Cancer is the Worst Roommate!The worst thing about my college days was not studying for exams or writing term papers. The worst thing was dealing with roommates. Now, ladies, don't any of you call...reactions8comments
My Body, My AnchorI'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I riseMaya Angelou The plights we go through...reactions6comments
Encouraging CaregiverWhen you think of encouragement, you may think of giving someone support and reassurance. This is definitely true and is needed in many cases when you are helping someone you...reactions12comments
Beyond Exhaustion: How Life Changes with FatigueFatigue. It is not “just being tired,” and it is an experience that individuals living with a chronic health condition know all too well. Fatigue can impact every aspect of...reactions14comments
Community Views: How Does Being a Caregiver Impact Your Life?Most of us know what a caregiver does, but not everyone fully understands what it is like to be a caregiver until they are in that role. To start a...reactions2comments
A Little Perspective Goes a Long WayI’m probably not the only person who ever spaced out while driving. It happens when I’m intensely listening to the radio, or a podcast, or occasionally, though I don’t do...reactions11comments
My Gold Star Exit PlanWhen I retired from teaching in 2017, I had an exit plan. I recorded my students' grades, printed off a copy of my classroom's inventory, and left notes in my...reactions8comments
A Current of HopeI grew up at a bay in Washington State. That’s probably why I find boating in Puget Sound so calming. It’s like I draw my peace from it. Out there...reactions8comments
Others May Not “See” It. But I Feel It.During Invisible Illness Awareness Week, we want to recognize and shed light on all those affected by an illness that may go unnoticed despite the major impact your illness has...reactions3comments
The Future - Flying Cars, Robot Butlers, & Cancer?The future is a wondrous place. Or so we’ve been told. The fact of the matter is that when you have cancer, the future isn’t quite as rosy a picture...reactions11comments
How I Try to Stay Out of Trouble While Exercising (Part 2)My middle child, my son, seemed to be the one around each time I had a fall. He had to rush some 90 miles when I landed in the hospital...reactions11comments
World Hospice & Palliative Care Day 2020: Voices from the CommunityEach year, World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is observed in October. This year, October 10 will mark the day to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the...reactions1comment
The Stress of Being a CaregiverAnytime you care for someone it’s hard. It’s hard for many reasons. Maybe it’s a time thing and now you have even more to do. Perhaps it’s a space thing...reactions6comments
Top Symptoms of Blood CancerLife with blood cancer can vary from person to person. Symptoms, treatment, side effects, progression, remission, and more are unique to each situation. For some, symptoms may be disabling and...reactions4comments
First Blood Cancer ChemoAll I can say is that it has been interesting to undergo chemotherapy for the first time for blood cancer. As you might imagine, I approached my first treatment with...reactions8comments
Always More to Learn, or Relearn, About BloodAt the newspaper where I was a reporter, if you read a too-long story or were making fun of yourself for writing one, you would say that it contained everything...reactions3comments
The Next Chapter of My Life After CancerI am a survivor of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. During chemotherapy, my life was “on hold" while I focused on treatment. What would I do next in this new world post-cancer? Get...reactions9comments
The “What Are Your Wishes” Conversation & All The FeelsPart of having cancer is facing the inevitable question, “is it terminal?” In some cases, it’s pretty clear from the jump what the prognosis is, but in other cases (aka...reactions8comments
Re-creating MyselfThere’s a corkboard at the front of my desk. I see it when I sit down to write, but I seldom notice the things pinned to it. Today though, one...reactions20comments
Turning 50 With Blood CancerI quietly turned 50 at the end of May this year. I’ve never been too much into celebrating my yearly milestones. I did have a nice 50th birthday because I...reactions17comments