Slow Down

I think it’s a universal first-world experience: the desire at different stages in our lives for time to just slow down. Nichole Nordeman sings a song called Slow Down1 in which she recognizes and laments how quickly her child is growing up and she deeply wishes that that part of life would pass by with less pace.

We know the feeling. As I enter the last week of Cycle 72 of my current chemo, Kathy and I reflected on how quickly time has gone since we started this, the third treatment protocol, on Dec 8, 2022. Almost six months! Three of those months included the cutting edge immunotherapy drug Isatuximab. Slow down! We know that each successive treatment protocol will likely be effective for a shorter period of time than previous protocols have been. We know eventually there will be, as a doctor stated it, “no more bullets in the gun.” We know this disease is terminal. Slow down! It's all too fast! 

May 16 marked five years since we began our myeloma journey. We are #thankful to have reached that marker. We know that many myeloma patients and those with other cancers never arrive at the five year survival marker. We remember them. We remember our Creator’s gift of each day. We try, though at times through tears and struggle, to keep the faith that every day set before us is yet another opportunity to revel in the goodness that God has made. 

Today, we are doing well. The drug protocol seems to be effective in keeping the myeloma down even if I have not reached the markers that would allow us to call this a full remission. We have much good in our life and still, like Nordeman says in her song:

“But it's all too fast

Let’s make it last…. 

a little longer.”

Slow down.

~~~~~

1Written by Chris Stevens and Nichole Nordeman. You can listen to it HERE and find further bio information. Nordeman has also recorded a lovely version of this song in which her daughter is featured as a vocalist. It is also worth checking out.

2Many people ask us how many cycles there are. The answer is simple: they will keep treating me until the myeloma is no longer being knocked down. Then they will search for another treatment if one exists.