Bike MS 2012

Dear Friends and Family,
   Thank you so much for your thoughts, prayers, encouragement and financial support as we rode in the Bike MS West Virginia Country Roads on August 25th and 26th.  We had a great time riding, although at times painful.  We were fed well and got the chance to learn more about MS and one of its victims.  We have practiced over 250 miles in Lynchburg in the six weeks prior to this ride.  Gary has practiced considerably less due to a neck injury, but he decided he was still in on this great cause and some out of town fun!  In our six years of doing Bike MS, you our sponsors have helped us raise over 6,200.  The minimal required has been 2,800 so thank you for all your help and support in helping us not only to meet a goal but to surpass our goals and to help create a world free of MS and where MS patients can get help in everything from medications, equipments, home renovations, research, counseling, therapy and more.
   On Friday we left Lynchburg around 6:30pm.  Just days before Beth's friend and former coworker decided to join our riding team, so we had to wait for him to get off work.  We got to Lewisburg around 7pm.  Our first hotel choice and several others were booked do to a college graduation of new Doctors.  Luckily we didn't have much trouble finding a room at the Better Quality Inn right across the street from the WV State fair grounds!  After checking in, we went in search of supper.  We missed Arby's by a few minutes, which to me was great!  I got my favorite boneless honey bbq wings at Applebees doing the 2 for $20 with Gary.  Gary went with Steak, fries and smashed taters, dad did Tilapia, rice and broccoli, and I went with my usual Fiesta Lime Chicken.  Both guys had no problem finishing their plates off and then dad helped my plate get finished off too!  It was about midnight when we got to sleep.
   On Saturday the alarm went off at 6:00am.  We got up and ready and were out the door at 6:30.  We visited the McD's for breakfast.  Gary went with a sausage biscuit and an OJ, I went with what (hopefully) they can't mess up, Fruit and Maple oatmeal!  Dad played it BIG, getting the 2 for $3 Egg McMuffins.  We got to the Greenbriar just about 7:00am and got in line to register.  I was asked why I was riding and the MS staff took my picture with my reason "In honor of Mom, Paula and Rhoda battling MS", but really that is just one of many reasons. We did Bike MS far before we ever knew anyone with MS and really before the 16 y/o me had any clue what it was, now we have a personal reason to continue doing it! 
   The bike ride began at 8am.  We rode the first 6 miles on the road to get to the Greenbriar River Trail. Dad spotted a ducky friend.  He said it was his duck's cousin, but unfortunately for us critter liking adventurers that was the only critter we saw on day 1.  We reached the first rest stop, Anthony and already just over 15 miles into the ride my lovely knee was feeling it.  Gary, who has been in Physical Therapy for the last two and a half months had a toe cramp, but was doing just fine on his first long ride of the season.  The snacks were great!  M&Ms, PBJ, other candy, crackers and energy bars and my favorite sliced oranges!  While Gary and my body weren't quite behaving, dad had more serious issues-- a tire was going flat.  Luckily team support pumped his tire back up and gave us an inner tube in case it happened again.  It did.  Dad was riding with his "practice team".  That means dad was seeing how fast for how long he could go, riding with a more organized and faster group.  We found dad broken down and two biking friends helping to change his tire , using that free spare inner tube.  Thank goodness for that!  Dad was blaming the tire issues on a label that said "made in China".  He rode quickly to the next rest stop to ensure his new tire fix would last.  He made it just fine to rest stop 2, Renick Park.  At Renick Park our favorite volunteer Mrs. Lois had us the best treats, virgin margaritas, a fruit bar or oranges, bananas, apples, cherries, strawberries, homemade  energy bars, and other snacks.  Mrs. Lois had made over 300 home made energy bars for the riders!!  Just beyond Renick was my mile marker, 27 for 27 year old me!  Then we found our favorite spot, but there was a problem.  We fully intended to ride our swinging rope right into the river, just as we have done every year... But out tree with the rope attached was in the water.  We improvised with pictures in the tree, on the log, holding onto the rope and pretending.  What a bummer.  Hopefully we find a new awesome hang out next year.  We went through Droop Tunnel's pitch black darkness.  We all survived the riding conditions.  We finally arrived at Gary's mile marker 36, for his 36 years old self!  At mile 39 we reached "lunch" around 1:30pm.  The picky me enjoyed a bag or Doritos and a 1/2 can of Pepsi.  One of my ride sponsors would be pleased to know I had a Pepsi, as he does every Sunday at church!  Dad and Gary had a mix of PBJ, Turkey w/ lettuce and PB-Banana sandwiches.  