Dave Getting Stronger: Post-chemo

Friday, January 11, 2008

Post-chemo

I remember now what it feels like after a chemo session. I had clearly blacked it out of my memory. The biggest symptom is my abdomin again. It feels like (1) a big balloon is expanding in my belly, (2) there are two hogs fighting in it. Fatigue is the other serious player. The good news, as always, is that the love that surrounds our house continues to make this time as easy as possible. The love flows even a little more today, as it is Liza's birthday. Eli and I gave her an original art-project painting, which she graciously accepted as one of the Masters'. We Love You.

____________________________
David Holder
(202) 270-3174

7 comments:

Anonymous said...: D -

A big huge happy bday hug to Liza! Everyone at the Friendly School is thinking of you and holding you in the light. Love you much.

Amy; January 11, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Anonymous said...: Holder Family Birthday Song
(to follow real Happy Birthday song)

Melody: Merry Widow Waltz

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, just for you,

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, may your dreams come true,

When you blow out the candles,
One light stays aglow,

And that's the sunshine that you spread where ere you go!

Happy Birthday Liza!
Nancy/Mom/Nancy; January 11, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Anonymous said...: Liza - Happy b-day to you, happy new day to Dave. One day, one piece of wonderful artwork at a time. Here's to seeing many, many, many, many more birthdays! I guess that just means when this is all done we'll have to have an even BIGGER party, right?!

Love you both - Teddy's excited to see Eli today!

XO
CMF; January 11, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Anonymous said...: David,

Its now January 11 and all we can think about is you and Liza. We're so glad that you're back home and the two of you are together on Liza's birthday.

Your strength continues to inspire everyone.

With love,
Linda, Ed, Adam and Jeff; January 11, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Anonymous said...: To David and Liza, with hugs from us today.

Happy Birthday to our gorgeous niece,
Our praise of you will never cease.

A woman you are of strength and skill,
There's not a task you can't fulfill.

You motivate others to be their best---
Yup, you're right.
This is a love fest!

And though our couplets have run out of steam,
Just take it from us,
You are a queen!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

We love you and David and Eli and Reed very much,
Aunt Shelley and Uncle Shel; January 11, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Dana Little Jackson said...: I'm loving the art and poetry and songs on your blog today. From your description of the hogs in your tummy to the lovely songs in honor of your birthday queen, everyone is telling it like it is in such colorful terms. Glad you're home too. I'm saying the most intense, specific prayer today that y'all will spend Liza's next birthday together, just the two of you, on a beautiful beach in the Caribbean sipping margaritas. On second thought, maybe William and I will come too. Love, Dana; January 11, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Anonymous said...: Happy Birthday Liza! Hope you found some time to listen to Air Supply, I know how happy that makes you. David, best wishes pal. Woodrow; January 11, 2008 at 10:22 PM

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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

Friday, January 11, 2008

Post-chemo

7 comments:

Thank You!

Diagnosis

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