Introducing Kung Fu Eli!

These pictures feature the photography skills of our nephew, Eli, and the handsome little guy himself. He and his three brothers are so much fun! Brian and I have been plotting for quite a while to go and visit them in Oregon, so I was pretty excited when we decided to go this June! It's great timing, because it means that we'll get to participate in the Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society with the Walker Family.

This will be the second year that the Walkers pledge for this fundraiser. Last year they raced as Kung Fu Eli because, in September, 2007, Eli was diagnosed with Pre B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. I know, it's a mouthful. What it really boils down to is that the little guy can do multiple incredible things that I cannot, such as:

1. Swallow an enormous number of pills at one time without blinking an eye. I could not do this until I was a teenager, and then it was one Advil which is basically like swallowing an M&M. I'm a wuss.
   
2. Let someone routinely stick a very large needle in the port in his chest, otherwise known as "punching" his "buddy". It's too bad the port dosen't glow or he could be the next Iron Man!
   
3. Lose virtually all of his hair in a matter of days without caring a bit. I did, however, donate to Locks of Love and plan to do so again this summer. Just not all of it.
   
4. Brave mood swings that rival most teenage girls and exclusive food habits that would defeat weaker humans such as breadsticks and Hot Pockets.
   
5. Win at every Mario Kart race, even when the track doesn't have walls to keep you from falling off.

Ok, so number five doesn't have to do with cancer. It's just that I'm really bad at it so Eli always wins. Anyway, you get the idea. The kid is a trooper. As if cancer weren't fun enough Eli has, as his dad says, "won the genetic lottery" and a few months ago was also diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome. What, you may ask, is this? Well, so far as I know the dominant symptom is what we call spaghetti legs. This adventure has added "muscle school" physical therapy to the chemo appointments.

We always knew the Walker boys would be over achievers.

So, we are headed to Oregon this summer to join the Walker's Relay team: The 'Eli'mpians. In case you're wondering about the name Eli got very into the olympics last summer. It is yet to be determined if this had to do with interest, admiration for great athelets or the desire to stay up past bedtime. Regardless, the way he says Michael Phelps is pretty fantastic. Anyway, part of the Relay is that people have the opportunity to make pledges. You can visit the page for B and I, racing as part of Eli's team, by clicking HERE. There you can read more about Eli and the Relay and, if so inclined, make a pledge for our awesome team! You can also read about some of their experiences in this letter or on Eli's Caringbridge Site.

I really can't tell you how much we love these kiddos and their parents. We get so excited every time they come to town and play cross-state Wii with them all the time. They are such clever, smart and spunky boys! I should also add in here that B would replace 'spunky' with 'stinky', going along with their running uncle joke. They are an incredible family, I can't believe the things that they've been through this last year and some. We are just so impressed!

I love the conversations I get to have with them, especially with their sweet mom (B's sister). We are constantly finding ourselves wishing we weren't so far away from them and that there was more we could do to help them through the remaining two years of treatment. We are so grateful for this opportunity to be a part of their battle against cancer...and we hope that you'll join us!