Oh, the adventures we’ve enjoyed since the years I’ve blogged about our journey in Myelomaville. Some wonderful and some not so much. Typical to life in general, to be honest. Though with Myeloma, we can get immersed in everything through that lens, rightly or wrongly. No judgment here! And in these difficult times of Covid and the hysteria of it all, it seems even more heightened.
Our son and his wife, my beautiful daughter-in-law, Angelica (I’m keeping her forever!), expect our first grandchild this spring. It’s very emotional for me. Not that I wanted to pressure my children, but I have High School friends whose grandchildren are graduating high school and college already! Hudson has managed to survive the Covid shutdowns in California with his tree care business (BridgeWood Tree Care). He and Angelica have worked diligently to help their employees gain the best advantage while also availing themselves of the programs for themselves as well. We are amazed and proud of how well they are weathering these pandemic challenges. Where they live in Stockton, they’ve experienced a lot of rioting and looting. Each night they’ve had to fortify their property in ways no one should have to. I thank god for Angelica and her upbringing in Colombia. She is steadfast and strong, while other young women might head for the hills. But it has created unnecessary stress not ever being able to leave their home and property uninhabited. And yet, they seem to be taking it all in stride. I’m immensely proud of both of them and excited for their new adventure as parents.
Our daughter Montana got engaged to her perfect mate, Jeffers. And while we were thrilled for her, it meant that she left us to return to Maryland and relocate to Annapolis. I’m exceedingly happy for her while missing her and her amazing Jack Russell, Daxter, who stole my heart. She came to stay with us for one year and stayed for four. I’m experiencing the empty nest syndrome in the worst way. But I love Jeffers, and he tolerates me well, so I’m thrilled for them both.
Jeffers called me to tell me he was going to do the deed and hoped we would come! Dave didn’t feel well enough to make the long journey, but he was more than happy to make it possible for me to go. I traversed to Baltimore, rented a car, and stayed at the prestigious Westin Marriott in downtown Annapolis across the street from Fado, the Irish Pub, and Bar that we were all gathering to surprise her. Her best friend from High School flew in from Colorado for a preplanned visit. She is an extraordinarily gifted professional photographer, so Jeffers planned to take their “Christmas Photo” at their favorite pier. He popped the question, and Naomi was able to capture it beautifully. After the deed was done, she remarked, “We’ll all be so happy together!”
My comment was, “Who is that couple behind Daxter?”
Montana and Jeffers connected through one of her childhood friends and a college friend, who told Jeffers she would be perfect for him. He reached out to her via Instagram, and the rest is history. I’m grateful he didn’t let that she was living in California stop him. He’s a Firefighter/EMT in the esteemed Banneker Firehouse in Howard County, MD. Montana managed to get a fantastic job with ADL (Anti Defamation League) and works remotely for them, helping them to meet their many milestones. Daxter, her esteemed Jack Russell, has acclimated like many dogs do and enjoys terrorizing the neighborhood and going on kayaking adventures (with his lifejacket that “nana” insisted on him having for his water excursions!).
Anyway, I was waiting for her at the pub with Jeffers’ family and a few close friends. Jeffers, after having asked her to marry him, suggested they grab a bite at Fados. She had no idea I was there or anyone else for that matter. And while she was making the rounds, everyone was silently waiting for her to see me. When she finally did, she screamed and burst into very emotional tears as she fell into my arms. Several men came up to me later and said, “That was so real! that was so cool!” Jeffers said, “You were my ace in the hole!” It was well worth the long flight, waiting at the car rental until they had a car for me (hours) and settling into my hotel room. Jeffers arranged for me to have dinner attended by a friend of his that I had met on a previous visit at the Boatyard. The hotel called me a cab, and I had the best fish tacos and Blue Moon ever waiting for me. I felt loved and appreciated. The morning after the celebration gathering, I packed up, checked out, and made my way to the Brick Bungalow in East Port. The door was locked, and a couple of girls were locked out. No worries. I pounded on the door. Daxter was on the other side, whimpering and crying for me, not barking. He knew it was me. So sweet. Some weary guests opened the door for me, and I let the girls back in. I set up the Nespresso and started making some coffee. Montana and Jeffers had escaped earlier for Hot Yoga.
When rumbles of this crazy new virus started hitting the news, Dave shut himself inside the house weeks before anyone made any such suggestions. I’m thankful that he can work remotely from home in that regard. His company, like so many others, shut down all business travel. So he has been underfoot since early February, crimping my style and routine. A couple of weeks is OK, but almost a year! Sheesh! Anyhow, shortly after, as the concern over asymptotic spread, I locked down with him. Valid or not, it created a great deal of understandable stress for him.
In May 2020, we made the trek to Arkansas (UAMS) for a checkup. Our flights were continually canceled, changed, rerouted. It was apocalyptic at that time in the airports. We braced ourselves for whatever was presented. We made it to Arkansas, and of course, I wasn’t allowed to accompany him for any tests or his consultation. A reasonable precaution under the circumstances. We’ve gone again since, and each time the air travel and airports seem a little more normal. Not entirely, but less deserted as it was back in May. We fit right in now with all the masks wearers.
After Dave’s BEAM SCT, it’s been a struggle. He became non-secretory, so now he appears in complete stringent remission until you see his scans. A PET and MRI together are no longer denied; he needs both in his diagnostics. His Myeloma is active, and we are two failed new treatment therapies to get it under control ever since sigh. We have a couple of options remaining, but it is more challenging to get a good response.
Am I worried? Yes. Am I prepared? As anyone would be, I guess. Am I hopeful? I’m trying desperately to be.
We head back in a few weeks for all the diagnostics and consultation. I’m expecting the next drug in the long line (thank god there’s a long line!) and hope we will see some stability with manageable side effects. As they say, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
The children are aware and concerned, but life continues as it should. We have so much we are grateful for and excited about. And, of course, our beautiful trips to Tahoe. When Dave was in remission, he decided to buy into Marriott’s Vacation Club. I wasn’t so sure, but I was hard-pressed to tell him not to. I’ve always loved travel and was excited about it. Right after he jumped in, he relapsed. Then he didn’t feel safe traveling abroad. So lucky us, Marriott has three properties in Tahoe and two in South Tahoe, which is very near us (2 hrs). Beautiful properties. So we go often and have a change of pace. Montana and Jeffers fly out and go skiing at Heavenly as often as they can.
I hope we will get some good news soon with Dave’s Myeloma. He’s 61 now, and somehow it just seems too young to be taken from us. But so many others younger than Dave have been lost. You may feel as I do like each one is a blow. Even with so many beautiful strides, and Dave living past the average, we struggle with the crap we’ve been dealt. But through all of that, Dave and I have lived and lived well. For that, I am most proud. We haven’t let it define us or stop us from finding ways to experience joys as fully as we can.
Stay safe out there. It’s a scary time. I’ve been worried about a common cold for 12 and half years, and now I have a pandemic to worry about. Geeze!
