He was adamant that this was his SUV–not mine! Flummoxed, I stood in the sun in 100 degree heat, although I am not supposed to be in the hot sun with the drugs I am taking for the Multiple Myeloma. He held onto the door handle of the vehicle–(mine!)–and I knew better than to try to get past him. I quickly surmised that he must have some type of dementia, and I was also concerned for him being in the hot sun. He told me his wife would soon come out of the grocery store and “set me straight.” I had gone with Kathy to the grocery store on a late Sunday afternoon to get in some walking in the cool, air-conditioned setting while she shopped. When I tired, I told her I would go to our vehicle and wait. I used the phone app. to start the vehicle and turn on the AC. But the gentleman would not let me pass! Eventually, the store manager found the gentleman’s wife, and she came and whisked her husband away to their vehicle an aisle over. Frankly, I was now overly exhausted.

I have been extremely exhausted the last month. I was excited to think that I might be nearing the end of my current Multiple Myeloma treatments, and I awaited the meeting with my hematologist/oncologist to get the results of all my recent labs. When we met this past week, I had a very good report with one exception—my M-spike protein number was still too high. Bottom line: I have six more weeks of treatments. During this time I will also go to Houston Methodist Hospital in the downtown Medical Center for tests of my vital organs to see if I qualify for a stem cell transplant. Because I am nine years over the general cut off for the transplant, Medicare requires I pass these tests. My doctor and I agreed that I needed to know now if I qualify. The stem cell transplant can get the M-spike protein down to one in a million leading to minimal drug maintenance until the ‘bad’ protein elects to multiply again. If I do not qualify for the stem cell transplant, my doctors will use more drugs to work on lowering the M- protein. My doctor said he wants me to have every option available. Sounds good to me!

A bone-building drug was added to my treatment schedule two weeks ago. Medicare would not OK the drug my doctor prescribed and so a generic substitute was used. It did not work for me! My worst side effect was swollen eyes with deep socket pressure. This lasted for days. I informed my doctor and he said, “Now I have the proof I need to get the drug I prescribed approved.” Soon, with six more weeks of treatment scheduled, I will get my doctor’s preferred name brand drug.

I had informed my doctors as I began treatment that Kathy and I had a planned trip to Patagonia in South America in October. They did not forget and planned a way for us to go. Amazing, right! I told Kathy that I needed to get out in spite of my exhaustion and fatigue. So I do force myself to “up and at ’em!” Yesterday, we went for a joy ride to Galveston to celebrate our grandson’s eighth birthday, and we walked along the gulf shore for fifteen minutes. It was a very short time, but it was wonderfully refreshing!

I have nearly always had the “press on” attitude for life. It is taken from Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” While the Apostle Paul is reminding us we have a heavenly home, the ultimate prize, our earthly life is one of pressing forward until that day when we are called home. Yes, this adventure has twists and turns not in my control. Yes, some days are hard. Yes, God is always there! Yes, I (we) are called to “press on!”