Cancer, The Holidays, and Friends and FamilyYou know, with the holidays approaching again (geeze, it seems like they come every year, doesn’t it?) I think it would be good to review some of the situations that...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
The High Potential of Cannabis in TreatmentLet me ask you a question here, in a safe, judgment-free zone. What are your thoughts on cannabis? Cannabis can be quite the buzzy topic among blood cancer patients (pun...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Supportive Dogs - Both Comfort and ChallengeOne fall day when I was a sophomore at Vassar College, my boyfriend Tim and my friend Pam and I went to a nearby dog pound “just to look.” I...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Chess Or CheckersI’m sure many can relate and even say that blood cancer can be compared to some type of board game. Whether you’re playing Chutes and Ladders or Connect 4, you...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Managing Holiday EnergyLet’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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Going From Caretaken To CaregiverBeing 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...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Who Is In Your Support System?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...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Sixteen Years of Awareness MonthsAnd 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Three Things to Have in Emergencies, Plus AdviceIf 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...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Blood Cancer Is Not the Good CancerI 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...Reactions0reactionsComments24 comments
You Only Live OnceI’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...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
November is National Family Caregivers MonthAs 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
When Everyone Else Tells You How To CancerYou 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...Reactions0reactionsComments12 comments
Cancer is Fear, But It’s Not All BadWell 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
FrustrationFirst and foremost Happy Halloween! I remember coming across a quote that said "No one prepared me for surviving cancer. You know, the part that lasts the rest of your...Reactions0reactionsComments14 comments
What a Pain to Get Pain MedicationThe 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What Blood Cancer Teaches YouGetting 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...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Breath as a Tool to Aid HealingBreathing...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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
A New Kind Of GuiltI 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...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Introducing Lieutenant HarperRecently, 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments