Jul 20

Anythings You Can Do To Help

I’m getting ready to start more treatment next week, and a number of you have asked if there is anything you can do to help. Aside from sending lots of love, light, good vibes, prayers, support, encouragement, juju, and positivity (which is AMAZING), Jacqui and I are thinking that it would be very good to have people come visit us and help fill our home with warmth, support, and joy.

It’s going to be hard with this next round of chemo. I will be getting treatments 3 days a week, every 3 weeks, for 4 times. So,  it will last 12 weeks. Treatments will happen on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, starting next Monday, on July 25, and then on July 26th and 27th.

If you would like to help out by making us food one of those nights, we would greatly appreciate it. Make enough for yourself too, if you want, and then come over and eat with us.

I know that it would be easier if this could be more organized. You can create an account on my blog, and we’re working on something that will allow you to Sign Up to make us dinner on a specific night. More details to come on that soon.

The other thing that Jacqui and I were thinking, since I probably have more chance of developing aversion to foods since chemo will happen for multiple days in a row, is to sign up for a service that provides freshly prepared foods, so that we can pick up a nice dinner already made. So, if you’re not up to cooking us dinner, but would still like to help out, you could donate some money towards us having these pre-made dinners. (I honestly don’t know much about them, but Jacqui thinks they are a good idea, so I think they’re a good idea too.)

Of course, if you can’t manage either of the above, we are still very grateful for all of your thoughts and prayers, and all the positive energy you send when we need it the most.

Thanks, everyone.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.andrewmacdonald.com/how-to-help/

Jul 14

Biopsy Results In – Time to Move Forward!

Thursday, June 14 – Today we got Monday’s biopsy results from the oncologist.

The results were that it looks like we found something that looks like the cancer. We’re having someone else take a look at it, to make sure they agree, and if they do, we will proceed with more treatment.

The GOOD news about this is that Jacqui and I can get out of the holding pattern we’ve been in since the end of last year, not knowing how to make me feel better. We are glad that we have an opportunity to move forward, and move towards less fatigue and tiredness on my part, and getting rid of all the nasty effects of cancer. Most of all, we are glad for the opportunity to finish kicking cancer’s butt!

The NOT SO GOOD news is that the path that is before us will not be easy. It will involve a STEM CELL TRANSPLANT. The process involves ICE chemo, then they will harvest my healthy stem cells, then High Dose chemo to destroy all the bad cells (and the rest of my immune system), followed by the stem cell transplant, where they put my stem cells back into my body and regrow my immune system.

This process should take roughly 4 months. That’s a rough estimate, so I could look at finishing the stem cell transplant sometime in November-ish. Again, these are all very rough estimates. After the stem cell transplant is complete, there is a six month recovery process towards healing and normal immune function. In the meantime, there will be lots of antibiotics, etc. to keep me healthy.

If I can do math, this means we should be through this process sometime next May. I’ll turn 28 years old on May 4th next year. We should have a huge celebration!

In the meantime, my last post was about another party welcoming me back to Swizzle’s on Thursday, July 21. I hope that many of you can come. If we proceed with the stem cell transplant process, I will start chemo on Monday, July 25. It would sure be nice to have a good time with all of you one more time before starting chemo again.

I look forward to seeing you all at Swizzle’s on July 21. The fun starts at 6pm!

Peace and Love, Forever.

– Andrew

Permanent link to this article: https://www.andrewmacdonald.com/biopsy-results-in-move-forward/

Jul 14

We’re having a party…

… Everybody’s dancing, dancing to the music, on the radio….gotta love Sam Cooke.


Thursday, July 14 – Today, we’re getting the results from the doctor about my biopsy. To make up for having to go through this today, next Thursday we’re going to celebrate. Call it Dance With Andrew, Part Three. That’s right, and it’s happening next Thursday, July 21, at Swizzle’s, which is the bar inside the Holiday Inn at Cedar Bluff.

Swizzle’s has a regular dance night every Thursday, DJed by none other than Pro Audio Mobile DJs. There’s a great crowd of people who go there, and I enjoy the opportunity to spend time with them. Last year, when I was going through chemo, my immune system was so weak that I was not able to go to Swizzle’s on Thursdays.

I’ve come a long way since finishing chemo, and the crew at Swizzle’s is going to have an official Welcome Back party for me on July 21st. There will be music, dancing, Happy Hour drink specials until 7pm, and complimentary chicken wings and veggie trays until 6:30 or they’re gone. We’d love to have you join us and celebrate by having a good time with everyone at Swizzle’s on Thursday, July 21. The party starts somewhere between 5:30 and 6:30, and could go until 8 or 9:30, at Swizzle’s.

In other news, there is talk of an after party at a house nearby Swizzle’s. This house will also have music, dancing, food, and drink (BYOB), and we also understand that it has a hot tub and an air hockey table. So, we look forward to celebrating with you all at Swizzle’s next Thursday, and continuing to celebrate with you at the after–party.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.andrewmacdonald.com/party/