Living

When we speak of what helps us maintain the balance within our body composition, water is so very important. Did you realize our bodies are made of 60-70% of water?...

I tried to hide the tears streaming down my face, but it was too late. I thought my parents would scold me. After all, I was five years old, about...

It’s a thing you’re supposed to do when you have blood cancer. The only problem is most of us would rather be trapped next to an Instagram model on a...

I admit it, I have a behavioral problem. It isn’t rare, but until recently, I didn’t have a name for it, when someone called it “Shiny Object Syndrome,” which seemed...

“Where did I put that sulfa?” I said to myself and the dog. The dog of course didn’t answer. I didn’t know the answer myself. That’s why I was asking...

There are times when I feel comfortable enough to share my diagnosis and my symptoms with someone. I’ve been treating this chronic myeloid leukemia for ten years now and often...

Even though I’ve been living with multiple myeloma for 4 years now, I had to look up what Myeloma Action Month is and how it is different from Myeloma Awareness...

I love children's literature. Book Week was one of my favorite weeks when I was teaching. Students would dress in costume as their favorite book character or make posters about...

I was first diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia seven years ago. My first visit with the CML specialist lasted for three hours. I remember some of what was said and...

During and long after chemo treatments for my non-Hodgkin lymphoma, it was not unusual for me to feel tired. I do not mean sleepy, I mean totally exhausted. This was...

Having blood cancer is emotionally and financially draining. There is so much going on, but the best thing you can do right now is take care of yourself. The problem...

I was very sad to hear of the recent passing of General Colin Powell. His death as reported was due to complications from COVID-19, as well as suffering from a...

I’ve been in a bit of an odd place with this pregnancy – not that I’ve been pregnant before so this is my first experience, but when I saw those...

Insurance. It is essential when you have an illness like cancer, and I’m not just talking about medical insurance to help with the finances. When I say insurance, I really...

Long before the Cabbage Patch dolls, we baby boomer girls had Chatty Cathy! Santa Claus brought me one for Christmas in 1960. (My parents ordered her from the Montgomery Ward Catalog...

Being a part of a blood cancer community is not something I ever thought I would do. I actually stayed far away from support groups when I was in active...

It’s hard for me to say what makes my tennis game great on one day, good on another, and pretty bad on others. It has the same variability as many...

This year I turned 60 and on my birthday I made a pledge to try 60 new things. It has been 6 months and I have been very busy working...

Years ago, I helped my mother prepare for her Sunday School class meeting because it was her turn to host and serve a dessert. So we picked apples from a...

My life was turned upside down with my unexpected cancer diagnosis. It was initially difficult to plan for the future. I considered things I would miss or no longer enjoy...