our other son Mike is full speed ahead with his plans to attend Comic-Con on Saturday. 

There was a great interview on WBZ TV yesterday. I’ve had these same thought swirling in my head before I heard Dan Soleau, a manager at Marathon Sports speak.  (Please take a minute to check it out - I'll wait.) I love it. Individual foot soldiers.

We’ve all got to handle this in our own way though. Humans can only handle so much, and then there’s a tipping point of saying, “No. I’m done. I can’t do any more, at least not now.” There are those who will shake and sweat at the thought of being in any large group, especially if they were at the blast site on Monday. That’s OK. We’ve got your back. We’ll go to the events, large and small, and we’ll think of you.

Others will never get on a plane again. We get it. Next time we fly, we’ll think of you too.

If someone else feels they must hang up their running shoes, then that’s OK too. Someone else will run for you in their hearts. Rest easy now. 

Being human is hard. Even if physical ailments don’t strike you, emotional struggles always will. I believe in trying a little harder when you can. I also believe sometimes you just need a break.

There was some kind of email/internet meme that was popular several years ago. It was about being a mom. Something like this:

“God bless the moms who wake up at 5:00am to bake cookies for the 4^th grade party. And bless the moms who could not.” I loved that. It’s wonderful to celebrate those who do a little extra. Like marathoners, who ran to give blood. Awesome! But sometimes a person can only run the other way. And that’s OK too. 

We'll be your foot soldiers

Never Running on Empty

I wanted to write this for a long time. Hell, l wanted to write anything for a long time, besides a grocery or to-do list. As most of you know, the last six months have been pretty nasty regarding Tom and his health setbacks. Were these problems caused by his liver and transplant issues? Not necessarily all of it. What does this have to do with the American Liver Foundation and Marathon Monday? Stick with me, and I’ll explain.

When Tom was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in August it definitely was connected to the diseased that ruined his liver, PSC. PSC – Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis many times presents with some sort of inflammatory bowel disease. Because it has an autoimmune component, right after Tom’s transplant, we were told that Tom could still develop an IBD.

So, that was a bit of a blow. But besides the nuisance of the colonoscopy interfering with a new job and vacation on the Cape, it was not devastating. Colitis CAN be successfully managed.

Tom was an ALF LIVEr Champion in 2010

We are pretty sure that his femur fracture on September 2^nd was not related to liver disease, although it was certainly suspect for a while. But still – it was not fun. At all.

 

What about the sudden migraine in early February that landed him in the hospital? Well I don’t think there was a direct connection – although it seems there was a connection between that terrible head pain, and the severe bout of cyclic vomiting that Tom went through his first year after transplant. Many sufferers of cyclic vomiting also have migraines. In fact, the stomach issues themselves are often referred to as abdominal migraines.

Migraines are often triggered by stress. Hmm, where did that stress come from? Any guesses?

Then there was the other hospitalization this year, smack in the middle of February vacation. Now we’re really making a connection.

That Tuesday morning Tom felt extra tired and chilled. Then he looked feverish. Took the temp – 102.3 – yikes! Called Boston, were told to bring him in right away, since he was on three different immunosuppression meds (one for the transplant, two for the colitis) – the docs didn’t want to mess around with that.

Of course, probably because I gave him some ibuprofen at home, his temperature was completely normal once we landed in the Children’s ED (Emergency Department – to say ER, well it’s just soo yesterday). But his blood work revealed a startlingly low white blood count, specifically his ANC (absolute neutrophil count). Right there that was reason to admit him.

After a few days, there was no clear cause of this low ANC. But what we did learn was very concerning, and this is the crux here, the BIG connection to liver disease. One possible cause was the medications that Tom was already on, especially 6MP, a drug he was taking for his colitis. (It also used as part of a chemo regimen to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia).

And another possibility was cholangitis. A bile duct infection. Now why would someone with a healthy liver have a bile duct infection?

Because the thing is, Tom does not seem to have a total 100% healthy liver any longer. Because, the thing is, it looks like Tom’s PSC has come back.

You read that right.

PSC has been known to recur in (I think) 5 – 10% of cases.

Although one of his doctors very recently said that she’s not entirely sure that the PSC did recur – still another doc was pretty certain. Hey, not that we want to look for trouble, and if this has recurred, then we’ll just move forward and think positively and the usual. The consensus is that recurrences typically don’t progress as fast.

But since February, this new knowledge has been pretty tough to handle. The depth of worry has been hard to explain, and harder to go through.

Zac's Mom, Heather is running her first marathon with Tom Nealon, who is running his last.

The good thing is, he’s doing pretty well at the moment. He’s got one college acceptance locked so far, another school seems very interested, and he’s going to Prom –

And he started track. You know his goal, don’t you?

