The life of Kenneth B. Foreman and his journey after being diagnosed with Stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), a form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL).
Ken’s chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplant have been through Kaiser-Permanente (Tysons Corner, VA), Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD), National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD), and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in coordination with Fred Hutchins (Seattle, WA).
I’ve always been spiritual, and arguably, faithful.
Raised as Hungarian Reformed Protestant, Lutheran (ELCA), and later converted to Catholicism, I’ve been exposed to Christianity throughout my life.
I have never been Evangelical or Charismatic. I’d make for an extremely poor and unenthusiastic Missionary.
Over the decades, I’ve attended Jewish services in Synagogues, Sunday Services with Devout Pentecostals, Sundays with the Southern Baptist Conference, drum circles with modern pagans, and weekends with “Charismatic Catholics”.
While I appreciate the devotion of others, I honestly believe that it is our actions that define us as a Christians. Try as I might, I have severe difficulty understanding when some call themselves “Christian” and yet hate half our nation because they’re Democrat, or they’re Republican, or they’re immigrants, or they’re homeless, or they’re… whatever… “they’re not you.”
I paid attention during Matthew 25:34-37 where Jesus spoke about the poor, the homeless, the imprisoned, the sick. I must wonder if many of my fellow Christians conveniently forgot that part. For all our Nativity scenes, we forget that Christ himself was a refugee, an immigrant, and without a home at his birth.
My faith keeps me and sustains me through my life. I lost family and friends. I served in the military. I had a decent career between corporations and government contracting. I survived cancer, chemo, radiation, and being immunocompromised. I don’t shout it from the rooftops, but I quietly carry it in my heart as I hope to serve others by word and deed rather than charismatic and performative evangelism.
And so it goes. As I wait for the latest word and chapter in my life, I have faith. It sustains me. It is a quiet candle burning in my heart and shared together with my family.
After a week-long stay at the hospital with a few days of septic delirium, a week of IV antibiotics, and a month of Cipro, this is a loud-and-pronounced call that I need to focus on my health and getting control over my leg lymphedema as best I can.
Despite my best efforts for walking 60-90mi each month with the pups, doing frequent showers and moisturizing, I still seem to be getting cellulitis and sepsis several times each year. My last echocardiogram shows that it’s taking a toll on my heart health as I repeatedly get pumped full of IV fluids and antibiotics.
So, my goal now is to be thorough and persistent with my physical therapy at Kaiser and Virginia Hospital Center, to do more frequent/longer walks and cycling, and to hopefully get my leg into a healthier long-term state.
Or, at the very least, to be able to enjoy long walks, hikes, and cycling again?
Today was an exhaustive visit, but one of the best visits I’ve had with Kaiser about my short-term health, long-term health, and long-term treatment:
Yes, I do have a slightly enlarged heart and decreased ejection fraction, but it’s due to pseudomonas and sepsis as a blood infection. Seeing increased heart size and changes to ejection fraction are common. They’re scheduling me for a transesophageal echocardiogram in 2-3 weeks to verify my recovery once the Cipro is over. They’ll also schedule me for a full panel of bloodwork to verify my bloodwork, recovery, and level of immunity/immunocompromised.
Yes, I do have Stage 3 Lymphedema of my left leg. It’s pronounced. They want to photograph it monthly, document it, and do more aggressive physical therapy to see if we can’t see some recovery, improvement in mobility, decreased neuropathy. I’m being referred to Virginia Hospital Center (VHC) for my lymphedema care.
They’re documenting that I have a severe reaction to a flea bite, not uncommon for my lymphoma, lymphedema, decreased immune response. Pseudomonas itself was likely acquired during frequent clinical visits. MRSA and Pseudomonas are concerns given my health and history.
They recommended a Bifenthrin Insecticide fogger for front yard and back to reduce mosquitoes and insects, fog yard every 2-3 weeks. Safe for both me and our dogs. They recommended spraying my pants and shirts with Permethrin and/or DEET, to wear long pants and shirts for all walks outdoor exposure due to severe reaction to flea bite.
