Dave Getting Stronger: Ups and Downs

Friday, June 13, 2008

Ups and Downs

With the kids here the highs are definitely higher - just their smiles are worth their weight in gold - but the lows are much lower. I am exhausted and have to remember my limitations and priorities, otherwise the exhaustion turns into a nasty downward spiral, effecting my eating, drinking, pill taking, and sleeping. I'll get better at it but the last week has been rough physically.

Thank you for your continued well wishes. I love hearing from you, even if I don't have the energy to respond, your emails and notes give me a big boost.

Have a great weekend!

-------------
David Holder
(202) 270-3174

8 comments:

Leeann said...: Dave,

I'm sorry the adjustment has been difficult. I can understand that it would be. You'll find that point of balance, though, and remember that we are lifting you up and holding you and your family in our hearts, every day.

xo,
Leeann; June 13, 2008 at 8:45 AM
Anonymous said...: Slow and steady...

Loving you -- Sal (and Ruby!); June 13, 2008 at 9:31 AM
Anonymous said...: Take one step at time, and you will get there. Love Diane & Joey; June 13, 2008 at 9:39 AM
Anonymous said...: Keep up the positive attitude, David, you'll get there!

Shabbat Shalom and a very, very happy Father's Day!!!

Love,
Shani, Jerry, Zakai & Shamai; June 13, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Andy Stewart said...: David -

Keep it up, pal. I continue to be proud of your endurance. We think about you often. Hope to see you soon.

Cheers,
Andy; June 13, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Anonymous said...: David, walking around NYC must be a hoot. Sorry to cut the call short the other day, we were holding up cars. Bunch of folks from '93 sent best wishes. Mike; June 14, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Anonymous said...: Hey Strong Man! If it's any consolation to you, my 4-year-old and two-year-olds wear me out, too! :) But hang in there. With their unstoppable love, you are sure to be better sooner and faster. Perhaps they are just getting you back for the boundless energy you've always showed them! Soon you'll be back and better than ever. Happy Father's Day to one of the best dads around! Eli and Reedy are two lucky little boys.

Keep TCB!

XO
CMF; June 15, 2008 at 2:10 PM
Anonymous said...: Happy Father's day to one of the best Dad's I know! Hug them hard and take a deep breath. Love you bunches buddy. Jenny G and the White Boys; June 15, 2008 at 3:06 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, June 13, 2008

Ups and Downs

8 comments:

Thank You!

Diagnosis

About Me