A Career in Cancer

It's strange to say, but I spend my days surrounded by cancer, by choice.  From my job with NOCC, to movies like Dear John and My Sister's Keeper on my TV, to the ticking time bomb that sleeps in the bed beside me.  Today the world lost one of its great fighters to this deadly disease.  Wilson Holloway, a former basketball and football standout at Oklahoma Christian School and football player at Tulsa, died Wednesday from complications of Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was 22.  Though we never met him, he was an inspiration to others fighting this disease every day, and he always remembered to smile. 
http://www.newsok.com/former-ocs-tulsa-football-standout-wilson-holloway-dies/article/3541427?custom_click=lead_story_title

On a brighter note, I am very excited to report that the books that were donated by our wonderful friends and family members will be delivered to their new home tomorrow at the Reston Hospital Infusion Center.  This is what the back of my jeep looks like right now.  

In total, the hospital will be receiving a little of 600 books .....

We cannot thank everyone enough for your generous donation and we look forward to sharing more pictures once they are on their new bookshelves in the Center.

And we should also say thank you for all of the magazines that were donated as well.  They have been at the hospital since the start of the new year.

And of course, I would never deprive my local readers of pictures of  Mr. Winston, who had a full day today of an allergy shot and a trip to Petco.  He is of course exhausted because despite popular belief, he has a tough life!!

Tough Life if your definition is sleeping in late, eating cookies for breakfast, insisting everyone you meet scratches your ass, and having someone else pick up your shit!!!

Until next time .....

Raising Awareness for Rare Diseases.

Celebrating Sarcoma

There are few good things that come out of Sarcoma, but being part of an organization that allows you access to other individuals and families like yours, gives you a wonderful sense of community.  The Sarcoma Foundation of America, www.curesarcoma.org, is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year.  It's a huge milestone in the fight against the deadliest form of childhood cancer.  Let us know if you want to attend.  We would love the support and the company.

Another Save the Date Reminder:  February 28th is Rare Disease Day.  Remember to wear your yellow in support of Sarcoma.  If  you are interested in doing a work fundraiser, let me know.  An example is: pay $5 to wear jeans or yellow.

Raising Awareness for Rare Diseases ......

Cupid's Arrow

I'm curious as to how all of you out there spent Valentine's Day?  Let me paint you a quick picture of my day.  Woke up, had my coffee, shared my rice toast with Winston (like I do every morning) and worked.

 

Then I spent some time with the most wonderful dog in the world .... through he could have honestly cared less and would have rather I leave him alone to catch up on some much need beauty sleep.  News flash Winston ... those wrinkles won't go away even if you sleep more.

Then after a conference call .... which Winston proceeded to bark through because, heaven for bid, the Fed-Ex man dare ring the door bell in HIS house.  We played a rousing game of steal mommy's water bottle.

 Who me?

 Yes you!!  And after all that energy he exerted, he had to take a nap.

Me on the other hand, I went about my day, working, meeting 'Kidney Stone' Kaylan for lunch and getting a thoughtful Valentine's Day card from my parents.  And since Andrew is so anti-romantic, it was the only one I got this year.

 But that didn't stop me from trying to make dinner as fun as possible.  I made squash lasagna with pasta and ate by myself.  But not before I dropped the pasta I made for Andrew out of the strainer and down the drain to the garbage disposal and burned my hand.  It was a really long dinner, but as you can see, it looked and tasted good.

 But Andrew finally did make it home just in time for my new Dell computer to arrive from work.  Any electronic, his or not, is like Christmas morning to him.  He actually asked if he could open it, he was so excited.  And of course, it's the little things that make him happy.

But Valentine's Day is about being with the one you love.  And even though we didn't do anything romantic, we still got to spend it with our little luv bug!!

So Happy Valentine's Day to all and to all a good nite.


Raising Awareness for Rare Diseases ......

We are almost at lift-off

T minus 8 days until we pack up the car and drive to Norfolk for Andrew to take the Virginia Bar Exam. I hope he doesn't read this post since he is nervous enough. As you can imagine, I have not seen much of him since his study push began in the beginning of February. To keep himself on track, he has been spending his days at his HDP office in Reston and his nights in his new home office. The picture below is about how much I see of him daily. The back of his balding head!!

To keep the sanity, since I am working from home now, we have turned the 2nd guest bedroom upstairs into his office. I have retained guest bedroom #1 for myself.

And as you can all imagine, I have organized it and made it 'girly' and all Penn State for me!!

And of course there is a place to Winnie too. This is his go-to stop. The futon in my office.

