Friday, March 18, 2016

So how is Derek? I am frequently asked that question, and I’m not sure how to answer.  He is NOT ok, but he is doing ok for not being ok. The steroids, which ended early last week, produced a good appetite, but his energy level has been very low. He developed painful mouth sores that made it difficult to eat. Fortunately those are gone now, but he has nerve pain in his legs and sometimes

Sunday, March 6, 2016

On Friday, we started a protocol that hopefully will start to bring the lymphoma under control. Derek had to have intrathecal chemo under light sedation so he couldn’t eat before the procedure which was at 2 p.m. Even though he has been NPO at least 50 times before and two other times already this week, it does not get easier, especially

Thursday, March 3, 2016

The results are mostly in, and now we know. Derek has T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. Good news is it is not in his central nervous system, and initial testing indicates it is not in his bone marrow either. The donor graft from his stem cell transplant is doing its job as far as it can reach.  Problem is that it

Monday, February 29, 2016

The raucous mob outside the door make it difficult to sleep.  In the darkness, I can see their threatening faces pressed against the window and hear their incessant banging on the door, clamoring for admittance. I know their names. We've met before.

      Racing Heart.  Anxiety.

Friday, February 26, 2016

Today I had to do the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I had to tell my nine-year-old son that his cancer is back.

This afternoon my phone rang. The call display said “City of Hope.” “It’s either someone calling to check on Derek after his surgery yesterday, or it is someone with news,” I thought. When I heard the urgent voice on