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Name: Alan

Story:    I am entering for my wife. She has been an Aerosmith fan since before I met her in 1998. She has seen them in concert a number of times beginning with her very first concert on her 16th birthday in Birmingham, AL. I must admit that I myself was not a big fan until I met her and could not help but share in her enthusiasm when she would hear their music or see a show. Music has always been a big factor in her life and Aerosmith moves her in a serious way. We moved from Alabama to Indianapolis after marrying in 2000 to complete my medical residency. In 2004, after seeing Aerosmith twice in Indy, at the ripe age of 30 Sandi was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. Needless to say, our world came crashing down. She continued to work through chemotherapy (while listening to Aerosmith on her Ipod of course) underwent surgery and then completed radiation. All together it was a pretty uneventful bout with cancer and was able to see Aerosmith one more time before we moved back to Alabama in 2006.  

  

   Things went well until 2007, and after a lingering cough Sandi was then diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in her lungs, spine and hip. Back again at the chemotherapy, she responded perfectly and continued her work as a nurse in surgery when she was able. Her outlook has always been "It could always be worse". She had quickly developed a tight group of girlfriends which I am sure are a big influence on her well being. After a night of wine on the back porch with her girls she got on her soap box about helping cancer patients that were not as fortunate as she has been. We have the greatest dog in the world that will lay with her all day when she feels bad, doesn't have to work to keep her insurance and can afford the drugs needed to kill her cancer. She has met many other patients during her treatments fighting these dilemmas all the while battling for their life. The very next day, one of her friends called and said that we're going to have a race in your honor to raise money to help these people. I am a private person myself and the attention was not exactly what I had wanted but saw that this was Sandi's purpose. Within 6months, the Southeast Alabama Medical Center Foundation had created Champions of Hope and Sandi had been named the honorary chairperson for the inaugaural 5K race. She was pumped and ready to help in every way she could.

 

    Strike 3 happened when she found a new lump in the opposite breast of her original cancer (I know, you would think I'm making this up) and this one proved to be a different beast altogether. It had also spread to her liver, chest lymph nodes and femur. Back to radiation, chemotherapy and bilateral mastectomies were scheduled in September with the race planned in October. Unfortunately she was unable to help as much as she would have liked, but was still able to chair the race even with two drains still in place. They actually crowned her the Champion of Hope at the race and made her Queen for the day which was a surprise and her girls were right behind her.

  

   This year she is passing the torch to another amazing breast cancer survivor while also chairing the Season of Cancer awareness sponsored  by the Medical Center Foundation. They raised money to help with the local mobile mammogram unit with many other educational and financial assistance programs in the works. Sandi is currently in remission however still undergoes maintainence treatments every 3weeks and is finishing up with breast reconstruction. She seems to always spread her enthusiasm for Aerosmith and quickly had a group together as soon as the tickets went on sale for the Atlanta show. She (we) have been through more than two people should seem to bear in a short time but I just would like for her to get all that she can from her experience. She deserves it!! I have included some pics from our Journey and hope that they inspire you as she has me.

 

Thank you

Alan