Canswerist

Just two weeks since the latest round of chemotherapy, we returned to City of Hope (COH) for a "booster" round due to the not-so-unexpected return of the tumors in what have been the standard locations: under the right arm, the left rear jaw, and top of the right collar bone. The chemo session on Wednesday lasted about five hours. ............................................................................. My medical team continues to monitor the situation since we all desire that there be the "least" evidence possible of the tumors when I am admitteed to COH for stem cell transplant August 13. The doctors call it control of the cancer. I am not sure if there will be another round of the chemo before August 13, but it is now evident that chemo alone is not the long-term solution. ............................................................................. During the next two-plus weeks, we have a myriad of tests and procedures to be done in preparation for the SCT...

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. Hebrews 6:11 (NIV) .................................................................................. After the “rough patch” of the last two weeks, it has been good to have a “normal” week. As of this last Monday, when I had routine blood tests and a physician visit, we found that the blood counts had not dropped; hence, no transfusion needed. We go back to City of Hope July 20 for more blood tests, but we expect that the counts are still in acceptable ranges. .................................................................................. July 20 also marks the start of my medical leave. For the most part, work assignments and details have been delegated to an interim director and my Foothill Foundation staff of two, as well as others who are associated with Citrus Valley Health Partners. Dee Dee has given me decided assurances that now is the time to “release” the duties and stresse...

But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. Psalm 71:14 (NIV) .................................................................... Seldom do we know the value of something until that value is tested. So it is with HOPE. No professional group may rely more on hope than those fund-raisers who work for nonprofit organizations. .................................................................... They ... ... HOPE that their organizations will be effective, worthy stewards of the funds entrusted to them. ... HOPE that they can create and manage effective appeals that will garner the support needed by their causes. ... HOPE that some donors will give at levels exceeding their expectations and that many will give at the "best possible" level. .................................................................... Over time, all fund-raisers deal with the reality of HOPE fulfilled and sometimes with HOPES dashed or delayed. No effort is conducted in a stra...

"If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." -- Mark 9:23(NIV) .................................................................... For Southern California or almost anywhere north of the equator in July, it is rare to face a frigid breeze. But that seems to be what we faced today with a call from our COH physician, Dr. R. Nakamura. .................................................................... As you know, we have been preparing for the allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) on July 20. Consult this source provided by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for more information about SCT. .................................................................... Now, due to the fact that the lymphoma has returned in less than three weeks since the last chemo (and this has been the pattern for the last several chemo sessions), Dr. Nakamura is hesitant to keep July 23 as the transplant date. In fact he is posing the suggestion that the t...

"What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?” -- Job 6:11 (NIV) .................................................................... June 23 Update: Another small change of planson Friday. Dr. Nakamura decided not to give the second round of chemo, but to reserve that for another week due to the fact that there are no visible signs of return of the lymphoma at this time. Also, we found that the "primary" donor prospectfor my SCT is not available until August, so we are switching to alternate #1, a 35-year-old male.The date of the SCT remains July 23 for now. June 20 marked the 30th day before my scheduled admission to City of Hope (COH) for the start of the allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) with the actual procedure set to occur on Monday, July 23, if all goes according to plan. Please consult this source provided by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for more information about SCT. While spending several months c...

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." -- Psalm 139:14 (NIV) .................................................................... A call Thursday from Dr. R. Nakamura, my attending physician at City of Hope, brought the good news we had hoped soon to hear: .................................................................... The donor match is all but assured with 9 of 9 DNA variables matching! A 10th test is being conducted and, if that is also a match, we will have found the best possible donor match for my allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) from an unrelated donor. .................................................................... For a complete view of SCT, consult this source provided by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society :"One of the early steps for SCT patients involves high-dose chemotherapy and radiation thatdestroys existing bone marrow and stem cells. .....................................