❝ You were dealing with pain, but people didn’t realize it.
So many of us have to deal with it. When you’re in pain, you’re just looking to feel good. It changes your relationship with food, and drink, and your life. So then when they fix the pain, you’re left with other complex areas of your life that you need to deal with and realign relationships with.
When I say I’m getting better, I’m getting better in a multitude of ways, which is great… but you have to keep trying. ❞
— Carson Daly, Today (NBC, Tues 18-Oct-2022) re: Life after Spinal Surgery and Recovery
Carson Daly had a great segment on the Today show (NBC) this morning.
I really appreciate his answers and his directness. He did address that many people are in pain, particularly after surgery, illness, or the ravages of age. Many of us are trying to deal with pain, but we’re not always aware of the pain of others.
I especially appreciate how he said that pain changes the nature of our relationships with food, drink, exercise, and our lifestyles. As we recover from the immediate issues and the pain, we need to recognize and realign how our lives have changed.
1) Congratulations! You remain in remission from Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
There is no evidence of recurrent hypermetabolic or structural evidence of high grade lymphoma. Specifically, no abnormal uptake in normal-sized lymph nodes, pathologic lymphadenopathy by size criteria, hypermetabolic focal splenic lesions, splenic uptake above background or suspicious FDG avid osseous lesions.
2) Congratulations, you have splenomegaly!
Current splenic measurements are 16 x 8.5 cm in craniocaudal by transverse dimensions, similar to prior.
3) Congratulations, you have a kidney stone in your left kidney!
Possible layering calyceal stones in the left greater than right kidneys. No hydronephrosis.
4) Congratulations, you have age-appropriate degenerative changes in the spine.
It’s become “en vogue” to crap on people of faith, particularly Christianity. I completely understand why people do, and it’s not as if Christianity has an immaculate history or social standing to preach from.
What puzzles me is people’s hypocrisy, since they’ll respect Islam, Wicca, Paganism, Buddhism, Taoism, other religions, and ideologies but reserve their bile and ire for Catholicism or Christianity. I don’t see their logic or beliefs as any more superior or worthy of respect when they’re foaming at the mouth about one faith while adhering to another. They appear as hypocritical and irrational as the people they mock.
But what do I know?
These last few years have truly been a trial. My own flesh-and-blood family by birth was there for none of it. Neither my mother nor my brothers visited, sent anything, said anything, or donated bone marrow for my health and my survival. It was the generous gift of an anonymous donor that I am alive today. It was the care, love, and compassion of Vicky’s family and our mutual friends that saw me through.
And it was faith. My faithful friends will nod and agree. My cynical, atheistic, or “logical/rational” friends will shake their heads and credit everything from medical science alone to chance and happenstance.
But there were just too many odd and miraculous things these past few years. From the generous support of my co-workers going above and beyond to make it possible for me to spend nearly a year in several hospital (Virginia Hospital Center, Johns Hopkins, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance) to Vicky’s family supporting us when we needed to travel for my stem cell therapy to several “odd” (miraculous) things happening when both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) told me I had months to live and that I should put my affairs in order.
And again, lightning out of the blue?
Something happened again yesterday. I’m not going to say what or why. It’s not for anyone to know other than Vicky and I. Should cancer (or anything else) eventually claim me, perhaps it can be talked about over my funeral or as an odd aside after the fact?
Something which had no right happening and was completely unexpected happened just the same. Just a little reminder of all that we’ve been through together as a little family (Vicky and I) and that perhaps there is something greater than ourselves seeing to our survival?
I am still here even when others told me that I would not.
My bone marrow transplant may or may not have been ideal. Over three years of chemo and radiation may have taken its toll on my health and my bone marrow graft, but despite my immunocompromised health, I am able to live, to survive, to enjoy time together with my family, and to be thankful for all that we have together and all that we’ve been blessed with.
