The Road Not Taken

 "The Road Not Taken"

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there 

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence;

Two roads diverged in wood, and I -

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost (1874 - 1963)

Mayo Clinic Day One

Just got home after a long day. My step-brother Kevin stopped by this morning with his 11 month old daughter Giulianna, it was great to see both of them! She is the cutest, funniest little rascal who speaks her own crazy language... 

After they left we headed off to the Mayo Clinic to meet with Dr. Reeder my new oncologist. The clinic itself is quite amazing with top of the line everything and a very helpful staff. They even have oversized golf carts that shuttle you from your car to the front door of the hospital and back. Although he had not had time to review all of my scans and slides Dr. Reeder was pretty familiar with my case and is prepared to start me on high dose chemotherapy this Friday August 2nd. Here is a brief description of everything that is going to be taking place over the next few months...

Unlike my first chemotherapy treatment this treatment will be much stronger and will be for five days in a row. I am however going to be able to come home each day after treatment so that I can rest in my own bed. After the 5th day of treatment I will have between 2-3 weeks to recover before they begin the next 5 day cycle of chemotherapy. If everything goes according to plan I will then have an autologous bone marrow transplant after the 2nd cycle of chemotherapy. Following the transplant I will have one last cycle of treatment and then will play the waiting game/ run through tests to make sure that my body accepts the bone marrow and that the cancer remains in remission! 

Here are some pics from the Mayo Clinic:

View of the Mayo Hospital lobby from the 4th floor...

Me and my mom in the waiting room...

My step-dad is a weirdo ;) and yes it is hot in AZ!!!

Last Few Days in Paradise (For Now)

These last few days have been quite a whirlwind! On Tuesday July 22nd I was informed that I would be needing to head to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ and here I am exactly one week later packed and ready to leave this afternoon. It has been very hard for me to accept the fact that I am not going to be finishing my treatment in one month as I had previously thought but I have faith in my doctors and the doctors at the Mayo Clinic that I will be getting better soon! I have been trying to mentally prepare myself for the next few months and the treatments that are to come and I think that although it is still a mystery as to what exactly is going to happen, I am as prepared as I can be. Having gone through most of the tests already and experiencing my lung pocket being drained three times in the last week I think that I am ready for anything that they can throw my way. Like my good friend Masa told me, I need to look this thing in the face and make it regret that it ever chose to mess with me...

I want my family, friends and coworkers to know how appreciative I am for everything that they have done for me in these last few months. I am extremely lucky to have people as great as all of you in my life. It is amazing to see the outpouring of support and love that I have received not only within this last week but since I was initially diagnosed in January. I am not quite ready to leave yet (I probably never will be), but I know that it is something that I have to do! Just 3-6 months and I will be back home healthier than ever and ready to embark on the journey that is life!!!

Below are some pictures from my last two nights out with friends, once again thank you so much for being there for me! I am going to miss each and everyone one of you...