Dave Getting Stronger: Checking In

Monday, December 3, 2007

Checking In

I'm still here, ate my last chemo pill today, slogging through with very little discomfort, finishing strong. I'm fatigued with a sensitive stomach and little ability to concentrate, but the light shines bright. I'm thrilled to be here and hope this is the end of cancer treatment for me. I wouldn't be here without you.

6 comments:

Leeann said...: Dave,

You're doing great. I hope you can hear us cheering for you!

Leeann; December 3, 2007 at 8:07 PM
Andrew Slocum said...: it appears you've rounded the last bend and are heading for the finish line...we stand in awe at your performance...we cheer loud with admiration and joy...lets see a great finishing kick...don't look back behind you...your leaving cancer in the dust...hold your head high...look forward and beyond...plow on till the end!
Slocum; December 4, 2007 at 4:44 PM
Anonymous said...: Just think about a cold beer and chocolate milk ...

- MW; December 4, 2007 at 6:21 PM
Unknown said...: Dave,

After reading your post, I thought I'd visualize you breaking the tape at the finish line. Instead, I have this picture of you munching on a big piece of fried chicken in one hand with a piece of chocolate cake in the other... and a huge smile on your face. Sound like a plan?

I consider myself lucky to know someone with your courage, humor, and fortitude.

cheers,
Kil; December 5, 2007 at 10:05 PM
Anonymous said...: Good to hear from you - things got awfully quiet, so we are anxiously awaiting the loud cheers to start erupting from Sedgwick St. any day now ...

What a year 2008 will be for you all!

XOX
CMF; December 6, 2007 at 12:07 AM
Anonymous said...: Hi David,
We are so glad that you are doing so well and REALLY excited to finally meet you. We are flying in from Florida for Marsha's birthday. I have known Marsha since we were little as she lived down the street from my aunt. So when your father moved to Fla. we all became great friends. We think the world of your father and know that the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree. See ya tomorrow.
Ann Rosenblum; December 7, 2007 at 8:21 AM

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Thank You!

The most important order of business is to thank you for your generosity, kindness, support, love and prayers. I love you.