And I continue to see unexpected blessings, things that cannot or should not be, but nevertheless are. Some may believe me, some may think I’m irrational or delusional, but it won’t stop me from being thankful, from being grateful, and for having faith.
Together in Faith and Endurance as a patient at Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD)
Christ at Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD)
Christ at Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD)
Together in Faith and Endurance
Celebrating Mass, Giving Thanks, Praying for Strength to Endure…
Celebrating Mass as a Patient at Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD)
Celebrating Mass as a patient at Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD)
Celebrating Mass as a patient at Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD)
Celebrating Mass as a patient at Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD)
❝ Hey you! I hadn’t seen a health update in a while, and I really wanted to know how you were doing. ❞
It’s been a while since I last posted an update about my health or my ongoing adventures with cancer, remission, and lymphedema. Between our societal exhaustion of the pandemic and my own personal fatigue of dealing with the after-effects of cancer, chemo, lymphoma, and lymphedema, blogging about my health wasn’t as high a priority for me.
I was surprised and very thankful to hear from a beloved and old friend yesterday. It was really nice catching up with her, and she asked about my latest health. She reminded me it’s been a while since my last update, so it prompted me to post this update. Rather than retype much of what I told her, I thought I’d copy much of my summary here.
I really can’t understate how surprised and thankful I was to hear from her. She’s someone whose opinions, observations, and life experiences I greatly respect and admire. It’s fascinating how our lives have paralleled each other.
• • •
While being told “you have cancer, it’s Stage 4, we need you to go to the hospital for IV infusion” is pretty dramatic and a singular event, recovery isn’t so dramatic or so singular.
I’m on my third remission, it’s the longest so far, but the effects of 3 years of chemo and an imperfect bone marrow transplant continue to linger. The lymphedema of my left leg is such that at any given time, my left leg is 2-3x the size and weight of my right leg. It means I get cellulitis far more often (2-3x each year), and I get hospitalized each time for sepsis accompanying the cellulitis.
In these past few weeks as I try to walk more, hike more, and get out more, it means I walk funny as I try to put more weight, stress, and maneuverability on my right leg. It also means that twisted my leg and loosened my ligaments in my right knee. I had two x-rays of my knee, thankful it doesn’t need surgery, but means I need to wear a soft brace while I try to exercise more to strengthen the muscles in my legs.
I ought to write it all down and post it, but it’s tedious and ongoing (feels never-ending sometimes).
I wish I could have gone to Defcon 30. I had several friends who went, told me about the exciting time they had, and sent pictures. I still would like to go to Burning Man sometime. I figure I’ll have an easier time at Burning Man than at Defcon since it’s easier to maintain personal space and take various hygiene precautions/wear.
Still somewhat immunocompromised, so I work from home full-time, I try to limit my socialization, and it’s pretty funny (not really) how quickly sick I get from time spent around others who think they aren’t sick, or “it’s just the sniffles, nothing really, I’m not contagious” and then I end up in the hospital for a couple of days for IV antibiotics (which is a true story, exactly what happened after attending the wake and funeral of Vicky’s Dad)
Humor, sometimes dark humor, certainly helps with coping. Especially around others, who either have misconceptions about what cancer is, what cancer is like, or how they see it/handle it in others.
People don’t alarm me any more with their reactions. I don’t answer the trolls anymore, but will answer those genuinely curious or dealing with similar issues. My first few outings to the movies or to the restaurant were frustrating or exhausting.
And yeah… the pandemic has been something else, especially with how some people deal with it… or don’t. Since it’ll definitely knock me down, out, or kill me, I avoid others who I suspect have covid.
Lymphedema (secondary to Lymphoma) in one leg, bad knee in the other.
