Thank You Hincapie Sports!

We want to say thank you so much to Hincapie Sports for helping to get Carter's Challenge bike kits done on such short notice.  They have been instrumental in making a child's dream come true.  Not only a child's but a fathers as well. Thanks to Hincapie Sports, Carter's Challenge will have a team jersey and shorts with our very own logo!  Plus, Carter will be able to wear them in his first race, The Cotton Patch Challenge.

Today we worked with our artist on the logo for Carter's Challenge and the design of the jersey and shorts.  It was amazing to see Carter's vision come to fruition.  Watching what he sketched on a piece of paper come to life on the screen, as a proof, was a moment I will never forget.  When Emily, our artist, sent us the first proof I couldn't believe how she totally captured what we all had envisioned!  It was so good in fact that we only had a couple of adjustments.  Now we have one of the coolest logo's and I think the best team jersey out there!  I cannot wait to unveil it to everyone!  Hopefully, Monday we will get a proof that I will be able to upload onto the site.  For now, I don't have a clue on how to do it! 

I wish I had a way of showing it to you all right now.  All I can tell you is I actually started crying when I saw the proofs today.  Like I said before this is a dream come true for Carter and Sean.  They both love road cycling, follow all the top cyclists, watch every race under he moon and have pictures of road bikes all over our house! So for them to have a team jersey made is beyond words. 
Do you have a favorite race team? 

O.k. it is late and I am completely exhausted. If I made mistakes or rambled to much I apologize now this is what happens when you are sleep deprived!

Until Next Time.................THANK YOU HINCAPIE SPORTS!
"Stay Strong, Believe"~Carter Hayes

Having Wonderful Doctors Who Support You Make Having CMT Easier

Today Carter went in for his checkup with his regular Pediatrician, Dr. Debra Naylor with 18 and Under MD.  The good news is he gained some of his weight back!  Yeah! Still not where we are supposed to be but I'll take it.  Dr. Naylor did her checkup and said he seems to be doing well.  She just wanted to take blood again to check his white blood count, liver and other markers to make sure that everything is back down to normal.  Crossing my fingers right now......

When we were in with Dr. Naylor she asked Carter about Carter's Challenge.  She heard about it from one of the other doctors in the office, Kim Bookout.  Who had learned about from me on Ayden's last checkup. She told us that she would love to support us by letting us put up brochures or flyer's about Charcot Marie Tooth in the waiting rooms.  She also suggested that we put our bracelets out there too!  Oh and she bought one from us! I actually didn't have any on me so she took mine!  Then before we left she grabbed Paul, the doctor who caught the CMT, and he bought Carter's bracelet!  They took the bracelets right off of us!  What awesome support!  

Having a disease and having children with a disease is difficult, time consuming and hard work.  The one thing I can tell all of you, is having great pediatricians makes all the difference.  Dr. Debra Naylor, Kim Bookout and Paul Boerger have been so incredibly supportive, helpful and caring during our journey. A doctor can have knowledge on the disease, but a real healer not only has knowledge but compassion.  I feel truly blessed to have such wonderful doctors taking care of our children. 

I hope that all of you have wonderful doctors like us.  To learn more about 18 and Under Md check them out at www.18andundermd.com.  You just may see Carter on there one day.....Another way they are thinking of supporting us!

Until Next Time.............Having the right doctor can make a world of difference!
"Stay Strong, Believe"~Carter Hayes 




 

Charcot Marie Tooth Association Is Making Carter The October Youth Spotlight!

We just got the official word that Carter will be the Youth Spotlight on the CMTA's Youth Facebook page, for October!  He is so excited and so am I!  I know they are excited to have him too.  This is a great opportunity for Carter to tell and show other youths to stay strong, positive and believe.  His motto. Don't give up! I was told that a PR person will be contacting us soon to go over everything.  CAN YOU SAY AMAZING?

My head is still spinning from everything that is going on in our lives right now, but I know now more than ever that this is our calling.  He and I are supposed to shed  light on the Charcot Marie Tooth Disease and make more Doctors, nurses, moms, dads, teachers, communities,etc..aware of CMT  and know the signs.  So many have never heard of it or if they have, they don't know much about it.  Remember, knowledge is power and power is knowing.  THE TIME IS NOW....TIME TO TELL EVERYONE ABOUT CMT!

So go check Carter out on the CMTA's Youth Facebook page in October https://www.facebook.com/#!/CMTAssociation?sk=app_6009294086.  I will of course remind you all when we get closer to October but just couldn't wait to share the great news. 

Until Next Time..........You Can Achieve If You Believe!

Stay Strong, Believe~Carter Hayes

CMT Awareness Month and Cotton Patch Challenge

It has been a crazy week getting ready for CMT Awareness Month and for Carter's first race!  He is training really hard right now and I am so proud of him!  Today he went out with his dad and they rode 31 miles, which is how long the Cotton Patch Challenge is.  Sean said he did great and Carter pulled away from him on some hills.  With only a couple of weeks left to train he is going to be pushing himself pretty hard.  Carter will to start to increase his miles and do some sprints to better prepare for the race.  I took some pictures of him today getting ready to head out on his ride.  So proud of him!

Bake sale planning is underway and already have people willing to bake and some places willing to donate for the bake sale.  Now I just need to come up with a date! Should have date wrapped up before Saturday and will keep you all posted as to who, what, when, where and how! 

I am making this post short and sweet since I have sooo much to do right now. 

Until Next Time.............Ride like the wind!
"Stay Strong, Believe"~Carter Hayes

Mission Happy Feet

Please watch this video by Kaitlyn Mattheiss a 15 yr old who made this video to raise awareness for CMT and help find a cure for her brother.  Great job Kaitlyn! Her blog is called Mission Happy Feet like ours it raises awareness for Charcot Marie Tooth Disease. 

Until Next Time................."Stay Strong, Believe" Carter Hayes

September CMT Awareness Month:The Time Is Now.

September CMT Awareness Month:  The Time Is Now.  This Is Where The End of CMT Begins!

The CMTA has organized a National Awareness Month to bring attention to the number one inherited neurological disease in the world, Charcot Marie Tooth Disease.  To help raise awareness and funds for the Star Initiative Program we will be doing some fundraisers of our own.  We are looking for some ideas and thought we would ask all of you.  Does anyone have any ideas for a good fundraiser? Let us know by leaving a comment. We are thinking of doing a bake sale, so if  anyone has any suggestions for a successful bake sale let us know by sending an email to carterschallenge@gmail.com

For more information on what will be taking place during the month of September check out http://www.wearethecmta.com/  They have a wall you can sign to show your support. If you sign it please let us know by leaving a comment.


We will also be doing a fundraiser via Facebook.  Stay tuned for more information on the Facebook fundraiser.  It is going to tie in Carter's Birthday!  Sweet 16!

Until Next Time.........Raising Awareness One Step At A Time

"Stay Strong, Believe"~Carter HayesResources: CMTA, www.wearethecmta.org