It's been a while. But things are happening.

So while I've been pretty bad about posting anything to this blog, I have been pretty busy. Finally got over my cold and the feeling that my head was floating in a vat of viscous fluid (nice huh?). And I think I'm pretty much back to normal.

Had some good workouts this weekend. And I took advantage of the fact that my girls are on vacation this week, so I could actually sleep an extra 45 minutes or so and still get in a really good workout today. Woo Hoo!

Also, I read this really inspiring account from a leukemia survivor and just thought I should share it with you. This is just one more reason I'm committed to LLS.



John Haluck became part of the LLS family almost a decade ago. He is now a trustee of the Greater Sacramento Area chapter and is not only a survivor but is a huge supporter of LLS.

“When I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2000, I was no stranger to leukemia, having lost a good friend to the disease. Still, going in for a routine physical and finding out I had an "incurable" form of cancer was a massive shock to both me and my family. I looked at my three kids and I wondered if I would be around to see any of them graduate from college or get married. It was the worst weekend of my life.

My doctor recommended a "watch and wait" approach, since my form of leukemia was chronic, not acute, and some people have lived twenty years with CLL.

However, my cancer progressed much faster than my hematologist could foresee. By 2004, he recommended that I start chemotherapy soon, as the cancerous lymphocytes were increasing in number and could cause a stroke. He told me that there was no hope for a cure and advised me against looking for a clinical trial.

By this time, I was volunteering with my local chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, chairing and helping organize the annual Light The Night Walk. I also learned about a doctor who has been funded by LLS and does leading edge research in CLL - Michael Keating, MD, at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. I contacted him and heard back immediately - he would see me as soon as I was ready.

The morning after the Light The Night Walk, I boarded a Southwest flight for Houston. After a battery of tests, I waited to see Dr. Keating. In walked this big, burly man (a rugby player, no less) who grabbed my hand and then gave me a big bear-hug. To my surprise, he said, "John, I think that we have a very promising treatment for you!"

I called my wife, who flew in, and I started a clinical trial the next day of a new targeted drug, Rituxan®, which was developed with the help of funding from LLS. The rest is history. After four days of therapy, my white cell count had dropped to normal! A week later, the lumpy cancerous lymphocytes had disappeared from my lymph nodes. It was happening just as Dr. Keating had described.

Now I've had 53 months in complete remission. I feel a debt of gratitude to Dr. Keating and LLS, whose funding helped make Rituxan a reality. I have my life, and am able to enjoy it. And I have hope!”

-- John Haluck

Happy Friday. Tell Me Something.

Hope everyone is having an awesome Friday. So far I am.

I thought I'd just put a call out for comments - just to get a sense of whether anyone is out there, and what you think, what you'd like to hear about, whatever.

Just a Friday call-out! Happy Weekend.

What Happens When You Get Sick?

Training during the winter months is fraught with all types of peril. Running on slippery streets, jumping into a chilly pool on a cold winter morning (indoors of course, but it's still cold), training in the dark, putting on five layers of clothing, and then sweating through all of them.

But there is one risk that outweighs them all - it's more vexing, more troublesome, more frustrating and downright annoying than anything else. It's the dreaded head cold.

The headaches, sore throat, congested sinus, fatigue, coughing fits, low-grade fever... Oh it's a regular picnic. And of course it's always at it's worst when you first get up in the morning - making it that much harder to get any training in.

So what happens when you get sick? Well, in my case, basically nothing. I've been run-down and feeling crummy since Sunday. I managed to get a swim in on Sunday, but nothing since. Each night I hope to wake up feeling like myself again, but each morning I feel like doo-doo. But, that's how it goes. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and you just have to deal with it.

Hopefully tomorrow will be the day I get back in the swing of things. If I can just clear up my stuffy ear.