Long ago and far away (during my senior year of high school), I was climbing a 20-foot ladder to retrieve a pallet of paint from three-story warehouse. While I was carrying gallons of paint down the ladder, I got my foot caught in a rung and twisted my right knee. Despite fighting the claim, my employee recognized their fault and my injury, and I had my leg braced for part of the summer. I didn’t tear but I did loosen the post cruciate ligament (PCL) of my right knee.
A couple years later, I seriously wondered if my right knee was going to keep me from passing Basic Military Training (BMT) at Lackland AFB in 1992. Thankfully, the requirements for “running” a mile was a 12min/mile. At 12 minutes, you could effectively JOG a mile and not have to RUN it. So I did. At just over 10 minutes, I took my mile at a very comfortable pace and still passed BMT. My right knee was in considerable pain that week between daily exercises, hikes around Lackland in full battle dress uniforms (BDUs), and trying to haul my sorry ass a mile in under 12 minutes.
Fast forward 30 years, I have lymphedema in my left leg (secondary to Mantle Cell Lymphoma) and now I’m having sharp “grinding pains” in my right knee. I’ve been woken up multiple times in sharp pain as it feels like bone-on-bone grinding in my right knee. I’ll need to get my leg x-rayed next week.
Video Visit with Dr. Yoho (Kaiser-Permanente, Tysons, VA)
Dr. Yoho emphasizing that I need to exercise my lymphatic leg more, that I need to elevate it more, and that I really need to wear compression stocking as much as possible.
I’ve been neglecting and tolerating my swollen leg, especially with the high heat of mid-summer and the pain of taking long walks.
I ought to get more compression stockings, clean my leg and check for any cuts or changes, wear compression stockings and exercise it every day, and wash the compression stockings (wear clean stocking) each day.
I spent the last two days at Virginia Hospital Center after being admitted with a fever of 104℉ with chills, runny nose, and coughing.
With a temperature of 104℉, the doctors thought I had a viral infection rather than a bacterial infection. I was told that viral infections result in higher body temperatures.
They swabbed me twice for COVID, doing a PCR test each time, both were negative. They swabbed me for a panel of viruses, and it came back positive for HPIV.
Victoria and I never heard of Human Parainfluenza Viruses (HPIVs), but they’re common in children. Since I’m post-BMT and effectively have the immune system of a juvenile, I’m prone to childhood diseases.
I was able to go home yesterday afternoon, but I’m told to monitor it, be careful, and follow up with multiple tests for my WBC, ANC, and Platelets.
I think my cognition and mental acuity has improved since peak chemo and radiation, but I still find massive disconnects between my interior dialog and what I type on the screen.
In my head, I think fully formed and discrete sentences. As someone who scored nearly an 800 (perfect score) on the SAT Verbal, I prided myself on my spelling, grammar, and syntax.
Since nearly 4 years of Chemo on an equal number of chemo protocols and radiation therapy, I find that what I think is not always what I speak or what I type.
I’ve been trying to build buffers and safeguards into both my email and my web browsing. I use Grammarly and Microsoft Editor heavily, but sometimes I overlook or ignore the errors when it warns me “what you typed doesn’t make sense.”
I really need to slow down, type, read what I typed, take a deep breath, pause, and READ. IT. AGAIN.
Nurse preparing patient for CT scan test in hospital room
PET/CT with CONTRAST, taken 1/6/2021
IMPRESSION:
1. No evidence of FDG avid adenopathy.
2. Decreased focal FDG uptake at the junction of the descending and sigmoid colons when compared to prior. Of note colonoscopy results from 10/23/2020 demonstrated fragments of granulation tissue with ulcer, positive for CMV.
3. Improving right lower lobe pneumonia.
4. Splenomegaly.
PET/CT with CONTRAST, taken 3/4/2022
IMPRESSION:
1. No suspicious FDG avid lymphadenopathy. Unchanged splenomegaly with uptake below that of background liver. Deauville score of 1.
