TMF Celebrity Golf tourney & auction - SOLD OUT!

Wow! All of our hard work is paying off. We are so excited about this year's golf tournament just because, it's obvious, so many other people are getting excited too! More participants, more volunteers, more celebrities, more supporters, more opportunity to make a difference in the lives of other people. When it all boils down, that's what it's all about. This is truly a labor of love, not just for Elijah and I, but also for our boardmembers who voluntarily plug away on our behalf, despite having their own families and careers. It's all in an effort to watch our dream grow. Call me crazy, but I'm already looking forward to next year's golf tournament! We have so many big plans for this foundation, it's hard to keep my giddyness bottled up.

One thing I am trying to brace myself for is the emotional rush that may hit me when I see everyone on Tuesday. I'll admit, I've already cried a few times just looking at the names of people coming. One person's name really touched me. His name is David. He is the dad of one of the kids my husband coaches in football. When Elijah was first diagnosed, and in the hospital undergoing plasmapheresis, David was one of our first visitors. He saw my husband at his worst and the look of concern on his face is burned into my memory. I remember those days like it just happened last week.

I recently started cleaning out the over 6000 e-mails that have accumulated in my inbox since October of 2005. I don't know why some of them are so hard to erase. I came across the first e-mail I sent out to our friends and family after learning from the emergency room doctors that Eli had cancer. I still have every response to that e-mail that came in. I remember people telling me all the time that they thought I was strong. They were surprised by how I could appear to keep it all together despite the devastating blow of that cancer diagnosis. When I went back and read that e-mail, that was sent out on October 4, 2005 at 12:40 p.m., I can see why they may have thought that. When I read the e-mail a few days ago, I honestly didn't even remember coming up with the words within it. I was obviously in fight mode (flight, the other option, was never under consideration). All I can think of is that poem called Footprints in the Sand. That is one of Eli's favorites. I had an artist handwrite it and then had it framed for him for Christmas. One of his friends even bought him a copy of the poem, small enough for him to carry it in his wallet, so that he could have it with him in the hosptial. I developed a love for it too because it seemed so fitting for what he was going through. Well I'm now starting to realize it was pretty fitting for both of us. No other way to explain it.

One night I had a dream--I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints, one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that many times along the path of my life, there was only one set of footprints.

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life.

This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way,but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints.

"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most, you should leave me." The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering.

"When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."...Mary Stevenson

On October 4, 2008 I am going to post that original e-mail. That's the three year anniversary of the day our lives were sent down another path. I'll be sharing it with you all as an act of defiance. During those first few days of extensively researching this awful disease, almost everything I read gave those who are diagnosed with it an average of 3 years to survive. In typical Eli fashion he's bucking that trend. He took that three years to survive and turned it into 3 years to thrive. I am so proud of him.

Until next time, please continue to keep our family, and all of the others you may know who have been touched by cancer, in your prayers.

Kimberly

The month of July...A.K.A. The Whirlwind

Hi everyone! This posting is long overdue, but I have great excuses for being so behind with the update. The month of July was CRAZY for us, it was a great month, but CRAZY. The first week, the Alexander family went on a much needed vacation. We went to Barbados which was absolutely wonderful. It was beautiful , it was relaxing, the food was good, what more can you ask for? Cell phones don't work there so it made us slow down and spend some quality time together as a family. This picture of us was taken inside Harrison's Cave, a must see if you make it to Barbados.




A couple of weeks later we went to New Jersey and New York. There were lots of treats during that trip, the biggest was seeing Ryan. Ryan is a young man that Eli refers to as his brother because they are both fighting cancer. I've talked about him here before. This was my first time meeting him and I now understand why Eli thinks the world of this kid. He's been through a lot battling cancer, but he has the best spirit, personality, sense of humor, just everything. We had the honor of being able to accompany Ryan and his dad Kirby at the NFL headquarters in NYC. It was a surprise for Ryan so seeing his face light up when he realized where we were was great. As soon as we set foot in the offices we ran into Adam Schefter who works with the NFL Network. The ironic thing was that Adam used to be a reporter when Eli played for the Broncos so he remembered him from those days that seemed like they were a 100 years ago. I made the guys pose for a pic (you know I've always got my camera on me).

We also got to meet Mike Pereira who is over NFL officiating, He was hilarious! Nothing like getting a retired NFL linebacker and an NFL referee in a closed space together. Pure comedy. Mike cut us deep when he talked about a little incident where Eli was flagged for a dirty hit and ejected from the game. It's still a sore subject for me (snicker).
Ryan got a kick out of hearing the two debate about X's and O's, but the best part was when he was presented with a red Matt Leinert jersey. And of course it looked perfect with the Arizona Cardinals hat he was sporting that day. He couldn't wait to put it on!


One of the next stops was to the NFL Network control room. It was cool to see where they record every single game that takes place during the season and how they look over all of the calls that are made on the field.







Ryan and Eli got to play a game called "You Make the Call" where they sat in front of the big screen and the NFL Network guys cued up different plays and asked them whether or not the refs got the call right. Needless to say my husband always favored the defense.

Ryan was then taken to see Super Bowl rings, trophies and all sorts of NFL memorabilia. But I think it's safe to say that his favorite part was getting to meet NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. I'm such a cry baby that I had to excuse myself from the room at one point. Seeing Ryan's grin spread from ear to ear when Goodell let him sit at his desk and even presented him with the Lombardi trophy like he does the Super Bowl winning team was just phenomenal.

Everyone there was so wonderful to us (I haven't even mentioned all of them), and being able to experience that day with Ryan and Eli was so special to me. I had no clue that it would be as amazing as it was.

Well believe it or not, there was even more great stuff going on in July. Elijah and I have been praying about what direction we want to see TMF go in. We have begun exploring ways to expand our financial assistance program to include hospitals outside of the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex and also add another component for myeloma patients. We know it will take some time, but we also know it's possible. We have had some amazing people come into our lives through this journey and we are convinced that this is what we are supposed to do. Please keep our family and our foundation in your prayers. Elijah is continuing to do well and guess what, we celebrated his 38th birthday yesterday! It wasn't a big deal to him, but it was to me. In 2005 when I read that myeloma patients tend to live 3-4 years after diagnosis, I wasn't sure if my husband would even see his 38th birthday. God is good.

Love, Kimberly