"Do not be anxious about your life, whatyou shall eat, or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on." (Matthew 6:25) ......................................................... Like all of you reading this blog, I havedealt with occasional anxieties. This is the normal stuff of life. But there is probably no one thing that brings anxiety like dealing with a serious, even life-threatening health issue. Such an issue entered the world of theFoxworths in March 2006 in the form of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). While we have been blessed with an array of caregivers and effective treatments to help control the cancer, the condition remains without a cure. The best possible hope for a cure, medically speaking, is an allogeneic stem cell transplant. CLICK HERE to read my May 23 message aboutallogeneic transplants.We are now a little more than five orsix weeks away from that procedure at City of Hope. Meanwhile, we deal with the ongoing process of chemotherapy, pe...

"A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxietiesbut frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes yourpossibilities." -- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994 ) .......................................................... Have you ever had the experience with a certain relationship where you can never get beyond friendship to experience true fellowship? Last evening, Dee Dee and I hosted more than 30 friends and family members for a "small" celebration of my 59th birthday. Considering that we began to plan the party at the beginning of the week and Dee Dee made only phone call invitations Tuesday (two days prior), we were astonished and pleased about the turnout. In every way, I can say that this was a special evening of fellowship. The whole event reminded me that true fellowship happens when people of similar faith and experience spend time together encouraging each other ...

"Hope against hope, and ask till ye receive." -- James Montgomery .................................................................... A great deal of intentioned good advice comes your way when one is dealing with a life-threatening disease. And no matter how much you wish to listento every word of advice, you ultimately cometo the decision that your hope and trust mustreside in the source of hope while you submitto the best that your physicians and care giverscan provide. What my mantle cell lymphoma is presentingnow is a cat and mouse game that has mycare givers scrambling to keep my blood cellcounts in acceptable ranges so that I canundergo the next round of the Hyper-C Vadregimen on or around June 15. Twice in the last week, blood and/or platelet transfusionshave been necessary.More than likely, this will be the story until Ihave the allogeneic stem cell transplantplanned for around the end of July.

"Difficulties are God's errands; and when we are sent upon them we should esteem it a proof of God's confidence—as a compliment from God." -- Henry Ward Beecher .................................................................... Appearing Friday for our regularly scheduled labtests and visit with Dr. Nakamura at City of Hope, we were told that my platelets count required a blood transfusion, so that was scheduled and accomplished with a 5-hour outpatient visit at COH yesterday. I noticed an immediate difference in my energy level, so the blood must have come from a teenager or I needed the three hour nap that I took during the transfusion. Perhaps both are true. We are due back this week at COH for more lab work and follow up visits and then a June 15 consultation to determine whether to proceed with the second round of the Hyper-C Vad therapy, again, a 3-4 day stay in the hospital for the chemotherapy. For those of you who do not know, my middle brother, Bob, pr...

For those of you who are interested, Dee Dee and Iwould invite you to look at the memories of ourdaughter's wedding to Johan Karlstrom on May 19. Click on this LINK

This past Thursday through Monday evening, I was treated at City of Hope (COH) with the chemotherapy regimen hyper C-VAD (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, dexamethasone, doxorubicin) a common main line treatment for mantle cell lymphoma. Based on the VAD (vincristine, dexamethasone, doxorubicin) regimen frequently used in both myeloma and acute leukemia, this regimen incorporates cyclophosphamide at 300 mg/m² every 12 hours for six doses; vincristine 2 mg on days 4 and 11 of each treatment cycle; Adriamycin 50 mg/m² by continuous infusion over 2 days beginning day 4; and dexamethasone 40 mg daily from days 1 to 4 and days 11 to 14 of each treatment cycle. .............................................................................. MORE ABOUT THIS SCIENCE .............................................................................. As before, the therapy included Rituxan . Patients receive hematopoietic growth factors until recovery. These drugs are alternated with cycles of high dose...