2. New focal radiotracer accumulation in the sigmoid colon with possible focal wall thickening. Finding is indeterminate in etiology, and consideration of colonoscopy should be obtained as clinically warranted. Of note, patient had a prior colonoscopy which demonstrated CMV colitis.
3. Increase of left lower extremity lymphedema.
FOLLOW-UP
1. Colonoscopy.
2. Physical Therapy for left lower extremity lymphedema.
Mini Trampolines are Good for the Lymphatic System
“Water Therapy” (walking in a pool with natural water pressure and resistance against lymphedema) and “Urban Rebounding”(mini-trampoline with stabilizer bar and exercise for lymphatic drainage) were the two biggest Physical Therapy exercises discussed today.
Diane Sharr, OT, and Anne Smith, OT, discussed my switching to bariatric and lymphedema clothing to accommodate my increase in lymphedema size. They also strongly recommended I switch laundry detergents to baby soap detergent to decrease harshness and hygienics of the clothing irritating my leg, will also decrease recurrence of cellulitis.
Today was a GREAT visit and discussion. Looking forward to improved physical therapy, monitoring, and care of my leg lymphedema.
Ken Foreman and Scott Anderson (Penn Station, Amtrak)
I routinely think about Scott Anderson, Carol Howell, Sean Sperry, and Benjamin Szoko. In these last four years, I’ve lost four dear friends. I wasn’t able to attend any of their funerals, fighting my own battle with lymphoma, lymphedema, and immunocompromised health myself.
People speak of “survivor’s guilt.” While Scott and I were still alive, as once cancer combatant to another, we both spoke about it. We both pressed on, but we know the heartache of losing loved ones and dear friends, wondering why we are here and they are not.
Scott was a decade older than me. Sean was four years older than me. Both were far too young to lose their battles to cancer. Carol was a surprise to us, and a heartbreak.
I have no answers. I certainly understand the anger, frustration, and loss. I get why people lash out against survivors or lash out against God for allowing some people to live and others to die. Morality and goodness don’t determine who is spared and who is claimed by cancer.
I hope to honor their memories as best I can. I hope to carry their memories and my loyalty
❝ HELLO KEN, TOMORROW MARKS YOUR LAST DAY OF MAINTENANCE CHEMO…
So I’ll be clear? I’ll be in Remission? This is my third remission now, but also my longest. Will I be clear after this?
IT LOOKS LIKE IT, BUT I WON’T SAY JUST YET. YOU’LL HAVE A FULL-BODY PET/CT SCAN WITH CONTRAST IN TWO WEEKS. IF IT’S CLEAR, THEN WE’LL DECLARE YOU CLEARED.
So what is my long-term prognosis? Am I now cancer-free? Will I never need to worry about cancer again?
THERE’S THE RUB… NO, WE DON’T KNOW… you had Stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma. It’s nearly undetectable until it’s Stage 4 (Metastasized), almost all Lymphomas are. You’re clear now, but you’ll likely be immunocompromised with ups and downs for the rest of your life, and you’ll always have Lymphedema. We don’t know and will never know if you’ll get Lymphoma again, and won’t detect it until you do. You’re clear now, enjoy it. Do something. Celebrate.
I recommend you see a Hematologist and Immunologist for the immunocompromised health, and that you see undergo Outpatient physical therapy at a Lymphedema Clinic for your leg.
See you again in two weeks. ❞
Ken Foreman at Johns Hopkins
AFTERWORD:
It was an odd and heartfelt conversation with Kaiser this morning. I feel like a massive weight has been taken off my chest, but still kinda angry that I can’t go out and enjoy dinner at a restaurant or sit in a movie theatre to enjoy the big screen.
I have my health and my life, but I’m going to need to be much more careful and mindful than most people blithely going through their lives without concern for the health of others.
Both my wife and the doctor could feel I was both happy and hurt by today’s news. I really want to eat out again, to watch movies again, to interact with people again. I have my health and my life, and I’m thankful, but I still need to be much more careful.