The lunch stop had run out of non-soda drinks, which luckily we had enough drink to get to the next stop.  8 miles later, we reached the final rest stop.  Guess what they were out of?  YES drinks!  So the committed staff had run to the gas station near by and bought a 36 pack of bottled water and poured them one by one into the container to make powerade!  We needed a refill so this was perfect!  With just over 10 miles to go on day one and my knee thoroughly throbbing I decided to go fast to be done.  We ended up passing several other bikers and reached the Merlinton Fire Station at 3:30pm!  At the finish line, we got awarded the privilege of carrying our bikes up 3 floors of stairs!  Yeah!  Mrs. Lois was at the finish line as well and we were bummed to hear other bikers had spotted a copper head, and rattle snake as well as other bikers had to wait and stay still for a bear to get off the trail.  Where are these cool critters when me and my camera rode bye.  Oh well, maybe next year! 
   Finally at 4:45 the bus took us up to Snow Shoe Mountain.  After a 25 minute ride, we checked into the Inn at Snow.  Gary ran for the shower while Dad and I ran for the hot tub.  We didn't have long as the bus would be back in 30 minutes to give us a ride to supper.  Those 20 minutes in the hot tub were wonderful on our over-used muscles!  We all rode the bus to "The Top of the World", the very top of Snow Shoe mountain for dinner and a presentation.  The food was so-so.  We've had better previous years, but the hungry can only be just so picky so we ate vegetarian lasagna, a unique twist on chicken Alfredo type dish, salad, and Tiramisu for dessert.  In the presentation we heard from some of Bike MS's main sponsors like Mylan Pharmaceutical and Flanagan, Fowler and Pratt Law Services and why they are corporate sponsors.  This year one of the lawyers father in law died after a long time battle against MS.  We also met Jessica who is 22 and a student at VCU studying to be a pharmacist.  She was diagnosed with MS at 17.  She typically has 2 major flare ups a year, causing her to loose all ability to walk at all, loosing muscle tone all over but complete loss from the waist down.  After the dinner presentation we went back to our hotel.  You betchya, back to the hot tub time!!  I even managed to convince Gary to join Dad and me in the pool.  This was his first time in a pool in over 5 years!  Bedtime came a little before 11pm and wake up was 6am.  We had a breakfast buffet complete with eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, french toast, biscuits, gavy, taters, fruit, breads and orange juice and coffee.  Everyone had seconds to fuel up for our day of riding ahead.  Almost immediately after getting on the bus for our ride back to Merlinton it began to rain.  Gary caught a brief cat nap and then it was time to ride.  For the first two hours it rained on us.  I was freezing and soaking wet.  My left knee was aching and Gary's right knee was hurting.  Even dad could feel some pain in his thigh... he must finally be aging... to like his 30s.  We made it to the lunch stop, even "visited" the jail and got "attacked" and then we all separated based on preferred speeds to get done and pain levels.  Yes, I was the slowest for the first several miles but then I passed both Dad and Gary even though my knee was killing me.  I just wanted to hurry and get to the next rest stop.  I rested at the stop for 30 minutes, most of it swinging on the swings and refueling with oranges!  Gary and I decided we were only going to ride until the next rest stop because our knees.  We got to the Anthony rest stop and I decided I was just going to finish.  There was only one stop left and 12 miles.  I would ride through the pain.  MS patients can't just quit and I wasn't going to either.  Gary agreed and we rode on.  The last three miles felt like forever, but we finally did reach the final stop and finished!  Even with our bad knees, we finished over an hour quicker on day 2 than on day 1.  The usual ride to the Greenbriar wasn't there as it seemed most the bike riders parked their vehicles there where as it was another 6 miles up hill.  So dad decided to ask a random man with an old camping van if he would give dad a ride to Greenbriar then dad would drive back with the van to pack up our bikes and give us a ride.  However the man, Bruce arranged everything so all three of us and all three of our bikes fit.  Poor Gary was so hesitant and uneasy about accepting a ride from strangers.  It was amusing as dad chatted with him, they worked in similar field and new each others former coworkers from nearly 30 years previous.  When we got back, we had boxed lunches; turkey sandwich, dried apricots, blueberries, apple, energy bar, yogurt, mixed nuts and fancy Greenbriar bottled water-- that still tasted just like normal everyday water.  It wasn't quite my style so on the way out of town we stopped by Wendy's to get me a baked potato.  After a long 3 hour drive home, we had officially survived Bike MS 2012! 