My physicians at City of Hope (COH) have now determined that I am not a candidate for the autologous transplant (my own stem cells harvested and reinserted) due to the aggressivenature of my mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). We are now turning to the allogeneic transplantmethod from an outside donor. The good news is that an initial search of the national database of donors turned up nealry 400 potential matchesfor my basic blood type and antigens . This meansthere is an ample pool from which to find a close match. This is most fortunate and promising for what could prove to be the eventual cure. From my internet research, I found this about Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant (allo SCT): READ MORE HERE ........................................................................ Defined as any transplant of stem cells between two individuals, whether they are related or unrelated. The sample the patient receives can come from the bone marrow through a surgical procedure or from the peripheral blood...

Donating a newborn's umbilical cord might someday save a life By Deborah Kotz Posted 5/13/07 [From U.S. News & World Report] .................................................................................. As we move forward to the autologous stem stell transplant for my mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), we know that this procedure is a temporary fix, that the effect may last for months or several years to sustain remission. What we also know is that the only real cure now known is the allogeneic transplant (external donor), but since a donor match has not been found, we don't know when or if that option is available for my case. The following report gives us hope that there may be another option: stem cells from umbilical cords, a donation for life from a newborn and his/her parents. Sounds like science fiction? Read on ... .................................................................................. "When 6-year-old Hayden Zavareei developed anaggressive form of leu...

Many of my friends and family have asked about stem cell transplant procedures, so here is some information gathered from THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY website: .................................................................. "Obtaining marrow stem cells for transplantation requires that an appropriate donor receives a thorough health examination, which includes an electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, blood chemistry evaluation, and confirmation that blood cell counts are normal. The donor is tested to insure that hepatitis viruses and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are not present in the blood. The presence of a positive test for cytomegalovirus (CMV) does not necessarily prevent a person frombeing a donor." Marrow donation is a surgical procedure. The donor is given anesthesia in an operating room suite. The transplant physicians use a special hollow needle attached to a large syringe to withdraw samples of marrow from the top edge of the pelvic bones. This area can ...

"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. "But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day shouldsurprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we ma...

“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"What is written in the Law? he replied. How do you read it?“ He answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself." You have answered correctly, Jesus replied. Do this and you will live. “But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, And who is my neighbor?" ................................................................... Every time I read this Margaret Mead quotation, I am reminded of two events, not necessarily in this order: Back in the early 70s, I had opportunity to meet the world-renown anthropologist Mead when she was a guest speaker at a Denver IABC meeting. Secondly, her quotation reminds me of one of the most-quoted parables of Christ: The Story of The Good Samaritan, and how Christ defined the two greatest commandments. ...

................................................................................. "One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time." -- ANDRE GIDE [CLICK on photo for larger view] ................................................................................. If there was one word to describe the journey of this last year with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) it is: DISCOVERY!Each step of our journey has come with the revelation of information and details which were known to others, but not to us. Now, we are about to move into a new phase of treatment at The City of Hope Comprehensive Cance Center in Duarte, CA, which is a world-renown cancer treatment center located about 25 miles from our home in Alta Loma and about 40 miles east of Los Angeles. Our new discovery is about stem cell transplants. For a comprehensive view of that topic you can check out this website .While we (Dee Dee and I) are all but certain that the nex...