REMINDED THAT SUCH THOUGHTS ARE PETTY & SELFISH:
I understand, and I know I’m selfish to think such things like I WANT, I WANT when so many other cancer patients lose their battles. I lost two good friends in these last two years. Both lost their battles to cancer, and yet I’m still here. I wasn’t able to attend either of their funerals, but I was given a second chance.
I need to be grateful for this second chance and to make the most of it. I need to enjoy what I can, remember all that I’ve been through, and be overwhelmingly thankful for the support of family & friends these past few years.
But I still miss a good steak, a good burger, a good pint of beer, and a movie up on the big screen in a darkened theatre.
I’m going to need to find solace in these same things, but at home, together with family, grateful that I’m still here and still alive.
Ambulance ride, hospitalization, and ICU from December 28th, 2021 until January 3rd, 2022. Admitted for cellulitis of left leg, septic shock (pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial infection), high heart rate and low blood pressure, sinus-tachycardia.
1) Be thankful every day for good health and being at home surrounded by loved ones rather than hospitalized surrounded by medical.
Well, this morning began with a bang and bloody mess.
I was in abdominal pain when I woke up at 5 AM this morning, but bending over to clean up after Sachiko when she used the puppy pad had me leave a bigger mess on my clothes and on the floor than the mess she made. I called out for Vicky’s help, she watched over and cleaned up after the pups while I stripped out of my clothes and cleaned up after myself.
I posted my original email to Dr. H.A. Nguyen (my internal medicine doctor for over 16 years) as Doing My Best to Persist (UPDATED) this morning. Since writing that blog entry, I’ve had a number of conversations with Kaiser-Permanente, my wife, and our family & friends.
Last I spoke with Kaiser, they were still on a conference call between Oncology, Internal Medicine, and Infectious Diseases. I repeatedly asked to remain as outpatient rather than inpatient, but they are concerned, saying they want bloodwork, imaging, monitoring, and likely IV fluids. I had IV chemo scheduled for tomorrow, but that is likely going to be postponed a few weeks pending today’s results.
Long story short: I previously had Acute Bronchitis, they put me on strong doses of medications so I could remain home rather than hospitalized, it caused all my numbers to plummet so low they literally hit 0.00 mg/ul for WBC and ANC, so they gave me several days of IV transfusions and Zarxio, and now I’ve had bloody bowel movements and severe abdominal cramps for the last two weeks. 2-4 days is acceptable given my history, 2 weeks is seriously dangerous and concerning.
Repeatedly Hospitalized This Year (2021)
Repeatedly Hospitalized This Year (2021)
Repeatedly Hospitalized This Year (2021)
Repeatedly Hospitalized This Year (2021)
Since we now have not only two Shelties, but THREE! Having family or friends nearby to watch, board, or housesit is of concern during my repeated hospital stays is becoming of increasing concern for us.
Eventually my cancer will claim me, despite our best efforts to keep it at bay. I wrote $15K/dog as a $45K “living trust” for the care, feeding, love of our dogs should I expire. I’ll need to update it this week and put it on file as public record in the State of Virginia with our attorneys at Friedlander & Friedlander and Celeste E. Scott, Esq. Both Vicky and our attorneys have copies of my Last Will and Testament, Durable Power of Attorney granted in perpetuity without termination to Victoria V. Foreman.
It seems excessive, but I’ve been hospitalized numerous times these last few years, and I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve undergone chemo protocols, blood transfusions, and hospital stays. Just this year alone was $70K for a week in February with another $110K for another week. We’re still contesting $14K in medical bills that was billed to us rather than our insurance.
Kaiser-Permanente is seriously concerned about the symptoms I’m presenting, especially in light of my history, recent numbers, and bloodwork.
