It’s Been a Whirlwind of a Day
Wow!  We can definitely feel and see the love.  It’s been a whirlwind of a day and I haven’t been able to keep up with all the emails, texts, and facebook well wishes.  So let me just give one big thank you to everyone via this blog.  Your support means so much to us and everyone rejoicing with us just gives me more energy and confidence to move forward.

Plan A and Plan B
Plan A and B were something I was going to write about in 2013.  Then treatments got routine, I didn’t write as much, and the plans were never revealed.  Plan A and B are something I’ve thought about this time around as well.  They are the plans that have kept me going.  The plans for my treatment, cure and life.    Plan A is what I’m on right now for my treatment.  I’ll explain both plans, but let’s back up a bit to see how the current version of my Plan A started.

The Original Diagnosis
For those of you that need a quick recap of how I found out I had leukemia in 2012, you can go here: Recap.  When Lindsey and I were talking about my lab results on December 5th, 2012 and the potential of a leukemia diagnosis, she asked me what we were going to do.  My plan was to go to the hospital, get treated, and then continue on with life.  Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that, so let me explain.

Continue reading Sharing My Plans

A Good Morning
The morning started off with the normal routine of getting people ready.  We dropped the girls off at pre-school and Grandma Jane took Tucker.  With much anticipation, Lindsey and I then headed to Simon Cancer Center.

We arrived at our appointed time, waited a bit and had labs drawn.  We went back to the waiting room and then the tech announced “Dr. Cripe is running 45 minutes behind.”  So we waited some more.  Eventually we got back to the BMA room….and waited some more.  Finally Dr. Cripe was able to come in and perform the BMA.  After all was said and done, Lindsey and I went to the coffee shop and then came back up to the consult room to wait on results.

The Consult Room
We were in the same consult room that I was in when I found out I had relapsed.  Back then, on June 3rd, I was feverishly typing on my laptop.  Arranging coverage at work, notifying people of the relapse and preparing to update my caring bridge.  This time was more relaxed, albeit with more anticipation.  We were waiting on the news that would determine the next course of action.  And then the door opened…

It was the nurse.  Just checking to see if Dr. Cripe had come in yet.  Of course he hadn’t, but we knew it would be soon.  Lindsey put her phone down and grabbed my arm.  The moment becoming more real for both of us.  We waited a few more minutes and finally the door opened.  Before it closed, Dr. Cripe uttered the words we wanted to hear, “You are in complete remission.”

On to SCT
It would be nice if this was it.  If remission meant that treatments were over.  That I could go back to work.  That I could do the normal family things.  But what it means is I’m on to SCT.  The transplant team will be contacted today and things will go in motion.  I should be hearing soon what the plan is and meeting with the transplant doc, Dr. Nelson.  I will still be admitted on Wednesday to start the 2nd cycle of Blinatumomab.  Stay tuned for more information and I’ll of course be posting the #cancercation recap at some point.  Until then, thank you God for this remission!  And leukemia, you can kiss my ass.

Back to Cancer
It’s been a good run and we were able to do a lot of things, but #cancercation has ended.  I’ll post some highlights over the next few days.  It definitely felt like a vacation in many ways.   I spent a lot of time with family and no time with anything cancer related.  Unfortunately as this vacation ends, I don’t get to go back to work, I have to go back to cancer.

Tomorrow morning we will wake to excited twins as the girls have their first day back at pre-school.  They’ll don their backpacks and talk excitedly about seeing their friends and teachers.  We will drop them off at pre-school and then drop Tucker off at Grandma Jane’s.  Then Lindsey and I will head to Simon Cancer Center for my 9:45 am appointment.

Continue reading All Good Things Must Come to an End