Update 2024-0426 (Short Form)
Cancer Remains at Bay, Scorpio Moon and Lilacs in Bloom
This new phase of managing myeloma involves many moving parts. I did not imagine it would get more complicated than last year, yet it has. “Survivorship” is not a simple matter of healing and getting on with life. For me—for Jackie and me—this is a time of fine-tuning the quality of our lives. Medical implications and decisions color every day.
To honor those who just want to know how Jackie and I are doing, this email version of Love Heals provides only the salient points. Those who want to know it all can read the whole story in my SubStack newsletter by clicking here or using the link below.
At seven months since my stem cell transplant, we have much for which to be grateful.
My cancer remains at bay. Jackie and I are now in love with NED—no evidence of disease.
Maintenance treatment is still to be decided at a meeting with my myeloma specialist next month.
Covid vaccine #2 is in the rearview mirror. My immune system remains and may always be challenged. We are becoming experts at staying safe and still enjoying life.
We are doing better every day.
You can click below for full details about my myeloma management. (Love Heals is always free.)
Update 2024-0426
One standard test that determines my myeloma status can detect even one residual myeloma cell in 100,000. My oncologists look deeper, using a test that can find one residual myeloma cell in one million cells. (Did anyone else just hear Mike Myers as Dr. Evil say, "One mee-lee-yon cells?") …
Did you miss March?
I’ve learned that a glitch prevented the March newsletter from reaching some people. If you missed it, never fear—it can be found on SubStack. Click the story below to catch up.
Update 2024-0315
Today, on the ides of March 2024, many positive developments are taking place. I am making steady progress in healing. Notably, my immune system is improving as my Immunoglobulin G levels gradually reach the normal range. The IVIG transfusions that I have been receiving are proving to be effective, and I may not need them in the …
Love Heals Gets a Table of Contents
Several new people have subscribed to Love Heals. All are impacted by cancer in some way. The magazine-style presentation on SubStack makes it challenging to follow what has happened since the beginning. Easy fix: I’ve created a post with links to the updates and other relative information in chronological ord. Click the link below to see what I mean.
My Myeloma Experience
This post serves as a Table of Contents for updates and related information. The links are listed in roughly chronological order.
Know someone who would benefit from Love Heals?
I am honored to share my myeloma experience with anyone who may benefit from it. Cancer unites us as patients, care partners, and medical professionals, even if we do not know one another personally. If you know someone who may benefit from a first-person account of myeloma treatment, please forward them this newsletter or click the “share” button.
Scorpio Moon
Something delightful about living in the 47th parallel is that after the Spring Equinox, after the start of daylight savings time, our days are really long. It was light after 8:30 in the evening as the Scorpio Moon rose behind Mt. Rainier.
If you enjoy a bit of folklore, consider this: The Scorpio Moon is said to carry extraordinary mystical energy, often associated with transformation, depth, and emotional intensity. As a zodiac sign, Scorpio (that’s me!) is linked to themes of death and rebirth (I sorta just did that) and formidable emotional undercurrents.
The full moon in Scorpio is considered a powerful time for intuitive insights and confronting emotional and psychological truths. This mythology reflects Scorpio's tendency to be involved with challenges and transformations, making it a time of significant emotional energy and psychic power.
Stop and Smell the Lilacs
This week, we ventured out and met up with friends Mark and Don in southern Washington. We started with a leisurely lunch along the Columbia River. Then we headed to a turn-of-the-previous-century garden in Woodland to check out “Lilac Days” at the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens. What a wonderful day doing normal things.
Jackie found this gem of an idea in the “Only in Washington” free newsletter we’ve longingly read since arriving in our Pacific Northwest paradise. The publication offers weekday tidbits of interesting and unusual things to explore right in your own backyard. There are editions for every state, and we recommend it.
I know I say this repeatedly, but how can I not? The tremendous love and concern showered upon us through kindnesses, prayers, sparkles, and innumerable good thoughts and deeds helps us know we are not alone. We return our love to our wonderful tribe of caring souls.
May you stay safe, be well, love much and be loved, and have a life of ease. 💕
With all our love,
Mary & Jackie
Besides the fact that your recovery is an amazing story, I feel an energy in your writing, a warmth in the tone, and amazement in every word. You inspire me with your knowledge and I read as if it’s a mystery novel that you know will have a super great payoff. Yes, we are so happy for your success. As I write that I can only imagine how hard of a journey it was and is. But you did it! By the way, all those white boards (used daily), pens, motorized tables, post it pads, and so much more, keeps you in our thoughts every day.
Robert & Rebecca
Mary and Jackie…what a trip…not a planned one, not one looking forward to, but just one that is being done with grace. Thank you, Arlene