Back from Trip #15 in Denver!

I have updated my website with all the details on Trip #15.

Quick recap-

-early flight
-Sunburned again??? I should know better...
-My recap at Dr. Reeds of the good reanactment of the shower scene from "Psycho."
-Didn't buy anything at the mall...well Jan did!
-Yummy Thai food
-Yay, 6:00 check in, with Jennifer as my nurse
-Rhonda, tell me it aint so!!!
-Chocolate pudding and I'm outa here.
-My poor little eyeball hates getting attacked!

For the real story, check out my Denver Trip Report #15! Sorry, i'm still tired and wiped out so I'm cheating and making you all go read the website!

Don't forget to also read my report on the AVM Walk!

Shalon :)

Kenny Kellogg: AVMSurvivors.org at AVM Foundation's 4th Annual Awareness Walk

Scott has posted a short video from this weekend with quick little clips of AVMers and their supporters. Click on the link below to watch the video. How cute is Jaclyn?!?!

Kenny Kellogg: AVMSurvivors.org at AVM Foundation's 4th Annual Awareness Walk

We Walked for AVM Awareness!

The walk was great!!! Albeit a tad cold and a little wet. It was still a wonderful event and I want to thank TAAF (with a special thanks to Angela) and Sports Basement for being so wonderful with putting this all together and giving us an opportunity to raise money and awareness for this rare condition. The AVM Survivors Network team raised over $10,000 for this cause! Go Team!!! Thanks to everyone who donated to my personal fundraising page. My goal was $500 and with your help I ended the effort with $900! Almost twice my original goal. What great people I have in my life!

Josh and I were very excited to meet our AVM friends/family on Saturday night, and then walking with them today. Ivanna, Doug, Nich, Matt, Kim, Dan, Justin, Jaclyn, Scott, Margie, Greg, Serene, Camellia, Jane, Mary, Greg's nephew & fiance and Margie's friend (sorry I forgot your names,) Jaimee & TJ and ALL of their blue hat supporters, Carolyn & her brother, as well as my family; Taryn, Jason, Jan, Dave, Pam, AK, Billy, Glenda, Trina, Kevin, Summer & Reese... thanks to everyone who came out this weekend to make this event memorable and to support and celebrate our "brainers!" This will be a memorable weekend for me and I have appreciated all of the support and friendship from everyone!

Click HERE for a slideshow of pictures from this weekend. I will be uploading additional pictures as I get them from the other walkers. So check back in a week or so to see more pics of this wonderful group of people.

The weekend went by so quickly and I'm sad that it is over! I can't begin to explain how important it has been to make these connections with other AVMers. And I know they all feel the same way. We share a bond from an unfortunate situation, but a special bond just the same.


If you look very closely you can see the Golden Gate was the backdrop for our walk!

I leave again on Wednesday for Denver with Jan as my travel partner. I am counting on these trips to continue on the "easy" path that I have been on for the last few, but know that the chance of a road bump is always there. I'm feeling strong and healthy, optimistic and content. Thanks to everyone who continues to keep me in their thoughts and prayers. I really do appreciate it.

I'll update again when I get back from Denver.

Shalon

AVM Awareness Walk

Hello everyone!

I know I haven't been a good blogger lately. Been busy with last minute items for the AVM Awareness Walk tomorrow in SF. And we are so excited!!!

So a quick note that I did update my website with info about trip #14. I do still need to upload pics of the trip and specially the cute matching sockies that Alison and I had!!! Soon.

We are in San Francisco now and in the room at Hotel Del Sol. Just got back from our Meet & Greet we had as a little pre-event before the big event tomorrow. It was really meant as a chance for all of the out of towners to meet up and get to know one another before we all walk together in the morning. And it was a great little event. So nice to be able to put a face to the names, shake hands, share some hugs!!! And Kim & Jaclyn brought me a little gift, a GREAT new Tshirt that totally captures my "Alcohol is the new Glue" blog theme. I love it! Thanks ladies. It's perfect and I can't wait to wear it.

We were lucky to have Sports Basement provide a meeting spot for us last minute since our previous plans to BBQ here at the hotel were sabotaged by the rainy weather! We also were fortunate to have Angela with TAAF help arrange this meet & greet and work with Lucca Deli to provide sandwiches for us. So a huge thanks to everyone for making this happen.

I have a slide show of just a few pictures posted on my Picasa page. Unfortunately I was so wrapped up in meeting all of my AVM friends, that I totally forgot about taking pictures until Carrie called and inadvertently reminded me! Thanks C!!!

The walk starts early tomorrow and I promise I will be a much better picture taker this time!!!

Shalon