Dave Getting Stronger: "Huge" Eli's in Town

Friday, August 31, 2007

"Huge" Eli's in Town

Today was a whirlwind. It started great and then I had a tough time until the afternoon. For some reason I just couldn't keep anything down. Then around lunchtime my dear friend Eli Balser flew in from California as a surprise and we had two or three hours of laughter - nature's finest medicine. His wife Alison, still in California with their son Abe, also gave me great advice for positive thinking. It has been very difficult for me to physically act positive b/c I have no energy. Thinking positive is one thing, but acting positive is also really important, and has eluded me. Alison suggested meditation and visualization and it works. While I'm physically exhausted I can still close my eyes and imagine I'm 110% running and exercising and feeling great. This is my new acting positive. Thanks again for today's calls and emails. I was happy to have a little strength to say hello a couple of times.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: Dear David, in reading your blog it struck me that your writing, much like the guided imagery and meditation techniques you mentioned, is a physical act of optimisim. I am so awed by your ability to connect with others while feeling so incredibly drained by your treatment. As always, we are thinking about you, Liza, and your families. Lots of love, Phyllis and Steve; September 1, 2007 at 8:05 PM
Ron Dweck said...: David and Liza :

Your blog demonstrates determination, courage and kindness. We are thinking and pulling for you. Please take comfort in knowing that your friends are thinking and pulling for you. We are in your corner.

Love,

Ron and Nava; September 1, 2007 at 10:57 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, August 31, 2007

"Huge" Eli's in Town

2 comments:

Thank You!

Diagnosis

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