girl drew

At this time last year, we were enjoying the picturesque Colorado Rockies, and now we find ourselves facing a different kind of mountain. Ramon was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday after spiking a 104F fever (Go big and don't go home!). Following a multitude of tests, we're still not sure of the source, but he's been fever-less for more than 24 hours now. For Ramon's protection, we can't have visitors, but we are gladly accepting well wishes from afar. Thanks for helping carry the load as we continue climbing!

Sweet Noodle Beagle's eyes say it all. It's day 77, though if you told us it was day 177, we'd believe you. The novelty of Ramon's leukemia diagnosis has worn off, and we've grown accustomed to our new normal -- one that includes constant trips back and forth to Emory, a multitude of naps, and unpredictability from one day to the next. Though we're going through the motions, I find that the sky is bluer, the flowers are prettier, and the dog cuddles are more heartfelt than ever before. When we're at Winship for infusions, we're surrounded by people who are experiencing some of the worst days of their lives. Yet these tired-of-fighting people have enough energy reserved to treat everyone with love. Or is that the easier thing to do anyways? Aside from one instance where a man answered his phone on speakerphone and angrily yelled "DOES ANYONE IN YOUR OFFICE SPEAK ENGLISH?" to a lady who was indeed speaking English (albeit with an accent), I...

We're exhausted, so I'll let Ramon's shirt do the talking; it was gifted to us by an admirable couple fighting a similar battle. We're channeling our energy in the direction of love and hope you are, too.

We’re 50 days into this cancer thing. It’s still somewhat surreal to type that, yet it’s also difficult to remember life before the diagnosis. Thankfully there’s not much to report; Ramon’s treatment has been complication-free thus far, and we hope to keep it that way. He received platelets on Monday, and he might be due up for some blood tomorrow. (Side note: Many people have inquired about donating blood or platelets. If you’re interested and/or able, please take a look at www.redcross.org , www.americasblood.org , or  www.aabb.org  to donate. Also, while you’re at it, join the bone marrow registry at  www.bethematch.org.  You could be someone’s hero. You’re already my hero, FYI.) I keep thinking about something the hematologist/oncologist said during our first week in the hospital. Naturally, upon learning of a diagnosis, people’s minds venture to the prognosis – AKA survival rates. Even though I know first-hand how quickly statistics can make you feel defeat...

We're fighting cancer AND traffic! After some slight rerouting, Ramon is finished with the first round of outpatient chemo infusions. His counts are dropping, as intended, so he'll likely need a blood transfusion later this week. Today is day 8 of this chemo cycle, and his white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets should bottom out around day 12, 13, or 14. If the next few weeks are event-free, Ramon should be ready to start the next round on or around July 8. Keep the good vibes coming as the chemo does its thang!

Is # ManCrushMonday still a thing? Regardless, it's also  # BoneMarrowMonday , because we've got news. Today we saw the oncologist, and Ramon's bone marrow is in remission! So, what does this mean? - Induction chemo was successful! It did what the doctors hoped it would do, and Ramon's bone marrow biopsy looked normal. However, since only a sample was examined, there are most likely still leukemia cells in his body. We need to stop those cells from multiplying, hence the latest chapter of this book: consolidation chemo. - Today Ramon got his first dose of outpatient consolidation chemo, and he'll have his second dose at 8 tonight. (He's wearing a manbag holding his IV pump, by the way. He's doing more of a strut than a walk.) This will be repeated on Wednesday and Friday of this week. Next Monday, he'll get a second chemo drug added to the mix. We'll then wait 21-28 days while the chemo wipes out his immune system and [hopefully] any additional...

After leaving the house at 3:50 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, guess who's finally home! Yesterday Ramon had a repeat bone marrow biopsy, and we'll learn those results on Monday. If all goes as expected, he'll begin outpatient chemo next week. Although coming home is a huge milestone, there's still quite a long road ahead of us. We'll share more as we learn it, but Ramon is handling this all with incredible strength and humor. Coming out of sedation yester day (pictured), Ramon kept repeating, "I feel perfectly fine." I'd acknowledge him, then he'd say again, "I feel perfectly fine." I'd tell him I was glad and he'd assure me, "I feel perfectly fine." Finally I told him he must be feeling more than fine because he kept repeating himself. He then proceeded to get up and do field sobriety tests. Oh, Ramon. Thank you all for your ongoing support. Whatever you're doing, it's working! We're exhausted, but we feel su...

Three weeks ago we were stepping into unfamiliar places, and now we're familiar faces. Though we'd love to be home, we've found that 20 days is the hospitalization sweet spot. x To make an iced mocha drink, get up at 6ish and brew a half-cup of coffee. Then, fill a cup with ice from the machine. Proceed to call the meal line and request a chocolate milk. While waiting on the chocolate milk to arrive, your coffee will cool. On desperate mornings, drink a hot coffee to  endure the 30-minute test in patience. Once the chocolate milk arrives, combine all ingredients. BOOM. Optional: Still get Starbucks within the next four hours.  x Did you know that, after 20 consecutive days in the hospital, you get complimentary valet parking? Strangely, after investing a small fortune in parking, we don't know if we're ready to go home and forfeit this hard-earned privilege. To be continued...  x You officially reach the point of no shame. This means there's no limit on ...

We're making progress on Project: Cancer, and we hope the countdown-to-home can begin soon. Let's wish for an uneventful next five days as Ramon's immune system is at its lowest. Our spirits, however, remain high!

How can you help? That's the million-dollar question! For all practical purposes, we're taken care of, and we are grateful for that. We've got countless food options, tons of entertainment, an outpouring of love, and our attitudes are as good as can be (except when we have to constantly re-authenticate ourselves on the hospital's wireless network). At this time, our biggest need is rest. The chemo has wiped Ramon out, as expected, and this hospital couch/bed is about as comfortable as I imagine glamping to be. While we focus on loafing around, here are a few things you can do to help out: - If you're able, donate blood or platelets, join the bone marrow registry, sign up to be an organ donor, etc. Ramon is pictured here receiving platelets (or frozen lemonade) again, and he'll continue to have these (and blood) transfusions as often as needed. There are many people fighting their own health battles, and giving a bit of yourself might mean giving some...