Meet Rhoda, MS Patient Profile 2012

MEET RHODA; REGULAR PEOPLE ARE EFFECTED

 
 Rhoda with her Husband Jeremy and their children Nate and Cana


Beth's Forward
I am too young to remember too many specifics, but I have known Rhoda since before I have clear memories as a preschooler/early elementary.  Her parents were the pastors of our church.  I do remember the first time I saw (parts of) the Wizard of Oz was at their house (I'm way too easily bored to watch a whole movie), they (her and her two sisters) babysat us (my brother and I) some, and if I remember correctly they were involved with the most amazing camp, Camp Mantowagon!   I especially liked that they had a baby brother, whom I bought his outgrown baby clothes at their yard sale for my baby dolls.  At some point when I was about 2nd grade their family moved to pastor a different church.

About Rhoda
Most days are good and I am so blessed to be able to lead an active life and be very involved in the lives of my children and husband. My husband is a pastor and we are both very active and involved in our church and community.  I live in Indiana.  I have been battling MS for 8 years now.  I am in my 30s.

Beginning Symptoms
I was 26 when I had my first symptoms. The left side of my body went numb and tingly for several weeks. Pain in my left leg and weird tingly feelings in my neck (kinda like electrical shocks). My regular dr did blood work and sent me to neurologist. He did a spinal tap and MRI of my brain and spine. Saw a possible MS legion in my spine, but not enough to diagnose. Symptoms went away after about 4 weeks.

Formal Diagnosis
3 years later right after having my daughter, I experienced the same numbness on left side and also began having vision issues. Double vision and blurry vision. Went back to neurologist. He did another MRI and spinal tap. He saw 6 lesions on my brain and the spinal tap also confirmed MS. I was 29 years old. I was given an IV steroid drip for 5 days and then immediately began REBIF shots.

Type of MS and Symptoms
I have relapse/remission MS. The first 2 years I had flare ups about every 3-6 months. They mostly affected my legs. I experience Weakness, heaviness, pain, numbness and tingly sensations. I am Very tired and also began experiencing bladder issues.

Currently
My most recent flare up occurred on January 26th of this year. I woke up with some blurry vision in my right eye. Throughout the day it got worse and within the week I couldn't see much at all out of that eye. Optimologist and Neurologist both diagnosed it as Optical Neuritis, which is a common symptom of MS. They said it is very common in MS patients and usually the sight returns within 3 weeks to 3 months. I had the steroid drip immediately, but it didn't help at all. I am now going on 7 months and still can't see much at all out of my right eye. Everything is dark and gray cloudy.

Medication
When I would have flare ups I received 5 day steroid drip of solumedrol. This usually helped my symptoms to go away within 2-3 weeks. The first year I used a cane some times because of the weakness in my legs and frequent falls. However, for the past 5 years I have only had about 1 flare up each year. My REBIF therapy seems to be helping because my last 2 MRIs have showed only 1-2 lesions and neither are active at the current time. So the REBIF helps rebuild the mylin around my nerves in between attacks.  REBIF is injections taken 3 times a week.  Although there is no cure for relapsing MS, Rebif has been proven to slow the progression of disability, reduce relapse rates and reduce lesions.  I do receive financial help for my REBIF shots from the MS Lifelines and a nurse calls me every few months to check on my progress. I only have to see my neurologist every 6 months right now and he is at Ft. Wayne Neurological Center. 

