Nick's BHWT, September 5, 2021
Hi friends and family,
This past week started off in the best way. I was discharged from the hospital on Sunday after a super intense week of being at Sloan.
Whew!! What a relief to be discharged. Special shout outs to those who could visit (lots of restrictions) at the hospital and for a couple of you who delivered late-night snacks and Greek food to my floor. The nurses say thank you :)
The week proceeded with me completing five consecutive days of radiation on my right hip/right femur.
You may recall from last week’s update, the pet scan revealed that there was Myeloma building in that area - the good news, is that the myeloma had not progressed in the same way that it had with my back (where I needed to repair the breaks/fractures), so surgery (like my back) was not needed. Radiation should do the trick. Fingers crossed.
Radiation in this area is complete. I believe my body reacted well. I have felt super tired during the week, and I’ve had this ongoing nausea in the background - it’s like I have a bad taste in my mouth I can’t get rid of.
More good news continued this week. I went in for a blood test which revealed that my hemoglobin levels were high enough that I could avoid having to get a blood transfusion (blood transfusion makes Anisa cringe because she thinks I’ve turned into a ). She hasn’t turned the lights off since :)
The remainder of this week I relaxed and had a few visits including a special visit from my mama …who we affectionately call YiaYia. My soon to be 91-year-old mom has been a rock during this process - she keeps instilling faith and reminding me that everything is going to work out for the best. Tony Robbins has nothing on her. I really am grateful to have a mom who loves me so much and is so supportive.
My therapy session offered lots of valuable insight. In particular, what I’ve come to realize is that I’m a perfectionist who’s always doing more, demanding more and wanting things to look and go a certain way. That clearly puts a ton of pressure on me and on the people around me and often it can take the joy out of a situation and has me less present to the moment - in fact, I realize that there’s a huge opportunity for me to enjoy the things and people in my life much differently and to be present (versus thinking they must be a certain way). Life is meant to be enjoyed and for us to find the things that make us happy.
Everything really is perfect where they are and it’s totally healthy for me to acknowledge that and to be good with everything. No need to do more every time. Time to trust that I am more than enough and that things don’t need to be “perfect” to be loved and accepted. I’m perfect therefore everything and everyone is perfect.
Lastly, a huge shout out to my main caretaker, Anisa. She’s absolutely the best and I’m the luckiest human to have her as my lifelong partner.
Starting my main chemo regimen tomorrow, Monday which should last six months. Please send positive energy that my body responds well physically to the treatment and that we get all the unhealthy stuff out of my body.
Love you and thank you for being on this journey with me, locked arm in arm. You, my support system, are my X factor in gaining my full strength and health.
With love and healing,
Nick
YiaYia with her Paikaria.
My boys giving me lots of strength for the upcoming week.
I’ll be Greek dancing again very soon.