Living

Let’s face it, as much as the holidays can bring joy and fun, they can often be utterly exhausting! And for those of us living with blood cancer, those worn-out...

Being taken care of. It’s part and parcel of living with blood cancer. Whether it's family, friends, home health aides, or even the chemo place medical staff, cancer almost always...

Sometimes the support you find when diagnosed with blood cancer comes from unexpected places. Nine years ago, it was unchartered territory for me when I learned I had a rare...

And another Blood Cancer Awareness Month has gone by. Another World CML Day has gone by. And for the second year in a row, I basically forgot about it. And...

If you ever find yourself in an emergency situation, such as the need to visit the emergency room, I’ve learned from experience that a little advanced preparation goes a long...

I am so amazed that people consider blood cancer to be the "good cancer." I will never forget one of the first times I spoke openly about my chronic lymphocytic...

I’ve had the opportunity to take part in some amazing experiences while and after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma a decade plus ago. It’s only been a few years now...

As a mom, you are a natural caregiver. From the moment you realize a new life is on the way, to seeing the first glimpse of that new little person...

You are a cancer warrior! You are a survivor! You are a fighter! You are a one-eyed-one-horned-flying-purple-people-eater! When you have blood cancer, it seems like everyone is always telling you...

Well it is that time of year again. No, not the Holiday season - it’s not quite time yet! Even though I am already seeing holiday-themed commercials, I am still...

The other day, I was walking down the street, choking back tears, stopping and starting and stopping again. I was trying to finish a text to my nurse practitioner at...

Getting the news I had blood cancer was a bit of a shock. And while I did not know it at the time, my not-so-good news would evolve into many...

Breathing...it’s something we all do without even thinking. We trust that our breath will happen naturally, and without thinking, we accept the oxygen that our breath carries into our cells...

I had a very tricky week recently. To make it selfishly about me, rather than the parents it happened to. A funeral of the most beautiful little girl. Not earth-side...

Recently, I had the pleasure and honor of watching my daughter Crystal graduate from Officer Training School for the United States Air Force. It was such a proud moment, but...

When October comes, many people associate it with pumpkins, beautiful foliage, or even football games. For me, October is significant for other reasons. No, it is not because it is...

Since I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma 15 years ago, I’ve had a bunch of scans. And of course, with every scan came scanxiety. Every time. But a few weeks...

Now what they don’t tell you is that if you do make it to remission of your blood cancer, with maintenance or without maintenance, the likelihood of other hiccups always...

In the book of Genesis 2:18, we find a quote saying, “It is not good that man should be alone.” A few centuries  later John Donne in his poem reminds us...

I was at a Bunco fundraiser when a lady at my table said her husband had been recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma. I replied that I had something similar called...