Kevin and Laura live in New York City with our grand-cat, Rusty.
Kristi and our new grand-puppy, Stella Mae, live in Seattle.
They’ve been very supportive with phone calls almost every day and trips home this past year. Kevin and Laura were just here the first of December and Kristi will be home for Christmas.
We have been touched by the fact that so many people have told us how they kept track of our battle with cancer through our blog. There were people of all persuasions of faith who prayed for us, many who do not know us personally. This has been a humbling experience for both of us. This is our Christmas ’08 update.
After a bone marrow transplant using his own stem cells, Doug is in remission now under the care of a local oncologist who follows his blood panel numbers each month. His hair is growing back (albeit not fast enough for him). He’s been back to work full time since August with deep gratitude to the men and women who added to their work load on his behalf.
As we read back in the blog to those early months—as well as to our experience during our 4 months in Dallas for the transplant—we look forward to 2009 with a new appreciation for blood. Some 40 plus blood transfusions kept Doug alive while waiting for his own body to again produce the life-giving cells.
We did not fight the enemy cancer alone this year. Some of our closest relatives and friends were confronted with cancer too. We celebrate with those who will be able to welcome in a new year; we mourn with those who have to make the major adjustment that comes from loss of the one they love.
We know that some of you who will read this message are fighting other battles: Some with other terminal illness, some with concern over job security, some already out of work and all of us watching the economy wondering just how 2009 will go down in the pages of history.
We don’t know what tomorrow will bring much less what is in store for us next year. It is only by the grace of the One willing to be born of a virgin, die on a cross, carry our sins to a tomb that we have hope of a life with new bodies free from disease and character flaws.
What we do know for sure is that we cannot take one another for granted. Neither can we take for granted the One whose birth day we remember this December.
~Doug and Carole
PS Our grand-dog grew up! Stella loves to sit in one of the car seats Kristi uses for here work with kids.
