Complete Remission

Today, there are no sweeter words to my ears.

As I've written before, my Dad lives with cancer. Multiple Myeloma to be specific.

It doesn't rule his life... not by a long shot. And so in turn, it doesn't rule ours.

But it's there. The knowledge that my Dad lives with cancer is always there.

His life is filled with joy, laughter, grandchildren, friends and adventures. It's also filled with chemotherapy- years of chemotherapy, numerous medications, daily shots, and more bone marrow biopsies than I can even count at this point. I think he's lost count too. There are times he can't visit because his counts are too low and his immune system is too weak. There have been bone marrow transplants, scary time periods, and the time he came out of remission.

I remember everything about the hospital room we were sitting in when he told me he had cancer back in 2005. I remember every detail and how carefully he chose his words. He knew I wasn't going to like this news, not by a long shot. I'll also never forget where I was sitting or what he was wearing when he told me that he'd come out of remission and faced yet another bone marrow transplant and another two years of chemo. We were all at the beach, on vacation. We talked about it and then enjoyed the rest of our trip. Just like always, cancer was there, but it didn't rule our lives. Not even close. If anything, it's reminded us to be grateful of time spent together. Every bit of it.

Yes, cancer is a part of our family life. And if my Dad can somehow make peace with that, well, then I can too.

I truly have.

But every three months we wait with bated breath to hear where his cancer levels are at.

This morning we were just leaving the farmer's market when I got the news via a text message sent to all of us.

Complete remission.

And just like that I relax again.

Complete remission. 

Sweet words indeed.

Beat Myeloma

Kyle on a long run, training while on our family vacation. I joined him on my bike the last few miles.

This weekend we are heading to Chicago to watch my brothers complete the Chicago Marathon, to raise money for Multiple Myeloma research.

I'm so excited! And so proud of them. And so grateful to those who have donated to this worthy cause.

My Dad was diagnosed with multiple myeloma seven years ago. At the time he was having terrible back pain which as it turned out was caused by numerous lesions up his spine. Bone pain and/or fracture is often the first sign of myeloma because this cancer lives in the bone marrow and weakens the bone structure. By the time the bones are fracturing and the cancer is found, it's often pretty late stage. This was the case with my Dad.

Cancer sucks. I've watched my Dad go through hell and back. It's hard for those of us that love him so dearly, to watch. I'm not even sure my dad will ever let us know how hard it is to spend years cycling through chemo treatments, constantly scheduling check-ups out of state with his specialists, or undergoing countless bone marrow biopsies. Or what it must feel like to live day to day with cancer sharing your cells. He makes it seem..... well, okay. He goes about his days just the same as he always has, with a twinkle in his eye.

I know that no matter what, cancer will never have the last word in our family. Never has, never will. Cancer has not soured my Dad's perspective that life is a beautiful, fun, humorous adventure. His optimism, faith and that twinkle in his eye has never ever lessened.

Cancer is there. It always is. In his body and on our minds. But it's not the boss. It will never get the best of my Dad or our family and it feels good to know that. Perhaps it's his positive attitude that has freed us kids from worrying too much.

On Sunday when my brothers are running the marathon we'll all be cheering loudly on the sidelines and having fun together. The only reason cancer will even be mentioned is because now there's more money to destroy myeloma.

Take that cancer.

For more information on multiple myeloma, go here

For information on the myeloma program at the University of Iowa and it's director Dr. Tricot, perhaps the best doctor EVER (I'm very partial), go here

For more information on the marathon that my brothers Kyle and Gavin are running and to make a donation if you'd like, visit their facebook page or their donation page.