John is in remission from three cancers!

We've waited and waited for this day.  Thirteen years to be exact.  When my husband John was 36 years old, as most of you know, he was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  It was unusual how John's physician, at the time, found the cancer.  Dr. Hall was doing surgery for a hernia correction when he found a tumor that happened to be the lymphoma.  It was both one of the worst things that could happen during a hernia surgery, yet a real blessing -- if the surgeon hadn't opened John up, he never would have found the tumor and John would have never started to fight the dreadful cancer he had, which, as I stated, was Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  John had more than one tumor, and was staged at 3B.  And the cancer was in his lymph nodes.  The surgeon stated that if he had not found the cancerous tumor when he had, John would have been dead within six months.  

Back 13 years ago, blood cancer doctors (hematologists/oncologists) didn't have a lot of hope for patients with NHL.  John was told that even if he was put into remission, he probably wouldn't live.  He was advised to be proactive, choose a method of treatment and do everything he could to fight. This would extend his life for only a few years, they said.  And this, the hem/oncs (blood cancer doctors), told John, could buy him enough time until enough time for another treatment  or cure came along, so that if it happened enough time, John would be able to live.

I have asked John how he could live like this.  He has told me, "You do what you got to do.  If you were going to die, you would do what you had to do.  There was no other option.  Everybody keeps calling me brave.  An inspiration.  I am not an  inspiration.  All I did was survive."

On the contrary, I believe John is an inspiration.  I'm not sure I wouldn't have gotten depressed and quit.  I'm not sure I would've been able to last the 13 years, before I was declared OK, and worked so hard.  But then again, you never know.  As John says, "You do what you have to do."  

Okay, this post has gotten long, so I am going to finish it tomorrow.  I hope you come back to read the rest.  Meanwhile, I've got a question for you:

I think John was an inspiration.  I think the fact he did work hard to survive is an inspiration.  I think he did "more than survive" and he's a true hero, trying and trying, until he finally got into remission.  I will explain how his remission, and how Dr Claxton is actually calling it a "cure", came 13 years later, in the next post or two.  But for  now, I want to ask you this:

Did John just do what he had to do?  Or is he an inspiration to you? Just wondering.  I am going to be showing him the answers!

John has posted again

I thougth I'd tell you a little about what has been going on with my husband John.

Because of complications from his bone marrow transplant, which he received to put two cancers into remission, my husband John has been unable to post for two years.

This has caused my posting and commenting to also be very infrequent, but that's another story. I'll be posting regularly this year barring some disaster -- you'll just have to wait and see!

Anyway, John has started to feel a lot better, and was finally able to post on December 26, 2010, just a few days ago.

While it's been a little over two years since John has posted, he is going to attempt to post on a regular basis from now on. Or at least as frequently as he can. He is still going through a lot of health issues, but as you all know, he is very stubborn, too stubborn sometimes, LOL, and he isn't going to give up in many areas in his life!

Stubborness (or shall I call it persistence with him) is often a good thing, so perhaps he's not too stubborn! As well as the Lord, stubborness has kept my husband alive. And it will keep him moving forward as he attempts to find his "new normal" in life as a Survivor.

This stubborness will keep him moving forward as he attempts to find what he wants to do in the next few years of his life, and to see what the Lord has in store for him to do in the future.

It will be exciting for him, and for me as well! The future is feeling brighter...

Anyway, if you haven't visited his entry of a few days ago, and would like to, let me give you the link:

Merry Christmas 2010

If youd like to read more of John's blog you'll find it here:


too stubborn to die

Finally, I'd like to say Happy New Year from John and me. May 2011 be your best year yet! God bless you all.

krissy :)