Other Treatments and the Emotional Side
I have many prayer warriors who have prayed for me for years and I believe that this is one of the main reasons I am doing so well with my MS. My attitude and outlook also contribute so much to my well being. I serve a God who is in control and He has shown me through the past 8 years that I have so much to be thankful for and that He is my Healer and my Sustainer! In many ways my MS has taught me a lot about my perspective and the many things that I do not take for granted anymore (walking, seeing, believing, living)
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 IN honor of RHODA, and other MS victims like her, will you please consider making a donation to the National MS Society. I am specifically asking you to support our bike team as we raise awareness about MS, and raise funds to find a cure and erase MS. If you are able to donate please visit our MS 150 bike ride page or you can donate via paypal using the email address markosykes@gmail.com.
We are riding in a 150 mile bicycle ride to raise awareness and funds for those struggling with MS. Thank you for your financial support as well as for your thoughts and prayers for us as we train for this bike ride and for those struggling each day with MS.

WOW, what a turn around!

Thanks, but NO Thanks

I was hired on Aug. 25, 2003. I had applied in Forest but was sent to Timberlake BK as they were desperate for managers. I was secretly 3 months pregnant, but def didn't look it. I was interviewed by DM Scott Richards who then had RGM Kelly W. Smith interview me. I was hired within the hour and my mom lent me money to go to Sears and purchase my uniform. At that time we wore light blue dress shirts (button ups), black pants, black shoes and a belt. I started the next day. I worked with Kelly and Ms. Lois. I quickly learned the positions and was running my own shifts within a week. It was less than a month later when ALL the RGMs in the company, office personnel, DMs, and owner went to a manager's conference in Myrtle Beach. I easily worked 80 hours that week, most of which I charitably did off the clock as the dinosaur registers had crashed and there was no one to fix them, so using paper, pen and calculators I ran the store successfully. In Nov. I was promoted to Asst. Mgr.

Marko and I decided to get married over Thanksgiving weekend. We scheduled it for 2 weeks later, working around our work schedule and the fact I had a required BK function to attend on 12/16. We got married 12/14. We even took Kelly a plate of food. I was told I needed to either close (yes that night on my wedding) or open the next morning at 5am... I chose to open. Everyone had called out thanks to an ice storm. At least I had pretty hair for my shift.

This job allowed me the funds and stability to purchase our 1st home (and if you ask me- it will be my forever house). Of course Marko was working too, but since he was only 17 they could not use his credit although he was emancipated.

Kelly was terminated over some questionable practices. I was nine month pregnant. I religiously worked a minimal 45hrs a week. i enjoyed my job, the customers and my coworkers. On Valentine's Day of course I worked-- 5am shift, but we were short handed and had a new manager now. I was supposed to get off at 2pm. That came and went, we were busy. I hadn't even had a break yet to use the bathroom let alone eat. The new store mgr came in at 3pm and went to the office and sat down and didn't help out at all. Finally a little after 6pm she took the drive thru headset (first time out the office) after being there for over 3 hours. After having worked 13 hours with only 1 bathroom break and not a single bite to eat at 9 months preg I was beyond starving and exhausted. The following day I was still sick. I ended up in labor in the hospital in slightly premature labor with severe dehydration thanks to my excessive work the day before. I started maternity that day 1t 37 weeks preg. Thanks to BK it did give me 1/2 my salary in maternity leave pay for 6 weeks and that was much needed and appreciated.

