The Road Back

I’m not who I was.

I would be a fool to have gone through all of this and remain unchanged. I’m not a “saintly” cancer survivor who now enjoys a love of all mankind. Nor am I on a quest to “live for today.” I have too many responsibilities to the future to do that.

I feel like Tom Hanks at the end of Castaway. I am at a crossroads. Which road do I take? I know my road back will lead through physical rehab – and a much longer physical rehab than I initially expected. I guess you can’t sit on your ass for 8 months at age 45 and just bounce back. So I envision my road will include many, many laps in the pool.

I know my road back will have to include doing what I can to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and cancer charities in general. Every hour of every day there are 5 more people like me getting bad news. We must develop tests for early detection of all cancers to give people a fighting chance and we must never stop working for a cure.

I know my road back will include working for a more secure future for my family. Fool me once…

I hope my road will include more laughter, more time with friends and family, making work more fun and working hard at play. I need to be deadly serious about the things I care about and take myself much less seriously.

I will need more tolerance, courage and wisdom on the road. But who doesn’t?

Here I am.

Now, where to?

Happy 4th of July!

Had a GREAT 4th of July.







Katie & Coop took First and Second Place (respectively) in the Plymouth Meeting 4th of July Parade Costume contest.







Had a great picnic with Family.
Took a nap in the hammock.








Watched some fireworks.








Why am I bothering to tell you about all this?
Because absolutely none of it has anything to do with cancer.

Just like me.

Sing It, Sister!

There's A Lot Of Love In This Room Right Now

The French have a phrase: joie de vivre.
But that's just me being pretentious.
We say it even better: THE JOY OF LIFE
Let me tell you, I've got it in spades today, my friends.



After the morning psych-out (results not available), I got a voicemail this afternoon.
Want to hear a joyful noise masquerading as an ordinary voicemail?
Listen To This: DORIS' VOICEMAIL



What does this mean?
Well for me it means that for all intents and purposes, I no longer have leukemia.
It means that the amazing doctors and nurses at Penn and the Abramson Cancer Center have not only eliminated all leukemia cells from my body, they have also destroyed the bad RNA which caused the disease to begin with. I am now in TOTAL REMISSION and completely cancer-free.



Does this mean it could never come back? Of course not. I could also get hit by a bus tomorrow, too. But that's why the word remission is used and not cure. Only time will tell if it is permanent remission.



Right now I am filled with love and appreciation for everyone who has helped me and my family through this ordeal. I am so very grateful for the amazing doctors who helped get me into remission. The research scientists who worked to develop the treatment, and all the other leukemia patients who selflessly tested it.



I am extremely fortunate to have incredible nurses who kept me alive through this process. Far too many to name here, I am also too far in their debt to ever repay the thousands of kindnesses and the professionalism that saved my life.



And the virtual army of family, friends and colleagues who helped us make it through all this.



Most of all, I am so very thankful for Bonnie. She is the rock upon which our family is built; the very heart and soul of all that is good in my life. If I am alive, it is because every single day of my life she has given me a reason to live.

Today is a beautiful day, my friends, whether you know it or not.

So take it from me, Life IS Good.

Do You Want The Good News Or The Bad News?

Well, the good news is: There is no bad news.

The bad news is: There is no news. Period.

Apparently, when they said, "Five working days," what they really meant was, "Up to two weeks."

Funny little trick, huh?

Please direct all complaints to my oncologist at (215) 618-24..... No. That would be wrong.