First and foremost, our goal is that this is the last you hear from us in a LONG time!  This is the post that I, personally, have been waiting anxiously for ever since last summer when we first started my treatment plan.  Today I successfully wrapped up the 4th phase of my treatment plan and have graduated to what is called “Maintenance.” 

This is the final phase of my treatment and those of you that have experience with cancer may know that this can be a somewhat longer phase but far less intense treatments.   For example, over the last seven months I have had months that have included up to 12-15 days of outpatient treatment, which involved some really tough chemo drugs.  During Maintenance I will have outpatient treatment just once every 30-40 days while also taking some chemo pills at home.  The doctors and nurses have said that I may experience an initial dip in my immune system and energy, but should get used to the treatment and will be able to live a “normal” life very soon!  My goal is to get back to teaching in the classroom as early as March 11th!

One big challenge throughout this has been staying safe during the pandemic.   Unfortunately, my oncologist says that my type of cancer and my current immune system status is going to keep me from getting a COVID vaccine anytime soon.  Re-entering the classroom is so important that we will work on  plans to make sure everyone understands and sticks with all the good practices that will keep us all safe.  I’d rather risk COVID and get back in the classroom than wait any longer to get a vaccine. 

Erica and Emma are doing great.  Emma is learning new words every week and has such a fun personality.  She is tenacious, self-driven, and still a monkey that crawls on top of everything.  Erica continues to hold this family together through it all.  From taking most of the care of Emma to operating the farm with her dad, Dana, she still has time to serve on the Board of Animal Health and even testified in front of the House Ag Committee just over a week ago.  The past two months have been especially challenging for me to be able to help out much, but Erica continues to be understanding and helps me to be able to rest and work on recovery after each treatment. 

Before I let you all go I have to get on my soap box and have one request for everyone to consider.  If you are willing to support the fight against cancer, I have learned a couple of very important things this year.  First, donate blood.  I will admit that I always felt “too busy” to donate blood, but early on in my treatment I was told that I could never donate blood after having a blood based cancer.  It really hurt and I feel guilty for having passed on the opportunity so many times.  Second, know what your priorities are when you donate to a cause, including causes related to cancer.  For me, I am acutely aware of the fact that funded research is the only reason I am alive and well today.  The treatment I am getting wasn’t even a clinical trial seven years ago when my dad had leukemia.  Had it not been for funded research, my treatment likely would have been much similar to what my dad got and my chances of being cured would have dropped dramatically.  Personally, I understand and can appreciate funds that pay for gifts, blankets, books, etc. for cancer patients.  That said, the more funding we can direct towards research, the less gifts we’ll need because we can cure cancer once we get enough resources to research and create treatment plans like mine.

Thank you all for the continued thoughts and prayers.  The phone calls, text messages, cards, etc. all help to remind me that, although I have been cooped up home, there are so many people in our corner that it makes the fight much more manageable.  If anything major changes in my treatment plan, but hopefully this is the last you hear from us in a long while, well that is on Caringbridge.  I hope and plan on seeing many of you in person soon and we can skip all these medical updates!