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Tyler is Going “Over the Edge” for a Second Time

Posted by travisthewarrior on October 23, 2016 in Post Treatment

Hi,

It’s me, Travis the Warrior, and I wanted you all to know that my brother, Tyler, is Going Over the Edge again this year to support Brain Cancer research.  I am very proud of him for his bravery and getting involved to help find a cure for people like me.  You can find out more information from his letter below.

Thanks,

Travis the Warrior

 

Hello Everyone!

Its that time of the year again!  Over the Edge for Brain Cancer!  Last year, many of you helped me raise a grand total of $2,500, all of which directly supports San Diego based Brain Cancer Research.  This year, I have decided to go outside of my comfort zone again and return as an “edger” for the second year! On Saturday, November 5, 2016, I’ll be rappelling down the side of the tallest building on the San Diego waterfront, the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

Over the Edge for Brain Cancer San Diego, hosted by Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2) helps to raise vital monies to fund cutting-edge brain cancer research projects, some of which benefitted my brother, Travis, in his fight.  Fighting brain cancer is truly a team effort and by joining together in this mission we can help ABC2 to accelerate the development of treatments that will lead to a cure for brain cancer.

This year, nearly 200,000 children and adults in the United States will be diagnosed with a type of brain cancer. This devastating disease will send a shock wave through the families of those affected and threaten their lives with overwhelming complications. Those directly and indirectly impacted by brain cancer are depending on us and our efforts to help bring hope to their struggle.

Your tax-deductible gift to ABC2, no matter what size, will provide vital funding to researchers who are working to put an end to this devastating disease.  Together we can turn this debilitating, and often life threatening, disease into one that can be easily managed and even cured.

Thank you in advance for your support of this worthy cause!

Tyler Selinka

Travis the Warrior’s Brother

Click here to visit my personal page.

 

 

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PEDAL The Cause: A World Without Cancer! 9/18-9/20/2015

Posted by travisthewarrior on September 15, 2015 in Events, Post Treatment

We have been very blessed to be paired up with PEDAL the Cause San Diego through Rady Children’s Hospital.  Travis was asked to be a part of the Ride for a Child program and we have been connected with the team “Travis & the Warriors!” along with their amazing riders (Anne, Scott, Myra, Lisa, Dave, Michiel, Travis, Jim and Alicia).

“Pedal the Cause has the mission of providing funding for cancer research at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego through their annual cycling fundraiser in hopes that the collaborative research funded by this event will ultimately lead to a cure for cancer…100% of all net proceeds STAY in San Diego and goes directly to cancer research.”

PEDAL The Cause San Diego teamed up with the San Diego Padres, Fox Sports San Diego and the Mighty 1090 radio station to host a PEDAL at the Park Radio-Telethon on Saturday, 9/12/2015, benefiting local cancer fighting organizations and research.  The event started in the afternoon with the Radio-Telethon where many guests, including Travis and Tony, were interviewed by Jesse Agler (Padres Social Hour), Mike Pomeranz (Fox Sports SD), Scott Kaplan (Mighty 1090 radio) and Billy Ray Smith (retired SD Charger).  Then they had an hour long PEDAL class down on the baseball field with 1000 stationary bikes arranged around the infield facing a stage with celebrity instructor, Brandon Mills.  The event concluded with a post-PEDAL party with a DJ and the Padres game up in San Francisco was broadcast on the SONY jumbo TV in the stadium.  What an amazing event that raised close to $80,000 and thanks to everyone at PEDAL, the Padres, Fox Sports SD, the Mighty 1090 and all the countless volunteers who worked so hard to make it happen!!!

PEDAL The Cause San Diego
Live on the Radio-Telethon
Live on the Radio-Telethon
Updating the Big Board
Updating the Big Board Again

Click here for a Video (NOTE: Video format may only play on your mobile device and not your internet browser)

The Main event gets started on Friday 9/18 with a Kickoff Party down at Petco Park.  On Saturday, the 2-Day, 150 Mile ride begins at UCSD and riders will spend the night in Temecula before riding the 75 miles back to UCSD on Sunday.  Also on Sunday, there will be 50, 25 and 10 Mile rides along with a super hero kiddie ride.  All of this in support of the fight against Cancer.  Go Riders and Go Team Travis & the Warriors!

