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Yoga’s Spiritual Balance May Boost Health

Jan 27th, 2011 by

“… a growing body of scientific evidence is building the case that the spiritual balance created by yoga provides proven health benefits.” – from article (link here)

Yoga is becoming very “mainstream”. It is growing in popularity around the world. Yoga studios are popping up all over the place and classes are offered routinely in local gyms and even recently physical rehab centers (and possibly covered by insurance)!

For MM patients it is wonderfully “soft” on the skeleton, yet strengthening and increasing flexibility. Continue Reading »

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Let it not ‘Divide Us’…

Jan 27th, 2011 by

“If you have learned how to disagree without being disagreeable, then you have discovered the secret of getting along — whether it be business, family relations, or life itself.” – Bernard Meltzer

While on social cancer websites, list servs, private conversations, emails, etc. I have “watched” or been involved in the continuing debate about positive mental attitude in dealing with cancer, or our case, multiple myeloma. Continue Reading »

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Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Misc, Multiple Myeloma | 4 Comments »

Patient Participatory Medicine & Research

Jan 25th, 2011 by

“Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners.” – Laurence Sterne

I have had very personal relationships good and bad with physicians over the years. It was a rocky road for me. I didn’t like them generally, the arrogance mostly. Their attempts at intimidation of their patient as I viewed it. It turns out that this distrust came very early in my life and became my “operating basis”. Continue Reading »

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The Burgundy Café

Jan 24th, 2011 by

“In my day, socializing was going out to a party to meet people. Now, socializing is taking place via networked devices.” – Zach Nelson

Continue Reading »

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Update on Dave…

Jan 24th, 2011 by

David & Montana 2007 Graduation

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life — It goes on. —Robert Frost”

This photo was taken in May 2007, a year before Dave’s MM diagnosis on the lovely day of our youngest’s HS Graduation. This May she will graduate from College!

Good news. Dave has had a sudden burst of continuous physical energy. A HUGE hurdle it seems has somehow lessened in his daily life. He has been tackling some of his move-in projects, of which there are still many. If you visited our home you would think we were adequately moved in, but just don’t open closets, look under beds, or in the garage! We still have much to do and it can frustrate me at times, but I have learned to “let it go”. Continue Reading »

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Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Kids, Our Life | 1 Comment »

What Are Grandmas For?

Jan 23rd, 2011 by

What Are Grandmas For?

Grandmas are for stories
about things of long ago.
Grandmas are for caring.
about all the things you know….
Grandmas are for rocking you.
and singing you to sleep..
Grandmas are for giving you.
nice memories to keep….
Grandmas are for knowing.
all the things you’re dreaming of….
But, most importantly of all,.
Grandmas are for love.

Continue Reading »

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Protein Powder

Jan 22nd, 2011 by

“He that takes medicine and neglects diet wastes the skills of the physician.” – Chinese proverb

When my mother was ill with cancer and found it difficult to eat “enough” to satisfy my concerns, I began a fervent search for a supplemental way to provide some protein into her diet. Continue Reading »

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Posted in Caregiver Tips | 6 Comments »

Prayerful Thoughts…

Jan 20th, 2011 by

“The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.”  – C.C. Scott

Two of my myeloma buddies aren’t doing so well at the moment. Their numbers are rising, there is concern. One I’m very close to and have garnered deep affection for. The other a blogger I’ve never met and have come to appreciate. Continue Reading »

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Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Misc, Multiple Myeloma | 3 Comments »

Life Notes

Jan 18th, 2011 by


Ronald Reagan, Jr. recently said, that he shadowed his father for a day during Presidential duties in his second term. Because his father had notecards while making phone calls, Ron, Jr. found this “troubling”, and as a result of that observation, has claimed that his father had Alzheimer’s in his second term. – Oh dear…

So for a good laugh, here is one of mine, and one of Dave’s, taped to our bathroom mirrors. Continue Reading »

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Posted in Misc, Our Life | 2 Comments »

Doctor Profile: Dr. Elias Anaissie, UAMS

Jan 18th, 2011 by

“I learn from my patients each and every day… I feel thankful for what they give me.” – Dr. Anaissie


I’ve not met Dr. Anaissie, but have heard of him and always in high regard. If you have, feel free to leave your comments about your experience.


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Exercise – Walking, Yoga, Rebounding…

Jan 18th, 2011 by

“If it weren’t for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn’t get any exercise at all.”  – Joey Adams

We all know that exercise is important for our physical well-being and our mental & spiritual well-being.

Dave was a champion racquetball player before he was diagnosed in June 2008. He was mostly a cardio guy. We used to argue about his need to do some resistance training, but then we used to argue about a lot of things! He played sports all through high school. Baseball, wrestling, basketball, football. Continue Reading »

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Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Misc, Multiple Myeloma | 5 Comments »

Nick

Jan 17th, 2011 by

“Normal marrow and other thoughts, including BBs opinion on the Revlimid scare”

Nick’s Myeloma Blog

Nick has written another in-depth, thoughtful, funny, great post. If you don’t follow Nick, and you have MM, you might like too.

