A Christmas Letter

We have traditionally (at least once every two years) sent a "Christmas Letter" to many of our friends and family at this time of year to bring them up to date on the happenings of our family during the past year. (We still will call this the Christmas letter, even though it may no longer be politically correct) We know that all bloggers have a sense of what this past year has been for us, so we will skip the details of my ordeal and provide the brief summary: 5 hospitalizations, 2 back surgeries, 4 rounds of chemo, 6 to 8 blood transfusions, and, oh yeh, a stem cell transplant. But I am doing better than I have in many many months. I am driving, going to the health club, going out to lunch, going to physical therapy and generally have more independence than I have enjoyed since June. I still struggle with lack of energy and returning to real work remains an insurmountable task. Most recently I just had a skeletal survey (xrays of every bone) and bone marrow biopsy to determine the stage of my disease. Results will be reported next week. That has been my world this year--my health. But as a part of this journey my heart has opened wide and I have received and learned love and compassion as never previously experienced. Read the previous blogs for details. I am very thankful for this holiday season, for feeling better, for my two daughters being home, and for the time our family will spend together.

Julia, our 18 year old, started at Colorado College in Colorado Springs this fall. It is a small liberal arts school nestled in a very conservative community. Classes are on the block system, i.e., taking only one class for 3 1/2 weeks, a 4 day break and then start the next class. She is made for college (and getting away from her parents). In addition to doing well academically, she also is participating in 6 intramural sports, as well as skiing on weekends. She is a quick witted, no nonsense, straight shooting young lady. Look out world!

Catherine, our 22 year old, is in her last year at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is majoring in Finance and International Business and will graduate in May. She already has a job as a research analyist with a pension consulting firm in Denver, which she will start part time in January and full time in June. She is attending college on a full scholarship and has achieved much success in the past 4 years, not the least of which included working as a research analyst for the famed business author, Jim Collins, ("Built to Last" and "Good to Great".) This work has opened many doors for her. As a result she was being courted by firms in Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA, and Los Angeles, but she decided to stay in Denver, primarily because of my health issues. This is one of the most difficult parts of this illness--seeing how it affects my girls. I wish they could go about their lives without having to worry about their Dad. Catherine is also learning how to cook under her mother's tutelage. She has spent the last 3 days making Christmas cookies. Julia and I are encouraging her in this pursuit! Catherine has her mother's heart and brings light to our home every time she visits.

Susan is quite simply an angel and the nicest person I have ever met. Why she married me remains a mystery, but I will gladly be the beneficiary of her lack of judgment. I could not have gotten through these past 7 months without her. She helped me out of bed, washed me, drove me to the doctors, and maintained vigil over me during the many months when I was either too sick to care for myself or too disabled from back problems to walk or even get out of bed. She has been a source of strength and support like no other. Her many friends (she makes friends just walking down the street) have also been tremendous support for her and me. She still has her outrageous laugh and is in good spirits these days. She has had to take on the responsiblity of bill paying, supervising workmen, and many other matters that I used to attend to. Now that I am "coming to" after these long months, she finds my involvement to be "meddling" and sometimes, jokingly says, she preferred me when I was sedated. Not really.

So having to face one of life's most difficult challenges this year, we remain strong. We have become a closer and more loving family. We are so deeply appreciative for all we have received from all of you. My health issues have forced us to confront what our lives are about and how we should be living them. It is no longer an academic pursuit. We have learned that a life lived with love and compassion is our most important purpose. You, our friends and family have taught us this. I wish I had the vocabulary, as well as the time and space, to adequately express how deeply I feel about the important role all of you have played in my recovery this year. We give thanks for you, and all you have done for us, and wish you the very best this holiday season.

Love, Dan, Susan, Catherine & Julia