In last year's inaugural edition of the "Relay for Life" publication, we told the stories of three cancer patients: Douglas County Sheriff's Capt. Mike Biaggini, high school student Katie Estes and 82-year-old Al Blythe of Gardnerville.
For this issue, we wanted to provide our readers with updates on our three cover subjects.
Al, who knew his lung cancer was incurable and untreatable, died July 31, 2007, a month after the story was published. We visited his widow Ginger who said she's spent the last year living the philosophy: "Don't cry because it's over " smile because it happened."
"I want this to be positive," she said. "I don't want people to think I didn't get my miracle. I did. I didn't want him to suffer, and he only had the bad stuff for 10 months."
Blythe said her husband's outlook kept her strong during his illness.
"Al had a wonderful attitude. He had a very strong faith and the ability to accept God's will. He was not afraid to die. He was ready when it was his time," she said. "He had a great life, and I had a great life with him."
One of her precious possessions is a photograph taken June 16, 2007, when she and Al were dancing to "In The Mood" at a friend's birthday.
"That was our favorite song, and it's the last time Al and I ever danced," she said. "I treasure this."
Since his passing, Blythe has continued to be comforted by the memories of their 32 years together, the presence of her 93-year-old mother, Ann Elliott, who makes her home with Ginger in Gardnerville, and the support of her church family at St. Gall Catholic Church.
"I want to leave people with the lessons I learned," she said. "No. 1 is the awareness of the dangers of the sun. And I wish there was a way I could get people to quit smoking."
Al Blythe smoked for 40 years and quit "cold turkey" in 1985.
"That probably added 10 years to his life," she said. "But people don't foresee how what you're doing now will effect you in 40 years. Be aware, take care of yourself when you're young."
Mike Biaggini said he feels great, "everything looks good so far."
The 53-year-old Douglas County Sheriff's Office captain was diagnosed in 2001 with colon cancer.
"I'm six months out of my last battle " if you will " which would have been my fourth," Biaggini said. "So far, so good."
Biaggini undergoes a scan every six months in San Francisco and blood work in between.
His last chemotherapy treatment was in January.
He takes Cumaden, a blood thinner, because of the port in his chest used to administer medication.
"I have to make sure the port doesn't get clogged up. With me and my recurring problem, the doctors see no reason to take it out. If history repeats itself as it has been, I'll be needing it again. They suggest you leave it in for at least seven years. I've got a long ways to go before they make a decision about it," Biaggini said.
Katie Estes, 17, was diagnosed in December 2006 with Hodgkins disease, a form of lymphoma that occurs in children ages 10-18.
The soon-to-be Douglas High School senior is cancer-free.
"It's all gone," she said. "I'm feeling great. All my chest X-rays are negative."
Katie travels to her doctors in Stanford every three months for a checkup. If she continues to be as healthy as she is now, the schedule eventually will be once a year.
In February, the Make-A-Wish Foundation treated Katie to a 17th birthday shopping spree in Carson City.
She is working at a tanning salon during the summer and looking forward to her senior year and beyond.
"I want to go to fashion school or study psychology," she said. "I'm leaning more toward the fashion thing."