They are holding a conference call between Oncology, Internal Medicine, and Infectious Diseases to discuss my history, symptoms, medication, and bloodwork, but I may need to go to Urgent Care or to be hospitalized today. We’re currently trying to get nearby family/friends to watch Kiyomi, Toshiro, and Sachiko (our three Shelties) for us on VERY SHORT NOTICE. We do not know how long I’ll be hospitalized, it could be hours/days/week or more.
UPDATE 1: Thu Jun 17 2021 6:30 AM
Meeting with Kaiser-Permanente to discuss Bloody Ulcerative Colitis
Getting periodic flares of my ulcerative colitis is nothing new. Since our time at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in January 2020, I’ve typically been getting 1-2 flares a month (roughly every 8-11 days) lasting 2 days each.
Starting on Sunday, June 6th, I’ve had steady-and-persistent symptoms of acute ulcerative colitis for nearly 2 weeks straight now. It’s been a steady watery and bloody diarrhea with clear “tripe” in multiple bowel movements. I’ve had near-daily abdominal cramps which are sometimes straining me to my limits of tolerance. For the past week, I’ve been “leaking” watery diarrhea, requiring me to wash my clothes daily and to wear diapers.
It’s all the same signs and symptoms I presented when I was positive for Cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Could you please request a CMV test for me, or any other tests which may be causing this change in my bowel habits?
Could you please refill my Lomotil and Oxycodone prescriptions? I’ve been taking roughly 3 Lomotil every day (2 at onset, an additional 1 an hour or two later with the next watery bowel movement). I’ve been taking Oxycodone sparingly and as-needed for the abdominal cramps.
Foreman Family at Easter — Ken, Victoria, Kiyomi, and Toshiro
These past few years have truly and utterly been a roller coaster on so many layers…
I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer, I underwent two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
I travelled to Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD), the National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD), the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (Seattle, WA), and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle, WA).
I was employed by Sophos, laid off as part of a reduction-in-force along with 130 other developers and engineers, unemployed, and then joined Teaching Strategies, LLC.
Like so many others, experiencing a whirlwind of employment and finances as part of my medical expenses, the pandemic, the economy, and the stock market.
Met and made many new friends along the way between Facebook, Twitter, and our medical travels.
And so here I am, a quarter of the way through 2021… by the Grace of God, I’m currently in remission. This is actually my second remission since my first lasted only a few months before my Mantle Cell Lymphoma made a re-appearance. Thankfully (and I fall to my knees and give thanks for this!), this is also my longest remission, going on a year now.
And so we just ended our 40-day Lenten journey together and celebrated Easter together as a family at home. I was hospitalized twice during the 40 days of Lent, for a week both times, so I do need to continue taking diligent and fastidious care of myself. I’m still neutropenic, immunocompromised, and battling Stage 2-3 Lymphoma of my left leg as well as the neuropathy that accompanies it.
But I am thankful beyond all words. Our family has been blessed and we’re fortunate. Our little family will be growing by one more in May as little Sachiko joins Kiyomi and Toshiro as our third Shetland Sheepdog. She was born on Sunday, April 14th (3.14, aka “Pi Day”), so she’ll join our Cinco de Mayo Sheltie (Kiyomi, born May 5th) and Toshiro (born May 28th).
In the span of a month (from mid-January to mid-February of 2021), I was hospitalized twice at Reston Hospital Center, Progressive Care Unit, in Reston, VA…
Valentine’s Day in Reston Hospital (February 2021)
Reston Hospital (February 2021)
Reston Hospital (February 2021)
Reston Hospital (February 2021)
…with both stays, I quickly developed cellulitis of my left leg followed by a high fever and sepsis. Since my lymphedema has become so large, I’m told I can expect frequent cellulitis due to stagnation of blood and lymphatic fluid in my left leg. I need to exercise it as much as I’m able, bathe and moisturize it to prevent cracking, bleeding, and infection, and expect more frequent bouts of cellulitis. Once my current regimen of antibiotics is over from my latest hospital stay, I’m hoping to start taking Lasix to reduce my lymph retention.
