Church!
I was able to go to church yesterday.  I’ve watched sermons online, but there’s nothing quite like actually being in church.  Singing along with 1,000 other people after being absent for over a month was awesome.  We like to sit close to the front, and did so yesterday.  I like to take Tucker up to the baptismal as people are getting baptized and did so yesterday.  Granted, I wasn’t standing for the songs, but I don’t think God minds.  And to my pleasant surprise, there were plenty of full communion cups to choose from 🙂

hc1 and AIM
I’ll forgive you if you missed the big news.  The Today show didn’t cover it, but it is important none the less.  I mention this press release for a couple of reasons (http://tinyurl.com/qa6cw74).  First, I worked on this account at hc1 and love the AIM team.  Second, AIM is leading the way to personalize cancer care via genomics.  Personalized Medicine is a relatively new field where a person’s cancer is sequenced to find the exact mutations they have at a genomic level.

Current treatment is kind of like shooting with a shotgun.  Typically you are given treatment based on the area of the body where the cancer exists.  You are shooting a broad spectrum of chemo that typically works.  Therapy based on genomics is like using a sniper rifle.  After sequencing the cancer, doctors can tell exactly what genes are mutated and prescribe medicine that targets those specific genes.  Furthermore, if multiple genes are mutated, doctors can try to target a gene that will have the least impact on normal tissue.

Continue reading Don’t Play with Matches

You Made It!
You’re reading my very first update on thankyouforanotherday.com!  Some people have asked if I’m done updating.  Most definitely not.  You will still get updates on my health and treatment.  It will just be happening on this site instead of Caringbridge.  This site is based on WordPress, which gives me more control over content.  It’s easier to post and easier to add pictures and videos.

An Early 4th
Lindsey works tomorrow.  Back in the day before kids, she would work on the 4th and then I’d join her downtown to watch the fireworks.  Since having kids, that tradition has ceased.  It might have picked back up this year, but there ain’t no way I’d be able to make it up that late.  I think Grandma Jane and Grandpa Bruce might take the kids downtown to join Mommy for some fireworks.  I’ll just have to wait til next year to continue the tradition.  We did have a little fireworks show of our own.  Nothing too big.  It started with a $1.00 box of sparklers, which is all we had.  After the kids enjoyed that, Daddy ran out and got a few more fireworks to enjoy.  By the way, matches and lighters are for sissies.  Real men use blow torches to light fireworks.

  

Continue reading Goooooooooooooo ‘Merica

What’s Up Doc
Right now I’m enjoying some fever free time at home.  Unfortunately it’s somewhat energy free too, but still, it’s home.  My next appointment with Dr. Cripe is Wednesday, July 8th.  Assuming my counts are high enough, I will have another bone marrow aspiration (oh joy) to confirm my remission.  Once my remission is confirmed, we will most likely discuss how close we are to SCT.  Depending on timelines, I may receive another round of chemo (Cycle 1B) to maintain remission.  The B cycles always intrigued me.  During those cycles I’m given IV Methotrexata.  The dose is so high that I then have to take Leucovorin.  Leucovorin is called a rescue drug and helps remove the methotrexate from my system.  It’s essentially like taking a poison and then taking an antidote afterwards.  If I didn’t take the Leucovorin, the Methotrexate would stay in my system and I’d develop severe mouth sores and GI issues as it ate away at my tissue.  Good times

Continue reading Just Hanging Out