Just a quick post to make sure everyone is aware of this ALERT!
As I was going through my emails I came across one that had an ALERT for a Medication. Please click on the following link Levofloxacin Medication Alert and read the article. If you have CMT or if you are a caretaker to a CMTer please read and make a note of medication.
Until Next Time...............
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Winning-Is Not About Crossing The Finish Line First
I remember finally falling asleep somewhere around 2a.m. and thinking today is the day Carter will go head to head with his disease. Today is the day he will prevail....
Bzzz.Bzzz the alarm went off it was already 5:30 a.m., hadn't I just gone to sleep? Oh well, no rest for the weary. By the time Zach, Nana and I were ready, Sean had already had all the race stuff done! It was like someone gave him 10 cups of espresso. He had Carter down eating, he ate and he was double checking everything again!
We decided to join Carter for a quick bite and of course ran into a bunch of other racers preparing for the race as well. We finished eating and headed for the start line.
Arrival Time 6:45 a.m. Race Time 7:55 a.m.
Since we were there in plenty of time it allowed Carter to settle his nerves, even though he will never admit to being nervous. He was able to hydrate more and get in some warm up time. Plus it gave him a chance to see the other kids he was riding with. Carter's race jersey by far, I think was the best! He looked so awesome in his Carter's Challenger Race Jersey and supporting CMTA! We all wore our CMTA shirts as well, thanks Jeanna! So Team Carter's Challenge was pumped and ready!
Finally it was time to get him over the start line. They announced that the Junior Race would begin in a couple of minutes. We have never participated in a bike race before so, we really didn't know what to do.
Thank goodness a lot of the event coordinators were helpful. They told us Carter had to go through a pre race check.
1. Junior gears- Check
2. Race Number Visible-Check
3. USA Cycling License- Check
4.All systems a Go-Check
The guy told them all to watch the signs because there are several different courses. They had to follow the signs for the Jr 4/5 open. He also told them to be careful of the roads, since we have been in a severe drought the roads have cracked and they need to watch were they are riding.
They all bunched up and Carter was towards the back. We kept telling him just ride and have fun. Don't worry about anything else, just have fun and finish!
The announcer told them to get ready and next thing you know they are off!!!! We were all screaming and yelling and then he disappeared over the hill in the street. Sean and Zach quickly ran to the car to try and find a way to the first feed zone. Nana, Ayden and I held back so we could see the finish. One of the moms said don't worry he will be fine. It usually takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours for them to finish. "Hopefully, he won't get dropped by the group." Huh? What are you kidding me? I hope not either, he has no idea where he is going or what he is doing! But, Carter is strong and if anything he is resourceful. So no worries...right?
Phone rings and its Zach yelling "we are following Carter! He got dropped by the group already." I could hear Sean cheering him on and telling him to shift into a different gear. Then Zach yelling "Go Carter!" He then told me not to worry cause he and daddy would make sure Carter was fine and take pics and video along the way.
As time went on I was more and more nervous and the my phone rang again. Zach said that they lost Carter. They had to stop and help another kid. Carter had caught up to one of the kids and was riding by him. Then all of sudden the kid hit a crack and went flying over his bike and into a ditch! Carter, Zach and Sean watched it all take place right in front of them. Carter said he slowed down and didn't know if he should stop or keep going. Then he heard his dad yelling "GO! CARTER KEEP GOING!" "WE GOT HIM CARTER GO!"
Sean and Zach immediately pulled the car over, hopped out and ran to the kid. He was shaken up pretty good. Chain was off of bike and he was in pain. Sean asked the kid do you want to me load your bike onto my car and drive you back to start line? The kid so no I want to try and finish! So Sean helped him get up, fixed his chain and got him on the road again. They did follow him for a bit but to be honest, Sean and Zach were more concerned with Carter and finding him.
As Sean and Zach approached this road they saw in the distance a kid being chased by a dog! Hmmm... Who do you think that was? Yep Carter.. I guess as Carter passed the farm house two dogs came out and started chasing him. He said the black lab just kept barking and running along the side of him. He said "I really didn't know what to do." He was scared to stop but also scared the dog was going to jump onto the bike and knock him over. So he said he started to peddle even harder and told the dog to go away and eventually the dog stopped! Crazy!!!! Only on a back country road race would this happen.
The boys caught up to Carter and watched him through the rest of the race. Encouraging him to push harder, peddle harder and to just keep going. Words of encouragement and love can go such a long way. They would call and let me listen to them cheering him on and in the end I think it was the best place for them to be. Zachy cheering, videotaping and encouraging his big brother to push through it. Sean, gently pushing and coaching his oldest son through his first road race to fight a horrible disease that has struck both of his older boys.
This race was not about winning, medals, time or distance, this race was about a young man finding the courage. strength and passion to fight CMT. To show that this disease will not stop him and to show his brothers that they too can fight this disease head on. TOGETHER THEY CAN DO ANYTHING!
Did Carter finish the race? YOU BET HE DID! He finished it about 1 hour and 45 minutes. He didn't win but WINNING IS NOT ABOUT CROSSING THE FINISH LINE FIRST!
WINNING IS ABOUT FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF, STAYING STRONG AND BELIEVING IN YOURSELF!
Even though he was in pain and was exhausted after the race he said he would gladly do it all over again. He cannot wait for his next race. So back to training and looks like we might already have another race in mind......
UNTIL NEXT TIME.............REMEMBER YOU CAN DO ANYTHING IF YOU BELIEVE!