When I returned the store manager made life difficult. She would scream at me and blame any store issue on me. While the honest reason she had NO control over "her" store was because at 21 years old she was too busy sleeping with or being sexual with my 16 and 17 year old employees. It got to the point where I bought a book and had proof of labor, cash, drive thru times when I came in and when I left. That book likely saved my job as her lies to the DM about me were proven just that lies. We had a yelling match near Dec. Another manager said she had "heard" I was pregnant (I had let a majority of people know. All of my night shift crew knew. She would intentionally schedule herself off at 3pm so she wouldn't have to have contact with me-- except on Mondays when she would go over figures with me. I did a lot of her work for her while I did my 45-50 hrs a week on night shift. It was Jan at a manager's meeting I decided to let her know I was pregnant, almost 7 months. I wore the most skin tight shirt and jeans I could find and attended her meeting on my day off. She was less than pleased.

During my 15 months working with that "lovely" store manager it was all I could do to focus on my kids and the fact I needed that job with that income to support our family and so I remained. I worked sick numerous times over those two years, never once calling in.

I worked everyday I was on the schedule. Oddly enough the 1st day the store manager took me off the schedule was the day I had Jayna. I had been sick and I wonder if my killer cough brought on contractions. I had Jayna at 7am... at 9am BK tried to call me in ahahhahhaha!

I had 4 weeks of maternity leave with Jayna and was offered a promotion if I came back early and so I did. In May 2005 I was promoted to RGM. I worked extremely long hours with my new cholicky baby at home. Stressful but worth it to continue to watch my family stay a-float and off of any govt services. If my kids had a dr apt, my mom would take them as my schedule would rarely allow. My 6wk post partum check up I barely attended as I worked til 2, had to be there at 2:30 then still had to come back to work.

When My mother in-law needed financial help BK allowed us to help her, when Marko was miserable at work BK allowed him to quit, when Marko was laid off for 6 mos BK allowed us to (narrowly swing it), when Marko began a new career and buisness adventures- BK allowed us by putting us on a stable financial footing something few teen parents, young married couples can claim.

When I turned 21 in Oct 2006, I was stuck at a BK conference for 3 days

Other than my 1st RGM evaluation in Jan 2006 I have NEVER gotten a less than stellar eval. However as a new mom of 2, newly promoted and young I almost found it understandable, although that too made me want to quit. All my hours and hard work and they didn't acknowledge any of it. I took my kids to the mall jumpy place for my pitty party.

In Feb 2006 I crashed the neon picking up employees in a snow storm as BK had to be open regardless of weather. Luckily insurance covered most of that, but NOT bk.

I worked every single scheduled day through Dec 2009. I came in EVERY time I was called. I worked healthy or sick. I worked in ANY weather. One day it snowe so bad I was stuck. No buses or taxis were running. The snow was nearly 2 ft. I couldn't make it nor could my employees or other mgrs. I was in hot water. They threatened to fire me. From then on I slept in the Burger King on the floor under the desk anytime it snowed. I kept 2 blankets and a pillow at BK 24/7 for INCASE it snowed while I was at work. In March 2010 it snowed while we were sleeping, so I road my bike at 7am to BK to open it. That week I became soooooooooo sick. I still worked. The DM saw me, fellow Mgrs saw me, other store mgrs saw me and told me I looked severely sick. I was diagnosed with the flu and had been too sick for too many days for medications to help. I called out for my first every time- 5 days in a row, severely sick. Even when I returned to work I was sick, light headed dizzy, nauseated with low stamina for the next 12 days, but still I worked. I have not called out since March 2010. I have slept at the store a few times every winter, attended work sick a few times a yr for numerous days each time. I work many continuous stretches of days in a row. I work long hours. My children, housework, husband, friendships and hobbies all sit on a back burner.

And so our family is finally at the point where we don't need BK as badly as they need me. I am not getting as mmuch out of this employment deal as they are. Don't get me wrong, the money was VERY nice and I may not make that much again, but at what point is my mental health, physical health, emotional health and that of my family more important than finances? Marko's career is allowing me to step down. Maybe I will find something else, maybe not. Either way my family hasn't eaten this health ever. We are now day 12 without eating out. I have NEVER cooked more than 2x in a month so this is a complete turn around. I will be intelligent and look for employment, but I will NOT rush into something and find myself in a similar circumstance. I have rearranged my priorities for good. I resigned on March 16, 2012. The DM got mad and told me to leave after a talk. I did and I'll never look back!

