Finished Cycle: Nov 19, 2011 3:09:55 PM
Route: El Tour de Tucson
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/3cf1/c267/4c0e/777b/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20111119-0658.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/vupvjd
Ride Time: 6:07:18
Stopped Time: 2:04:32
Distance: 111.66 miles
Average: 18.24 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 37.63 miles/h
Climb: 2211 feet
Calories: 5705
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Cactus Patch
Today is our first full day in Tucson. We have a warm up ride and several programs today. Our group of ~150 cyclists had a great dinner under the stars last night, and each spent plenty of time catching up with the friends they met at previous rides but haven't had the chance to see in a year (or more!).
Prior to that, I assembled my bike and took it out on a shake-down ride. I couldn't figure out why I had a flat tire. I had only ridden a couple of miles when it happened. But, that didn't keep me from taking the photo above. The catci around here are HUGE. This morning, as I uploaded the pic, it occured to me that maybe that cactus had something to do with my flat.
Ever learning something.
Prior to that, I assembled my bike and took it out on a shake-down ride. I couldn't figure out why I had a flat tire. I had only ridden a couple of miles when it happened. But, that didn't keep me from taking the photo above. The catci around here are HUGE. This morning, as I uploaded the pic, it occured to me that maybe that cactus had something to do with my flat.
Ever learning something.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Bags are Packed!!
3 days to go. Within hours, 150+ JDRF cyclists will begin the journey that takes them to the centerpiece of their season. Thousands of miles and hundreds of hours in the saddle lead up to this: an airplane ride following a restless night. Did I pack everything? Is my alarm really set? I have to get up how early (to catch that 6:10am flight)?
I tucked the boys in tonight and told them that I would leave for the Tucson race before they woke up in the morning. Braeden turned to me and whispered, "Dad, I hope you win. I hope."
This year we have raised $6,263. Through all of our years participating in the Walks and the Rides to Cure Diabetes, we have raised over $33,000!
I tucked the boys in tonight and told them that I would leave for the Tucson race before they woke up in the morning. Braeden turned to me and whispered, "Dad, I hope you win. I hope."
This year we have raised $6,263. Through all of our years participating in the Walks and the Rides to Cure Diabetes, we have raised over $33,000!
Braeden, this is what winning feels like.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Rookie
4 days to go. Little brother, are you ready? I'm really stoked about being a part of your first Ride to Cure!
Here's a picture of you when you were Braeden's age, just 5 years old. Thank you for making this commitment with me! You are an AWESOME uncle!
Monday, November 14, 2011
A Game Played for Others
5 days to go. For you I dedicate the distance, my small sacrifice, the pain and the rewards. My struggle is nothing but love.
Kay
Izzy
Michelle
Braeden
Carlie
Judy
Will
Christine
Cindy
Susan
Adam
Andrew
Ryan
Sandra
Manessa
Chris
Jeff
Mike
Izzy
Michelle
Braeden
Carlie
Judy
Will
Christine
Cindy
Susan
Adam
Andrew
Ryan
Sandra
Manessa
Chris
Jeff
Mike
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Why we Ride to Cure
The Tucson Ride to Cure is ALMOST here! 6 days to go.
Early in the season, JDRF asked their Facebook followers to answer the question, "why do we ride to cure?" Here are some of my favorite responses with credit given:
Cause no three year old should have to get used to being a pin cushion…plus cycling is much cooler than running or walking. – James M. Grosser
While they count carbs – you count miles. – Jim Chapin
Because living with T1 for even one day is one day too long. – Mary Gollings
It will make your life bigger. – Tim St. Clair
Because how hard could it be if you’re sitting down all the way? – Matt McHale
Because it’s a mother’s wish to just make it all go away. – Shelley Schnell
Because we get to kick T1D in the Jimmies! – Tim Ryan
Early in the season, JDRF asked their Facebook followers to answer the question, "why do we ride to cure?" Here are some of my favorite responses with credit given:
Cause no three year old should have to get used to being a pin cushion…plus cycling is much cooler than running or walking. – James M. Grosser
While they count carbs – you count miles. – Jim Chapin
Because living with T1 for even one day is one day too long. – Mary Gollings
It will make your life bigger. – Tim St. Clair
Because how hard could it be if you’re sitting down all the way? – Matt McHale
Because it’s a mother’s wish to just make it all go away. – Shelley Schnell
Because we get to kick T1D in the Jimmies! – Tim Ryan
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Braeden is OK - Home from PICU
Several of you have heard that Braeden was hospitalized last night. He is well and at home tonight following his discharge from the Step Down PICU at our hometown hospital. Braeden was received at the ER last night after we discovered that he may have received a single, unprompted dose via pump of roughly 30 units of insulin, which is 3 to 4 times his daily dose.
