FINISHED with Chemo!

Last night I took my final dose of ATRA, almost two-and-a-half years after my AML diagnosis.

It's hard to believe the end of treatment has finally come. We haven't received my quarterly PCR remission test result yet, but once that does come in, knock on wood, we'll be able to celebrate the end. Until I hit the five-year mark, I'll still be seeing my oncologist quarterly, and having my blood tested at each of those appointments, but NO MORE PAIN, NAUSEA, AND INSOMNIA!!!

Today, my family starts a new phase in our lives. For as far back as my daughter's memories go, she's been aware of me taking medicine and feeling sick, and having lots of doctor appointments because of the "Tiny Bad Guys." As long as I stay in remission, these memories of hers will slip away.

Happy Birthday, Lily

Happy birthday, my little angel.

Hopefully your great grandparents and cousin, Timothy, are showering you with love and kisses.

Next year, when I won't be doing chemo on your birthday, your daddy and I will do something fitting to commemorate your day. And some day, when your sister is old enough to understand, she will too.

Love you,

Mommy

Day Five

Last night and today haven't been great. Woke at 1:30am from the head pain and shortly thereafter was dealing with nausea. Managed to sleep through some of the pain this afternoon. Mom/husband/daughter at the zoo. Beautiful summer day. Trying not to feel depressed about being inside, feeling crummy.  Ten days, this will be over, and I have to keep reminding myself that these wretched pills have been killing any lingering, hiding cancer cells.

Last Round of Chemo!

This morning I started my last round of ATRA, and the last step in my 2.5 year chemotherapy regimen for APL (as long as I don't relapse, that is. Knock on wood!)

I'm already beginning to feel crummy, so am keeping this short.

My mom is here to help, which is great.

Now to get a nap in before the head pain intensifies...

Book Review: The Promise of Stardust

"The Promise of Stardust," written by Priscille Sibley, is a poignant debut novel about the tough choices a husband must make for his family. The novel begins with Matt losing his wife, Elle. Except she's not entirely gone; her fall from a ladder caused severe brain damage, but it didn't harm the baby inside her. After watching her mother subsist in a coma for a prolonged period while Elle was a teenager, she became vehemently opposed to being kept on life support if the circumstances ever required it for her. However, she'd never contemplated that the issue might arise while she was pregnant with the baby that she and Matt had been desperately wanting. Matt wishes to keep her on life support to give the baby a chance, but he's opposed by those family members who have a different opinion about what Elle would want done.

BRAVE Purple

This is a touching video about a wish-come-true for a three-year-old girl battling neuroblastoma.

Little girl gets dream house thanks to 'Make a Wish'

My dad has been involved with Make a Wish Wisconsin for years. Many in the construction industry in Southeastern Wisconsin work with him on fundraising. In this case, a construction crew of Ross & Associates literally sweated for the cause. They showed up one morning and built this little girl's dream home in a day.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: There are no signs of the cancer in the toddler's body. In a few years, she will be considered CURED. And by then, she will have had many happy memories in her purple playhouse.

New HuffPost Blog Post: Tips for Building a Great Hat Collection After Chemo

My new post is now live on the HuffPost Blog. Hopefully the tips are helpful for cancer patients who are now dealing with the bummer side effect of hair loss. Chemo is a great thing. As many patients are reminded, the fact that the rapidly-multiplying hair cells are destroyed means that the chemo is doing its job on other fast-dividing cells (i.e., cancer). Still, the day the hair falls out is a tough one for so many of us. I'm hoping this will be useful for at least a few patients, or their friends who want to do something to help

Chemo Style: A Cancer Patient's Tips for Building a Great Hat Collection