Click here for Team: Travis & the Warriors! 

Click here for Ride for a Child Program

Click here for PEDAL The Cause San Diego 

Be sure to check them out on facebook

THANK YOU for everything that Pedal the Cause is doing to help find a cure for Cancer!  As a direct beneficiary of the world class medical care and research we have in San Diego, we know firsthand that lives are truly being saved.  We couldn’t feel more honored to be one of the “Ride for a Child” program participants through Rady Children’s Hospital and selected by the team: Travis & the Warriors! 

Love,

Lynne, Tony, Tyler and Travis

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Latest MRI Results are All Clear! 9/3/2015

Posted by travisthewarrior on September 3, 2015 in Post Treatment

In case you haven’t heard over the last couple weeks, Travis’ latest MRI results came back CLEAR!  They are clear in terms of our favorite phrase “No Sign of Disease” (aka No Sign of Cancer) and they are also clear regarding his Compression Fracture in his T9 Vertebrae.  YEAH!!!

It has been almost a year since they detected his compression fracture in his spine last September and we received the dreaded “No Running or Jumping” order from the doctors.  As it turns out, that is like torture for a kid to see all his friends running, jumping and playing all the time and knowing he can’t participate.  But Travis, like the true Warrior he is, powered through and made the best of things by as he says “running in my mind” while he was race walking and even cheating a little here and there.  Yes, Mom and Dad have eyes in the back of their head and ears listening to EVERYTHING!  Along with the all clear order came another year of Fosomax which is a bone strengthener for osteoporosis or brittle bones.  In the grand scheme of things, what’s the big deal with continuing the pill as long as you can run and jump, right?

So, leaving the doctor’s office that day, the first thing Travis did was RUN down the hallway.  Then he proceeded to RUN across the parking lot to the car.  When he got home, he went for a RUN around the block.  Then he went out to the soccer field to RUN around and even RUN some laps.  It was like he had been set free!  The doctors still want to hold off from doing any contact sports until his bones are strengthened more so we will deal with that.  Overall, things are good and Travis is a Warrior!

Thanks,

Tony and Lynne

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SeaWorld Dolphin Interaction Program 8/27/2015

Posted by travisthewarrior on August 27, 2015 in Events, Post Treatment

Wow!  It is hard to believe that we have gone so long without posting any updates.  Life has been going along as normal as can be, which is a really good thing.  But, ever so often there is something extraordinary that happens so we want to pass that along.

On Thursday, a group of kids from Rady Children’s Hospital were invited to participate in the Dolphin Interaction Program at SeaWorld.  The program was established about 7 years ago by one of the dolphin trainers, Joy Soto, who is a cancer survivor herself.  Travis was one of the lucky few invited to participate and he had an absolute blast.  Here are a few links to some of the news coverage of the event.  Travis and Lynne were interviewed by our local ABC 10 News:

ABC News Channel 10: http://www.10news.com/news/group-of-rady-childrens-hospital-patients-swim-with-dolphins-at-seaworld

ABC News Channel 10 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRlt7kmBnc0

SeaWorld Media YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDbKnck19Dw

AVAX News Article: http://avaxnews.net/touching/Patients_Take_Part_in_Dolphin_Interaction_Program.html

CW6 News: http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/Patients-take-part-in-Dolphin-Interaction-Program-323158461.html

Thanks to SeaWorld and Rady Children’s Hospital for a wonderful experience!

Thanks,

Tony and Lynne

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Tyler’s Going “Over the Edge” for Brain Cancer

Posted by travisthewarrior on March 15, 2015 in Events, Post Treatment
Tyler's Over the Edge Fundraiser!

Tyler’s Over the Edge Fundraiser!

Click here to visit Tyler’s fundraising page to check on his progress!

 

Over the Edge San Diego Event!

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Travis Meets Leo Messi Thanks to Make-A-Wish! 10/28/2014

Posted by travisthewarrior on October 28, 2014 in Events

On Tuesday, the bus picked us up at 11:00 am and we were on our way to the FC Barcelona training facility, Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, which is also where La Masia (FC Barcelona Youth Academy) is located.  We all went into the reception area and the kids had a chance to sign a poster of an atlas with FC Barcelona Shields on all the places that the kids came from around the world.  Travis signed “Dear Messi, Thank you for taking the time to be with us.  Travis Selinka – Carlsbad, CA – Travis the Warrior.”   The kids were then called to go out to the training field and when they entered they started a little soccer game before Messi arrived.  What else would you expect from a bunch of soccer fans?

