Learning how to live, while trying not to die

A story about my stage 4 colon cancer journey,

growing to trust my inner voice, and how cancer became the best worst thing that ever happened to me

Apr 214 min read

Lymph limbo: 21-month scans

It’s probably nothing, but it could be something. We went into my 21-month scans on Monday feeling as secure and optimistic as we ever...

Apr 72 min read

Pulmonary Embolism

An update from Per: Last weekend, we got back from a wonderful spring break with the kids in Hawaii. Gina was feeling pretty...

Jul 30, 20225 min read

Steroids Star Save

It’s been so fun to be on the receiving end of celebratory texts - most of which ask how I am, besides being elated. And I am happy -...

Jun 23, 20221 min read

A little bad news

We got a little bad news yesterday. Gina has a small tumor in her liver. It’s right on the edge of where they did the radiation...

Apr 22, 20211 min read

Not the news we wanted

It wasn't the news we were hoping to get, and we're pretty sad tonight. We’re trying to remind ourselves that it could have been worse:...

Apr 21, 20211 min read

Scanxiety

We are in New York, awaiting scans tomorrow morning. Just a few days ago, we were in Hawaii: eating poke, letting the waves crash over...

Oct 12, 20203 min read

A call for your stars

Delaney asked me not to kiss her tonight. She explained that my face was too scratchy. Between the dryness and the Vectibix-driven facial...

Jun 21, 20202 min read

New tools versus doom

I keep buying memoirs. Reading the story of others with cancer. I relate to them fully; they make me laugh in recognition—and cry, tears...

Apr 12, 20203 min read

Chemo during Covid

“I heard back from Dr Kemeny. She agrees that the lesions in the liver are new activity and that you should start treatment.” “Ok,” I...

Apr 1, 20202 min read

It’s back

The two words that I’d least hoped to post here. At least, certainly not so soon—we were just starting to get used to the idea of Gina...

Nov 4, 20193 min read

The maxi-pad on my chest, and other cancer indignities

We’re home! But wow has this surgery (and its recovery) kicked my ass. Nothing is easy. I get winded walking to the bathroom. If I’m...

Oct 21, 20193 min read

Surprise! Time for a taqueria meltdown

I got my quesadilla today. But it came at a cost. I figured I would be fine to walk 0.2 miles to lunch. That’s only a few blocks, and we...