The story is told of a man walking along a beach the morning after a storm had passed through. The sand was littered with starfish that had been washed ashore. Down the beach he noticed a young boy picking up starfish and throwing them into the water. As he approached, he asked what he was doing. The boy didn’t hesitate as he explained that the sun was coming up and it would kill the starfish if they didn’t get back into the ocean. The man laughed and said, “There are thousands of starfish on miles of beach, you can’t possibly make a difference.” As the boy picked up another starfish and threw it back into the ocean he said, “Made a difference to that one.” -- Adapted from “The Star Thrower” by Loren Eiseley Non-profit and cause-driven organizations operate under a type of starfish principle. They know they can’t fix all the problems in the world, but most do their best, with what they have, to help as many people as they can. Are starfish left on the beach? Certainly. Regrettably. Ch...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One gene directs both embryonic and adult stem cells to perform the self-renewal function that is crucial in their potential broad use in medical treatments, researchers said on Thursday.While the biology of these types of stem cells is very different, a study published in the journal Cell showed that they share at least this one key feature -- a gene called Zfx that controls their ability to self-renew. READ MORE Biology and chemistry were two of my toughest courses in college. It’s a small wonder that I concentrated on the language arts, earning a communications degree before my adult pursuit in nonprofit organizational and hospital philanthropy. See more about my daytime activity at the website of THE FOOTHILL FOUNDATION . But now, my interest in science, biology, medicine, even chemistry is top of mind as I battle with mantle cell lymphoma. Perhaps equaled only by the volume of drugs I am given to fight this disease is my current appetite for information,...

................................................................................. Cancer Deaths Reported to Decline ................................................................................. ATLANTA - For the first time in more than 70 years, annual cancer deaths in the United States have fallen, a turning point in the war on cancer likely achieved by declines in smoking and better tumor detection and treatment. The number of cancer deaths dropped to 556,902 in 2003, down from 557,271 the year before, according to a recently completed review of U.S. death certificates by the National Center for Health Statistics. “Even though it’s a small amount, it’s an important milestone,” said Dr. Michael Thun, who directs epidemiological research for the American Cancer Society. MORE Once you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, stories like this one aren't just news any longer, these are personal, like a letter from home.And while cancer is a long way from a universal cure for eve...

Indeed, some would refer to this creed as a paraphrase of the GOLDEN RULE, the basis of most of the world's religious faiths, as you can see from the graphic below. Click on the graphic for a screen-size version of the image. RALPH WALDO EMERSON (1803 - 1882) As a member of Rotary International for 21 years, I think the ROTARY 4-WAY TEST best summarizes all of our personal relationships, including how we treat others: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? Indeed, some would refer to this creed as a paraphrase of the GOLDEN RULE, the basis of most of the world's religious faiths, as you can see from the graphic below. Click on the graphic for a screen-size version of the image.

One of the greatest blessings coming out of our fight with MCL is the way that news of my disease and the following of MyJournal and CarePage has prompted so much outpouring of support and encouragement.During the week in which a national radio personality and the objects of his remarks found that "bad" or negative words are not worth much at all, such may even create dispair and discord, my experience of the last 12-plus months is in the exactly opposite direction. The words, thoughts, prayers given to me show ephatically that there is much "good" in people and most are likely to choose the words that bring hope, life, and encouragement. You may visit my CarePage and read some of the letters. More than these, I have had countless private e-mails in the same vein. I can't express how important these thoughts and messages have been to Dee Dee and our family for the purpose of facing each phase of this cancer.While we wonder why some never or seldom write, we h...

This last weekend was Easter, the most holy day for Christianity. For the last three days (since Friday), I received the latest round of chemotherapy at Huntington Hospital , Pasadena, for my mantle cell lymphoma which occurred a year ago and then reoccurred last Thanksgiving week after ten weeks of remission. My oncologists have been searching for the right combination of drugs to achieve a second remission. Thankfully, the search may be over. Under the acronym, ICE, the new drugs are ifosamide, carboplatinum, and vp-16 (etopicide). But there were a number of other drugs administered to help alleviate possible side effects. Indeed, I am a beneficiary of so much advanced research in chemotherapy during the last decade. We are thankful for that. All things considered, my side-effect problems with chemo have been minimal. Yes, the new drugs have caused shrinkage and softening of the three primary tumor sites in just the first few hours. Still, we probably will return to Huntington in 2-3...

