I Continue To Be Watched Over

I got into a car accident Thursday, rear-ended as I was slowing to stop at a red light. The driver was not paying attention, probably on her cell phone or texting.  Fortunately, it was a low-speed crash. I have some rear structural damage, and my bumper is bent down at a 45 degree angle. The other vehicle was hardly damaged at all.

I am very bad about not wearing my seat belt, probably because of the many short trips I take. I was not wearing it during the crash. I think I'm going to change and put it on all the time now. I was very fortunate that the impact was not greater or else I would have eaten the steering wheel, and I would be in bad shape right now.

Take this as a lesson on why it is important to wear your seat belt and not to be on your cell phone or texting while you drive. I support Florida's new law on banning texting.

New drug combination therapy developed to treat leukemia

Click to read:

New drug combination therapy developed to treat leukemia

Another Breakthrough Treatment For Leukemia

 Click to read:

Promising stem cell therapy for leukemia patients

Interesting article from Sciencedaily.com

Click on this link and read about this interesting leukemia treatment milestone. This is the same leukemia I had:

T-cell therapy eradicates an aggressive leukemia in two children

Look What A Leukemia Survivor Has Done, continued

More of my survival benefits, planting flowers for people to enjoy

Fours Years Ago My Life Changed

At this time, four years ago, my life changed forever. I started my first battle of acute leukemia with a dangerous cocktail of chemotherapy drugs. Today, the leukemia is gone, and I have no major side affects of those lethal drugs. I am a very happy person with MUCH to be thankful for!

Look What A Leukemia Survivor Has Done

The flowers, which beautify the entrance to Pasco Regional Medical Center, were planted by me. Because I survived leukemia, many people can enjoy these views. Right-click pictures to enlarge.

Leukemia survivors: Keep Your Heart Checked!

During my leukemia treatment, I received multiple applications of high-dose chemotherapy. Because of this, I've been informed that I have a high risk of developing heart complications, the worst being heart failure.

In an article I read, it mentions the chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin and daunorubicin (which are classified as anthracyclines.) These drugs can damage the left ventricle of the heart. However, if a survivor's heart is checked regularly, the damage can be detected early and treated. Also, eating healthy and not smoking decreases the risk (Why would a cancer survivor be an idiot and smoke anyway?) I've seen people do it, and I want to smack them!

Surprisingly, the two chemo drugs I mentioned above are more harmful to me than these two drugs that I got at much higher doses: cytarabine and cyclophosphamide. Although, with the latter drug, I am at risk of developing AML (acute myeloid leukemia) and bladder cancer.

I've said this before, I beat leukemia, but I'm not out of the woods. I've got to take care of myself, or I will get hit with another life-threatening event.

This page contains some good information on childhood cancer chemotherapy drugs. I consider it valid with my situation because my leukemia was classified as a childhood cancer: http://www.acco.org/Information/drugs.aspx. Also, read this blog post: http://www.bethematchblog.org/2013/02/know-your-risk-factors-for-developing-heart-problems-after-transplant/

It's All Over With, Possibly Cured of Cancer

Today was my last transplant-related doctor's visit. According to her, I am completely back to normal and will not have to get anymore tests, frequent blood work, or bone marrow biopsies. I still have to visit Moffitt at least once a year because I'm committed to their lifetime cancer evaluation program.  It's amazing how I've progressed in the last two and a half years, and it's amazing that my leukemia hasn't come back. The chances of that happening now are almost zero!

My doctor has advised me to choose a local primary care physician to see, just like a normal person needs a yearly checkup. It will be important for me to have a routine exam with a primary because I'm at a high risk of developing secondary cancer(s.)  So...I'm not completely out of the woods. I expect to live and have a normal life at least another 30 years.

I'm sitting back saying to myself, Wow I just had cancer and it's gone. It's a GREAT feeling!

Ready And Thankful For A New Year

Although I was diagnosed in March 2009, my leukemia symptoms were prevalent during 2009's New Years. It's hard to believe that four years ago today I was struggling with what I thought was a bad virus, not knowing that I actually had cancer. So I've been without the second deadliest leukemia for almost four years. I beat the odds and am completely back to normal, with ALL thanks to God, and, of course, my donor Marieke! I've lived to see 2013 and hope to see many more new years.

My Condo Is A Cat Magnet

I found this picture on my computer of a very friendly cat I rescued from my car engine.

This is a friendly stray kitten that liked to hang around my front...

Give Your Children Some Extra Love This Christmas

It is going to be an extremely difficult Christmas for the families of the Sandy Hook tragedy victims. I can not express what they will be going through next week. They will need strength. If you are a Christian, or if you believe in prayer, please pray for those families.

I am very hopeful that the victims are in heaven now. In a sense, they are much better off. The way this world is going, they are in a much better place. I wish I could say that a tragedy like this will never happen again, but it will. The only things that I see which will reduce the number of tragedies that we face is that we take our heads out of the sand, become more observant of the people around us, report suspicious activity no matter how insignificant it is, pay attention to people who may need psychological help, and support stricter punishment for criminal offenders.

There are evil forces here that are going to get more people to do more horrendous things. It is the duty of Christians now that we start fighting back. This includes fighting the people who want to take God out of our country because I believe this is what is causing those evil forces to gain a better foothold.

On Christmas morning, give your children an extra hug and tell them that you love them.