When Messi entered the gate, all the kids cheered for him and chanted “Messi Messi Messi.”  At that point, Travis said: “I was amazed that my wish was actually coming true and I was meeting the world’s greatest soccer player.”  The kids gathered together for a group photo with Messi and presented him with some gifts.  Travis presented a gift of Travis the Warrior t-shirts and a wrist band for Messi and his son.  Messi asked to watch the kids play soccer so they started playing their game again.  Messi wanted to join in but he was recovering from an injury that occurred during El Classico against Real Madrid the previous weekend.

After the mini game, the kids gathered together around Messi and were able to ask him questions.  Travis’ question was, “Was it hard when you had to have growth hormone shots when you were little?”  Messi replied in Spanish which was translated to “I always looked forward to playing my next game and that’s what got me through.  I didn’t let that get to me.”  Another kid asked him, who his favorite player was growing up and he replied: “There are so many good players it’s hard to pick one.  If I had to pick one, it would be Maradona”.  Another question was what was his hardest match and Messi replied: “Every match is my hardest match.”  It was great that Messi just interacted with the kids so freely.  After the question and answer session, Messi posed for one more group shot before he handed out FC Barcelona swag bags and the kids loved them.

It seemed like the time went by so fast but it was time for Messi to leave to go train for their next match against Celta de Vigo on Saturday.  Travis commented that “Messi was very relaxed, friendly, and outgoing.  This is a dream come true and a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Click here to see Lionel Messi’s comment on his official Facebook page (on 29 October) after the event which read:   “Really happy that I had the chance to meet these 30 amazing young people. They are truly an example of determination and are an inspiration to all. I am truly grateful that they had the opportunity to come to Barcelona, as I had the opportunity to learn so much from them. Many thanks to the FC Barcelona Foundation and the Leo Messi Foundation for making this possible. “ – LIO

IMG_5120

Click Here for the story on the FC Barcelona Foundation website (click the picture for a short video).

Click Here for a YouTube Video link of the Meet and Greet.

Click Here for an article from Soccer Nation covering the story.

Thanks to Make-A-Wish San Diego, Make-A-Wish Spain, FC Barcelona, FC Barcelona Foundation, Leo Messi Foundation and Leo Messi himself for making Travis’ dream come true!

 

Stay tuned for more to come from our tour of Camp Nou and FC Barcelona game!

 

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Coach Jonno Completes his 50k Run for Make-A-Wish in Honor of Travis the Warrior! 10/26/2014

Posted by travisthewarrior on October 26, 2014 in Events
Travis and Coach Jonno

Travis and Coach Jonno

We want to thank everyone for supporting Coach Jonno’s 50k Run for Make-A-Wish in honor of Travis the Warrior!  It is because of generous donations in support of fundraising efforts by people like Coach Jonno that make the special Wishes of the kids like Travis come true.  THANKS!

You can check on Coach Jonno’s Make-A-Wish Fundraising progress.

 

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Travis Granted his “Make-A-Wish” of Meeting Messi! 10/22/2014

Posted by travisthewarrior on October 22, 2014 in Events, Uncategorized

After a little more than a year, Travis’ Wish of a lifetime has been granted by Make-A-Wish and he will have the honor of meeting Lionel Messi in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.  As part of his wish, Travis will also be treated to an FC Barcelona game and a tour of the famed Camp Nou Stadium.

Travis said: “It is hard to believe that my wish is actually coming true.  I can’t wait to talk with Messi about the medical challenges he faced growing up, just like me.”

According to Tony, “We are very grateful and humbled that Travis will be the recipient of such an extraordinary Wish.  We have been blessed by so many great organizations throughout our journey but we have been amazed by all the great things Make-A-Wish does for so many kids.“

“We want to thank everyone for supporting Coach Jonno’s 50k Run for Make-A-Wish” remarked Lynne.  “It is because of generous donations in support of fundraising efforts by people like Jonno that make the special Wishes of the kids like Travis come true.  Coach Jonno is such an inspiration and we are in awe that he would choose to honor Travis in such an incredible way.”

