Life is good

Hi everyone,
I know it has been a long time since my last post and I just wanted to let everyone know I am alive and well. Life is good! I have had a few scares this year, but nothing like what I went through 3 years ago and overall I am feeling well. I had a wonderful opportunity to meet with my surviving bone marrow friend, Gina last week for a wonderful evening at Table 45 in Cleveland. It was compliments of her boss and we were seated at the chef's table and he cooked our dinner right there! What a night! What a celebration of 3 years of surviving! Thank you!
Kyle and I celebrated 37 years of marriage on June 24. It also means so much to both of us to be able to share each others company and enjoy our life together. We have had quite a life with many bumps in the road,but our love has seen us through those times and it feels like we are reaping the rewards. I love him so much!
I have been working many hours trying to keep our heads above water and I am feeling very well at this time. Kyle's insurance has changed dramatically and we are having many medical bills. But they have been understanding so far with the payments we are able to make, so that is a blessing. Kyle does all of the housework, so when I am home I don't have to do much. I feel like a Princess!

Life is short

Hi Everyone
I'm sure you can tell by the title that this is not going to be a happy post. One of my friends from childhood passed away on Saturday. He lived on the farm across the street from ours and I spent many a day there during my childhood. His sister was one of my best friends. His funeral is tomorrow. He passed out in the milkhouse last week and after several surgeries, succumbed to an aneurysm. He was 55 years old. Too young. Life is too short. He leaves behind many who are going to miss him tremendously. As I have said before in many of my posts, we need to savor every day, every hour we have here. Only the Lord knows our final hour. It was Dave's hour. So, I will call my children today and tell them I love them again. I will give my husband an extra long hug to let him know how much he means to me. I will call my parents and tell them I love them. And I am telling all of you how much you mean to me. Your support of me and my family has made a big difference in our lives. And remember "seize the day".

Update

Well I have just had 3 glorious days in a row! On Saturday we went on the Goodtime Cruise to Kelley's Island with some friends and relatives. It was a perfect night. The sunset was so beautiful on the way there. While at the island we had a great time dancing and enjoying the beverages that are unique to the island. As I was enjoying myself, I remembered what I was doing 2 years ago on that date and I savored every moment like it was my last on the island. On the way home, the full moon was breathtaking and I likewise drank in the sight and smell of the lake and the company of friends. It was a most enjoyable evening. The following evening I met with my fellow bone marrow survivor, Gina, at Chez Francois restaurant in Vermilion to celebrate our 2 year rebirthday together. We had a lovely waterfront table and once again I had the opportunity to savor a lovely sunset on the water. We had a most magnificent dinner complete with dessert and a toast to our absent bone marrow buddy, Susan, who passed away last June. It is a ritual we observe every year on our anniversary and I am sure she is there in spirit. We will never forget how fortunate we are to be here to enjoy such things. Then, Monday was my appointment at the Cleveland Clinic and I can honestly say that for the first time, I had a good feeling about going. I was not worried at all that my counts would be bad or that the nasty word "leukemia" would come into my conversation with the doctor. All of my counts were normal and I graduated to 4 month appointments now instead of 3 month intervals. So my next appt will not be until December! Allelulia! Life Is Good!

Happy Birthday

Hello Everyone

Today is the 2nd anniversary of my bone marrow transplant! What a glorious feeling! I feel like a 2 year old! I have a second chance at life! What a beautiful day it is..the sun is shining, the birds are happily chirping outside my window, the flowers are beautiful, the smell of summer fills our home, and God is smiling on me. Two years ago on this day I embarked on a precarious journey I knew nothing about with great trepidation (although I didn't let anyone know). Now, 2 years later I feel like I Made It, I really AM going to live! I AM going to live to celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary, I AM going to see my grandchildren graduate and become fine adults, I AM going to be able to savor all the moments I so looked forward to in my life. I Am here. It is a miracle and I will be eternally grateful for this second chance at "The Dance"

2 year survivor and counting

This week is the 2 year anniversary of my debut into the world of cancer! I entered Cleveland Clinic on May 1, 2006 for chemo and started my scary journey through a world I had no knowledge of until that day. Of course I had learned all about it in nursing school.... but that did little to prepare me for what I was about to experience. All of you know the harrowing details so I will not go into depth, instead I am focused on the positive. I AM A SURVIVOR, YES I AM! And even though it was a rough journey, It could have been a lot worse. I have seen two of my bone marrow buddies succumb to the same disease that we all fought so valiantly. They are my heroes. They fought until the end. I am a survivor and I live my life as a survivor. I am a different person than I was going into this fight. I look at life a lot differently. My days begin with thanking the Lord for one more day to call myself a survivor. I savor things I used to take for granted. I am an Angel Mentor to those who are beginning this frightening journey. I thank the Lord every single day for all of you who were there for myself and my family and still are. There is a reason I survived and I will make a difference in the lives of the people I touch. Yes, I Can!

News from the Roth's

I have been feeling great and I have been working a LOT, which means I have not had much time to let all of you know what is going on in my world. Unfortunately, Kyle's aunt Marilyn passed away early this month and it was a very sad time for our family. She was very involved in all of our lives and she will be missed tremendously. It makes us all more aware of our own mortality and that we should savor each and every day, for only the Lord knows our final hour. We continue to live by this philosophy since my diagnosis and I pray I have many more years, but in the meantime I enjoy each and every day. On a lighter note, we have leased our old house on Central Ave to a family who has wanted it since last year. They have leased with the option to buy. It will make it much easier on us without the double utilities and extra house payment. They are very excited to move in and it makes me feel good to see a family there that will appreciate our lovely home. Of course, It is bittersweet, since I love that house and have so many memories there. But it will make it much easier on us, as it has been a serious financial worry for us. Kyle and Marcie are doing well and we are all anxious to get outside in our new home and plant some grass and flowers. Everything is so fresh and new! I have my next appt at Cleveland Clinic on May 19 and will let you know how it goes. I was reading my journal today from my bone marrow transplant and it is amazing some of the things I don't remember. I guess I must have hidden those things deep in my subconscious. I am so very fortunate to have all of you who supported me all the way Thank you again!

Cleveland Clinic

Hi everyone,
I know I haven't posted for a while, but I have been working a lot because we have not sold our old house, and now we have 2 house payments. Hopefully, with Spring will come a buyer! Consequently, because I have been working a lot, when I am home all I want to do is sleep it seems. I was a little worried to go to see my oncologist in Cleveland, because some times that can be a sign that the leukemia is coming back. Yesterday was my day at the clinic and I am sooo very happy to report that my counts were all good and Dr Kalaycio is decreasing my prednisone (finally) and I will be off of it by summer, if I do not have any flare ups of graft vs host. I did get some bad news recently that I had developed cataracts from the prednisone and I will probably have to have surgery some time this year to remove them, it is one of the side effects of long term steroid use.
At least it is fixable, and hey I am still here enjoying life! I know the prednisone is a necessary evil for me to be able to live, so I think I have been handling all the side effects pretty well. I continue to wake up every morning and thank God for one more day. Each day is a bonus and I am going to enjoy each and every one. Thank you everyone for your continued support. It means more than you will ever know!