i've pondered off and on about sharing this part of my life...not really sure why, maybe because i don't just share everything on this blog anyway, maybe because it's pretty personal and i'm not that good at putting myself out there for all the world to see...literally.
but as i took jackson to school this morning i heard a local radio station asking for donations in an effort to further cancer research. that was a good sign to me that i needed to do the same.
in july 07 i found out that my dad had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma a somewhat rare (atleast to me) incurable cancer of the blood. this was someone who took excellent care of himself but that didn't matter. cancer doesn't care how well you take of yourself, atleast i don't think so. and that's not to say you shouldn't either. he was diagnosed after a series of tests and a trip to the dr for what he (my dad) thought might have been apendicitis. the pain in his side was actually nothing to worry about but his blood tests showed that he was extremely anemic. he was then sent to an oncologist and after more tests he learned of the multiple myeloma...and at that time those two words became a familiar part of our vocabulary.
90% of his blood contained the cancer, stage III, statistically 3-5 years.
he immediately began an oral chemotherapy...which fortunately just about the only side effect he had was dizziness. he was to take 4 rounds of this (4 months) and then see if a stem-cell transplant would be next. stem-cell transplants are very good in treating this type of cancer. so we were pretty sure that would be on the agenda.
we were correct.
he was transferred to a cancer clinic for more tests and after completing the oral chemo his blood showed to contain only 5% of the myeloma. AMAZING! partial remission. however the benefit of a stem-cell transplant would be to prolong the remission for as long as possible...and these doctors have had great success and there is new and promising research just on the horizon.
today, as i write this my dad is getting his first chemo treatment of his stem-cell transplant. the transplant process is long (about 3 months) and boring and he will have two transplants back to back...."tandem" they call it.
during his transplant he will receive blood products for various reasons and the clinic asks that family and friends give blood...this blood wouldn't go directly to my dad but it would replace the blood in the bank and go to others just like him. i don't like giving blood. i don't do needles...at all. that is what kept me from becoming a nurse! it's a wonder i actually had a baby...i was so thankful for a c-section AND an epidural. so my thing is...sometimes you have to do things for others, even if it's for those you will never cross paths with.
so go give blood...or just give...and encourage others to do it too.
i have also decided to give proceeds of my Sterling Silver Hand-Stamped Jewelry and Photo Tiles to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society . they use donations to fund their research and without individuals they could not make that happen. it's so important to give. (you can also click on the leukemia site directly and donate via paypal if you wish!) if you have any questions just send me an email and i'll be happy to answer!
and if you're still reading (and this was a short version)...thanks for listening!