Two years ago today I was diagnosed with acute myologist leukemia (AML). My medical training some 30 years ago (oh my gosh!) taught me that it was the most severe leukemia to have and that people would die in about a week. A well meaning fellow at Mayo said the prognosis would be six months, but in my instance three, I was cachectic when I came in. Later that day or it may have been the next, the attending physician suggested it would be longer than that, but did not give me a date. Finally, after about two or three weeks. My hematologist said the median survival was 15 months, but in my instance, because I had a preceding diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome, My kidney transplant and other chronic diseases it would more likely be 12. I was ineligible for a bone marrow transplant. He said it would kill me.

Several bone marrow biopsies later and approximately 17 rounds of chemo about once a month, I remain in remission. The only signs of my diagnosis are reduced neutrophils and platelets which are lowest a week and a half after chemo, and my handful of daily pills.

Every morning and several times throughout the day I thank the Creator who made this universe and gives me another day, Jesus who provides me with guidance and an example of how I want to live my life and the Holy Spirit who helps me overcome the “I don’t wanna’s” so I may follow Jesus’s example, get off my duff and do the right thing.

I am blessed, I thank you all. I will do my best to utilize my gifts to make my small corner of the world a better place.

With love,

Paul