In one sense, insulin offsets carbohydrate in order to keep blood glucose levels normal. Imagine a lop-sided seesaw with carbs on one side and insulin on the other. Considering Braeden's specific insulin-to-carb ratio, it would have taken nearly 1000 grams of carbohydrate to balance the dose of insulin we suspect he received.
The ER staff worked very efficiently to stabilize Braeden. His BG never dropped below 30, and he never lost consciousness. The ER staff administered glucagon, D50 solution boluses and drip, and carb-rich foods. Around 1:00 am, he was moved to the intensive care unit, where he finally got some rest. He continued to receive an 80 mL/hr D50 drip through the night (a meal's worth of carb/sugar each hour!). Signaling a return to normalcy, the use of insulin therapy was finally resumed this morning, roughly 12 hours after Braeden entered the ER.
Friends (whom we so deeply love and appreciate) sprang into action to help. Thank you, friends, for staying with Adam and Jill all night so that we could both be at hospital with Braeden. Braeden's pediatrician was a saint, making calls ahead of Braeden's arrival at the ER to prepare the doctor and hasten treatment. Each person involved remained so positive and did exactly what needed to be done.
We will spend the coming days working with the pump supplier to determine what may have happened to cause this overdose. We need to do everything we can to ensure this never happens to anyone again. The pediatrician made it clear that, if Braeden had not received such good care promptly, this would have been fatal for Braeden.
In one sense, insulin offsets carbohydrate in order to keep blood glucose levels normal. Imagine a lop-sided seesaw with carbs on one side and insulin on the other. Considering Braeden's specific insulin-to-carb ratio, it would have taken nearly 1000 grams of carbohydrate to balance the dose of insulin we suspect he received.
The ER staff worked very efficiently to stabilize Braeden. His BG never dropped below 30, and he never lost consciousness. The ER staff administered glucagon, D50 solution boluses and drip, and carb-rich foods. Around 1:00 am, he was moved to the intensive care unit, where he finally got some rest. He continued to receive an 80 mL/hr D50 drip through the night (a meal's worth of carb/sugar each hour!). Signaling a return to normalcy, the use of insulin therapy was finally resumed this morning, roughly 12 hours after Braeden entered the ER.
Friends (whom we so deeply love and appreciate) sprang into action to help. Thank you, friends, for staying with Adam and Jill all night so that we could both be at hospital with Braeden. Braeden's pediatrician was a saint, making calls ahead of Braeden's arrival at the ER to prepare the doctor and hasten treatment. Each person involved remained so positive and did exactly what needed to be done.
We will spend the coming days working with the pump supplier to determine what may have happened to cause this overdose. We need to do everything we can to ensure this never happens to anyone again. The pediatrician made it clear that, if Braeden had not received such good care promptly, this would have been fatal for Braeden.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
A Dog and Her Boy
Allow me to introduce you to someone very special. Her name is Jill. And, she really gets diabetes. You might see her around, and if you do you'll be sure to recognize her. That's because Jill is a German Shepherd!
Jill is Braeden's service dog, and she is usually the first to know when Braeden's sugar is going high or low. It is pretty well accepted that dogs like her rely on scent to detect highs. More of a mystery is why Jill can pick up early on lows. When Jill does detect a high or low blood glucose, she alerts Jessica or me, often enabling us to treat Braeden before his sugar swings wildly outside of his control range. Since the time she came into the family in April, Jill has helped Braeden avoid many blood glucose extremes.
Jill came to us from a guide dog company after being diagnosed with hip dysplasia, which can sideline a dog with pain and arthritis. While the potential for mobility problems prevents her from becoming a full-on guide dog, she has a suitable temperament and work ethic that makes her perfect for other types of service. Aware of Braeden's need, the guide dog company contacted us as soon as it was evident Jill couldn't continue in their program. A few days later, she was part of the family. But that's not the whole story...
29 September 2010 - near Sarasota, FL
September lasts forever in central Florida, and it is still summertime-hot even as leaves begin to turn elsewhere. Today it will reach 90. Brief rains from yesterday have stained everything with dampness. The vacant lots among the average homes host stalky grasses and prickly weeds. Spared the mower for months, the small patches--now suburban prairies--sport their 5 o'clock shadows.