"STAY STRONG, BELIEVE"~Carter Hayes
P.S. I just have to say as a mom, this will be one of those moments in life I will never forget. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU CARTER! Again, you inspire me! Zachy- You would make a great coach. Thanks for cheering on your big bro and taking such great pics and video xo mom
Bzzz.Bzzz the alarm went off it was already 5:30 a.m., hadn't I just gone to sleep? Oh well, no rest for the weary. By the time Zach, Nana and I were ready, Sean had already had all the race stuff done! It was like someone gave him 10 cups of espresso. He had Carter down eating, he ate and he was double checking everything again!
We decided to join Carter for a quick bite and of course ran into a bunch of other racers preparing for the race as well. We finished eating and headed for the start line.
Arrival Time 6:45 a.m. Race Time 7:55 a.m.
Since we were there in plenty of time it allowed Carter to settle his nerves, even though he will never admit to being nervous. He was able to hydrate more and get in some warm up time. Plus it gave him a chance to see the other kids he was riding with. Carter's race jersey by far, I think was the best! He looked so awesome in his Carter's Challenger Race Jersey and supporting CMTA! We all wore our CMTA shirts as well, thanks Jeanna! So Team Carter's Challenge was pumped and ready!
Finally it was time to get him over the start line. They announced that the Junior Race would begin in a couple of minutes. We have never participated in a bike race before so, we really didn't know what to do.
Thank goodness a lot of the event coordinators were helpful. They told us Carter had to go through a pre race check.
1. Junior gears- Check
2. Race Number Visible-Check
3. USA Cycling License- Check
4.All systems a Go-Check
The guy told them all to watch the signs because there are several different courses. They had to follow the signs for the Jr 4/5 open. He also told them to be careful of the roads, since we have been in a severe drought the roads have cracked and they need to watch were they are riding.
They all bunched up and Carter was towards the back. We kept telling him just ride and have fun. Don't worry about anything else, just have fun and finish!
The announcer told them to get ready and next thing you know they are off!!!! We were all screaming and yelling and then he disappeared over the hill in the street. Sean and Zach quickly ran to the car to try and find a way to the first feed zone. Nana, Ayden and I held back so we could see the finish. One of the moms said don't worry he will be fine. It usually takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours for them to finish. "Hopefully, he won't get dropped by the group." Huh? What are you kidding me? I hope not either, he has no idea where he is going or what he is doing! But, Carter is strong and if anything he is resourceful. So no worries...right?
Phone rings and its Zach yelling "we are following Carter! He got dropped by the group already." I could hear Sean cheering him on and telling him to shift into a different gear. Then Zach yelling "Go Carter!" He then told me not to worry cause he and daddy would make sure Carter was fine and take pics and video along the way.
As time went on I was more and more nervous and the my phone rang again. Zach said that they lost Carter. They had to stop and help another kid. Carter had caught up to one of the kids and was riding by him. Then all of sudden the kid hit a crack and went flying over his bike and into a ditch! Carter, Zach and Sean watched it all take place right in front of them. Carter said he slowed down and didn't know if he should stop or keep going. Then he heard his dad yelling "GO! CARTER KEEP GOING!" "WE GOT HIM CARTER GO!"
Sean and Zach immediately pulled the car over, hopped out and ran to the kid. He was shaken up pretty good. Chain was off of bike and he was in pain. Sean asked the kid do you want to me load your bike onto my car and drive you back to start line? The kid so no I want to try and finish! So Sean helped him get up, fixed his chain and got him on the road again. They did follow him for a bit but to be honest, Sean and Zach were more concerned with Carter and finding him.
As Sean and Zach approached this road they saw in the distance a kid being chased by a dog! Hmmm... Who do you think that was? Yep Carter.. I guess as Carter passed the farm house two dogs came out and started chasing him. He said the black lab just kept barking and running along the side of him. He said "I really didn't know what to do." He was scared to stop but also scared the dog was going to jump onto the bike and knock him over. So he said he started to peddle even harder and told the dog to go away and eventually the dog stopped! Crazy!!!! Only on a back country road race would this happen.
The boys caught up to Carter and watched him through the rest of the race. Encouraging him to push harder, peddle harder and to just keep going. Words of encouragement and love can go such a long way. They would call and let me listen to them cheering him on and in the end I think it was the best place for them to be. Zachy cheering, videotaping and encouraging his big brother to push through it. Sean, gently pushing and coaching his oldest son through his first road race to fight a horrible disease that has struck both of his older boys.
This race was not about winning, medals, time or distance, this race was about a young man finding the courage. strength and passion to fight CMT. To show that this disease will not stop him and to show his brothers that they too can fight this disease head on. TOGETHER THEY CAN DO ANYTHING!
Did Carter finish the race? YOU BET HE DID! He finished it about 1 hour and 45 minutes. He didn't win but WINNING IS NOT ABOUT CROSSING THE FINISH LINE FIRST!
WINNING IS ABOUT FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF, STAYING STRONG AND BELIEVING IN YOURSELF!
Even though he was in pain and was exhausted after the race he said he would gladly do it all over again. He cannot wait for his next race. So back to training and looks like we might already have another race in mind......
UNTIL NEXT TIME.............REMEMBER YOU CAN DO ANYTHING IF YOU BELIEVE!
"STAY STRONG, BELIEVE"~Carter Hayes
P.S. I just have to say as a mom, this will be one of those moments in life I will never forget. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU CARTER! Again, you inspire me! Zachy- You would make a great coach. Thanks for cheering on your big bro and taking such great pics and video xo mom
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