It occurs to me I need to update this blog.
Vlad has been in remission for more than a year and out of chemo for 10 months. All is well!
It's a blessing to have a reprieve. But as many of you know, it's also a special hell being a cancer survivor. Every ache and pain, every fever, every "off-day" you may feel a little uncharacteristically tired, that voice returns: "Is it back?"
After the well-meaning M.D. Anderson bone marrow specialist (important to note he is not a leukemia specialist) scared the crap out of us, and we spent a couple of months in testing limbo, including sending a kit to Tanya in Odessa, which was held hostage for $50 by enterprising DHL thugs there, we got a second opinion. From his oncologist.
Dr. Conlon had a different take on things. Whereas Dr. MDA said a relapse would mean limited options, as in no more chemo ever and no chance of a bone marrow transplant down the road, Conlon said very politely, hogwash. He went so far as to say a bone marrow transplant at this time is probably not a good idea, although he said there are two very educated schools of thought on that subject, and no one knows who's right as of yet.
Bottom line: No bone marrow transplant at this time. Exhale.
As a result, Tanya has been here with us in the United States since March 28. She only got the visa because of Vlad's illness. So you gotta wonder if there's bigger wheels turning in this whole thing. Especially when you know their story, which is basically an updated Russian novel.
As sweet and frothy as Vlad and I's first few years of marriage were, the past couple of years have been heavy, with our cancer/hurricane year (bad stress) and our year with Tanya (good stress).
But that's the way it goes. Life goes on.
I don't plan on updating this blog again. I'm closing this chapter, praying the book is done.
Thanks for everyone's prayers, good thoughts and deeds. A special shout out to my brother, Bill, who always came on a moment's notice, and the Nezhinskys, who brought food and love almost daily, and were fearless when things were really bleak.
Vlad has been in remission for more than a year and out of chemo for 10 months. All is well!
It's a blessing to have a reprieve. But as many of you know, it's also a special hell being a cancer survivor. Every ache and pain, every fever, every "off-day" you may feel a little uncharacteristically tired, that voice returns: "Is it back?"
After the well-meaning M.D. Anderson bone marrow specialist (important to note he is not a leukemia specialist) scared the crap out of us, and we spent a couple of months in testing limbo, including sending a kit to Tanya in Odessa, which was held hostage for $50 by enterprising DHL thugs there, we got a second opinion. From his oncologist.
Dr. Conlon had a different take on things. Whereas Dr. MDA said a relapse would mean limited options, as in no more chemo ever and no chance of a bone marrow transplant down the road, Conlon said very politely, hogwash. He went so far as to say a bone marrow transplant at this time is probably not a good idea, although he said there are two very educated schools of thought on that subject, and no one knows who's right as of yet.
Bottom line: No bone marrow transplant at this time. Exhale.
As a result, Tanya has been here with us in the United States since March 28. She only got the visa because of Vlad's illness. So you gotta wonder if there's bigger wheels turning in this whole thing. Especially when you know their story, which is basically an updated Russian novel.
As sweet and frothy as Vlad and I's first few years of marriage were, the past couple of years have been heavy, with our cancer/hurricane year (bad stress) and our year with Tanya (good stress).
But that's the way it goes. Life goes on.
I don't plan on updating this blog again. I'm closing this chapter, praying the book is done.
Thanks for everyone's prayers, good thoughts and deeds. A special shout out to my brother, Bill, who always came on a moment's notice, and the Nezhinskys, who brought food and love almost daily, and were fearless when things were really bleak.
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