In one of these lots along 30 Avenue East, a stressed and anxious stray dog ponders her next steps. If she could only know what her future holds, she might not worry so. But now, hungry and homeless, she can think of little more than avoiding trouble and finding something to eat. Whether abandoned, a runaway, or abused and forgotten, she cowers alone against the crushing world around her. Everything outside the bounds of this lot seems ready to write her demise, whether car, human, or animal.
At least, that's how I imagine it may have seemed.
Someone wary of the wandering German Shepherd called animal control, and before sundown, the gaunt and exhausted dog was noosed, loaded into a truck, and transported to the pound.
A short while later, The Manatee County Public Service Department, Animal Services Division, keyed an entry into the computer database and formally kicked off Jill's paper trail. The kennel record says, "Intake Type: Stray/Field." Days before her Due Out date arrived, Jill was adopted by a puppy raiser named Pat.
An elderly lady, Pat canvassed kennels looking for certain unique qualities in those breeds that are most suitable for blind dog and vet dog service, especially German Shepherds. She had adopted many young dogs and given them basic obedience and socialization training. When these puppies matured a degree or two and continued to show promise, they were transferred to the guide dog company for serious program work.
Jill no doubt felt love and thrived in Pat's home. Pat fostered a deep connection with young dogs that made her so effective as a puppy raiser. As the bond between the two strengthened, Jill intently observed Pat wrestling one of those things in this world that would not submit to Pat's will: Type 2 Diabetes. Jill came to realize that the snacks, the test kit, and frequent bathroom visits weren't the only indication that Pat was plagued by an invisible demon. Within the fibre of her being, Jill could vividly sense when Pat was loosing a battle.
I think the recognition of Jill's intuition occurred the day she left Pat's side at the front porch and jumped the fence. Jill had never done this before. She never did it again. On this day, she roamed between the fence and the neighbor's house, raising the attention of the neighbor. Recognizing the dog as one of Pat's puppies, the neighbor returned Jill inside the fence and found Pat languishing in the midst of a severe hypo. Pat's condition was such that an ambulance was summoned.
As a boy, I hunted grouse in the NC mountains with my dad over his Brittany Spaniel. I could visualize the birds' scent by watching Blaze work among the wild grapes and scrub. To him, the perfume of the feathers must have seemed as a thick fog, as he easily followed it left and right. Smell is one thing. Most dogs have it. Intuition is quite another. I marvel at the thing that made Jill choose to find the neighbor. This is something she has repeated a hundred times in our own home, and still the marvel lingers.
Tonight, Jill left Braeden's side in the bedroom and alerted to me as I sat on the back porch. I immediately went to Braeden. His CGM indicated his blood glucose was 94 (perfect). He didn't exhibit the first sign of a high or low sugar. But a quick check with a conventional glucometer told the story: 34 mg/dL.
Now I sit reviewing the paperwork in Jill's file. I just want to get the story correct as I pen this entry. And, I can't help but look at Manatee County Kennel Card once again. Then my eyes find it, the address where Jill was picked up by the dog catcher: "Found @: 2123 E 30 AVE, BRADENTON, FL."
There you have it. From Bradenton to Braeden. God's pretty cool, don't you think?
Jill is Braeden's service dog, and she is usually the first to know when Braeden's sugar is going high or low. It is pretty well accepted that dogs like her rely on scent to detect highs. More of a mystery is why Jill can pick up early on lows. When Jill does detect a high or low blood glucose, she alerts Jessica or me, often enabling us to treat Braeden before his sugar swings wildly outside of his control range. Since the time she came into the family in April, Jill has helped Braeden avoid many blood glucose extremes.
Jill came to us from a guide dog company after being diagnosed with hip dysplasia, which can sideline a dog with pain and arthritis. While the potential for mobility problems prevents her from becoming a full-on guide dog, she has a suitable temperament and work ethic that makes her perfect for other types of service. Aware of Braeden's need, the guide dog company contacted us as soon as it was evident Jill couldn't continue in their program. A few days later, she was part of the family. But that's not the whole story...
29 September 2010 - near Sarasota, FL
September lasts forever in central Florida, and it is still summertime-hot even as leaves begin to turn elsewhere. Today it will reach 90. Brief rains from yesterday have stained everything with dampness. The vacant lots among the average homes host stalky grasses and prickly weeds. Spared the mower for months, the small patches--now suburban prairies--sport their 5 o'clock shadows.