Click here for an article on Soccer Nation covering the story.

Thanks Make-A-Wish San Diego and Make-A-Wish Spain!!!

Updates about our trip to come soon…

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Soccer Nation Features Jonno’s 50k Run for Make-A-Wish in Honor of Travis the Warrior! 10/8/2014

Posted by travisthewarrior on October 8, 2014 in Events, Post Treatment

We wanted to THANK Soccer Nation for running a Special Feature of Carlsbad United’s Coach Jonno and his 50k Run for Make-A-Wish San Diego in honor of Travis the Warrior!  Through Travis’ journey, we have been blessed in so many ways and Make-A-Wish has been one of those blessings.  Even though our extended soccer family has been a huge part of our lives, we are simply in awe that Jonno would honor Travis in such a special way while raising money to help make a child’s Wish come true.  Jonno said that he just completed a 28 mile training run and was feeling good about going for 31 miles. Awesome!

Travis and Coach Jonno
Team Travis!

With just under 3 weeks left until the big run, you can click here to check on Coach Jonno’s Make-A-Wish Fundraising progress or by selecting the link below.

http://friends.wish.org/024-000/page/Jonno-Davison/Jonno%27s-50k-for-Travis-the-Warrior.htm

Soccer Nation’s recent feature of Coach Jonno’s 50k Run for Make-A-Wish in honor of Travis the Warrior can be found in the following link.

http://www.soccernation.com/carlsbad-united-fc-coach-jonno-giving-back-raises-money-for-make-a-wish-cms-6295

Thanks,

Tony and Lynne

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MRI Results-The Good and Not-So-Good News! 9/25/2014

Posted by travisthewarrior on September 25, 2014 in Chemotherapy, Post Treatment, Radiation

Last week, we received Travis’ quarterly MRI results which showed “No Sign of Disease.”  Yeah!  That is the awesome piece of news that we hope to hear each time and we thank God for blessing us, and especially Travis, once again.

However, an unexpected piece of news that we also received was that the MRI revealed Travis has a compression fracture of the T8 vertebrae.  We really had no idea what that meant and didn’t want to jump to any conclusions until we had a chance to meet with the Orthopedist on Monday this week.  Travis had not been complaining of any unusual pain and seemed to be going about increasing his exercise as he continues getting stronger.  Once in a while he would complain of fatigue or an occasional ache or pain here and there but nothing that would indicate pain associated with a fracture.

At the appointment with the Orthopedist, they performed an additional X-Ray and examined Travis’ spine checking for any areas of pain.  They reviewed his MRI results from May which did not show any evidence of the compression fracture.  We went through Travis’ exercise and activities trying to identify anything that could have caused the injury from impact but nothing stood out as one single event.  We discussed how the various cancer treatments can affect the bones, with the Steroid use and Radiation having potentially the most negative side effects.  From the Orthopedist, the orders were no contact sports, no running, no jumping or anything that could cause a potential impact to the spine.  Travis was really bummed to hear that since he has been focused on getting stronger so that he could play soccer and do all of the other fun activities with his friends.  The good news at this point from the Orthopedist is that surgery is not required and the fracture is expected to heal on its own, barring any further injury.  Also, the fracture is not severe enough to warrant a back brace which would be pretty uncomfortable for Travis so we are thankful for that news.

The next step was to visit the Endocrinologist (the doctor responsible for dealing with all of the after effects from cancer and its treatment during Travis’ growth development).  They ordered a bone density scan to determine if Travis bones have become more susceptible to injury after the cancer treatments.  They also ordered some additional labs to be run to see if he is deficient in calcium, etc. We should have the results of these tests in a few days.  We did discuss some medications that potentially help with stimulating bone growth but hopefully we do not have to go that route and things will heal on their own.

To Travis, it seems like his world just came crashing down again right at the time he was getting back to “normal” and he is not allowed to do any of the fun things he likes to do with his friends.  But in the grand scheme, we will take this setback as it comes and try to focus on the things he can still do like riding bikes, swimming and anything else that is low impact.  We would like to ask a huge favor that you please keep Travis in your prayers and send him positive thoughts to help keep his spirits up.  Travis is a Warrior and he will fight through once again!

Thanks,

Tony and Lynne

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