Hi everyone.
We've decided to create this blog so we can keep you posted about the goings-on in our world right now.
If
you're reading this, you obviously have heard that the brilliant,
amazing, lovely, incredible (etc. etc.) Gloria has leukemia. To be
specific, she has Acute Myeloid Leukemia. You can read a little bit
about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_myeloid_leukemia
We're not really reading much about it, as we've decided to listen to her doctors instead.
She
was diagnosed almost by accident, having gone to see another doctor
about a pain in her wrist that she thought might be arthritis.
Ironically, it was only tendonitis caused by repetitive movements in
Pilates. Kitty, if you're reading this, Gloria loves Pilates and is
going to miss it very much.
Her doctor ordered a routine CBC (complete blood count) to make sure everything was OK. And that was the beginning of our new "normal".
Gloria
has decided to seek treatment at The James Cancer Center:
http://cancer.osu.edu/Pages/index.aspx. Right now, treatment is
scheduled to begin this Monday, July 2. As she will be living there for
at least the next 4-6 weeks, we will be taking turns staying with her
around the clock.
Many of you have asked how you can help. Please know that we
love being surrounded by such an incredible group of family and friends,
but due to her compromised immune system, we are currently limiting Gloria's exposure to the outside
world of germy things. Encouraging emails, texts, notes and prayers are
always welcome. Visits, unless specifically requested by a family
member, are, regretfully, discouraged. Thankfully, we live in a time of great
electronic prowess, and we can keep you in the loop easily.
Gloria is otherwise a very healthy, mighty individual who is
prepared to fight with all she has. And those who love her will do
everything in our power to help her with this battle.
And although she's probably not thrilled that we are writing this,
we also encourage those of you who want to yell the "F" word at leukemia
at the top of your lungs. Sometimes that feels really good to say.
Much love,
Karen, Rebecca, and Sidney
