Fourteenth Year Cancerversary

              My husband and I at my 40th High School Reunion.                                                    Am I seriously that old?!

It has been fourteen years since I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. The remarkable fact is that I am so busy living my life that the remarkable date passed without a thought. I go weeks now without even thinking about the years of intense pain, treatment, side effects, and the mental battles I faced as I examined my options and the genuine possibility that m life would be cut short.

I continue to post occasionally on this blog with the belief that I can offer hope to those who are presently dealing with those dark days and endless nights of treatment.

I am now 58 years old. Mother of 5 and grandmother of 9 with two more on the way!! I am in my eighth year of teaching high school. If that was not enough to keep me busy, I felt inspired to also start working on a graduate degree. I am halfway through an online program to earn a Master's Degree in Education. It has been a steep learning curve but I am gradually getting used to the intellectual rigor and learning so much!! The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know! I have no idea where this will lead me in my career but it has already improved my teaching abilities.

Life can get better and there is hope that your health may improve. I just had my bi-yearly labs and all my numbers are within the normal range. At my last visit with my oncologist, he told me that I was the sickest patient he had seen who is still alive without being on maintenance since the stem cell transplant and follow-up medication. I have to really sit with that thought to fully comprehend what a miracle that is.

My hope is that I can continue to learn, grow, and become a more faithful follower of Christ. He has granted me more time on this earth and I hope through His strength I can help others along the way.

Whether you are just beginning a difficult journey by looking at the mountain you have to climb, or standing at the top knowing that you made it but did not get there by yourself, please know that life is good and the Savior Jesus Christ knows and loves you. Look to Him and know that He will be by your side and strengthen you in your journey.

In a Nutshell

I just happened to run across this the other day. Dr. Oz explains warning signs of five cancers. The fifth one is Multiple Myeloma. The club I belong to. Here it is "in a nutshell." Enjoy.

P. S. I can't figure out how to cut just the clip I want (anyone want to tell me how:).. so.. if you start at about 3.4 seconds that's where info on Multiple Myeloma starts.

F.Y.I I'm on cycle 10 day 18.

Which is my 4th round of chemo for this month. Two more months to go.

Two more cycles to go.

Nine more rounds of chemo to go

and then it will be time to start enjoying my remission!!

I'm starting to believe that light I see isn't the oncoming train but the light at the end of the tunnel.

Oh and another F.Y.I

I have not broken one bone during this journey so I am feeling pretty good about that.

... and I really need to go to bed but my friendly steroid is keeping my mind racing. Sometimes I fight it and try to sleep and sometimes I just ride the wave until it crashes - usually by the weekend when my energy level drains to almost nothing.

So Farewell and goodnight for now.