Lymphoma
Sheryl's Lymphoma Story:
DIAGNOSED 7/10/08 WITH DIFFUSE LARGE B-CELL LYMPHOMA, STAGE III
IN FULL REMISSION, DECEMBER 2008
STRONG AND HEALTHY - LIFE AFTER LYMPHOMA IN 2011
In her words:
2011 update...
I am continuing to enjoy health and strength.
Next round of testing is in January 2011, and as I'm symptom free, we're expecting the results to continue to be clear - Prayers for continued health are always appreciated!
I got to enjoy a lot of travel this past year: Japan, California, performances in Rhode Island, Arkansas, Nashville, Florida, and music has connected me with new friends and great people, for which I'm grateful!
Life after Lymphoma continues to be more focused, centered and simplified, and I'm continually meeting new people who are at various stages along the continuum of survivorship. Sometimes I can be an encouragement to another, always I'm inspired by the long term survivors I've met.
2010 update...
I'm in the place now where I'm truly thankful to be alive, and I'm thinking a lot about the future. After completing chemotherapy in 2008 we had to get my body back to the place where it could produce enough white blood cells that I wouldn't be endangered by getting sick, and that was looking good by the end of December '08. So I went to California in late January '09 and stayed with my Mom for almost a month. I slept in every day, rested, walked on the beach or along Balboa Bay almost every day, and was generally spoiled by my Mom and my sisters. Thanks, Mom, for helping me get the plane ticket and for putting up with me for so long! After 6 months of coping with lymphoma and chemo, this was a welcome change of pace. I was reminded of how much I love the Pacific Ocean. At night I'd go to sleep to the sound of the waves crashing, and I'd wake up to the same sound every morning. Walking in the sand on top of the 5-6' winter berm helped me gain back some of the muscle I'd lost in my legs, and I took in the views of Catalina Island, and dolphins playing in the waves along the shore. Something about the ocean seems to ground me and remind me of eternity and the power of God. I was able to reconnect with my Mom and sisters and their families by participating in the simple daily tasks and conversations that make up their lives. It felt good. Of course, I missed Leon and Rose, and was in touch with them daily via phone. I found myself getting stronger every day. I almost feel like Sampson...the more hair I grow, the stronger I feel.
Since returning from California, I've been gradually getting back to my new life. I've had a couple of symptom scares that turned out to be nothing to worry about, and I hear from my Dr. that this is pretty normal. I saw my daughter get to spend the ''09/'10 school year in Japan, and I even got to visit her. I'm getting out and playing music again, writing alot of new material, and planning my comeback concert.
I have a lot of thank you notes to write. I am grateful every day for the amazing people who have participated in this journey with me. In terms of the future, I'm now feeling pretty confident that I HAVE a future. I will be going in for a series of tests that will continue for five years after my treatment concluded. When there is no relapse of the disease within that period, I'll be released and called "cured." In the mean time, I will be doing what I've been doing...waking up every day and making the choice to live, hope, love, and trust, and facing my fears by staying informed and trusting God.