Time, Remission, and the Future
Time also seems to fly or at least blur for other reasons, stress and harsh circumstances being a couple of them. This occurs not when you’re in the middle of what you’re going through, but in looking back.
The Real Jesus
My journey with chemo continues, side effects notwithstanding. There have been a lot of them. In fact, I’m taking more meds to counteract the chemo side effects than the meds themselves that make up the chemo cocktail. My focus has been symptom management and staying ahead of the symptoms. In addition to dealing with the…
Tribute
My life just got a little simpler, sort of. It started last week. I asked Jenny, “So What’s in the diffusor?” “It sort of reminds me of how my clothes smell. In fact, it reminds me how my food smells. Then it dawned on me. My food not only smells like my clothes and the essential…
The Chemo Honeymoon is Over
Some of my readers may think way differently about some of what I write here in the last half of this article. What I say, and how I say it could be considered snarky. That’s OK, of course. It is, however, simply a reflection as I wrestle and work through my new lifestyle. That’s why…
Chemo Therapy Begins
The following is a summary of my last week, written chronologically. I threw in a little theology at the end, probably the best part to read. If you’re short on time, I’d skip to the bottom of the post to see what I say. Tuesday, October 30 Prior to my first chemo session, I got…
God’s Camouflage
God is always camouflaging His divinity in the mundane things of the world. – Chad Bird Last Monday, Jenny and I traveled to Rochester, Minnesota. We were there to get a second opinion from the Mayo Clinic, one of the top Amyloidosis Hospitals in the nation. This trip was made possible through the generous gifts of many….
Chemo, Grandchildren, and Hope
This is the first of a series of posts I’ll be writing as I reflect on my journey with AL Amyloidosis. As I’ve written previously, there is no cure, and life expectancy ranges from months to a few years. However, there are exceptions, and I hope I’m one of them. Writing my thoughts down is a…
The Post I Never Thought I’d Have to Write: A Daughter’s Version
I’ve spent the better part of this afternoon staring at a blank page, the blinking cursor offering proof of my lack of adequate words to convey what a difficult time this is for our family. As my dad has shared previously, the rarity and severity of his disease has shaken us over these past weeks….
What Happened this Week & Prayer in Three Words
On Tuesday I was up at OHSU for two scheduled tests: an eco-cardio gram and an EKG. The bone marrow biopsy was denied by my insurance carrier. I was required to have it done “in network.” After checking in at the cardiology office, I sat in a very small waiting room along with two or…
Together Again
Jenny and I started Basic Skills in 1987. We had two children, Ryan (newborn) and Natalie (age four). Four years later Katelyn, our youngest, was born. Around this time we started doing group testing around the state. Jenny and I packed the kids in a mini-van with a car-top carrier and off we went….