Dear All:
One other item I wanted to post pertains to a beloved friend, colleague and boss. As life has dealt an unfortunate hand to Lee, please pray for him and his wife and family. Lee has been diagnosed with Stage IV Pancreatic cancer. What are the odds of two executives from the same company, who sit next to each other, one who supported me so much this last year on my own AML journey, of being touched with cancer? We can all say that Life isn't fair, etc., etc. However, praise God that Lee is a Godly man and his life is in the hands of our Lord.
Currently, Lee is going through chemo treatment and, unfortunately has no hope of his cancer being treated through surgery or a transplant. He does have the hope of his faith in our Lord and Savior. Lee's attitude is fantastic. He is positive and motivated to continue working. His wife and him left on a cruise today. Pray for a restful and inspirational time together. He has the hope of a miracle. Pray for that miracle. Most importantly, he is a "shining light" to me and others around him with his attitude and testimony. Whether it is in God's will that Lee be healed or prepare him for heaven, that is in the Lord's control. Medically, this is one of the nastiest of cancers and medically, there is no "cure". Please pray for him.
I want to thank Lee personally for his ongoing support of me. I just hope that somehow through my own AML journey that God has taught and prepared me to encourage and support Lee and their family. Lee and his family have a different journey than me. I ask each of you to join me in helping to pray and provide encouragement and support to them.
Thank You
God Bless You All
Dennis
Friday, August 7, 2009
I'm Back 8-7-09
Hi Everyone:
OK, I will first apologize for being so neglectful on keeping my blog up to date. Several of you have hinted (very directly) that I should update my blog and keep you informed of my status. My sincere apologies for not doing so.
Here is the status:
I had a Stem Cell Transplant on January 14, 2009. Was in the hospital for the typical 3 and1/2 weeks, spent a month or so at home, and am fully engaged. The great news is that I had a bone marrow biopsy about 8 weeks ago and I am CLEAN. There is no sign of leukemia and the donor's cells represent greater than 95% of my bone marrow. My family and I are naturally very pleased and we give the glory totally to our Lord Jesus Christ.
All along this journey, I have felt well and have continued to work and exercise. All I need is my laptop and cell phone and my work gets done. Being an executive at Essential Group has been a total joy, made possible by my colleagues and friends there who have been so supportive in my journey. I thank each and everyone of them personally. I thank each and every one of you who have consistently prayed for me. I could mention names, but this posting would be very long. You know who you are. I thank my family. My daughters and sons-in-laws have been an inspiration. I can't tell you how much I love Amanda, Jackie and Elizabeth, not because of their prayers and support, but for the fine examples of Godly women that each have developed and continue to grow into. Finally, my wife Gail is the cornerstone of my foundation. She is my rock! Without her, I don't know what I would have done or how I would have handled this journey to date. I love her so much and she is a person who gives so much more than she ever wants to receive. Thank you sweetheart for who you are. I love you!
The journey is certainly not over. That nasty cancer called AML doesn't like to be defeated. I will continue to be monitored with occasional biopsies. I am still on immunosuppressants trying to keep the GVHD (Graft Versus Host Disease) in check. I am being dialed down on many of the medications and hope to be completely off the immunosuppressants withing the next 2 months. Meanwhile, I have my little pill box I use to routinely pop my pills.
Technically, on a medical front, the doctors won't declare a cure for five years. As for me, it is one day at a time. I know that God has given me each day of feeling good because of his grace. It is totally in his will as to how long I am in remission. I can tell you that I feel 27 again. That is, my donor is 27 years old from somewhere in eastern europe. After one year, I will be able to communicate directly with him and thank him for his contribution of life to me. If any of you can qualify to be a donor, please do it. Thank you.
I will try to post an occasional update. Until we meet or talk or email or tweet again, please know that each of you have been my strength, encouragement, energy source, and inspiration. I still where my wrist band that has "relentless" on it. That is what I am. I just hope and pray that somehow my journey has and can be an encouragement and inspiration to you.
Glod Bless You All
Love Dennis
OK, I will first apologize for being so neglectful on keeping my blog up to date. Several of you have hinted (very directly) that I should update my blog and keep you informed of my status. My sincere apologies for not doing so.
Here is the status:
I had a Stem Cell Transplant on January 14, 2009. Was in the hospital for the typical 3 and1/2 weeks, spent a month or so at home, and am fully engaged. The great news is that I had a bone marrow biopsy about 8 weeks ago and I am CLEAN. There is no sign of leukemia and the donor's cells represent greater than 95% of my bone marrow. My family and I are naturally very pleased and we give the glory totally to our Lord Jesus Christ.
All along this journey, I have felt well and have continued to work and exercise. All I need is my laptop and cell phone and my work gets done. Being an executive at Essential Group has been a total joy, made possible by my colleagues and friends there who have been so supportive in my journey. I thank each and everyone of them personally. I thank each and every one of you who have consistently prayed for me. I could mention names, but this posting would be very long. You know who you are. I thank my family. My daughters and sons-in-laws have been an inspiration. I can't tell you how much I love Amanda, Jackie and Elizabeth, not because of their prayers and support, but for the fine examples of Godly women that each have developed and continue to grow into. Finally, my wife Gail is the cornerstone of my foundation. She is my rock! Without her, I don't know what I would have done or how I would have handled this journey to date. I love her so much and she is a person who gives so much more than she ever wants to receive. Thank you sweetheart for who you are. I love you!
The journey is certainly not over. That nasty cancer called AML doesn't like to be defeated. I will continue to be monitored with occasional biopsies. I am still on immunosuppressants trying to keep the GVHD (Graft Versus Host Disease) in check. I am being dialed down on many of the medications and hope to be completely off the immunosuppressants withing the next 2 months. Meanwhile, I have my little pill box I use to routinely pop my pills.
Technically, on a medical front, the doctors won't declare a cure for five years. As for me, it is one day at a time. I know that God has given me each day of feeling good because of his grace. It is totally in his will as to how long I am in remission. I can tell you that I feel 27 again. That is, my donor is 27 years old from somewhere in eastern europe. After one year, I will be able to communicate directly with him and thank him for his contribution of life to me. If any of you can qualify to be a donor, please do it. Thank you.
I will try to post an occasional update. Until we meet or talk or email or tweet again, please know that each of you have been my strength, encouragement, energy source, and inspiration. I still where my wrist band that has "relentless" on it. That is what I am. I just hope and pray that somehow my journey has and can be an encouragement and inspiration to you.
Glod Bless You All
Love Dennis
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