Here starts the 3rd week!

Today I jumped ahead schedule and did my four mile run. My friend Michelle and I have been planning for the past week to meet up and go for a run together. Today was the day that worked out for both of us and we actually didn't meet up until 7pm. Michelle is my friend from high school and she will be running the marathon with me. She has ran several marathons so she is a pro and will be my motivator. I'm so thankful to have her by my side. Michelle brought her two dogs on the run with us and that was quite interesting. They started off so fast and I was thinking that I'd never make it the whole 4 miles at this pace. She assured me that they would slow down after a bit and thankfully, they did. There were a lot of people walking around Lake Harriet this evening so it was quite a maze running between and around people. Michelle gave me some good tips to remember when training for a marathon, like remembering to take note of my body. If I'm too sore to run or I hurt then it is ok to take a break. It is most important to take care of your body and focus on long runs. It is ok to miss a short run here and there if need be. She said as long as I keep running and keep moving up with my miles I will be just fine. I feel like I'm off to a good start. Tomorrow I will be taking a rest day because I have to catch up on a lot of homework for my graduate classes. I'm planning on going to the library right after teaching summer school and staying there until it closes at 9:30pm. It is going to be a long day, but I just need to sit down and focus to really get things done. Wish me luck! Please still check out my blog tomorrow. I will be posting a commentary of something that has been on my mind lately with my dad and CJD. Please take care!
Much love,
Lacy

Ps. I want to send a big THANK YOU and hug to my Auntie Pam and my Uncle Bob for their generous donation. I appreciate your support! I love you lots!

My second week of training...FINISHED!!

I didn't post yesterday because the day just flew by so fast and I didn't get a chance to sit down and type. I actually spent the morning and part of the afternoon going to garage sales with my roommate. We were mainly looking for things for our apartment, but sadly I came home with lots of teacher stuff and of course a few things for my nephew. However, I only spent a wopping $6.00. I love garage sales!! They poop me out though so when I came home I sat on the couch and instantly dozed off. I woke up 2 hours later and all in a rush, because I had to do some training before I met up with some friends for dinner. Thank goodness it all worked out and I was able to bike the same 20+ mile route that I did last week. It wasn't as great of a ride because it was chilly and kind of drizzling off and on, but I made it through. However, today couldn't have been better. It was sunny and hot, but yet there was a breeze that cooled me off. I definitely felt very strong and full of energy as I ran the trails and before I knew it I was home! The seven miles went by fast and it felt good! I finished my second week of training, but there is still lots to go. I ask that you keep me in your prayers that I continue to seek motivation from God and that He blesses me with health to complete this marathon for my dad. I thank you all for your continued support. I wouldn't be able to do it without your love. Thanks so much!
Take care,
Lacy

Here I go again!

I had a very random 4 mile run today. I was kind of in my own world and definitely people watching as I strolled along. There were a lot of people spending time at Lake Harriet, especially young kids. This is wierd, but I'm going to share it with you anyway. I saw 2 girls and 2 boys walking around the lake and they couldn't have been more than 13 years old. I saw them from a distance and as I approached them, I was very surprised to see how flirtacious they were with each other. One part of me remembers those days back in middle school when all the girls were crazy over some boy or another, but then I was thinking boy aren't they young?? It was like seeing them gave me some feeling of nostalgia and at the same time, made me feel very old. That was wierd...I know. Anyway, I also took a little detour during my run and stopped to gaze at the beautiful flowers in full bloom at the Lake Harriet Rose Garden. What an amazing place! Then, I saw a couple being all sly and suspicious and as soon as I turned my back, they tore a rose from the bush and started walking away. I thought that was rude, but went about my own business and headed back home. Pretty random run...eh?

I also want to say a huge THANK YOU to my loving mother who made gracious donation. You are great! I love you!

Keep spreading the word!

Much love,
Lacy

Please Read this Article by Terry Singeltary!!

Hey all-
Today is another day of rest, but I'm definitely not laying around the house or sleeping. I'm actually trying to get a few things done before my night class at 5pm. Anyway, I would like all of you to read this article below. It definitely opens your eyes to many other unanswered questions about this disease. The author of this article also has a blog site which has so much information about CJD. He has done an awesome job with his investigations. I actually contacted him and we plan to unite forces in some way. Please check out his blog as well if you are interested in knowing more about the mysteries behind CJD.
http://www.blogger.com/profile/06986622967539963260

Why Americans, As Well as Koreans, Should Be Worried About Mad Cow Tainted USA Beef
By Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
May 15, 2008

Web Note: This is an important commentary by Terry S. Singeltary Sr., on a recent Business Week story on the controversy in South Korea over their government's lifting on the ban on conventional (non-organic) beef, despite the fact that the USDA is still allowing slaughterhouse waste and blood and manure to be fed to cows, and refusing to test all cows at slaughter. See the Mad Cow section of the OCA website for in-depth information. Terry is a regular blogger on the OCA website on Mad Cow issues.


