We’ve spent a lot of time in Madison over the years. Our daughter was a grad student at the UW. She and her husband were married at the capitol building where he worked for a few years. Always something fun or interesting going on there,

I am so sorry that this unwelcome leukemia is messing up your 100 year plan. It stinks and cancer just doesn’t play fair! I was cruising along too, life was great and I was feeling, at 65, that I was the picture of health and maybe I’ll be one of the lucky few who won’t ever have to deal with cancer. AML just struck right out of the blue. I never, ever thought about a blood cancer.

I know what you mean, it is really hard to process how quickly this seems to hit! In the beginning, for some people there can be few symptoms and by the time it’s discovered it’s often very late in its progression already. I felt nothing until 3 weeks before I was rushed to the hospital. I don’t know if you saw my private message to you or not. It should be in your Connect mailbox, but I talked a little more about treatments. You were so healthy and active up to this point, that I’d wondered if some of the newer abrogating medications might be an option for you. They are pill form and taken at home. It can slow the progression of replicating cells. I know that the full, aggressive chemo would be harsh, but there can be smaller doses. I’m just curious if were you given any option for treatment at all? Or did your doctors feel this wouldn’t be of benefit?

Oh gosh, it is so awkward talking to family and friends about end of life decisions. My husband didn’t want to hear this from me either but I finally just said, “You have to listen to me! This is maybe my only time to discuss this with you.” He’s a brilliant man but the swiftness of my decline clipped him off at the knees. This man I’ve known forever who is logical, structured, and disciplined was a puddle of mush! Our daughter, who was 35 at the time was actually much better. We spoke openly and frankly about my wishes. We talked so freely about thoughts of what next, how they would cope without me, what I thought would happen when I passed, etc. Once the ice was broken on those taboo subjects then we light heartedly had many conversations.
So I really hope you can impart on your family that now is your time to say what you need to say! That they need to listen to you and share what they’re feeling.

What was your career that had you living in different states. Were they the same job with transfers or new positions in different companies?