I'm sure that you also noticed that I have re-vamped the blog. Just trying to give it a little face-lift. Maybe one day it will return the favor. You may also have noticed that I added a 'Dog' tab to the page as well. Winston will now be contributing his own thoughts and pictures (added by me) . Believe it or not, he has a lot to say and has a very expressive face!!

We look forward to hearing your comments and always remember to keep Andrew in your thoughts. He continues to do well and amaze me daily.

Also ... if you are not a Follower on this page yet, sign up!!! I know I have more Followers than 43 .... let's raise that number while we raise awareness for rare diseases!!

Raising Awareness for Rare Diseases ......

On the Horizon

Today's forecast; snow, rain and ice. All the things that make February in DC what they are. We are to far south to only get snow and to far north to only get rain ... so we get the crap in between. Luckily February is a short month.

As for our lives, Andrew and I went to Philadelphia about a week ago to check in with his specialist Dr Staddon at UPenn. All is well with Andrew, besides a torn MCL (good job slugger), and he does not have to return to UPenn until May for a follow-up appointment. All good news from the doctors prospective and from ours as well.

Andrew is diligently studying to take the VA Bar exam again in February. Most of you know, he only missed the cut by a few points so its back to the drawing board and studying for a few more weeks. He is taking the Bar in Norfolk on February 22 and 23. Think good thoughts for him, he needs them right now.

As for me, I have left my position at George Mason to continue to develop my real passions in life. I have become the part-time Chapter Director of the Northern Virginia National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and the Virginia Chapter Leader for the Sarcoma Foundation of America. Both are already keeping me busy to raise money for 2 areas very close to my heart. I look forward to see where this chapter in life takes me next.

Stay tuned ...

Raising Awareness for Rare Diseases .......

Just Breath ......

Move over David Blane ..... Amy Waxman is here to show you what it really means to hold your breath. According to the guiness book of world records, Blane holds the record for holding his breath under water the longest, 17 minutes and 4 seconds. Though I find this an impressive accomplishment, I have to say that as a cancer survivors wife, I have him beat. Not a scan takes place that doesn't cause my heart to skip beats while I hold my breath waiting for the results.

Though Andrew's second 3 month appointment with Dr. Staddon in Philadelphia is not until Friday, we have read and reviewed the scans with Dr. Felice and Andrew is still all clear. This is the greatest news that we could be given. And even the small spot that showed up on a previous scan as questionable has shrunk in size. As you can all imagine we are elated with the news and continue to move forward checking this 3 month appointment off the books. Andrew will continue to have scans every 3 months for the next 5 years.

Up next is trip to Disney that we are planning with Linda and Pete, Adam and Nikki for the beginning of May. We know that the next 3 month appointment will happen around that time as well but we continue to focus on the positive and plan for this trip.

So David Blane, you may be able to hold your breath and break a record, but I hold my breath all the time, just waiting ..... for the shoe to drop or the rainbow to appear. But at least for now, we've found the pot of gold and continue on the yellow brick road of life.

Raising Awareness for Rare Diseases ........

All I want for Christmas ....

Dear Diary,

No matter how hard I try or how many times we return to Dr. Felice's office, I still get an

indecisive pit in my stomach when I walk through the front door. One of the greatest gifts I have is that I have a gut feeling about everything. My gut can tell me if PSU is going to pull out the win or if I'm going to be offered a job or even if the steak is done on the grill without really even looking. My gut and a bit of common sense has gotten me far in life, an undergrad degree, a masters, a marriage .... but now nothing.

Cancer has weakened my greatest super-power and has made a crack in the foundation of my house of cards. I can never predict what Dr. Felice is going to say from month to month. Cancer is so unpredictable and I'm afraid that no amount of gut or common sense can change that.

Though Andrew had a good appointment today and his chem panel blood tests seem normal, Dr. Felice is still sending out Andrew's labs to be further analyzed because of his never-ending fatigue. Dr. Felice has also ordered an MRI for Monday to rule out any further cancerous activity that could be contributing to his exhaustion. But all of this is really being done to just be overly cautious.

Of course going to any doctors appointment, at this point in our lives, adds anxiousness and stress to the day but we continue to think positively. My gut tells me that everything will continue to be stable but my brain always stops me and tells me to just take it one step at a time. And if Santa is listening, I would really really really like to have a crystal ball that predicts the future. Life is hard enough without this stress every 3 months.

But as for Andrew, he continues to be a mountain man .... see picture above. Dr. Felice even gave Andrew an early Christmas gift by teaching him one of his famous card tricks. My gut tells me that Dr. Felice only reserves his card trick secrets for really special patients. And I know Andrew falls into that category .... and for that I will forever be grateful.

Raising Awareness for Rare Diseases .

Love, Hugs, Kisses, Awareness and Hope ~ Amy