One Korean official says the probability of a human being catching a mad cow disease by eating U.S. beef is like the one of a golf player scoring a hole-in-one and then being killed by lightning.

this is typical BSe. you here industry groups comment 'your more likely to get hit by a car than die from CJD'. well, maybe so, but my mother and many more did not die from getting hit by a car, they died from CJD, my mothers being the hvCJD (confirmed), and my neighbors mother died from CJD (confirmed). the UKBSEnvCJD _only_ theory is incorrect. there are more strains of mad cow than the UK BSE in beef to nvCJD in humans in the UK. The deception by the USDA, FDA, and the Bush administration about mad cow disease, CJD, and all Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy over the past 8 years have been outrageous, to a point of being criminal. I am vested in nothing, but the truth.

"South Korea may demand revision of US beef import pact"

"The agreement, struck last month, has been widely criticized as making too"

"many concessions to the United States"

THE PEOPLE of Korea _should_ be mad about the importing of USA beef into their Country. can you believe these regulations? even IF a BSE case(s) are documented in the USA, the people of Korea still cannot suspend the importing of U.S. beef, NO matter how many more mad cows the USA finds, until a thorough epidemiological investigation is finished. please remember, it took over a year and literally an act of congress to confirm the atypical mad cow in Texas before they finally finish that epidemiological investigation, and even after all that, the Koreans still cannot ban USA beef, until the OIE recognizes an adverse change in the classification of the U.S. BSE status. Considering the USDA and the OIE collaborated to seal the deal of the BSE MRR policy (the legal trading of all strains of TSE globally, just for commodities and futures sake, human health was not even considered), I doubt the OIE would ever change the BSE status for the USA, no matter how many more mad cows are found. It's all about money folks.

WE are talking years now, before the Koreans could ever suspend USA beef due to a BSE case(s) ever being documented in the USA, due to these stupid regulations. This is nothing more than FORCE FEEDING KOREA USDA MAD COW BEEF, i.e. all for a dollar, to hell with human health on a disease with an incubation period of years if not a decade or more.

Please remember, the last two mad cows documented in the USA i.e. Alabama and Texas, both were of the 'atypical' BSE strain, and immediately after that, the USDA shut down the testing from 470,000 to 40,000 in the U.S. in 2007 out of about 35 million cattle slaughtered. also, science is showing that some of these atypical cases are more virulent to humans than the typical UK BSE strain ;

***Atypical forms of BSE have emerged which, although rare, appear to be more virulent than the classical BSE that causes vCJD.***

Progress Report from the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center

An Update from Stephen M. Sergay, MB, BCh & Pierluigi Gambetti, MD

April 3, 2008

http://www.aan.com/news/?event=read&article_id=4397&page=...

IF BSE is not in the USA (just not documented for many different reasons), and only atypical BSE is in the USA (plus CWD, plus, many strains of Scrapie, and Now the Nor-98 documented in 5 different states, plus TME, then why would human mad cow in the USA look like the UK nvCJD from UK BSE cows ? it was shown long ago in studies at Mission Texas that experimental transmission of USA Scrapie to USA Bovine, DID NOT LOOK LIKE UK BSE. so again, in short, why would human mad cow in the USA look like human mad cow in the UK i.e. the (nvCJD). however, I believe that BSE has been in the USA untested and undocumented for years. why on earth then does the USDA refuse to allow creekstone or anyone else test their product? simple, if you don't look/test, you don't find.

ONE only has to read how the USDA et al have legally blocked, blundered, botched, mismanaged, bungled, floundered, and flat out manipulated, the testing in the infamous June 2004 enhanced cover-up program for mad cow surveillance and testing. I mean, I am not really to hip on THE INDUSTRY, testing for mad cow disease, and what that program might consist of, but anything is better than nothing at all. ...

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Concerned Americans against Mad Cow Disease STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY with Koreans May 13, 2008

http://usdavskorea.blogspot.com/2008/05/concerned-america...

http://flounder068.vox.com/library/post/concerned-america...

http://www.koreantopnews.com/story.php?title=USDA_VS_KORE...