For those of you worried about Revlimid and secondary cancers, I think you would appreciate this post.

And for those of you who look at Little Rock from a distance, you might find some of Nick’s insightful observations about Dr. Barlogie refreshing and touching. Barlogie may have his professional detractors, but no one will ever say he does not LOVE his patients and they him. I’ve not had the pleasure to meet him, but it is the one universal thing amongst his patients that I know, they adore him.

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Off Topic – Well, sort of, maybe, maybe not…

Jan 17th, 2011 by

“How come anything you buy will go on sale next week?”
– Erma Bombeck

Gosh, I really miss Erma Bombeck! I could just sit and laugh reading her quotes all day long!

When Dave got sick, it wasn’t in our grand plan. I suspect, quite confidently, it wasn’t in yours either. Nothing unique in that. Like many, over consuming, Americans, who grew up in the 70’s and embarked on her professions in the 80’s, dual income, living large, saving not as well as we should, but doing OK, we were prepared for Dave’s or my death, but we were not prepared for disability or significant healthcare scares! Its humbling to say the least. Continue Reading »

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Thank You! (Gift)

Jan 15th, 2011 by

When I very tentatively started this blog, I was sure that I had something to say, but I wasn’t sure I would have folks who found it helpful or interested. It was suggested, repeatedly, that I write a book. I’m not a writer and though I thought about it, and even started to “write”, I knew it would take me too long to go through that process of writing and finding a publisher and I felt that I wanted to get some data out there NOW. Continue Reading »

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Posted in Misc, Multiple Myeloma | 4 Comments »

Myeloma “Meet-up!” – Jim & Barbara

Jan 15th, 2011 by

Lori, Barbara, Jim, Dave (L-R)

“It is by chance that we met, by choice that we became friends.” – Unknown

Long story short. Jim and I met last year at a Myeloma event in Cambridge. We had both been invited and both were flying in from Sacramento, but didn’t know until the driver picked us up to drive us to the hotel. Small world. He and Dave share the same local oncologist, even smaller. We enjoyed getting to know each other and vowed to meet up when we returned home. Many months later, the promised fulfilled and we had the most lovely evening.

His wife and I have much in common as she is an artist (see work here) of prominence (not the prominence part, but the artist part). We have hope to meet up more often to share in some of the small, but enjoyable things to do in and around Sacramento.

Life is full and rich!

(both in food and conversation!)

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Posted in Misc, Multiple Myeloma, Our Life | 2 Comments »

Vitamin B, the ‘stress’ vitamin

Jan 13th, 2011 by

“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Angie, a MM caregiver I met in Little Rock, asked me to write about caregiver fatigue. Instead, I’m going to write about the value of particular vitamins that are fairly accepted in the medical field as being helpful in dealing with stress, anxiety and even depression. All of which contribute to our feeling of fatigue. Continue Reading »

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Posted in Caregiver Tips, Misc | 4 Comments »

Understanding Multiple Myeloma

Jan 12th, 2011 by

“Information is not knowledge.” – Albert Einstein

Boy is that not the truth! I have many people who tell me all the time, how “knowledgeable” I am. I’m not, really. I just have a lot of “information”. I will pass it along to you, but its up to each of us to make sense of it for ourselves and in discussions with our docs.

The makers of Velcade, Millennium, have been working diligently for a while now on their My Multiple Myeloma website. If you haven’t bookmarked it, or taken a spin around the site, you should. It is quite comprehensive. Check back at the site often as they are continuing to upgrade it, tweak it, and add to it.

This is a very good section, with some great graphics, to help you better “understand” the mechanics of Multiple Myeloma.

http://www.mymultiplemyeloma.com/understanding/deeper-dive.html

Also in my Resources tabs you will find other bits of information. YouTube has some nice presentations on the mechanics of what Myeloma is.


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CalMac (insomnia, muscle cramp & spasm remedy)

Jan 11th, 2011 by

Calmac Original (Powder)
5 oz

Calmac™ Original, a worldwide best seller and a long time favorite of our customers, supplies calcium and magnesium in a 3:1 ratio (450 mg calcium and 150 mg magnesium).

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body and is concentrated mostly in bones and teeth. Magnesium is essential for overall nutrition and plays an important role in relaxing muscles. Continue Reading »

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Stem Cell Collection And Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment

Jan 11th, 2011 by

An article I penned, posted over at The Myeloma Beacon on our experience with Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT) and Dave’s Stem Cell Collection. Continue Reading »

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Posted in Misc | 9 Comments »

Research Time Note

Jan 9th, 2011 by

“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” – Carl Sagan

I was pounding around this morning and found a paper that Huntsman Cancer Institute provided from the Journal of Clinical Oncology. I’m always grateful when someone will snag the entire paper and put it out there for our consumption. Often you can’t get your hands on it from the journals as they rely on subscription of hospitals and doctors. Continue Reading »

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