The D Spot

Last night was our local, annual “Light the Night” walk to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We have done it every year since my husband got diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (Jan 2002).
This year I missed the walk because I had to work. I wish I had been there. Something about the red and white balloons flashing as we walk in the dark brings a tear to my eyes.
My husband raised $1000, earned a special T-shirt and got brought up on stage with the other high-earners.
I am so proud of him.
Not just because of the money he raised.
I am also proud of him because he has lived–and lived well–with what is still considered a terminal illness for over 6 years now. He has been an example to others, a support, and he has always, always, remained positive.
Sure, those first couple weeks were scary. He was SICK. We were SCARED and we didn’t have access to the medicine we have now. I had to give him injections that made him brutally ill.
Once he started Gleevec however, life returned to normal within days. Literally.
And he has been fine pretty much ever since. We had one episode where he was out of remission and he is now on the max dose of Gleevec.
Is the second remission a durable remission? Not always.
But right now, there is no trace of the cancer marker in his body.
None. Zero. Zip.
We’ll take it, even if it is only for a few years. He was 35 when he got diagnosed; that is much younger than average. At that point, the doctor told me he would have 5 – 9 years to live.
Well, its been close to 7 and no sign of trouble exists. With the newer medicines (the Second-generation gleevecs that are coming out), there is no estimated survival time, just the thought that its a longer survival time than ever.
We have perfectly matched bone marrow from his brother on ice at the hospital. He will go to transplant when—and if—-he needs it.
But for now…he is fine.
I am so proud of him.