BSE YOUNGEST AGE STATISTICS UNDER 30 MONTHS

http://bseyoungestage.blogspot.com/

http://flounder068.vox.com/library/post/bse-youngest-age-...

with kindest regards, I am sincerely,

Terry S. Singeltary Sr. P.O. Box 42 Bacliff, Texas USA 77518

Thank you!!

I just want to say a big THANK YOU to the person who made the first donation! I can't even tell you how happy it made me to see that the account balance went up. You definitely made my day! Your generousity is so greatly appreciated!

Today was a rest day so I did just that. Wait...actually that would be lying. I taught summer school until 2pm, then I went to the library to do some homework and lastly, I went to my night class from 5-9pm. My brain got a lot of exercise today! Tomorrow I will be taking another rest day, because I have my other night class and I have to catch up on some homework before it starts at 5pm. I will be back on schedule on Friday. Please keep on checking the site because I will still be posting inciteful information about CJD.

Don't stop spreading the news!

Thank you and much love,
Lacy

PS. Please read this article about a man from Oklahoma that was diagnosed with CJD. Especially, read the comments at the end of the article on the second page. What "Dr8237" says is very interesting. A part of me does feel the same way that there is some sort of conspiracy behind this disease. Check out the video of the news story on the right hand side of the site. It is especially intriguing!

http://www.fox23.com/content/flashplayer-localnews/story.aspx?content_id=a687aebe-bf26-4ec6-baf2-407b42e7fad2

Check out this very informative pamphlet!!

Just click on the image to make it bigger. FYI- You can also click on the slideshow on the bottom of the page to see individual photos in a bigger size.

Still going strong!

Today was technically supposed to be a rest day, but I went ahead and ran 4 miles anyway. He he!! I actually jumped ahead a day, because tomorrow my step-mom, my brother and my sister are coming down to visit me and we are going to play tennis and go for something to eat. So I have to use tomorrow as my rest day because I won't have time to run. My hips were feeling kind of sore today, but for the most part the run went well. This time I put on some R&B music and really belted out some tunes while I was running! I'm sure some people didn't enjoy that!! He he! I'm happy to report that things are going well!

On a sad note, I called the bank today to set up online banking for the benefit account and they informed me that the balance is still at $25. This is the amount that I deposited to open the account so essentially no money has been raised. I was really hoping for something. I know that this blog has only been up and running for 1 week and that the word is still being spread. However, I can't do this by myself. We need more answers for this scary disease and for that, I need your help. I'm not good at this whole marketing thing so if you have any ideas, please send them my way. Any sort of contribution you can make, no matter how small or how big, will be greatly apprecaited! Thanks for your continued support!

Ps. I was thinking of signing up for some 5k and 10k races around the area to get some more practice for my training. I also thought it would be a great way to spread the word about my site and why I'm running. To do that, I was going to have a shirt made that I would wear for all my runs. Maybe I should do two shirts because they might get sweaty! He he! Do any of you have any ideas for how I should create the shirt. I was thinking it could be some bright color with white writing that says on the front "I run for CJD" and then the back would have some statistic about it like "???? died from CJD in Minnesota in the last year, and that includes my father". "Do you want to know more?" "www.runlacyrunforcjd.blogspot.com". What do you think about that idea? I'd appreciate any input!

Blessings to all,
Lacy

Yippee...I completed my first week of training!!

First I want to say thank you to all of you out there for your continued support. I went to a family wedding this weekend and many told me that they are always checking out my blog and passing on the site to others they know. Thank you for keeping the word going and please don't stop.

Today wasn't as nice of a day as my runs earlier this week, but I can't complain at all. At least it is not 30 degrees below zero! Thank goodness! I did a 6 mile run today and I went the same route to Lake Nakomis as I did on Tuesday. I often use my runs to spend time in worship to God. I put praise music on my ipod and I connect with God for enlightenment and peace of mind. As always He never lets me down and keeps me thirsting for more. My prayers today were for strength and energy not only as I embark on this marathon training, but also for my new job as a Kindergarten Spanish Immersion teacher in Minnetonka. Worries of my little experience often cloud my thoughts and make me quite nervous and doubtful. God helps me to remember that nothing is impossible with Him at my side. He has made this job opportunity happen for me in my life, because He knows that I can do it.