He wants to run Boston next year, on the Run for Research Team.

I'm tired of liver disease. I'm angry. There's no one to blame, it's not like that, but still there's anger, there's frustration and there's definitely fear. And we're just one family going through this. There are too many others. 

WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS.

Matt Noyes ran for Tom and Zac Rue in 2011

So next year, there will be a plea directly from Tom. And this June, there’s another Liver Life Walk – but for now…please, please, kindly consider donating to the following fantastic people running for Tom this 25^th Anniversary year, Katie Chisholm, a new match, her first marathon – can’t wait to meet her this weekend! And Courtney Fratto, one of Tom’s transplant nurses, her first outing with the RFR team, she will do great, and Patrick House, his third marathon with the RFR, and his second time running for Tom. Patrick won Season 10 of The Biggest Loser and ran with the RFR team for Tom along with his cast mates Elizabeth Ruiz, Adam Hurtado, and Tracey Yukich.

And we are all so proud to know the following - some are liver patients, or transplant recipients, and are all around good people who want to help. And help they do. And they are all running Boston this year, some for their final year. Please consider donating to:

Jim Sparks 

 Scott Rumrill

Sherri Fields

Nick Giordano

Tom Nealon

Deb Tully

Nhu Vu

Heather Cline

In the (Google) News

Persistence - and Passion - Pays Off

A year ago today, Tom had his liver transplant. We celebrated with just the four of us last night at the Olive Garden, one of Tom's favorite restaurants. I'm sure his docs would have been thrilled to see him eat two bowls of chicken gnocchi soup, most of his steak and potatoes, three bread-sticks, and dessert. We certainly were thrilled.

And how did he celebrate today? Well, the kid had to go to school. They sort of require that.  : )
But Tom was able to realize a big dream, of having a huge assembly/presentation at his school with (I believe) most of his sophomore class, and many seniors, and perhaps some juniors were there too. Lots of kids.

Tom is stubborn. He annoys me greatly much of the time with his persistence about stuff. But I've known for a while that this quality was going to serve him well, as it did today.

For this assembly, Tom had lined up quite a few speakers. He had Mike Slama, a man who received a heart transplant a few years ago, talking about how lucky he has felt every day, and how happy he was that Tom was able to share in that same feeling of gratitude. Also on the agenda was Sam Scott, one of the program managers of the American Liver Foundation, who spoke of liver health, and had some stark images of healthy and sick livers. At the sight of  very diseased, cirrhotic liver - I heard one student exclaim, "oh please change the slide" - yeah, it was pretty gross. 

Also speaking was Nancy Erhard, a woman whose son died several years ago, and Nancy and her family made the difficult, yet easy decision to donate whatever was needed from her son Bo. Nancy speaks at functions often about Bo's story, and she has worked with Jamie Redford (Hollywood legend Robert Redford's son) through the Share the Beat organization.


We also heard from Nick Giordano, a man who has run 11 marathons, and who himself was diagnosed with liver disease. Nick was chairman of the Run for Research Team this year, and at the very end of the day, he graciously and humbly gave Tom his marathon medal.

Even at a younger age, Tom was a fund-raiser. Here he was preparing to ride the Pan-Mass Challenge for Kids

Tom, recovering from his first surgery, age 12

And because of Tom's persistence, he was able to line up Matt Noyes, the meteorologist for NECN. We talk about Matt a lot, because he has been such a tremendous support not only for our family and for Tom, but for the New England chapter of the ALF. Matt is a very, very busy guy and he's also got a beautiful young family to take care of too. But this year, the great staff at the ALF convinced him to run in the Boston Marathon. Matt has been involved with the ALF for several years, as MC for the Liver Life Walk. He's also involved in other charities as well, and his enthusiasm for life is contagious and inspiring.


And of course, there was a nice plug about the upcoming Liver Life Walk by Hung Pham, an ALF staffer.


It takes great persistence to make all this happen. Of course, I took care of a few emails and phone calls, but Tom's passion was the driving force to bring this event alive.


It also took a lot of passion for a shy-ish 16 year old to get up in front of an auditorium of peers and tell his own story, starting from first diagnosis to his surgery a year ago. He spoke of various procedures he endured, holidays that were basically ruined, too much time out of school and other snapshots of how his illness impacted his life.




But he also spoke of his friends, and how much they meant to him, and how he appreciated their support. And Tom spoke about Rachel's Challenge, and how by either joining him at the Liver Walk, signing up to be an organ donor (for those 18 year old students), or just being more aware of others' suffering - can answer her challenge and "Start a Chain Reaction" of making life a little bit better for someone other than themselves.