Note from Mike early July 2007
All:
It's been a very, very long time since I have written to this broad audience of family and friends. That's largely because everything was tracking well and life was getting back to normal.
Unfortunately, that calm has ended. We found out late last week that Bonnie had relapsed and the Leukemia is back in full force.
Like the previous two times, Bonnie once again self-diagnosed; she knows her body that well. One suspicious bruise at the base of her neck was enough to put her on high alert. Four days and one bone marrow biopsy later, it was confirmed that the Leukemia had returned.
She is now facing Leukemia for the 3rd time in 4 years. Her options are few and the odds, candidly, are grim.
Bonnie is actually in quite good spirits. She has taken a very sober look at where she is and what all of this means. Per usual she has turned her focus on Isabel and Devon, and getting ready for whatever all of this brings. Her strength, grace, focus and poise is just mesmerizing.
Bonnie has decided not to chase a silver bullet at some hospital out of town and never come home. She wants to stay home with the girls. She has been buying some time ...over the last week, and likely one more ...via red blood cell and platelet transfusions. She has decided to attempt a re-induction therapy one more time --hoping to go into remission and get perhaps an extra month at the other end. Today she and I were talking about going on a trip somewhere, just our family, somewhere on the water, when she gets out of the hospital. She wants the girls' last memory of her to be a happy one and Bonnie has always been happiest on the water.
We have fast-tracked Isabel's 6th birthday party for this coming Sunday evening and Bonnie is focused on "getting her life in order". It's somewhat mind-numbing to see her film a video for the girls one moment, make future arrangements for Devon RE: kindergarten admissions the next, and then turn around and make lists of long-term to-do's for me. All this in the face of a major fight.
In the mean time, our local friends again have taken on Bonnie's condition as a rallying cry. Committees have been formed. Dinners sent. Play dates for Isabel and Devon hosted. Rides arranged/given. Somehow, this Wed, Betsy, Lisa, and Hilary (with 2 days notice) pulled off an elegant 40th birthday luncheon for Bonnie which was simply amazing....It is like witnessing an Amish community barn-raising, where people selflessly become part of a well-oiled machine for the benefit of someone else. We are humbled and honored.
I know Bonnie would love to hear from, and possibly see, many of you. ...She will be back at UCSF toward the end of next week and will have her cell phone (415 602 3847) and access to fax (which I will send later). Please, though, wait to call her until she is there. She is so overwhelmed right now trying to "get done what needs to get done." For now, for the next week, email is best (btonneson@yahoo.com)or you can click here to send an email directly.
Many of you have asked what you can do. Right now, above all, we need your prayers ...1) that Bonnie will survive this next round of chemo and 2) that it will successfully put her back in remission. You have always been there for us
...and we especially need you now in this regard.
God bless,
Mike
It's been a very, very long time since I have written to this broad audience of family and friends. That's largely because everything was tracking well and life was getting back to normal.
Unfortunately, that calm has ended. We found out late last week that Bonnie had relapsed and the Leukemia is back in full force.
Like the previous two times, Bonnie once again self-diagnosed; she knows her body that well. One suspicious bruise at the base of her neck was enough to put her on high alert. Four days and one bone marrow biopsy later, it was confirmed that the Leukemia had returned.
She is now facing Leukemia for the 3rd time in 4 years. Her options are few and the odds, candidly, are grim.
Bonnie is actually in quite good spirits. She has taken a very sober look at where she is and what all of this means. Per usual she has turned her focus on Isabel and Devon, and getting ready for whatever all of this brings. Her strength, grace, focus and poise is just mesmerizing.
Bonnie has decided not to chase a silver bullet at some hospital out of town and never come home. She wants to stay home with the girls. She has been buying some time ...over the last week, and likely one more ...via red blood cell and platelet transfusions. She has decided to attempt a re-induction therapy one more time --hoping to go into remission and get perhaps an extra month at the other end. Today she and I were talking about going on a trip somewhere, just our family, somewhere on the water, when she gets out of the hospital. She wants the girls' last memory of her to be a happy one and Bonnie has always been happiest on the water.
We have fast-tracked Isabel's 6th birthday party for this coming Sunday evening and Bonnie is focused on "getting her life in order". It's somewhat mind-numbing to see her film a video for the girls one moment, make future arrangements for Devon RE: kindergarten admissions the next, and then turn around and make lists of long-term to-do's for me. All this in the face of a major fight.
In the mean time, our local friends again have taken on Bonnie's condition as a rallying cry. Committees have been formed. Dinners sent. Play dates for Isabel and Devon hosted. Rides arranged/given. Somehow, this Wed, Betsy, Lisa, and Hilary (with 2 days notice) pulled off an elegant 40th birthday luncheon for Bonnie which was simply amazing....It is like witnessing an Amish community barn-raising, where people selflessly become part of a well-oiled machine for the benefit of someone else. We are humbled and honored.
I know Bonnie would love to hear from, and possibly see, many of you. ...She will be back at UCSF toward the end of next week and will have her cell phone (415 602 3847) and access to fax (which I will send later). Please, though, wait to call her until she is there. She is so overwhelmed right now trying to "get done what needs to get done." For now, for the next week, email is best (btonneson@yahoo.com)or you can click here to send an email directly.
Many of you have asked what you can do. Right now, above all, we need your prayers ...1) that Bonnie will survive this next round of chemo and 2) that it will successfully put her back in remission. You have always been there for us
...and we especially need you now in this regard.
God bless,
Mike
posted by gbiddle616 at Saturday, July 07, 2007
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