Hi family and friends, I know it has been a while since I've updated you on Dave's condition. I think, as a family, we've just been enjoying "living" in complete response and watching Dave recover. He is regaining his life... he is back to work...hair is growing. A matter of fact, he's sporting a pretty jazzy silver-fox goatee. I love it! Dave has good and bad days, but the good days are finally outweighing the bad day.
Yesterday, Dave had a bone marrow biopsy at his local oncologist. This will be our first true "results" since the stem cell transplant. He went into the transplant in complete response and we anticipate the results will show that he continues to be in complete response. This is part of the "re-staging" process. Dave goes to Stanford at the end of October to meet with his doctor for a check-up and hopefully to discuss what is next, if anything.
September holds a lot of signifigance for our family... it is an anniversary month of sorts. It was in September, 2010 that we found out that Dave has Multiple Myeloma. It's one of those days in your life that you never forget. Similar to historical events that occur and you say, "I know exactly where I was when I heard the news." Some of us remember where they were when they heard JFK was killed. Some of us remember where they were when Princess Diana died in a horrible car crash in Paris (okay, maybe just me!), and I imagine, all of us, remember where we were when we heard the horrible news that our country was being attacked by terrorist on September 11, 2001. But, for me, I can add "when I found out Dave had cancer" to my list.
When I think of celebrating a "year" in life, I think of celebrating birthdays or anniversaries- not a diagnosis of cancer! STUPID, POINTLESS, LIFE-ALTERING CANCER! I hate cancer! I hate it more today than I did a year ago. Why should I even acknowledge its grip on our lives? It's an invisible opponent that attempts to weaken our faith and take away our hope.
But, it hasn't... It hasn't broken our faith. And, it hasn't stolen our hope. So, HAPPY FRICKEN ANNIVERSARY CANCER. Here's to "kicking your ***"!
I tend to have a annoying habit of seeing both sides of coin no matter how bad things are. So, on the flip side:
1. Happy Anniversary to successfully fighting and beating down cancer.
2. Happy Anniversary to truly learning about the loving and compassionate hearts and spirits of our family and friends.
3. Happy Anniversary on being able to find faith and hope when things seem beyond our scope of understanding.
4. Happy Annivesary on a year of appreciation, of life, of love, of family, of friends, and of our most wonderful savior Jesus Christ. These most cherished of gifts that so often we take for granted.
Thank you to everyone for you love, prayer, and for lending a helping hand to Dave is both his personal life and his professional life.
