Plot twist....

Scene 1:

Three guys walk into a bar. One is a crappy chromosome, one is a crappy predisposing disease, and one is a crappy cancer. The bartender asks for ID’s, and they are indeed valid. And these guys are looking to scuffle!

Scene 2:

A VERY young and especially attractive couple 💃🏼🕺🏻😜 seen processing some news in their own distinct way. Girl failing to hold back tears. Guy quietly absorbing information, pause, “well doc, that’s a real kick in the balls”.

Scene 3:

***Especially attractive couple goes to the bar to have a drink and contemplate this unforeseen curve in the road. Over-served and raucous trio becomes bothersome and ***especially attractive guy asks them to “step outside”.....

AND SCENE!!!!!

A visual story seemed like the most straightforward and more tangible way to tell it. We wanted you to have a cheerful way of seeing it. And we are nothing, if not facetious, in our storytelling. 😬

We hit some snags this week. The more detailed pathology didn’t come back as we’d hoped so it’s time to tackle it again. Craig has a more layered set of variables in his cancer which makes it a little more unique (as are most AML cases as they now have SO much detail with cytogenetics/molecular genetics, etc). And these recent advancements in how to approach the disease are really changing the treatment, prognosis, and improving outcomes. It’s actually really fascinating to read and hear about the targeted therapies, immunotherapy, etc. that were much needed in the fight against this particular cancer.

So, “we“ start chemotherapy again as a re-induction in this induction phase. Craig will be on a 3-week oral chemo and a layered slow-release chemo on 3 (1, 3, & 5) of the 21 days. So I’d say we are at least looking at another 4 weeks here in our pied-a-terre. 👨🏻‍🎨

I said to my family the other day that everyone thinks I’m the glue. And in many aspects of our life, I typically am. However in this one, he is the FLEX glue infomercial! He actually did answer the doctor/team with the “kick in the balls” response, grabbed his headphones after they left and went for a walk, got his head back on straight after a little disappointment, and came back with a smile and said nothing changes - we just have to change our approach and kick it from another angle. He is steadfast and approaching this bump with gratitude that we have the advancements to allow for so many angle adjustments. He likened the first and now subsequent induction rounds to military strategic bombing. I guess they bomb an area to sort of weaken/disable/soften it up before the troops head in. That’s how he is viewing it! He makes me VERY proud.

On a lighter note, his mother and I have been enjoying his discomfort at multi-hand losses in canasta! He did pull ahead in the last round, but we don’t intend to let him stay on that path.

We had the most wonderful spread of TG dinner delivered by The Carrington’s! I mean SPREAD!!! Even down to sparkling cider! It was fantastic. The weather was a different story. Especially from the POV of the 11th floor (see pic). We‘ve had a ton of visitors (3 visits from our BFF Maria Esteve), packages dropped and mailed, cards, texts, calls.....it’s a full time job over here! 😊

He and his mom have had some nice one-on-one time hanging together!! She has been coming after rounds each day and staying until bedtime (via Taxi Babs - thx, Ma.). And she is going to make his favorite brisket dish sometime this weekend.....after having brought some of his favorite snacks.

C is increasing his walking mileage. Why stop at 2 miles when you can easily do more? Appetite is great - trying to get a couple extra pounds on him in case he experiences any nausea with this next round. He‘s being a piss ant about it. He claims chia is ruining everything. 😂 We are trying to get 105 grams of protein daily, and 2000-2500 calories. And of course I want them all healthy. For a guy that normally eats once/day, this has been a real treat for me. 🙄 Since he hardly had any side effects the first time, we are going with the assumption he won’t this time either. Other than maybe his petticoat returns? He had his first step out of the unit and to breathe fresh air since November 10th. Literally first time to walk out the doors. He got a temporary release for good behavior! He’s been on the lam ever since....

So that’s about it, kids. Just moving along, waiting for the chemo to arrive, and laughing and smiling (and sometimes crying) along the way! Please continue to throw positive energy and prayers out there for him. It’s much appreciated! ❤️

PS - I keep meaning to take pictures of visitors and then think of it after they are gone. Please remind me if you come!!