Dave Getting Stronger: Change of Season

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Change of Season

The Spring has always felt like the new year to me - the thaw, flowers, birds, and optimism (not to mention as a kid growing up in Baltimore the new lacrosse season and the O's). Now, however, I feel the changes accompanying this Fall having the same effects. I feel like people are rejuvinated with the cool crisp weather. This change and excitement is contagious and I feel it too. I am invigorated. Then with my birthday yesterday (and all of your thoughtful well wishes) and my new strength, my spirit is like the fast moving Fall cool air. So maybe this is the beginning of a new year for me, and for some reason I'm quite certain it will go down as a good one.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: David,
AMAZING is all I can say.
Thank you for sharing the gift.
Happy Birthday and many, many more.
Jenny G and The White Boys.; October 17, 2007 at 9:22 AM
Caren T. said...: Happy Birthday David. We hope your special day was full of love and of happiness about the healing that is to come. We think about you each and every day. We are so proud of you. Love, Mark, Caren and the twins who can't wait to meet you!; October 17, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Anonymous said...: I saw your "odds" post the other day and wanted to weigh in. I was 20/80 and yet I just celebrated my "cure date" which for me was two years from the end of chemo. You know what's crazy- it felt like ten minutes...and crazier- I actually look back on that time with some fondness and nostalgia. I can't quite form my thought on that but it was a scary and yet somehow exhilirating experience to see the finest doc's in the world do their thing with me as the center of attention. I saw some amazing acts of love and fellowship from friends and family, viewed some heartbreaking scenes around me, and learned some genuine lessons about the value of my life and how fortunate I am.

My guess is that we'll have a chat about that a few years from now and you'll tell me I'm not crazy.

Sending peace and serenity, Brian; October 17, 2007 at 3:37 PM
Anonymous said...: Happy Birthday David! We think about you all the time. We wish you good health and happiness in the coming year!
Love, Becky and Alan; October 17, 2007 at 7:48 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.

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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

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Change of Season

4 comments:

Thank You!

Diagnosis

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