"Not knowing when the dawn will come,I open every door." -- Emily Dickinson ................................................. This last weekend was Easter, the most holy day for Christianity. For the last three days (since Friday), I received the latest round of chemotherapy at Huntington Hospital , Pasadena, for my mantle cell lymphoma which occurred a year ago and then reoccurred last Thanksgiving week after ten weeks of remission. My oncologists have been searching for the right combination of drugs to achieve a second remission. Thankfully, the search may be over. Under the acronym, ICE, the new drugs are ifosamide, carboplatinum, and vp-16 (etopicide). But there were a number of other drugs administered to help alleviate possible side effects. Indeed, I am a beneficiary of so much advanced research in chemotherapy during the last decade. We are thankful for that. All things considered, my side-effect problems with chemo have been minimal. Yes, the new drugs have caused ...

WASHINGTON, DC Thursday, March 29 -- Federal health advisers have endorsed an experimental vaccine to treat advanced prostate cancer as safe and effective. The Food and Drug Administration advisers voted unanimously Thursday to say Provenge is safe. They then voted 13-4 to say there is substantial evidence that it works in treating advanced prostate cancer that no longer responds to hormone treatment. The FDA isn't required to follow the advice of its advisory committees, but it usually does. A final FDA decision on whether to approve Provenge, also called sipuleucel-T, is expected May 15. The vaccine is made by Seattle-based Dendreon Corp. MORE This was a major week for cancer headline news with reports about President Bush's press secretary Tony Snow having a recurrence of his colon cancer and Elizabeth Edwards reporting on the relapse of her cancer. High profile celebrities are doing a good job of creating attention for a dreadful condition that now affects and will affect o...

"Judge thyself with the judgment of sincerity, and thou will judge others with the judgment of charity." John Mitchell Mason A person who trusts no one can't be trusted. Jerome Blattner Have you noticed how often the word "TRUST" is used in association withthe world of "CHARITY"? Anyone who makes a gift for charitable reasons has to have cause totrust the recipient, the principals who operate and direct the charity thatthese gifts support. Without such trust, such gifts may well be foolish investments of resources.But having trust means that the donors have prior evidence and proof thattheir funds (which are really no longer theirs) are helping to accompisha work only the charity can possibly do, to which the donor is a benefactor. Those of us who work in the realm of charity and philanthropy learn thislesson every day. We know that our mission rises and falls on the abilityto find, cultivate, and enlist those we trust who, in turn, trust us. Whilewe h...

Now that our primary oncology care is with Cynthia Matel, MD PhD, at the City of Hope Medical Group in Pasadena, we are facing another round of decision making. In fact, our enitre last year (the onset of MCL occurred in March 2006) of living with this disease and treatment has been an endless round of decision making. One of the key decisions looming: what (if anything) to do about having a stem cell transplant done at the time of next remission, which hopefully will come later this year.Granted, if I were ten years younger, that decision would be a no-brainer: We would have the transplant done without hesitation. But the stem cell transplant record for men in their late 50s and beyond is not encouraging due to the serious, life-threatening potential of graft versus host disease (GVHD). At least, not until I read the following blog maintained by the University of Michigan Health System. Coincidentally, I was referred to this source, if not this specific research, by the HELP DESK at m...

A friend e-mailed this to me, a message that had been circulating through the internet for a month. I thought it was worth re-publishing on my blog. This prayer time, led by the coach, took place in the Indianapolis Colts locker room after they won the Super Bowl. What a blessing to have a godly group in the winner's circle for a change! It's a shame that the major news media doesn't consider this newsworthy! But they will cover the other players who are busted for drugs, shootings, etc. PRAY FOR AMERICA!!! TWENTY THINGS TO REMEMBER 1. Faith is the ability to not panic. 2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you prayed, don't worry. 3. As a child of God, prayer is kinda like calling home every day. 4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. 5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot. 6. Do the math. Count your blessings. 7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nu...