In one of these lots along 30 Avenue East, a stressed and anxious stray dog ponders her next steps. If she could only know what her future holds, she might not worry so. But now, hungry and homeless, she can think of little more than avoiding trouble and finding something to eat. Whether abandoned, a runaway, or abused and forgotten, she cowers alone against the crushing world around her. Everything outside the bounds of this lot seems ready to write her demise, whether car, human, or animal.
At least, that's how I imagine it may have seemed.
Someone wary of the wandering German Shepherd called animal control, and before sundown, the gaunt and exhausted dog was noosed, loaded into a truck, and transported to the pound.
A short while later, The Manatee County Public Service Department, Animal Services Division, keyed an entry into the computer database and formally kicked off Jill's paper trail. The kennel record says, "Intake Type: Stray/Field." Days before her Due Out date arrived, Jill was adopted by a puppy raiser named Pat.
An elderly lady, Pat canvassed kennels looking for certain unique qualities in those breeds that are most suitable for blind dog and vet dog service, especially German Shepherds. She had adopted many young dogs and given them basic obedience and socialization training. When these puppies matured a degree or two and continued to show promise, they were transferred to the guide dog company for serious program work.
Jill no doubt felt love and thrived in Pat's home. Pat fostered a deep connection with young dogs that made her so effective as a puppy raiser. As the bond between the two strengthened, Jill intently observed Pat wrestling one of those things in this world that would not submit to Pat's will: Type 2 Diabetes. Jill came to realize that the snacks, the test kit, and frequent bathroom visits weren't the only indication that Pat was plagued by an invisible demon. Within the fibre of her being, Jill could vividly sense when Pat was loosing a battle.
I think the recognition of Jill's intuition occurred the day she left Pat's side at the front porch and jumped the fence. Jill had never done this before. She never did it again. On this day, she roamed between the fence and the neighbor's house, raising the attention of the neighbor. Recognizing the dog as one of Pat's puppies, the neighbor returned Jill inside the fence and found Pat languishing in the midst of a severe hypo. Pat's condition was such that an ambulance was summoned.
As a boy, I hunted grouse in the NC mountains with my dad over his Brittany Spaniel. I could visualize the birds' scent by watching Blaze work among the wild grapes and scrub. To him, the perfume of the feathers must have seemed as a thick fog, as he easily followed it left and right. Smell is one thing. Most dogs have it. Intuition is quite another. I marvel at the thing that made Jill choose to find the neighbor. This is something she has repeated a hundred times in our own home, and still the marvel lingers.
Tonight, Jill left Braeden's side in the bedroom and alerted to me as I sat on the back porch. I immediately went to Braeden. His CGM indicated his blood glucose was 94 (perfect). He didn't exhibit the first sign of a high or low sugar. But a quick check with a conventional glucometer told the story: 34 mg/dL.
Now I sit reviewing the paperwork in Jill's file. I just want to get the story correct as I pen this entry. And, I can't help but look at Manatee County Kennel Card once again. Then my eyes find it, the address where Jill was picked up by the dog catcher: "Found @: 2123 E 30 AVE, BRADENTON, FL."
There you have it. From Bradenton to Braeden. God's pretty cool, don't you think?
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Rocking Ride in the Valley of Death - 2010 REPORT
We were accomodated at the comfortable Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley, where ranching was business as usual until 1928 or so. Each evening, our dinner was served up under the stars. My bed was in one of a series of bunkhouses built for the working hands so many years ago. With air conditioning and nice furninshings, these houses, nicely modernized, were very welcoming. It seemed that every such house, and the newer buildings, too, were packed with JDRF cyclists. There were some 350 of us.
We enjoyed a nice day and a half around the ranch. And then it was time to ride.
6:45 AM, SATURDAY - Ride Day
Death Valley is a tough place to cycle. There's just no getting around it. Most folks probably think the heat would be the reason. But, the forbidding temperatures are perhaps not the most serious complication for a long ride. Instead, I think it is the vast nothingness of the valley.
NOTHING. There is truly nothing. Nothing for shade. Nothing to drink. Nothing for nourishment (apart from tarantulas, lizards, and several species of poisonous snakes). There are no towns, convenience stations, or pay phones. Your cell phone has "No Service." Your ears feel strange because there is no sound. The most incredible peculiarity to being in Death Valley is how squarely you are in the middle of nothing.
Of course, "nothing" is no problem when you have the entire JDRF staff working for you on ride day. To combat the chronic shortage of everything, they coordinated water, food, and aid stations. They provided SAG wagons, communication gear, and shelter. We all really relied upon the ride staff. I ate their myriad snack foods. I drank more than 4 gallons (32 pounds!!!) of their water on the route. Though in the desert, I couldn't sweat all that out. Thank JDRF for even providing port-o-johns.
