Lucky Number Seven

Posted April 4th, 2010

2003, in hindsight, was one of the best years of my life. At the time, it seemed pretty awful. It got off to a really bad start. In December 2002, my second relapse (of Hodgkin’s lymphoma) was diagnosed. The first one was diagnosed in October 2001. My original diagnosis was in December 2000. January 2003 […]

Jersey Girl

Posted March 29th, 2010

Yesterday I heard “Jersey Girl” on the radio…. I got no time for the corner boys, Down in the street making all that noise, Or the girls out on the avenue, ‘Cause tonight I wanna be with you. Tonight I’m gonna take that ride, Across the river to the Jersey side, Take my baby to […]

Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?

Posted March 3rd, 2010

When I started treatment, my sister suggested I write a journal of my experiences. I didn’t, because I couldn’t imagine wanting to keep a record of such an awful experience. Having survived it, and perhaps forgetting some of the really awful stuff, I wish I did keep a journal. The people I met were the […]

Questions Worth Answering

Posted February 22nd, 2010

I recently attended a networking group for blood cancer survivors at Gilda’s Club Delaware Valley in Warminster. We were asked a couple interesting questions…. How did you get the news? I’ve been told three times I had cancer, the original diagnosis and two relapses (relapsi?) . I had been deathly ill for three months in […]

Grandparents’ Custody Rights

Posted February 20th, 2010

Legal Clinic for the Disabled, Inc. In some circumstances, a grandparent can be awarded partial custody or visitation rights for a grandchild. Such a right could be exercised when, The court finds it is in the best interests of the grandchild, A birth parent is deceased, The parents are divorced, or have been separated for […]

Take One Day at a Time

Posted February 14th, 2010

Cancer robs us of our most valuable illusion, the future. There’s so much we put up with, salving our wounds with the thought that things will get better in the future. That jerk of a neighbor will move. You’ll get a promotion, or a better job elsewhere, if you just keep plugging away. Your kid […]

Educate Yourself

Posted January 31st, 2010

What You Have, What To Do About It When I was diagnosed nine years ago, the internet was a very different place. Not nearly as polished. Search engines weren’t as good. Hour after hour I’d search, and read, and search, and read. When the possibility of lymphoma was brought up by my doctor, I went […]

Congratulations! You’ve got cancer!

Posted January 22nd, 2010

Congratulations! You’ve got cancer! It came as a surprise to me. My family members have a long and colorful history of heart attacks and strokes taking them out. Cancer just wasn’t on my radar screen, especially at age 34 (shortly before my diagnosis, a radiologist told me I was too young to have cancer). If […]

I Loved Christmas…Until Cancer Came Along

Posted December 10th, 2009

I loved Christmas. What boy didn’t? Especially a greedy little urchin like me, who measured Christmases by the size of the pile of gifts I’d get, and whether or not I got all the G.I. Joe paraphernalia I asked for. It wasn’t a spiritually uplifting, get together with loved ones, Jesus our savior is born […]

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Posted September 27th, 2009

Legal Clinic for the Disabled, Inc. I’m often asked, “Do I need to tell my employer I have cancer?” Not to sound like a lawyer, but, the answer is yes and no. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a job applicant’s health is not something that should be discussed. A prospective employer should not ask […]