Thursday, November 28, 2013

To Be Thankful

To be truly thankful.  That word has taken on a whole new meaning for me.  Three years ago today I can remember waking up in the hospital in my transplant bubble lonely, sad and scared.  Instead of cooking and baking and preparing all the yummy fixings for the the big feast, I was lying in bed barely able to sit up.  I wasn't going to be watching the Macy's parade in our pjs with the kids or having them help me set the table with our china we use twice a year.  I remember wanting to just sleep the day away hoping the pain and sadness would melt away.

Flash forward three years..... I am sitting here today in my kitchen, puppies at my feet under the table, hot cup of coffee by my side, blessed beyond my dreams.  I am fortunate enough to be in "remission".  Three years out, and there is no M-Spike present, ( Monoclonal Protein Level).  Unfortunately, some  of  my Myeloma friends are not so lucky.  Many have had recent relapses.  Why not me?  This is a constant reminder to me of how truly fortunate I am.  Myeloma is still an incurable cancer,  the goal is to keep it dormant for a long as possible.  Today I am thankful my Myeloma is still sleeping!

Having a diagnosis of an incurable cancer has brought on many other challenges.  Learning to live truly present and to engage back in life has been my biggest challenge yet.  I think for so long I just wanted to get better and get back to living like a "normal person".  What I learned is that things were not going to be back to normal.  In fact they never would again.  How could they?  I am not the same person I was back in 2010. After many sessions with my therapist, some good anti-depressant drugs, a very patient and understanding and loving husband, and learning to let go of guilt,  I am re-engaging back in life.  I am learning that it is ok to say the word "no" and to spend my time doing things that are good and positive for me.  That includes learning to nurture those relationships in my life that are positive and to let relationships go that are draining and negative.  It has not been easy to get to this point.  However, I know that it is what I need to do to continue on this growing path.  At times guilt sneaks up.  That is when I need to dig deep and remind myself how hard I have worked to get to where I am today.  I don't expect everyone around me to have the same "live in the moment outlook" that I have.  Heck it took me a cancer diagnosis and facing my own mortality to truly get it.  However, what I do know is that for me it is critical to surround myself with things and people that fill my life and not drain it.

It amazes me the people and opportunities that  have recently come into my life.  I have learned so much about myself and continue to everyday. I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams with talented incredible people at work who have encouraged and inspired me to take risks and trust my instincts. And have provided me with an outlet for a passion that I have always had.  I am thankful for the wonderful friends I have made at work who have become family to me.  And I'm sure my husband thanks them too as he is painting our cherry cabinets white.  Lol!  He is a saint for putting up with me:)

I am thankful for friends and family who continue to fill my life with love and laughter.  Who remind me everyday how good it feels to be happy.

I am thankful for a strong body with no chronic pain.  This past October Mike and I ran the BayState Marathon together.  We had a great race and it was so awesome to do it together.  Mike taught me to train and fuel correctly and it was great to cross the finish line smiling and not being carried off to the med tent. Will I do another one?  Absolutely.  Just waiting to find the right one.   Since the marathon, I run a couple days a week.  No schedule,  I just do it when it feels good.  I've also started back up with kickboxing/crossfit classes.  I'm trying to get there 3 days a week.  Again, no pressure, doing things when they feel right.

My kids have really been the source of my inspiration.  Everyday they amaze me. When I find myself getting caught up in a "Myeloma Moment"  they can snap me out of quicker than anyone or anything.  I am so thankful for my 4 beautiful angels who are truly a blast to be around.  Being their mom is my greatest accomplishment in life.

Yesterday we just booked tickets for my parents to come here for Christmas.  This will be the first time my dad will be here for Christmas in over 12 years.  My parents have been Mike and my greatest support during the past few years.  Our relationship is on a level that is so precious and we truly love having them here.  I am so thankful to have my parents and am looking forward to making incredible memories this holiday.

I am grateful for Dr. Munshi, Dr Hakemian, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, and all of my Myeloma friends.  I am blessed to be here 3 years later after my stem cell transplant. And I continue to be filled with hope for the future.  Although no one knows when I will relapse, I know there will be options and treatment available, as well as a whole network of support.    Today I am truly grateful for all that is.

I am dedicating this blog entry to my husband Mike.  Words cannot even begin to express how thankful I am for him.  Over the past 3 years,  he has been right by my side.  He has supported me, loved me, held me and lifted me up countless times when I needed it most.  I am sure that it has not been easy for him.  The diagnosis, the unknown, the depression.  But he is there for me.  He is truly the one constant in my life that I can always count on.  I love you Michael Dreyer.

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving surrounded by all the blessings in your life.

Love
Jeanie







7 comments:

  1. ALL THANKS TO DR WILLIAMS
    I was diagnosed of myeloma in 2011, I have tried all possible means to get cure but all my effort proved abortive, until a friend of mine introduced me to a herbal doctor , who prepare herbal medicine to cure different kind of diseases including myeloma , when i contacted this herbal doctor via his email, he sent me the myeloma herbal medicine via courier service, when i received the herbal medicine he gave me step by step instructions on how to apply it, when i applied it as instructed by Dr Williams i was totally cured from this disease within 1 months of usage. any body with similar problem can Contact this great herbal doctor via his email drwilliams098675@gmail.com for advice and for his product,and thanks to you admin for such an informative blog.

