oLiViaRz

update

short version: my dad is a super hero

slightly longer version: reinfusion happened, which my dad described as the strangest feeling ever and something he wouldn’t want to do again.  but, of course he did it in only 45 mins, when typically it takes up to 2 hours!

monday night was rough. fever, chills, no appetite, lots of blood work, naseau + vomiting….NO sleep.  but within 24 hours, a transformation: eating, walking, a shower and smiles.  oh, and a full night sleep!

fingers crossed for much more of the same.  still another week+ in the hospital, but things are looking good!!

thanks so much for your good wishes.  i’m a firm believer that it’s a huge reason things are going well.

cancer: kill it in the butt, with love

who know who’s killing it? my dad. and not just it, he’s killing cancer. big time!

4 rounds of chemo done (number 5 tomorrow) and his PET scan results monday were, according to doc, absolutely fantastic. my parents’ neighbor says he’s doing so well b/c we love him so much; i think it’s actually b/c he loves us just as much (maybe more?).

there’s of course more - amazing docs, the best medicine, a positive attitude, healthy eating, exercise…and he’s lucky enough to have the best of all. but the love…i think that’s the secret weapon.

while dad is killing it in the butt in his own way, jenna’s way is pretty damn inspiring, too:

So what exactly does it mean to Kill it in the Butt?

Killing it in the Butt is a take charge, in your face, hold-no- prisoners attitude that I chose to adopt during my 6- month battle with Cancer.

I chose to Kill Cancer in the Butt with the tenacity in which I wanted to live.

I Killed Cancer in the Butt by writing, by dancing alone in my room, by singing on the top of my lungs, and by running every day that I physically able to.

I started this blog Kill it in the Butt in order to create a place where I could process, reflect, think and dream about what life looks like during and after Cancer. It became my refuge, my primary coping mechanism, my outlet to the world that I felt increasingly disconnected from.

Throughout my journey as I continued to open my heart and mind, I realized the critical importance of movement during a time when I felt trapped and betrayed by my body.  During the days when I was immuno-suppressed and unable to live in outside world, I danced alone in my room, dreaming about what it would be like to be joined on the dance floor by my family and friends.

As the moments, days, and months wore on- the lonliness and isolation worsened. While I was increasingly dsconnected from the world around me- I was determined to figure out a way to bring the people I cared about most into my world.

I decided to put out a challenge.

I asked my family, friends, and loved ones to twist for me.

While I was unable to physically do the running man, or the electric slide, I could do the Twist. I figured if I could do the Twist with poison running through my veins, those I cared about could do it too.

And so we twisted.

Within a few days I had countless videos from tiny twisters around the world- who were determined to Twist out Cancer.

And this is how the movement was born!

I twisted in order to reconnect with a body I no longer understood.

I twisted in order to raise awareness about my disease.

I twisted to give others hope that were fighting.

I continue to twist because I can, because I should, and because I must.

I hope you will join me.

To submit a video to a Cancer survivor, fighter, or loved one claimed by this disease please send your video to twistoutcancer@gmail.com

we’ve still got a fighting journey ahead, but i’m pretty convinced i know how it will turn out. you better believe i’ll make my dad dance his own move when that day comes! :)