Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society

This time last year I told my friend Kathleen - who was doing this last year - that I would do it w her and her team this year. True to my word, I am now registered to participate in this important event. 

If u want to help support me in this endeavor, you can do so via the link below:

http://m.main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=57387&pg=personal&px=31514990. 

Thanks!

Catching Up with Life

When you spend 6-12 months if your life, fighting for your life, other things get put on the back burner. Like losing your job, familial changes, thinking about being and feeling sick and time missed w the kids. And just like the past year you find yourself prioritizing what to deal w next. 

Finding a job

Dealing with familial changes

Do I date or not?

Depression and anxiety due to all of the above  

I share these things for pity's sake, as some might think. This happens to be my reality and unless you have spent time in my shoes, all anyone can do is form their own opinions. You spend a year so focused on getting better, not letting anyone but the doctors and nurses know how you really feel and you don't grieve the losses that occurred before and during that year.  I am truly starting fresh but the "wounds" feel raw. At least the kids have stopped asking if I have to go to the hospital. I think they are finally healing too. I find myself asking "Do I stay or do I go?"  Start over somewhere else. 

But I am blessed beyond deserving. I thank God EVERY DAY for this miracle and for my perfect donor. After all, I did contract the absolute worst form of leukemia. And now I am cancer free. Only 4 years and 3 months until they consider me "cured". 

Until this has all been figures out, I will still look for opportunities to help others who are going through similar ailments. Its rewarding and part of the reason I am still here. Part of my purpose, which I will fulfill. 

9 Months Later...

...Dianne 2.0 is doing just fine. In remission. Have had my second round of immunizations (apparently I have 3 more rounds to go at the 12, 14, & 18 month marks), and later this month they start to wean off my anti rejection meds. Woo hoo!

The Evolution of Dianne 2.0 Since Transplant

I thought it would be interesting to show my progress over the past 9 months. 

 

 

 

 

 

No Biopsies for Me Until the One Year Mark

Hip hip hooray!

One Year Later...

As I was looking through some photos from one year ago, right after being admitted and diagnosed with AML, I reflect back on everything that's occurred this past year. 

I'm thankful it's gone as fast as it has. I'm thankful for my perfect 10 donor from Germany. I am thankful to be surrounded by family and friends whom I know love me very much, and are extremely supportive.  You all have no idea how important your presence and love in my life has meant to me. How important it has been in getting me through every treatment, every hospital stay, and every other bump in the road.

To Jamie and Max, loves of my life and mini me's and Kav's, I wish I had had the choice to NOT have had to put you through the past year but I would go through it a thousand times so long as neither of you had to go through it yourselves. I thank God this isn't something you can inherit from me. I love you. And, no Max, Momma doesn't have to go back to the hospital unless I get sick again OR something else happens. 

To my mom, dad, and brother Chris, thank you for the over-the-top assistance you have all given me and my family in the past year. I know it wasn't always easy, life can be complicated, and it's been at times quite stressful. But know that no matter what, I appreciate all that you have done to help us.  Chris, you continue to help me and I appreciate everything you continue to do to help the kids and I at this time. Thank you I love you all.

To my OM, Diane, thank you for the support you gave. You of all people knew better what I was going through and no matter what I am grateful for the support and kindness you did show. 

Kav, thank you for taking on the additional responsibility of keeping our children for the first month while we figured everything out. Thank you for some of the shirts and the nightgowns that you gave me while I was in the hospital, and for the flexibility you provided in giving me time to spend with the kids when I was still in hospital. Thank you for continuing to be a friend through everything. Thank you Irene, for bringing the kids over after school so that I can visit with them on occasion. Cathy thank you for the magazines and other things to keep my mind off of where I was and I was going through.  And thank you all for your kind thoughts. I love you all.

Julius, thank you for lending me technology to keep my hands and mind off where I was and what I was doing and a chance to watch movies that make one laugh no matter where I was (40 year old Virgin anyone?). Also, thank you for your visits and continued thoughts and well wishes. 

T, Thank you for being there when I was officially diagnosed and for going through half of my biopsies w me, holding my hand, listening to me talk out my feelings when I was in the hospital, for doing what you could to make me feel more comfortable (less achy) and letting me know that the shorthair actually looked good on me. Thank you for the soups, the diet Pepsi's, the hats and scarves that you gave me along the way.

Darlene, thank you for your lunchtime visits when I was at Mayo (how perfect that you worked there!). It definitely broke up the day and I enjoyed our conversations. 

Diane W, its funny how things turned out, huh?  Your continued friendship means the world to me. I consider your family an extension of my own. Thank you for your weekly Starbuck visits w me, your prayers, and the laughter. And to Veronique and Linda, thank you for your clarity and prayers as well. 

Theresa, Angelica, Laura, Maja, Nikol, Jennifer, Art, Jack, Uncle Dick and Aunt Muriel, thank you for your visits, support and words of encouragement.  Nikol, I brought the sushi card w me to all hospital stays. And to Laurie. I kno u don't like hospitals but appreciated your support and caring regardless. 

To my doctors and nurses at both MD Anderson and Mayo, especially Dr Slack, Dr Ulrickson, Mary Peterson, Stacey, Gulnar, Kayla, Jessie, Beth, Margo, Nena, Janeen, Mark, Christine (Mayo),and so many others, thank you for your expertise and empathy and kindness. Thank you Beth for holding my hand during that first biopsy. I will never forget you. 

So many more to thank. I hope you all know the impact you have had on my life. 

I thought it worthwhile to recognize you all. 

Much love and gratitude. 

Dianne

My Daughter is So Awesome

This is what Jamie did in her last Girl Scouts meeting...Awwww (sniff, sniff).