It has been a long time since I have written an update. I apologize
for that.
Since I have been basically back to normal I have not had
the inspiration to write and tell everyone that I am doing fine.
I probably should have.
My time since my last update has been filled with lots of
fun and busy, busy days. And what I guess would be called the daily stress of
life.
I struggled with getting back to normal for most of May and
June. Even though I was still recovering
from the treatments I felt I had to get right back to work, and life. This was
very hard for me for a while. A lot of
things seemed trivial, compared to where I had been.
I also had to pick up all the items I had dropped in the
past two years. Working on house projects, Work projects that have been in the
wings for way too long, along with all the other details you just don’t think
about.
My overall recovery has been rather easy. Though I know I
will have long-term side efforts from the 19 chemos, bone marrow transplant and
radiation. But I now I have a lot more
time to deal with them later.
But listen to me I sound like it’s harder to live than to
anticipate dying.
I have been working out and playing soccer a lot and feeling
rather good. Both physically and mentally.
I also had a second scan in Sept that came out clean. Though
I really thought it was going to be.
So I never wrote a thank you letter to all the wonderful
people that helped me out. I feel really
bad about that. I guess I forget things quickly. Just wanted to get back to
“normal life.”
The last couple of months I have been a bit more reflective
than previously. In late October was my “anniversary” of getting out of the
hospital from my second Bone Marrow transplant.
It made me think about the difference a year makes.
I am so lucky it is hard to explain. Even without this miracle
drug (which I will take until mid January) I have had just a wonderfully time L-I-V-I-N.
My last 6 months and really 8 months since I started taking
this new drug have been spectacular. Even though I can’t say I have lived every moment
of every day as if it was my last.
(something I think I promised here once.) I have done a ton of fun things and
visited a lot of my friends and family.
Here is a quick list:
·
Ran the San Juan River with great friends and a
wild 30th bday party.
·
Ran the Middle fork and Main Salmon with
my long time Friends Ari and Josh. And
was able to have a great 32nd birthday bash for myself on this great
river.
·
Got back on a commercial river trip in Desolation
canyon. Which is the river of my childhood.
And again it made feel like a wonderful child and why I love taking
people down the river.
·
Visited family in New York for a cousin's
wedding. Just a great trip of love and fun family events.
·
Visited New Hampshire and my college roommate
Todd. Also “played” my first 2 days of golf in a row. (something I picked up to “retire”)
·
Spent a wonderful week in Telluride for a
friends 40th birthday part.
·
Went to my first professional football game.
Even if the broncos’ did not play like it.
This does not count all the times I have spent doing the “mundane”
things that I love. Playing Cards with my friends, Mountain Biking, hiking with
Lulu, Wednesday night Soccer, Sunday coffee on my porch, and more little things
than I can think of.
Last summer/fall seems like a blur of hospital rooms, pain,
sadness and loneliness. There were many
nights last year when I could think of nothing more than what I am going to do
for the next 3 weeks.
I guess really this little email is to tell you I leave for
the Grand Canyon tomorrow! I picked up
this permit almost 2 years ago. At the time I just wanted to make the trip as
maybe a last hurrah.
But now it is a celebration of life trip and I could not be
happier for it.
Since I should have notified all of you of my clear scan in
Sept. I thought it was at least appropriate to let you know that I am getting
back to things I love. With only three more
treatments, I hope my final email will
be in two months to tell you I have a final clean scan and I have been through
the last of my treatments.
Thank you for all your support .
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