Happy New Year 2009!

Happy New Year! As I’ve thought my hopes for PC Project and PC research in 2009, I’ve found it difficult to know exactly what I hope for. The reason why is because every year previously, the progress made by PC Project and PC research has always exceeded any expectations, any imaginings I might have had. Of course, I hope for all of us with PC to walk pain-free. But I think we know that will take time - there are many different mutations and the whole process to reach an effective therapeutic is complex, costly and time-consuming. Except since PC Project seems to shatter all norms of timetables and progress expected from a charity you never really know what may happen and when. PC Project somehow seems to drive things quite a bit faster than what is typical. PC Project is an incredible blessing for PC patients worldwide.I was looking back on the year 2008 and I realized that almost every aspect of my life was influenced for good by PC Project.

The first five months of 2008, I was involved in the first clinical trial for a siRNA in both skin and in human genetics. The results were impressive and are leading to further studies. During the summer I was able to go with Mary for a short trip to Stanford to check out some of the collaborations being made there. Also during the summer I was involved in the planning and attending of the Scotland patient support meeting. Like all other meetings, I was blessed to be with wonderful PCers who enrich my life. I was also able to meet a number of patients worldwide on the webinars that PC Project introduced this past year. That was lots of fun! Fall time brought me back to spending a little time in the PC Project offices once a week and having some input into research studies. Even a short trip my family took to Southern Utah had me meeting up with one of our scientists who was passing through who wanted to take a look at my feet. It’s like everything I did last year had a touch of PC Project.

In addition, there are personal things that have affected my life and my family that have come about as a result of our involvement with PC Project. I won’t share them on this post at this time, but suffice it to say, they have affected our lives in incredible ways. I think every part of my life has been touched for good this past year by PC project.

So you see, as I look ahead at 2009, I do wonder what will be in store for PC Patients, PC Project and PC research. But because each year, PC Project has blessed me with opportunities and hopes and experiences that I never in my wildest dreams would have even thought about, it’s difficult for me to even guess what a new year will bring. All I know is that once again, and always, I am grateful to those that have made all these opportunities and blessings a reality for me. I may not be cured and walking pain-free quite yet, but the journey I’m taking – and I hope all PC patients are taking the journey with me – is an incredible one. I don’t have to walk pain-free to enjoy all the good things that have come into my life because of PC Project.