I am happy to report that I am now back blogging after another hiatus due to this pesky leukemia I have been wrestling with over the past year and a half.
Unfortunately, I had to stop work on the blog in early December when the disease reappeared after being in remission for a year. Soon after, I went into the hospital for a bone marrow transplant. I am now recovering from that procedure which so far appears to have been successful. I still have a ways to go, but I am doing well. I want to thank everyone for all their support throughout. I really appreciate it.
I also want to put in a plug for bone marrow donation. I am the lucky recipient of the marrow from a generous person whose decision to donate may end up saving my life. Contrary to popular (and my own previous) belief, being a donor is not hugely difficult or painful. And to register all it takes is a swab inside your cheek. For more information on the registration process and nearby donation registry drives, the website of the National Marrow Donor Program can be found here. It’s good to be back.
19 responses so far ↓
1 Dave Konig // Apr 6, 2010 at 10:36 am
Glad to hear that you are on the road to recovery and welcome back!
2 Wendy // Apr 6, 2010 at 10:46 am
Yay! So happy to see you back John!
3 Jimmy Jazz // Apr 6, 2010 at 11:28 am
Great news, John. Very, very glad to have you back on your feet.
4 Michael Coston // Apr 6, 2010 at 11:46 am
Terrific news, John. You’ve been missed.
5 Lee Foster // Apr 6, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Welcome back John, glad to hear you are doing better. I was just looking at your blog the other day and was wondering how you were doing.
6 Robin Parker // Apr 6, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Welcome back, John! Glad you’re on the mend!
7 Michael Danziger // Apr 6, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Great to hear you are back and blogging, and on the mend. I can vouch for the ease of having marrow entered into a marrow bank. No one is more afraid of medical procedures than I am, and this was nothing! If I flossed, I am sure that would be more uncomfortable and time consuming than getting swabbed. It’s literally a swab on the inside of each cheek with a q tip and you’re done…and you might even save a life!
8 Bruce Hennes // Apr 6, 2010 at 6:30 pm
John,
May you live to be 120.
Welcome back.
Bruce
9 Melinda Fishman // Apr 6, 2010 at 8:07 pm
So glad you’re back John. Don’t know why but the story you wrote about the Men’s Room at Lifetime popped into my head just the other day.
10 Roberto // Apr 7, 2010 at 12:39 am
Great to see you back, John.
Really, really great.
11 Boss // Apr 7, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Solly,
It’s great to see that your back in action. It won’t be long before you’ll be hitting the hardwood in earnest. Lorna and I are heartened to see that you are up and blogging again. All the best.
Boss
12 Jean Jones // Apr 7, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Dear John,
My name is Jean and I’m a volunteer with the National Bone Marrow Transplant Link. Our organization helps patients, caregivers, and families cope with the social and emotional challenges of transplant from diagnosis through survivorship by providing vital information and personalized support services. We subscribe to Google blog alerts, where we found your story.
Please know that others are thinking of you and pulling for you! To learn more about our programs and services, including peer support on call, please visit http://www.nbmtlink.org or call 800-546-5268.
All the best!
13 Richard Holland // Apr 7, 2010 at 10:54 pm
I’m glad to see you back John. I only missed one day in picking up your blog.
14 Louise // Apr 8, 2010 at 1:43 am
Hooray! You’re back! I found out through Craig Fugate’s twitter stream. Dude, you’re famous
15 margie // Apr 8, 2010 at 2:04 pm
welcome back john. missed you! thinking of you! xoxox!
16 Mary Warner McGrade // Apr 10, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Welcome back! I feel better prepared already…Wd recently had six days without power/ten without phone due to the Nor-easter. It’s good to be prepared. Never underestimate the utility of a good sleeping bag.
Glad you’re on the mend.
17 Josh // Apr 13, 2010 at 5:39 am
Glad to see that you are back with a flurry of posts. I registered at giftoflife.org. Look forward to more posts.
18 Jamie Caplan // Apr 13, 2010 at 7:36 am
I am so glad you are feeling better and getting back to blogging. I’ve missed you.
19 William R. Cumming // Apr 13, 2010 at 8:04 am
Hey! This is really great news and I and others have really missed your insights.
Great great news to have you back in action.
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