With all the great support in place, we cyclists only had to worry about moving the pedals. We had 2800 feet of climbing ahead of us, but the first 40 or so miles were built for fast running. I linked up with Jim, one of the Loons, for those first 40 miles. We averaged about 17 mph while taking turns drafting. This was a great way to conserve energy. While we rode, the mostly clear skies brightened up quickly. However, we were shaded by mountains for the first 25 miles. Not what you expected? Don't worry, the last 75 miles of searing solar broil made up for it.
At times we had to shrug head winds; the dry whirling air turned the valley into a convection oven. The wind seemed to stop when I reached the six-mile climb to Jubilee Pass. The cyclists were strung out over a great distance by this time, so I slowly ground my way up the grade solo. The hyperbaric silence was interrupted only when I met cyclists who were whirring downhill. After close to an hour of climbing, I made it to the pass, which marked the half-way and turn-around point of the course. It was mostly downhill or flat from here.
Things were beginning to get a little fuzzy after I coasted about 20 minutes to reach the valley floor. I remember becoming concerned about having seen several people suffering from heat exhaustion. The Death Valley experience was just beginning. Until now, it was a normal ride that you could have had anywhere. Now I suddenly felt that I was treading near the edge of human endurance. The sun seemed inches from my back. My senses were blunted. My legs made only about 50% power. I felt a little like one of those cheap 70's import cars that could only struggle in their high gearing.
Around then, I linked up with Kevin and Mark from Indiana. We talked as we rode, and I loosened up a bit. Then, I noticed an odd thing. I mentioned that there seemed to bulge on one of their rear tires. Within seconds: ka-boom....
We needed something good to happen.
MEET ANA BECKER
So, we're about 17 miles from the finish line and one tire short of a way to get there. No worries, there were SAG wagons out there. The first one stopped within a couple of minutes. But it, like the next few, carried no spare tires. That's when a 16 year old girl became a hero. Ana Becker, a young lady who was catching a SAG ride back to the Ranch, offered my Indiana friends her rear wheel. (How many of us would have done this when we were 16?) Yay, Ana! You are awesome.
This little triumph was a major turning point for me. There were 17 miles left, and while they didn't breeze by, I had confidence. I was lively. And, I had fun.
The challenge of cycling 103 miles in the desert ended for me so quickly, really. It took an absurdly short amount of time for me to feel normal again. The desert's grip on me evaporated away the next morning in the air conditioned enclosures of first the bus, then the airport, and finally the plane. But the memories of this experience will continue as a hot ember, not unlike that glowing hot spot in California called Death Valley.
2011 Ride to Cure - TUCSON!!
Registration for the 2011 JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes opened Monday, 7 March and, along with hundreds of others, a pair of Rogers put their money down on a journey that will span 257 days, secure $9,000 in diabetes-demolishing donations, and culminate with the 109 mile Tour de Tucson. I am extremely excited to report that my brother, John, will join me for this . Like me, he has thinning hair and is therefore aerodynamically optimized for endurance cycling. Moreover, he has the biggest heart for his nephew and badly wants to see a cure for all of those who are affected by T1D. I'm proud of you, brother! Welcome to the Ride :-)
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation continues to do great work to improve diabetes care and find a CURE. They still need our support to accomplish their objectives. It is awesome to be able to count on you to step forward with me again in 2011 to ensure their needs are met. THANK YOU!! You all are awesome!
JDRF Ride to Cure 2011 Kickoff from Jessica Rogers on Vimeo.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation continues to do great work to improve diabetes care and find a CURE. They still need our support to accomplish their objectives. It is awesome to be able to count on you to step forward with me again in 2011 to ensure their needs are met. THANK YOU!! You all are awesome!
JDRF Ride to Cure 2011 Kickoff from Jessica Rogers on Vimeo.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Save it for the Ride
Braeden was admitted in-patient Saturday for the second time in roughly 2 months. Both occasions were courtesy of diabetes. Both occasions were despite , mocking the notion that I, Jessica, you, or anyone can control diabetes. As much as I am thankful that we have doctors on call--yes, half expecting to be needed at any moment!--and hospitals filled with materiel for any emergency, I am frustrated that Braeden faces his special challenges with only therapeutic treatment.
I'm frustrated. Angry. Motivated. Overwhelmed.
Save it for the Ride. Save it for the Ride. Save it for the Ride.
2011 Ride to Cure Diabetes: Coming March 1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Hey there!