The most wonderful time of the year... sometimes.

M has been home now for two weeks - tomorrow. She hasn't needed any blood transfusions since she left Sloan, but she is getting a platelet transfusion today. 

On Monday (12/17) she started a 10-day treatment of Vidaza/Dacogen again (7 days of Vidaza, 3 days of  Dacogen). She is at Steeplechase again. This is the same treatment that she received before the harsher chemos. It is basically a treatment for MDS, which we know, hers progressed into AML. Since she opted to not go through with anymore in-patient chemos as of now, this is the best treatment they have to offer her. She seems to have responded well to her treatment in Sloan; although it did not send her AML into remission, she didn't receive too many complications from it while in the hospital or so far while at home. She has a visiting nurse come to house 1-2 times a week to check on her. 

She's been spending her time home being incredibly happy, and has gotten out to go shopping and pick up some things for everyone. This makes her extremely happy. She is really the most self-less person I have ever known. 

I remember that this treatment doesn't make her feel like she is on top of the world, so my main concern is that she has a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Or as wonderful as possible. She will end the 7 days of treatment on Sunday 12/23 and will have to go for the three shots of Dacogen 12/24, 12/25 and 12/26. I think I am bringing her all three days. 

Speaking of Christmas and my birthday - I am asking that this year instead of buying me a present or coming to visit me or getting me a card - you do something thoughtful for someone else. This will make me exceptionally happy. If you feel the need, please go to Steeplechase and donate blood or platelets for my mother. The information is provided in the link below.  

               Steeplechase Donation Center

OR: 
Send the families in Connecticut some Christmas cheer. You can send a Christmas card to this PO Box: 


              P.O. Box 3700
              Newtown, Connecticut 06470

OR: 
 you can donate anything however you wish by visiting on Facebook: 

              100 Cups of Coffee Support For Newtown CT

OR: 
               help out the Hurricane Sandy victims at: 

               Restore The Shore Projects  by purchasing an article of clothing to show your support for the re-building efforts of the Jersey shore. 100% of all profits go to the relief and aid of all victims - AND their selections are really cool. I already got my t-shirt! 

OR: 
              The Network for Good has some other charities and organizations listed on their site where you can help out Hurricane Sandy victims. 

OR: 
              Find a place to donate your time like at a soup kitchen, or even wrapping gifts for children. Local malls usually have some sort of "Salvation Army" type thing that you can get involved with. 

This is what I ask of my friends and family this year. I have had too much heartache this year to even try to get into the holiday spirit. Writing out cards was bothersome, decorating was annoying, shopping was done without any real concern (I did everything online). I've been telling myself for the past five days that I was going to wrap gifts. I have no desire to. Maybe I will get it done this weekend. 

Also, sadly, yesterday marks the passing of my uncle Rick. He was in bad health and in all honesty I hadn't spoken to him in years. I know that he didn't usually take care of himself and wasn't a great man to everyone around him at times; once my aunt divorced him several years ago, I hardly saw him or spoke to him unless he was at a bar in town. On top of my cousins' mother losing their house this year, they also lost their father. Having to deal with all of this around the holidays too doesn't help. My sympathy toward them and their families can not be described in words on a blog. 

So, much love to you all, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and all of those good tidings. I will most likely not be posting anything until after the new year. We will talk about resolutions then ;) 

I leave you, as always, with a Christmas quote, and picture of the man who was a patriarch, a pinnacle if you will in the spirit of Christmas for me, and probably everyone else in my family, Pop. Merry Christmas in Heaven, mate. Hope you are still singing along with Bing and Frank. 

“So this is Christmas... and what have you done?” 

― John Lennon