Day One

I woke up early today.  4:21 AM to be exact.  Today marked the first morning without tears. I’ve mentally prepared for the fight and woke up ready to step into the arena.

My morning was calm and spent with family.  Teri faithfully packed my bags as all the kids hung out with me in our bedroom chatting.  Once the bags were backed, it was time for farewells.  The older kids, having more understanding of the treatment plans, were full of encouragement.  Nate, in typical six-year old fashion, gave me a hug and said he hoped for me to get better.  Then, he promptly darted outside to ride his new bike. Lanie, a true Daddy’s girl, got the longest hugs and had the most tears. Nine years old is a tough age to make sense of the cruel world in which we live. Thankfully, she is doing a great job of it and personifies resilience.

Things started with an appointment at my Oncologist’s office. Teri was able to attend with me and we learned results from my bone marrow biopsy.  Here are the facts. My bone marrow is full of Lymphoblastic Leukemia cells. My Leukemia is focused on B-cells, rather that T-cells. And, I have the Philadelphia chromosome.

What does all of this mean? The high cell count in my marrow was to be expected since they first identified it through A-Typical cells in my peripheral blood.  The B-cell focus of my Leukemia is the first major answer to prayer.  T-cell focused Leukemia has fewer treatment options. As for the Philadelphia chromosome, it is what it is.  It complicates treatment a bit and almost ensures that I will need a bone marrow transplant. However, there have been significant advancements and we are moving ahead unfazed.

After the MD appointment, the fun really began.  It was like getting dropped off at summer camp.  Now, I’ve never been to summer camp.  But, if it really is similar to how I felt today, I totally understand why some kids chase their parents in effort to get back in the car.

Upon getting to the room, the fun continued.  First was getting a PICC line.  Shout out to Cheryl, my PICC line nurse. She was amazing and kept me calm through the entire process.  Next was oral meds and a free round trip to ultrasound for testing.  For those of you who don’t know, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia includes the risk of cancer cells taking refuge in one’s wobbly bits (censored for any minors who might be reading) as well as one’s central nervous system.  Praise God, the ultrasound was clear. Finally, the real goods.  My first dose of chemo is on board.

The system of checks and double checks before administering the chemo is like War Games and we have gone to DEFCON 2.  Personally, I’m good with it.  It makes feel more confident in what everyone is doing.

So, there you have it.  Day 1 is in the books. I’ll have oral meds daily and chemo weekly for the next four to six weeks.  In the meantime, we will test family members for bone marrow matching and see who may match from the national database.

I can’t adequately articulate my thanks to friends and family for such overwhelming support. Tonight, I want to specifically thank my best friend, my wife. Teri, you are the richest blessing this side of salvation. Without your calm rock-solid faith, I would certainly drift like a ship without its anchor. You encourage me in the valleys, keep me grounded on the mountain tops, and love me without conditions. No one deserves such love, especially me.  It is by God’s grace that I have you at my side.  I love you!