Thanks for the memories and the opportunities BK. I enjoyed many a day and the responsibilities you entrusted me with. But enough is enough. Thanks, but no thanks. This era is over.

The Difference a year can make...

ANYTHING to see those smiles.... ok well almost anything?!
Because it is fun every year when the toys r us toy book is delivered the kids pick what they want out of it--- me knowing they'll be doing good to get just one of their wishes. So as expected Jayna circled at least 3 things of each and every page.... everything from dollhouses (of which she already has 2), to dolls, bikes, leggos and practically every item on the arts and craft pages (you know make your own jewelery, sticker maker, art easel, bead stuff- everything)
Anthony however surprised me his list included
1. a remote control airplane- he say a demo at the mall... too much $
2. a remote control car "it does flips mom"
3. a laser/nerf/water gun- yes one of each
4. Beyblades
5. Bop it extreme- the new bop it game
6. microscope
7. Loopz- another game

Hopefully he isn't too disappointed in just his laptop, backpack, pjs.... maybe he can get loopz od bop it with his Christmas money

Interviewing Anthony

I barrowed this idea from a friend and was entertained by her 6y/o Luke's answers so I decided to do the same with Anthony who is 7 years, 7 months and 24 days old. The above picture is from yesterday.

Favorite Foods (as dictated by Jayna): "chicken, fries, hmmm hashbrowns"

Do you like any fruits or vegetables? " yeah I like grapes and that's all"

Who are your best friends? "Jesse, Brian, Darius, Kenneth, Car'teke"

What are your favorite sports? "soccer, basketball and baseball"

Do you have some favorite activities: "playing football, soccer, and dodgebball"

What are your favorite kinds of books? "dinosaur books and dinosaur books yeah that's all"

What's your favorite color? "blue, black, red"

What's your favorite thing to do after school? " play games and watch tv and jump on the trampoline"

What is something you don't like? "cleaning, taking the garbage out and that's all"

What is something you wish for? "I wish I could fly"

What's your favorite toy? "robot, tiger and nerf gun"

What is your favorite thing at school? "recess and math"

What are you afraid of? "a clown with a paintball gun that shoots at you"
edited by mom: from Scarmare haunted house last night

Interviewing Jayna

I barrowed this idea from a friend and was entertained by her 6y/o Luke's answers so I decided to do the same with my Jayna who is 6 years, 6 months and 3 days old. The above picture is from today after church.

Favorite Foods (as dictated by Jayna): "maccaroni and cheese and noodles and chicken"

Do you like any fruits or vegetables? " broccoli, carrots and grapes"

Who are your best friends? "Tyshawn, Elijah, Joanne, Kiarra, Katelynn, Tattianna, Kierra and Maryanne and my very favorite RyLee, Paula's kid"

What are your favorite sports? I don't like sports
Then do you have some favorite activities: "gymnastics and cheerleadering and ballerina" (edited by mom to say she dropped out of gymnastics after 3 months and has never done the other two)

What are your favorite kinds of books? "I like to read about teddy bears, nature and live things"

What's your favorite color? "I think you know the answer to that, pink and purple"

What's your favorite thing to do after school? "ride my bike and jump"

What is something you don't like? "be lazy"

What is something you wish for? "I wish that I was rich and I could help a lot of people"

What's your favorite toy? "trampoline, bikes my frog and gramma's chicken"

What is your favorite thing at school? "recesse, and writing sentences and spelling because I got 105%"

What are you afraid of? "scaremare and bad dreams"

Bridge Day Miracle

As usual we went to WV for the Bridge Day festivities. Seeing Nana and Poppy, Trish and Uncle Alden was GREAT! This year we got to experience bridge day from down under the bridge. Just prior to us getting there, a tragic miracle accured. A jumper leaped and his chute never opened. He landed in the water but was still alert and concious! He does have serious injuries and this will likely be a long road for him nut it's amazing to jump 900 feet and LIVE. He has a spinal cord, pelvic and lung injury.

http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/111015_7050.shtml