What a great time we had on our visit to Long Beach yesterday and to the Rancho Palos Verdes peninsula! We decided to take my visiting family members to see the location where our youngest daughter, Andrea, is to be married on May 19: The Wayfarer's Chapel near Portuguese Bend. If you have not been there, you have missed what is probably the single greatest ocean vista along the entire Southern California coast! Despite the cloudy, gloomy weather that greeted the early morning, the sun came out and we had a fabulous day for sightseeing. After touring the Queen Mary in Long Beach and lunch at Ports O'Call in San Pedro, we headed to the chapel which is a most inspiring structure by itself, made almost entirely of glass, sponsored by the Swedenborgian Church as a national memorial to Emanuel Swedenborg. Lloyd Wright, son of the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, was asked to design a chapel that would give expression to the unique philosophy and theology of The Swedenborgian Chur...

One of the realities for many of us with health insurance these days (particularly if you work in health care, as I do) is that your care is dictated by policies and operatives who are so-called managed care coordinators or managers. Their job can't be easy. They may have gained all the popularity of used care salesmen and IRS agents. If you haven't had much experience in this world, your time may be coming.So just for fun, I found this site that puts this business in a humorous, if not accurate light. Click here on this " doctor " link. Enjoy. Here is one excerpt ...What do managed care workers do for fun? Custodial staff play basketball Clerical staff play football Case reviewers play tennis Supervisors play softball Medical directors play golf Conclusion : The higher you rise in managed care, the smaller your balls.

One of the most difficult things about dealing with cancer treatment is sorting through the many options for care and care givers. You learn to trust experience, but then you realize that experience with your particular disease is thin on experience. We are at such a moment: a crossroad. We are considering the recommendation of a clinical trial with a therapy that few have been given, but one that holds the promise of a new remission of the cancer. No guarantee. Risks, yes. The possibility of remission.At no other time in history have so many options existed for the cancer patient and, hence, the possibility of confusion, indecision, and the possibility of making a wrong choice (or the right one). Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, herbal medicines, surgery, or doing nothing at all. The mind is awhirl with considerations. Everything requires consent and disclosure. Not one form, but multiple forms and lengthy disclosures that are full of medical terminology and detail. Because of the ...

Type a GOOGLE search for "cancer" and you will find some 208 million "hits." Type a search for "mantle cell lymphoma'? The result: 554,000 hits. ............................................................... Obviously, this news is both a blessing and a curse. A cancer patient has almost unlimited access to information on the internet ... more information than one can possibly digest. At the same time, the ease of accessing information has never been so possible. I am sharing some of the links that I find most helpful shown on the left. With many of these sites, it is possible to set up e-mail alerts and with Google, the web user may set up any number of alerts for a variety of topics. Such research tools really make it easier to find and receive timely information.

What if you knew that virtually every resident of the metropolitan area of Los Angeles was a cancer survivor?Not possible? Think again. According to this chart of 2003 cancer survivor data for the U.S., the number of survivors four years ago had surpassed 10.2 million, a phenomenal 25 percent increase from a decade ago.If you apply the growth rate of survivorship from the last decade to the current, then more than 12 million cancer survivors live in the U.S. in the year 2007.And, yes, that is roughly the same population for the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. Then, when you look at this data further, you find that not only are many more survivors around, but the longevity for survivors is increasing as well. This chart shows that more than 8 percent (over 1 million) of survivors are living more than 25 years since their diagnosis. Looking at this data again, the statistics reveal that 30 percent of all cancer survivors have exceeded 10 years since their diagnosis. The most unfo...

2 Chronicles 7:14 -- "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." ............................................ Twenty-five years of working the health care industry brings considerable exposure to clinicians who use abbreviations for communication, although, officially, the practice is actually frowned upon within the hospital industry today.But little did I realize this life-stage would come when my health status would be labeled with three simple letters: MCL . In April 2006, those initials became part of my identity and we began our journey to seek treatment, if not a cure. These past ten months have been full of emotions and experience along with an awareness that as long as we have breath and life, and a will, we can seek healing. ....................................................................................