A slightly new adventure on the continuing quest of this cancer warrior. Same treatment. Same day of the week. New location in a new state AND a new shirt.

Merry Christmas!

The last treatment for 2025 and I had a “new” Christmas shirt to show off. I think I bought this one in Florida last February. I’ve been looking at it for a long time. Nice to actually be able to wear it.

Thanksgiving - Treatment - Tight Wad

Found this shirt at a thrift shop 11 months ago for a dollar. Washed it and have been looking at it for a long time. Today just happened to be a treatment day and the week of Thanksgiving so clearly this was meant to be.

“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, or today.” —Chinese Proverb

This time I have a video message about a small forest that got started 6 years ago. I am so lucky!

I know I am a little early for Halloween, but I’m not trick or treating anymore. I got this great shirt and must wear it. It might be my brightest yet. I’m drawn to skeletons. I am sure a psychiatrist would have a field day with this. HA!

Yesterday was the start of a “medical” week. All of it is “normal”. Monday, treatment. Wednesday, bone marrow biopsy. Thursday, PET scan. This is my 6 month check up. And even though it is normal and there is nothing to even remotely suggest a negative change, I am still nervous about it.

My daughter gave me this shirt for Father’s Day. This moto is a reminder to find ways to live wide every day. Live life to the fullest, if you will. Make a positive difference every day in others lives. Be the best patient I can be no matter what. I don’t always succeed, but I usually try!

Just over three years ago, the fly that saved my life bit me on this spot. I cursed that fly for six months. But when they found my tumor in January 2023, I was pretty thankful that it bit me. I am now 2 1/2 years into treatment. Without that fly bite, I probably wouldn’t be in treatment at all right now. But the cancer would’ve kept growing. One more bone marrow, biopsy result of zero and I’ll get that little bastard tattooed on my thigh. Ha ha!

My office for this afternoon. I actually can chew through a lot of emails sitting in this chair. While it is tough to get much project work done, email is perfect. The only place I can chew through more email in less time is on an airplane. I would recommend doing the airplane route as opposed to getting cancer, but that is just me.

My moto for the last 18 months has been: “Don’t Let the Hard Days Win”. My other moto is: “1st Out Ride Cancer”. I am completely convinced that I can, through not only medicine, but also diet, meditation, and being in the best physical condition I can. Being in remission, is it tough to remember that I am NOT normal. So, when I lose focus on these things, this saying brings me back. And now I have a shirt where the bike is kind of blended in, but is completely obvious when I focus. Exactly what I need.

My Dad bought me this shirt a few months ago. The bottles say: PARTY PANTS. The joke here is that I don’t drink. I never have. And I have maybe been to three parties in my entire life. He knows that and got me the shirt anyway. Ha!

I got the results of my latest bone marrow biopsy and I am at MRD O. This means that out of 1,000,000 cells counted they could find 0 cancer cells. So with today’s science and technology this is considered complete remission. Yeah!

Back in Michigan. Back in the Chair. Back in a new shirt!
I start the restaging process this week. PET scan tomorrow, bone marrow biopsy on Wednesday. The goal is 0. My last score was 12. Hopefully the drop in body fat along with the drugs will get me there. (I was mostly good! Ha!)

As I write this post at 9:15 am on Monday, it’s already been a week! Travel, healthy eating (pizza, of course!), hydration, low ACN, and travel again! Time for a nap—NOT!

I have received 4 or 5 shirts from various people, but this was the first one that included anything about Option B. Super cool to get this shirt, be able to wear it at treatment, and still feel like I am honoring that thesis. Thank you Michael (banker) and Sheryl Sandberg (author).

Hello Monday! Clearly I am in Super Fast mode today because I did not proof the picture before I left treatment. What is with all the wrinkles? I know I am getting older, but I did not know I was this bad! And I wanted to show off my Route 66 shirt , but I cut off the Route 66 logo. Oh well! Treatment went well!

Year 1 was a fire drill and getting everything organized and in perspective. Year 2 has been about getting our life back. Both have been successful. Year 3 is all about getting rid of baggage. And along the way, I fully expect to get rid of this last 12 cells per million and be in complete remission.

First treatment of the new year. It only took 4 stabs to get the IV going. Ha! Easy day for me. Tough start to the day for my nurse.

In the past I have worn bright shirts to treatment in the hope of cheering someone else up. Today I realized I needed the shirt for me.

Part “I Ride For:”, part treatment post, this story is about Dan and my cousin Chris. Both working hard in the fight against multiple myeloma.