One Year and Still Here

Hi All,

Many of you have received an email about my family starting this blog. I am new to blogging but this one is pretty user friendly so my first entry is to remind everyone that my diagnosis on October 19th, 2007 is approaching one year. To be honest, my BMT was on March 4th, 2008 so my "birthday" of one year will be in 2009 but being alive and with my family each day continues to be a gift I never take lightly.

My chronic Graft vs Host Disease (cGVHD) is stable and will be with me likely into the near future according to my docs and other resources I have investigated. The Stanford ophthalmologist keeps using the word "improving" at our visits each week and my BMT team specializes in cGVHD now so I am stoked about that...such a God thing:) Also, I have connected with a group that has allowed me to access resources and experts around the country if I wish to explore options and second opinions in the near future. Please don't hesitate to ask me if there is someone you know who needs this info or anything from me.

But for now, I continue to chug toxic medications, offsetting them with vitamins, shakes and a workout schedule that demands flexibility but keeps me somewhat limber (less limber also cGVHD side effect-jeez:( Laura has returned to work part time with Best Care as a mother-baby Home Health nurse. She loves those babies! Katy and Meghan are gearing up for their Nutcracker performance in December at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center. Meghan is the lead part of Clara and she is awesome. Katy is an apprentice Company member and will be in many parts of Nutcracker too. Tommy is banging heads in SLO Youth Football and loving it.

Overall, we are stoked for each day together...so stoked! As I often do, I will end with a quote:

"Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision,

But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,

and every tomorrow a vision of hope" Rick Hoyt