At the end of Chemo Cycle 5, my doctor, speaking like a surfer, told me to ride the wave. The clinical trial drug was having some desired results and he advised that in cancer treatment once we "catch a wave" we'd best ride it as well and as long as we can. That was a month ago. Already cycle six is over and cycle 7 has begun. I am not afraid to admit that I'm not a very good surfer. This is a challenging, uncomfortable ride. This wave is harder to ride than I anticipated. It is rougher and less predictable than the last wave. I lose my balance often. The rocky bottom of these coastal waters menaces me regularly. I find myself looking down at the perils of the ride instead of looking up at the beauties of the coastline and being with my fellow surfers. And while I ride, I continue to hear the voices… of those who, in one way or another, say that if I just had more faith, I wouldn't need to be here…. the voice of the deceiver saying that I am all alone on this wav...
Brian’s diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma was in May 2018. The initial treatment was a stem cell transplant. After 30 months there was a relapse, followed by chemo, another relapse, new chemo and yet another relapse. In January 2024, the 4th treatment began. Brian currently gets weekly injections of an immunotherapy drug. Sometimes we keep the faith and sometimes we need family and friends around us to keep the faith for us. This blog is about enabling us all to be kept in the faith.