He reminded me of this fact when I was running today. For one of my graduate courses that I'm taking this summer, I have been assigned to look for and share with the class something that captures my interest with mathematics and science in my life. To tell you the truth I don't do a lot of math and science in my everyday life and I hardly turn on the TV to see what is going on in the news so I couldn't really seem to think of anything. They say that math and science constantly surround you, but I just couldn't see it. Anyway, as I was running and praying I passed two little boys that were selling lemonade. One of them came running towards me and asked if I would like some lemonade. I sadly responded that I didn't have any money and he said ok and walked back to his lemonade stand. I felt so bad, but than an idea came to my mind. I could do this as a math assignment with my students. They could sell lemonade and practice their math skills with money and also they could do ratios to see how many people they could serve with one liter of lemonade. They could even do some comparing and contrasting of percentages by testing out different locations to see if they sell more or less. Wait there are still more ideas. This could even be a science lesson as well where the students make their own lemonade and test how sugar dissolves in water and what factors aid or hinder the process. Wowzers...eh? God works in amazing ways! He definitely reminded me that I am capable!

I just thought I'd share that with all of you. I still have 15 weeks left of training so I pray that God continues to give me the strength to make anything possible.

Much love,
Lacy

PS. I just noticed that the zip code in my address is wrong. It is not 55410, but 55419. So if you have sent a donation to my address with that zip code it may get returned and you will have to correct it. Sorry :(.

How is CJD treated??

There is no treatment other than supportive care. The vast majority of patients die within one year of onset of illness.

CJD Deaths by Year
Number of CJD-related Deaths and CJD Mortality Rates by Age Group
Mortality Rates by Age Group and Year of Death
Check out this website which illustrates the mortality statistics well.
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/cjd/cjdtrends.pdf

Being that there is no treatment or anything for CJD was the most heart-wrenching part of the disease when caring for my dad. We had never heard anything about it, my dad wasn't able to voice what he needed and the doctors gave very little assistance. We were basically on our own and that is not easy to do when your trying to ease the suffering of your loved one.

This disease is rare so they say, but I think it is more common than we know. Being able to have information and resources on how to detect the disease at early stages will definitely help in the process of finding treatment. Please support this search for more answers.

These are the common initial symptoms of CJD?

insomnia (difficulty sleeping),
depression,
confusion,
personality and behavioral changes,
and problems with eyesight, memory, and coordination.


As the disease progresses patients develop rapid dementia followed by involuntary muscle jerking (myoclonus).


In the end stages of the disease, muscle weakness and coordination worsen and patients lose their eyesight and ability to talk.


Prior to death, patients lose all mental and physical functions, leading to coma.

Please check out this website which has a very informative video about CJD.
http://memory.ucsf.edu/cjd. (Thanks Caroline!)

Much love to all,
Lacy

I love biking!!

Yippeee...I had the day off today!! It was great! After my roommate and I went to some garage sales I hopped on my bike and went crazy!! I felt so good and it was such an awesome day! I biked to Lake Nakomis and around it, then I biked back and headed towards Lake Harriet and decided to go around Lake Calhoun too (Why not?). I think I biked about 20+ miles and I still can walk!! I got home just in time, because as I walked in the door it started to down poor. It was really wierd! Then, I decided that my body needed some stretching so I did some yoga. That was very much needed. I feel a lot more relaxed!! Tomorrow I will take my last rest day and then Sunday I will do my long run of 6 miles. I'm doing good now and I hope I can say the same when my long runs are 10+ miles! Oh goodness! Please keep spreading the word! I so much appreciate your support.
Much love,
Lacy

Who gets CJD and how???

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease affects both men and women worldwide usually between the ages of 50 to 75 years. The officially stated mortality rate is one to two deaths per one million population per year. However, this figure appears to be an understatement as CJD is often misdiagnosed. In one study by Yale University researchers 13% of Alzheimer patients were found upon autopsy to actually have CJD. A similar study performed at the University of Pittsburgh showed over 5% of Alzheimer's patients were CJD victims. There are three forms of CJD: familial (genetic, about 10-15% of cases), sporadic (cause unknown, about 80-85% of cases) and iatrogenic (through a medical procedure such as contaminated cadaver-derived growth hormones (GH), dura mater recipients, use of contaminated surgical instruments, and corneal transplant recipients, about 1% of cases) While it is theoretically possible the infectious agent may be present in blood, there are no documented cases of transmission by blood in humans. Pooled blood products are withdrawn as a precaution when a donor has been confirmed as a CJD victim or they are at a higher risk of contracting CJD. Unfortunately, in most cases blood products have already been utilized by individuals prior to the withdrawals. The CDC is currently under Congressional mandate to monitor blood product recipients for any evidence of increase of CJD incidence.

Source for post today and post yesterday:http://members.aol.com/larmstr853/cjdvoice/facts.htm

Because my dad passed away from CJD I am now restricted for life from giving blood and so are the rest of my immediate family members. My dad did give blood several times so I hope they took his donations off the shelf.

