Also with this fall
season it was time for my periodic bone marrow biopsy to see where I stand with
MDS (Myelodysplastic syndrome) which fist showed up in March and again in
April.
Well once again MDS
has shown as positive. It does seem with each test result the MDS impacts more
cells. The good news is that my MDS condition is considered as low
risk. Also my blood counts continue to be pretty good. Saying this, based on my
heath history, it may be best to take an aggressive approach and treat it
versus following a wait and watch approach. Treatment options being considered for
me are:
1. Having another DLI.
2. Chemotherapy with a
drug called Vidaza
3. Continue with a wait
and watch approach
As a follow up we are
going to do another check of my blood counts on Tuesday, November 1st
to see if there are any changes. In the meantime, my awesome transplant team
will be looking into studies, literature, and speak with The John Theurer
Cancer Center leukemia team to see what
the best course of action is.
I have plenty of confidence
and trust in the medical team… and my faith in Christ is a huge comfort… I just
know I will be OK.
I just need to keep
busy, keep moving and to BE POSITIVE!!!
Here is a link to a great
song by tobyMAC that brings home this point. The song is called “Move (Keep
Walking)”. Enjoy!!!
Consider it pure joy, my
brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know
that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish
its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
More
to come…
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
4 comments:
Happy for you brother! I was thinking about you a few days ago and wondering about Rich, "The Adventurer". The very next day, there you are giving a praiseworthy report and again showing us all how to trust the One who is in control and be thankful in all circumstances.
If I could be so bold, I would like to make a suggestion. In between updates and medical reports, what do you think about using this blog to share some deeper thoughts, or musings or experiences that have changed your heart in some way? How have you learned to cope with the very real possibility of a shorter lifespan? What sort of things are on your bucket list? Is your prayer life and desire for God different than it was? How so? How has this "Adventure" changed you? Are you less attached to the material and superficial aspects of this life? I think you could help more people who read your posts with some thought provoking perspectives from a seasoned warrior.
As a fellow "Adventurer" who is recovering from my first round of chemo and autologous stem cell transplant just under a year ago, I can testify that my inner life has changed and shifted and I am wrestling with what is my "new normal".
Hey B.B.
Thank you for your comments. You it is something I will definitely consider. When I think about the origin of my blog is was to keep my friends and family update. I am truly blessed with many people who care for me and want to be kept up to date on my health. This, of course, could be much added pressure on my immediate family to have to contact everyone. The blog served as a way of me communicating my health update to everyone. What completely surprised me was that people who didn’t know me started to also read my blog. Fellow MCL “Adventurers” and their loved ones found my blog and read it to get a perspective and a look into the experiences of what someone else with MCL was going through. This has been awesome for me. I have connected with so many great people who have truly been very supportive.
My goal with the blog was to keep it to health updates. With this my updates are more often when I have a lot going on and far less when my health challenges are under control and my interactions with my doctors less frequent.
When it comes to sharing deeper thoughts… I have approached this blog with a “keep it positive” attitude, finding the silver lining in every cloud and the light at the end of every tunnel. And when it comes to considering the possibility of a shorter lifespan??? Call me crazy, call me naïve, BUT I see myself outliving everyone. I can’t get all worried about my time being cut short. I have much to live for and I can’t get bogged down by what I have no control of. Each moment we are on this earth is a gift. My focus is on the here and now. I can’t change the past and I have no idea of what the future has in store for me.
When in come down to me confronting my mortality… I think about what my dad, who passed away this summer, would always say. “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you die.” Everything in between are the determining factors of where you go after you die. So when you ask me to comment on the possibility of a shortened life… my first thought is… how can there be such a thing when my goal is eternal life? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him may not die but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m in no rush to die, but let’s not kid ourselves, we are all going to eventually die. In truth, there are 7 billion people are alive today… and in 100 years we will all have passed. So whether it happens today, tomorrow or in 100 years, I am comfortable with where I end up.
BUT, in the meantime I want make the most of life… and I am not going to let a small thing like cancer stop me from doing so. A fellow cancer patient once said to me “You cannot control what is dealt to you; you can only control how you deal with it.” I choose to deal with my life challenges by not being bitter, by not being angry, by not blaming this on God. What I do and how I react to being sick has a direct impact on my family. If I am sad, my family will also be sad. If I’m mad, my family will also be mad. If I blame God, my family will blame God. I want my family to see me handle adversity in a positive manner. I want my family to see me handle by challenges with hope, faith and love. I want my family to see me deal with my cancer with Grace.
So B.B. my friend, you are probably sorry you suggested that I include my deeper thoughts. It’s one of those things that once I get started it’s hard to stop and I go on and on and on and on and on……… I could probably write another 10,000 words on this… YIKES!!!!
Oh well, maybe I should just keep to my health updates. Thank you again. I promise I will think about including deeper thoughts with future posts.
Peace and Prayers that you have great health,
Rich
Rich,
You just did what I suggested. You expressed aspects of the life of Rich, beyond the data points of a medical checkup. I liked it! Thank you!!
To clarify one issue - my point about our mortality or living a shorter than expected life probably has more to do with my own outlook that has definitely been altered by this experience. I am now more focused on relationships and less about work and career goals and aspirations. Not one of us knows how long we have on this earth, but most of us assume it will be the average span of 75-85 years. With that as an assumption, we tend to put off some very important things in life thinking we can focus more on them when we are retired and less busy. I am now aware that the legacy I will leave, is sharing more of who I am with those that God brings my way, and NOT what I do as a professional. Like you and your dad, I am secure in the reality that Christ has provided me with faith for salvation by the work of the cross and I have no fear of death and am in fact excited about eternal life in His kingdom when that day comes.
Hi Again B.B.How true... Perspective is everything... and certainly our MCL provides a big dose of it. Relationships, faith life and doing good take the forefront of our lives and career advancement is far less life's focus. I had a pastor, who is now retired... he used to always say that you never see a moving truck following person into the grave. What we can take with us is how we lived and all our good deeds. I have been very blessed to have the opportunity to be a music minister at church, an adult leader for a youth music ministry, a teacher of youth preparing for confirmation and a core team member of a men's group that helps men find and keep their faith. With each of these I feel so good about all the time and effort I put into these. Are these the type of deeds God is looking for from me??? I have no idea... but I sure hope so. I pray often to God asking what he would like from me... Boy I sure hope I'm getting things right... I also have been very blessed to continue to have the drive and engery to do these things... and the best thing we can leave behind is how we have touched the people in our lives.
Thank you again my friend.
Rich
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