Adventures in Extreme Parenthood: Christina

As many of you know I am very passionate about doing anything I can to help eradicate cancer in its many shapes and forms from this earth.

Cancer is a thief. It takes away its victim's health, puts their livelihoods on hold, and in many cases it escapes with their lives.

What inspires me most is that many of the biggest supporters of cancer research fund-raising are those who have survived cancer or are currently undergoing treatments. These are men, women, and children who will start their day in a chemo chair and then end it making phone calls to rally funds for any number of cancer organizations. They throw their heart and soul behind raising money with the hope that someday cancer will be something we read about only in textbooks.

I am honored to introduce you to an extraordinary woman who is doing just that.

Christina with her family days before beginning treatment

On October, 16, 2008 Christina Eastwood received the devestating diagnosis of Stage IV Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. She immediately began an aggressive 8 rounds of chemotherapy known as R-CHOP at Baltimore's Sinai Hospital.

Christina on her last day of Chemo

March 23, 2009

Throughout her treatment Christina kept a detailed journal thanks to CaringBridge.org. In her journal she outlined her treatment, the way she was feeling and on one occasion she and a group of friends created a list of positive side effects of chemo:

"... we were reading some of the NEGATIVE side effects of the chemo meds, and thought, "what a drag!" Wouldnt it be cool if Chemo meds gave you POSTIVE side effects. So we made up some.....thanks to Jon, Eryn and Beth.......

May cause Levitation

Increased IQ

Mastery of the Animal Kingdom ( Like Ace Ventura)

May cause unexpected time travel

Ability to blend into any background ( since I could turn yellow or blue)

Laser Eyes (that could be cool)

Increased Attractiveness..."

Christina's journals were always positive. She was always looking out for the feelings of others and wanting to make their lives easier while maintaining as close to a normal life for herself and her family. She would often say that cancer is not the "Big C". The only "Big C" in Christina's life is Christ and her journals were clearly evidence of that fact. She would share scriptures that kept her inspired along her journey, song lyrics that gave her hope, and she would even request prayers for fellow patients at Sinai's infusion center. Christina did not let cancer define her....instead she allowed it to refine her.

In 2009 Christina felt insipired to do something concrete to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She wanted to give back to the organization that had provided financial, emotional, and educational support to both herself and her family during her treatment. Thanks to LLS' Co-Pay Assistance Program and the Patient Financial Aid Program Christina was reimbursed for over $3,500.00 of her medical costs and co-pays. She and her family were also able to take advantage of LLS' patient education forums, online support groups and mentorship program.

In her journal entry dated April 27, 2009 Christina described her desire to run, "I want to tell you that I have an unbelievable desire to start running. Literally, running. Eventually I will be in some sort of race or something."

As it turns out she was right.

Christina at her first 5k which she ran just 8 weeks after completing chemo

In October 2009 Christina, joined with her husband, Steve, and 3 other team members hiked 13 miles through the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee. Their team, The Trail Monkeys, made a fundraising goal of $16,500.00. They exceeded their goal by 105% and raised a total of $17,289.26 in 5 months!