Who YOU Are!

I have been blogging for a little over 2 years now. I don't know if you've noticed, but this little blog has been viewed nearly 56,000 times! That's crazy! But, for 2 years, y'all have gotten to know me, you have followed the Presley family through crazy times, even when times weren't so great. This blog began almost immediately following a cancer diagnosis that ripped our family apart. Y'all followed daily, not really knowing if it were a good day, or a bad day with Daniel. About a year ago, I contemplated continuing to blog. Daniel's health was continually improving... And it seems life got down right crazy!

One night, I went back and read my entries from the very start, and I quickly realized that there was so much that I had forgotten. That's when I decided to continue writing. Mainly for my children- the blog serves as a reminder of how cancer affected us. And so I arrive here today. Even more glad that I blogged (I will get to that point shortly).

For 2 years you've gotten to know me well. Often, I wonder who YOU are... Because, I see the states and countries from which my blog is read. And, every so often, I get a email indicating how the blog has touched them. And, I would love to share them with the rest of my readers. However, out if respect, I tuck them safely away, reaching for them when I need a few words of encouragement.

My stumblings and failures and imperfections … AND my strengths – I put each and every one of them out there. It started for the kids but somewhere along the way YOU started to read, too.

And you looked the other way when I made mistakes, knowing that somehow, somewhere, I would figure it out.

And you cheered me on when I finally did.

And you forgave me when I was incapable of responding to your kindness and you understood when I didn’t leave my house for months on end except when I had to take the kids to school. Or for food.

And I often think about just how afraid I was. How sad and scared and how I was incapable of holding conversations. 

All the times I would look at people and watch their mouths move and didn’t hear a word that was coming out.

How I could see the love, or sadness, or empathy in their eyes but I couldn’t feel anything at all.

You were still there!

This week, I could not have been more proud that I blogged. A new follower of mine just happens to be Daniel's donor. For now, we shall call him " D" out of respect. A man, who is so incredible. Because I never remember details... I'm so glad that he can read every entry to see how much he impacted our life! I truly look forward to sharing more about him... He is an amazing, kind hearted  man with a very interesting story!

And so the purpose of this blog becomes even more clear to me. I'm even more thankful tonight for each of you being there, for checking in, and simply... Keeping it real! It's about the Presley's in this moment... Isn't it?

Xoxo Kristin

2- Years... Post-transplant

August 3^rd we celebrated a cancer-free diagnosis with 1,000 other folks who are just like Daniel. Folks that too, have received bone marrow transplants. This year happened to be the 20^th celebration- twenty years of transplanting stem cells. It’s amazing how many lives have forever been changed because of volunteer donors. Research has come a long way- and there is still room for improvements. We meet new cancer friends each year, and this year we met some amazing men and their wives who were transplanted not long before Daniel. So, you compare stories and ours is nothing like theirs- which reminds us of how blessed we truly are. After the gala, we attended a small, private celebration with Dr. DiPersio, his staff and other physicians within his circa. His nurse practitioner is truly the finest, always putting up with Daniel’s shenanigans, and providing her time to listen to me and my concerns, never misunderstanding anything! We have formed such a good relationship with all of them. As she introduced us to research staff, she would give them inform them of the type/ types of leukemia that Daniel was diagnosed with. As she put it –“it’s the really bad kind of leukemia”. Which, always gets a interesting look from folks- apparently, he doesn’t fit the mold. I guess, he’s pretty special in the leukemia world, most like him don’t survive. As they discuss him and his future, I really do feel blessed. His outcomes have been nothing short of excellent- any of the physician’s up there will tell you that! Hearing that, gives you a really good feeling, but at the same time, makes you want to vomit. So, I find myself trying to remember that the only thing that we can control is the present- what is right here in front of us. It is hard. Really hard, when you are quickly reminded that we are in a really good spot with the current state of Daniel’s health. It is easy to get wrapped up in your insecurities and fears in life. Dang it, life is hard any way that you look at it.

I found this quote- it helps remind me that time heals. And no matter how much the world is pushing against me, I am so much stronger!

“In the midst of winter, I found there was,

within me, an invincible summer.”

Acceptance and acknowledgement of where we have been, where we are now, and how we have gotten here are reminders of the greatness of life itself. Sometimes, we just need those reminders that have given way to life. I know that we have just had our share of unlucky times. However, I recognize that the tide has turned. And, I can’t tell you how incredibly thankful I am for that!

XOXO, Kristin