Liza, Eli, Reed, Ruby, Mom, Dad, Elizabeth, Annie, Rob, Finn, Emily, Elaine, Robin, Leon, Anne, Juana, Bill, Ellen, Charlotte, Freddie, Alison, Lila, Thomas, Jay, Allison, Tammy, Todd, Catherine, Todd, Karen, Stuart, Christian, Laurie, Gary, Nicole, Eric, Kil, Jenny, Mel, Ross, BCP, Lara, Charlotte, Peg, Tansy, Brian, Mike, Cristina, Chip, Geoff, Rob, Mary, Joel, Carol, Mike, Sally, Dave, Marvin, Patty, Jeff, Adam, Linda, Ed, Gail, Steve, Phyllis, Steve, Becky, Alan, Twiddy & Co., Jeff, Pam, Dee, Justine, Charlie, Dr. Levin, Billy, Jen, Eli, William, Colleen, Andy, Carla, Alex, Plato, Dr. and Mrs. Mac, Patrick, Dana, Chris, Chris, Dave, Andy, Stacie, Susan, Pam, Amy, Dennis, ACM, Jamie, Dudley, Bill, May Moms Group, George, Betsy, Michael, Karen, Billy, Wendy, Stuart, Ellie, Caren, Raj, Eric, Ray, Mary, Abby, Deeba, Mark, Oliver, Tyler, Lindsay, Tristan, Matt, Sandra, Dan, Seema, Vinny, Dianne, Nigel, Tina, PT, Brian, Ross, Andy, Tom, Barb, Peter, Helen, Adam, Corey, Emily, Jane, Marshamallow, David, Jenny, Kira, Gregorio, Emma, Janet, Jeff, Stacey, Pilar, Pat, Mimi, Dave, Karen, Tom, Steve, Emily, Gerardo, Nurses at BLES-2, Jesse, Andrew, Doug, Leigh, Dave, Shelley, Shel, Raffi, Shani, Jerry, Jim, Kyle, Cassandra, Steve, Pat, Phil, Liz, Shari, Karen, Tom, Shelley, Pat, Jimmy, Ann, Jamie, Kevin, Michael, Paula, Dana, Dave, Sophie, Eli, Lisa, Pam, Michael, Marc, Deedee, Robert, Katherine, Ellen, Amy, Matt, Andrew, Bill, Harry, Sue, Margaret, Jim, Peter, Dave, Nancy, Larry, Sandy, Carly, Kraig, Liza, John, Risa, Mike, Julie, Paul, Ron, Nava, Andy, Stephanie, Howard, Sharon, Howie, Janie, Toni, Earl, Suzette, Joel, Alex, Trish, Mabel, Nancy, Robyn, Scott, Michelle, Rachel, Deborah, Jeff, Judy, Larry, Diane, Joey, Sheila, Les, Danielle, Raj, Eric, Abby, Deeba, Mark, Lila, Burck, Marty, Sarah, Erik, Annie, Josh, Beth, Marc, Ana, Sulli, Sara, Annika, Steve, Maria, Maureen, Scott, Andrew, Elizabeth, Jenny, Dave, Jack, George, Mark, Marilyn, Jed, Michelle, Sol, Elaine, Kamran, Terry, Jim, Willie, Sandy, Simon, Ericka, Shane, Janet, Paul, Wesley, Chip, Angelo, Victor, Julie, Patrick, Phyllis, Alex, Buffy, Mary, Janet, Paul, Judy, AJ, Marullus, Kippy, Pedro, Allyson, Rachel, Leslie, Dan, Emily, Eric, Susan, Harry, Roz, Gary, David, Andrea, Elias, Leslie, Chris, Mr. and Mrs. B, Anthony, Ty, Elisabeth, Debra, Tom, Jon, Phil, Gail, Linda, Crickett, Brad, Gus, Deya, LaJerne, Marci, Ethan, Ann, Frauke, Hermione, Judith, Margaret, Huber & Weakland, Sheri, Beth, Dan, Kleins, Barbara, Bill, Marge, Jeb, Jeff, Judith, Sarah, Jon, Amy, Boz, Ian, Ivy, Polly, Laura, Carle, Alice, Michael, Sandra, Pete, Patty, Margaret, Judy, Lucille, Geoff, Lucille, CustomInk.com, Amy, Paulette, Ann, Margie, Charlie, Chip, Beth, Matthew, Brian, Tasha, Karianna, Cliff, Kate, Steve, Marci, Justin, Nancy, Charlie, Mike, Sonia, Karen, Tom, Sarah, Sam, Deanie, Tom, Kitty, Nancy, John, Jill, Tad, Dini, Ryan, Lindsey, Nan, John, Eileen, Jimmy, Jason, MaryCate, Daniel, John, Christiane, Patrick, Kari, Jeffrey, Michael, Lynn, Ed, Lucille, Julie, Stephen, Renee, John, Paulette, Michael, Aneita, Malik, Refugio, Ginny, Jamellah, Nina, Richard, Omar, Eleanor, Cassie, Greg, Kathleen, and the list goes on and on.

I am humbled and emotional every day just thinking of how you all are working to make this challenge as easy as possible for me and Liza. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Diagnosis

I was diagnosed with "Stage III Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma NOS" in August 2007, at 34 years old, with an amazing wife, two kids, loving dog, and generally feeling (as I continue to so feel), as blessed as anyone on this earth.

Stage III means the cancer is in more than one place (my abdomen and clavical), but not in my bone marrow. T-Cell Lymphoma is standard cancer of the lymph node system. N.O.S. means "not otherwise specified", or not one of the standard forms of T-Cell cancer, but somewhat understood nonetheless.

I am going through CHOP chemotherapy until late November. If all goes well, then the cancer will be killed and I'll be back to normal. If there are unexpected hurdles along the way, then I'm in excellent hands with world-wide Lymphoma experts at Georgetown, Hopkins, and Sloan Kettering.

Dave Getting Stronger

Monday, December 3, 2007

Checking In

6 comments:

Thank You!

Diagnosis

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