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  2. Colorectal cancer, cancer of the large intestine, is the fourth most common cancer in North America. Many cases of colorectal cancer are associated with low levels of physical activity and with diets that are low in fruits and vegetables. Individuals with a family history of the disease have a higher risk. I crumble with this disease for 5 years also with a lot of scaring thought in my head because i was just waiting for death every day of my life until My Son came to me in the hospital explaining to me that he has find a herbal healer from Nigeria to cure my Colo-Rectal Cancer,I was so shocked with the ideal also i was excited inside of me.My son asked me to let us give him a try because we have really heard a lot of scammer pretending to cure all sort of diseases with herbal medicine and some of them never get a positive result at the end of it all but we was very confident on this herbal doctor,like i said we give him a try and he sent me a herbal medicine to drink for three weeks, Sincerely I'm telling you today I' alive and healthy no more laying on sick bed,No more Colo-Rectal Cancer.I'm sharing this testimony on here for people who are sick to contact this Wonderful man,His name is Dr Itua.And His contact Whatsapp_+2348149277967____Email...info@drituaherbalcenter.com / drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com.
    He can cure those diseases like:
    Bladder cancer
    Breast cancer
    Colorectal cancer
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    Leukemia
    Lung cancer
    Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
    Prostate cancer
    Skin cancer
    Uterine cancer
    Hiv/Aids
    Herpes
    Hepatits
    Love Spell
    Diabetes

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  3. As a sign of gratitude for how my wife was saved from myeloma, i decided to reach out to those still suffering from this.
    My wife suffered myeloma in the year 2016 and it was really tough and heartbreaking for me because she was my all and the symptoms were terrible, she always complain of bone pain, and she always have difficulty falling asleep . we tried various therapies prescribed by our neurologist but none could cure her. I searched for a cure and i saw a testimony by someone who was cured and so many other with similar body problem, and they left the contact of this doctor who had the cure to myeloma . I never imagined myeloma has a natural cure not until i contacted him and he assured me my wife will be fine. I got the herbal medication he recommended and my wife used it and in one months time she was fully okay even up till this moment she is so full of life. myeloma has a cure and it is a herbal cure contact the doctor for more info on drwilliams098675@gmail.com on how to get the medication. Thanks admin for such an informative blog.

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  4. Health wise, I feel like a child dancing in the rain ever since I got cured of hepatitis. I was diagnosed of HEPATITIS B and I was told it has no cure at the hospital, but I was given several antiviral medications to slow the virus’s ability to damage liver. But after sometime the medicine wasn't working and I became very sick with different symptoms like: vomiting, fatigue, dark urine, swollen stomach and so on. I went back to the hospital and I was told it has become chronic with liver problem, and out of frustration I went online to search for something new to try, and I came across Dr. IYABIYE's recommendation, I gave it a try hence it's a herbal medicine. And behold, I was cured after the treatment. I have to wait for months then went back to the hospital and still I was tested negative. You too will be cured. Contact: (Whatsapp: +2348072229413 or +2348158577300) iyabiyehealinghome@gmail.com

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  5. Health wise, I feel like a child dancing in the rain ever since I got cured of hepatitis. I was diagnosed of HEPATITIS B and I was told it has no cure at the hospital, but I was given several antiviral medications to slow the virus’s ability to damage liver. But after sometime the medicine wasn't working and I became very sick with different symptoms like: vomiting, fatigue, dark urine, swollen stomach and so on. I went back to the hospital and I was told it has become chronic with liver problem, and out of frustration I went online to search for something new to try, and I came across Dr. IYABIYE's recommendation, I gave it a try hence it's a herbal medicine. And behold, I was cured after the treatment. I have to wait for months then went back to the hospital and still I was tested negative. You too will be cured. Contact: (Whatsapp: +2348072229413 or +2348158577300) iyabiyehealinghome@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Unfortunately there are a lot of AIDS/Herpes denials on Herbal cures still out there. I did research on them after I was tested HIV/Herpes positive I was so worried am I going to die soon. I continue my search again on herbal remedy for Std, then I found lots of testimony on how Dr Itua Herbal Medicine Cured HIV/Aids, Herpes Virus,Copd,HPV,Cancer, Hepatitis,Shingles, Diabetes,Epilepsy,Infertility, On websites sharing their testimonies, which made much more sense to me. All the authors pronounce Dr Itua As a man with Good Heart, I pick interest in their testimonies and I contact him about my situation then he gave me procedure how it works, I proceed after one week he courier his Herbal Medicine to me and instruct me on how to drink it for two weeks to cure. I receive His Herbal Medicine so I drank it for two weeks as I was told then after 2 days I go for a test I found out I was cured from HIV/Aids & Herpes Virus, I pay homage to him 2 months ago to his country to celebrate with him on his African festival which he told me it usually happens every year. I know there are lots of (HIV)/Aids Herpes Virus denials of Herbal Remedy movement, the same few doctors and they represent a very small fraction of the community. I could have died because I refused Natural Herbs Cures for so long, but luckily, by the grace of God I am alive to tell my story. Contact Info...Whatsapp Number...+2348149277967,Email...drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com

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