Happy Anniversary!- 1 year post-SCT

June 4, 2012-Dave Update

Dear family and friends, it was one year Saturday that Dave received his stem cell transplant (SCT).  To many multiple myeloma patients, this anniversary is a celebration of receiving their brand new immune system.  To those who had successful SCTs, like Dave, the annivesary is also a celebration of life, remission, and hope.  So much has happened in the past year, since we received the new and improved "Super Dave".  As of today, Dave continues to be in remission.  He has been in remission even prior to the SCT and he is currently not doing any maintenance therapy.  He does get Zometa treatment to strengthen his bones and takes other dailey medications, but no chemo.  Average remission can last up to three years.  The good news is there are so many options if relapse occurs, such as another stem cell transplant, use of the medications that Dave responded so well to initially, and many other approved drugs and drugs that are showing to be very successful in trial studies.  Dave is working, golfing, and even taking yoga classes at the gym.  I'm trying to picture him in downward dog or crouching tiger, hidden dragon pose.  Okay, the last one I believe was a book, movie, or sushi, not sure.  Yoga is actually great for Dave because it can strengthen his bones which is important when you have multiple myeloma. 

I can't speak for Dave on what he has gone through, spiritually or otherwise.  I can only share with you what I observe.  Dave is embracing life!  I know it might sound morbid, but he does talk of a "bucket" list, and I do think it is much more sophisticated than just going to hit a "bucket of balls" at the Valley Oak Golf Course.  He has always loved to travel and he is an adventurous traveler. He has a lot of destinations he would like to visit or revisit.  One is the orient.  My mom, Dave, Randy and Sharon (Dave's cousin and wife), and possibly Cliff and Wanna (Dave's aunt and uncle) have planned a two week cruise of the orient that will take place in early 2013.  I find it facinating that he chose the orient, but not surprised.  I kind of laugh at what he might have in store for my mom.  My mom and I tend to be trepidatious when it comes to the adventures of Dave Callahan.  Hey, that could be a cool reality tv show, The New Adventures of Super Dave Callahan.  Watch Super Dave and his side-kick, The Immuninator (get it?  his new immune system...ehh), as they attempt to outlast, outwit, and outplay multiple myeloma to win the ultimate title of "survivor".  Sorry about that...my husband always tells me I watch too much reality t.v.  But, hey, cancer is our "reality".  Humor me.

I can also tell you with certainty that "family" in on Dave's bucket list.  Dave has always been family-oriented, but he is more determined to enjoy his wife, children, parents, grandchildren, siblings, etc.  We have had some great family fun in the past year.  Many fun celebrations, including a visit from my baby brother Ben and his family.  Dave even braved the "most magical place on earth" by taking the family to Disneyland.  Okay, personally, I'd rather have my eyeball poked out than go to Disneyland, but for mom, Dave, Ben, and Jessica, they got to see Disneyland once more through the eyes of a child.  I wonder if Disneyland was on Dave's bucket list?  Possibly...I mean nothing entices me more than being at an amusement park with thousands of screaming kids and the hope of going on "It's a Small World" just ONE more time!

Lft:  Conner, Dave, Porter at Disneyland

                                      
                                Clockwise:  Mom, Ben, Jessica, Porter, and Conner enjoying Disney.

                                                  Dave and Porter (peace, back to you two, man!)

                                          The Lackey Boys: Lft:  Conner, Ben, and Porter

                                               The Callahan Boys: Lft: Steve, Glick, and Dave

                                    Is grandma laughing or crying?  You just never know!

                  Spoiled Cat Alert:  Geesh, Sidney must be really spent after a day of being pampered and doing absolutely nothing as Casa De Callahan!

Thank you Lord for this year of healing. You have answered so many of my prayers.  You have been faithful to me, even when I doubted in you.  Thank you for the gift of time and the capacity of our hearts to overflow with love. Thank you for revealing yourself to my parents. I would also like to say a special prayer for one of Dave's friends, Sean, who was recently diagnosed with cancer himself.  Sean, as cancer travelers a year and a half in, we are here for you if you just need to vent or have positive thoughts coming your way. 

Much love and thanks to our wonderful, supportive, and loving family and friends.  You are the wind beneath our wings....Tee, hee, that is so corny, but I'm totally into quoting movies today. 

February 1, 2012

Hello family and friends and Happy Belated New Year!  Oh, Dear Lord, please let 2012 be better than 2011!  That's what is amazing about life...there is always HOPE.  Hope for a New Year. 

Speaking of new years, Dave celebrates a new year of life today!  Happy Birthday, Dave!   If you get a chance, give him a call or send an email. 

In terms of Dave's health, no news continues to be good news.  We are 8 months post-transplant and still in complete response (remission for multiple myeloma).  Not to say that Dave had the same response that Steve Austin had when his body was replaced with bionic parts (any Bionic Man fans out there?), but he's working full-time and has been for months.  This is amazing considering what his body has been through.  I'm not saying there hasn't been any pain, bone aches, picky taste buds, and a recent yucky staff infection, but he's come along way from one year ago.  A lot of MM patients get all kinds of infections due to a compromised immune system.  Typically it takes close to a year to really get the immune system to a fighting level after a stem cell transplant.  And, Dave's immune system will always be compromised to some extent due to the disease. 

It's strange how something can consume your life and every waking breath and then just go quiet.  I feel like that is what has happened with Dave's cancer.  Maybe it is our way of trying to forget, or maybe its our way of just coping.  Personally, I hate the quiet.  I need to know everything, be involved at all times, and feel like I have some control.   I want to know, "what's next?"  Everyone's journey is different though, and Dave is dealing with his journey in his own way.  He has chosen at this time to not do maintenace therapy.  There is so much controversy on this subject and no clear answer or statistics to back up what is the best course of action.  Quality of life is important to Dave and some of the maintenance therapies that people are doing are similar to the induction therapy Dave did at the beginning that included Velcade and some other drugs.  Dave had a great response to these drugs, but they did give him painful neorapathy.  The good news is that they are improving upon these drugs and finding ways to lessen the side affects. 

But today we celebrate!  We celebrate Dave's birthday, we celebrate kicking cancer's ***, and we celebrate life! 

I pray that today brings Dave much joy, peace, and celebration.  I pray that God continues to heal his body, but more importantly, his heart and soul.

Please continue to pray for my entire family.  As a family we continue to struggle.  Grampa (Dave's dad) has had some health issues of his own.  Please say a special prayer for him.  He is definately the spiritual leader of our family and we need to send good thoughts his way as he has always for us.  When tragedy strikes or families are hit with cancer, it can bring a family closer together or tear them a part.  My prayer is that through Jesus, all the emptiness the each of us has gone through is filled up with his love.

Jeana