We need to know more!!! Please help!!

-Lacy

CJD? I've never heard of it. What is it????

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease [CJD] may have greater public health consequences than the suspected number of confirmed cases might indicate. CJD is not reportable in most states and is often misdiagnosed or omitted from death certificates. While the infectivity can be reduced, it is extremely difficult to kill these infectious agents. Normal sterilization procedures do not eliminate contamination.

WHAT IS IT????

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, degenerative, invariably fatal brain disorder. It affects about one person in every one million people per year worldwide; in the United States there are about 200 cases per year. CJD usually appears in later life and runs a rapid course. Typically, onset of symptoms occurs about age 60, and about 90 percent of patients die within 1 year. In the early stages of disease, patients may have failing memory, behavioral changes, lack of coordination and visual disturbances. As the illness progresses, mental deterioration becomes pronounced and involuntary movements, blindness, weakness of extremities, and coma may occur.

There are THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES of CJD:

In SPORADIC CJD, the disease appears even though the person has no known risk factors for the disease. This is by far the most common type of CJD and accounts for at least 85 percent of cases.

HEREDITARY CJD, the person has a family history of the disease and/or tests positive for a genetic mutation associated with CJD. About 5 to 10 percent of cases of CJD in the United States are hereditary.

In ACQUIRED CJD, the disease is transmitted by exposure to brain or nervous system tissue, usually through certain medical procedures. There is no evidence that CJD is contagious through casual contact with a CJD patient. Since CJD was first described in 1920, fewer than 1 percent of cases have been acquired CJD.

Don't you wish you knew more? Your support would help to make sure more research is performed to find answers to this horrible and mysterious disease. Please help!

Thanks,
Lacy

Keep on Truckin'

Another beautiful day for a run. I love this weather! Yippee for summer (finally)! I went the opposite direction today and ran from my house to Lake Nakomis. It was a perfect distance because it took me 1/2 hour to get there and then I turned around for home. So I accomplished my second day of training and the hour run went well. However, my back is hurting a little. I have night class tomorrow and Thursday so I will be taking a break from running until Friday. The rest will be great! I still will be updating this blog with some information about CJD so please check back. Also, don't forget to keep spreading the word to all you know about this blog.

"How common is CJD?
CJD occurs worldwide. In the United States approximately one case per one million persons occurs per year. Most individuals in the U.S. who become ill with CJD are between 65 and 80 years of age."

I need your support! Thank you and blessings to all!

Much love,
Lacy

My First Day of Training!

What a beautiful day for a run! I couldn't have asked for better. It was perfect! My training schedule said that I had to run 4 miles for my first day and that is exactly what I did. It went very well and I actually felt like I was flying. That was probably because I took a break from running last week and instead did a detox and lots of yoga to prepare myself for the rigorous training. It definitely helped! For those of you who don't know I now live in South Minneapolis only about 1 mile from Lake Harriet. Basically, I can walk out my door and I am instantly on the Minnehaha trails....it's great! There were lots of twigs on the path and trees down from the storms this weekend, but all and all it was a beautiful run. I rocked out to Spanish music while I ran and enjoyed the peaceful view of Lake Harriet. Before I knew it I was back at home and still rearing to go for more. Hopefully my run tomorrow goes just as well as it did today. Wish me luck! Tomorrow I have to run for a total of one hour, which for me is about 6 1/2 miles!

I also wanted to let you all know that I visited the TCF bank today and set everything up for my dad's benefit account. Please look to the right under "How to support" to see the updated information. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Before I go I just want to share a cool story with all of you. To open up the benefit account I had to deposit $25, which really was no big deal. Just as I was about to get up and leave, the representative handed me a $50 gas card for opening up the account. I was so surprised and so very thankful! God and my dad are so amazing! They are always looking out for me!

Thank you so much to all of you for your continued thoughts, prayers and support. Please don't forget to keep spreading the word about this blog to all that you know.

Peace and love,
Lacy

Thank You for Visiting this Blog!!

My training officially starts tomorrow (Monday) and I will be posting an update of how the run goes then.  I'm sure it will be fine since I've already been running quite a bit and have even ran up to 9 miles at one time!!  I think I'm ahead of schedule.  I have not yet set up the Larry Hladky CJD Fund account at TCF, but I will be visiting the bank tomorrow to do so.  Your support in any way would be greatly appreciated.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Also, please continue pass this blog onto all you know.  The more awareness the better!!  Thank you so much!Much love and blessings,Lacy