Bob Carr - A new honored teammate

The following is an email I received on Thursday evening from my friend and former teammate Bob Carr, who I wrote about last week. You'll remember that Bob withdrew from the 2007 MCM race due to health concerns. Below is an update on his prognosis. I refrain from commenting not because I have nothing to say, but because I'm still completely in shock.

Please read and keep Bob in your prayers. To donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, please CLICK HERE.

FROM: Bob Carr, October 27th, 2007
Dear Team,

I have been thinking about all of you a lot these past two weeks. As
the day of the marathon gets closer, I think of you more.

The last time I checked in, I was looking forward to volunteering and
cheering you on to the finish line.

So here is the rest of what turns out to be a pretty ironic ending to
my running this year. I'll keep it short, you've got too much on
your minds (or you should anyway) right now to get into this piece of
news. I can fill all of you in on any details you wish after you have
finished the marathon.

I started, like all of you, to train, be healthy and to motivate
myself and others in dedication to finding a few dollars to advance
the research for those with leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

And during the process, I suffered acute kidney failure and as you
already know, I have had to withdraw from the marathon this year.

But the epilogue to that ending is this: the blood tests that
revealed loss of kidney function also disclosed a thing called the m-
protein. That in turn lead to a bone marrow biopsy. And ironically
that led to the diagnosis that I have multiple-myeloma.

Now don't get all sad about that. I'm not. MM is not a killer. You
just live with it like my friend, Geraldine Ferraro (9 years). In
fact yesterday I was in Boston with my new favorite friend, Dr.
Kenneth C. Anderson of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He assures
me that I'll die an old man, having run more marathons, and I'll die
of something other than MM.

But as you are looking forward to Sunday, I want you to know that in
spirit, I'll be right along. Maybe you'll make me your (2nd) honored
teammate.

Oh, and yes, I'll keep posting the photos, that during the running
season I did not have time to post.

You won't see me on race day. I'm attending the annual gala
fundraiser for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation in
Connecticut Saturday. But I'll be looking you all up on the Internet
to see how speedy you are!!

Good Luck, Do Well and thanks, now - from the other side of the
street - for raising money and awareness for the treatment and cure
of blood related cancers.

I plan to see you all next year, as a race participant, again.

Sincerely,

Bob Carr