Living with Multiple Myeloma

October 2024 Thank you for reading this blog.   It is Thursday again, chemo day.  As I walk in to the cancer hospital, I am reminded of the truth of my life. Today I notice women my own age in wheelchairs.  I feel so lucky to be able to walk.  It is a beautiful day.  I feel immense privilege to be able to go to the hair salon for a trim.  To be able to visit my favorite lawyer before she starts her new job.  Immense privilege.  "I'm so scared, so terribly scared" I hear a woman say into her phone.  We are all scared.  We are just one blood test away from a major paradigm shift in our outlook, perspective, dreams.  We smile with our headscarves and wigs and skinny legs and masks, but we are all scared.  I'm often surprised at how few people are here, waiting, alone.  I often feel like approaching caregivers and telling them how much I admire them, giving their time, their soul, their health to take care of another person. ...

Truth.  Honesty is at the heart of good communication.  Honesty and good communication are at the heart of strong relationships.   I treasure candor, constructive criticism, direct feedback; to me these are the ultimate proof of care and love.  I treasure bravery, it takes a brave person to be honest.  Treasure those brave enough to risk friendship with open thoughts and direct comments.  They know we will be richer because of their advice; that we are brave enough to listen.   Secrets make life hurt. Disrespect makes life hurt.  It seems so clear what to avoid if we want to keep ourselves healthy.  Deception is the ultimate disrespect.  There is no place in our lives for that.  There are people, places, jewelry, drinks, music, situations, scents, sounds, foods, songs, memories that have the power to make us feel deep joy inside.  Memories can also make us hurt inside.  My dear cancer friend, we cannot afford to ...