Master of Goodbyes
How many times must a man’s heart break before it will no longer heal? At least once more, I hope. Practice makes perfect, they say, but there are some things in life a man does not want to become good…
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cancer
Looking for the Light
No joke there I was. Iraq. 2005. Anbar Province. The height of the Sunni insurgency. Infantry company commander, pistol on my side and knife in my pocket, on my way to…the chow hall. It was already dark that winter night…
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Living a Double Life
I am living a double life here in Houston. One is fairly normal, not all that different from the “old me.” The other life is the tumultuous existence of a cancer patient. I don’t live either life independently from…
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I Missed the Bus but Found Hope
I wrote the blog post, “Hope in Houston,” a couple of weeks ago while I was getting chemotherapy at the hospital. I was by myself that day since I was feeling good and it was a short appointment. When the…
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Holding Patterns
We have been waiting now for nearly a week to receive approval from my insurance to continue treatment at MD Anderson. The hospital will not schedule an appointment until they receive insurance approval, so we continue to be in a…
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Choices
“Everyone here was really disappointed by the news.” That’s what my hematologist said after discussing treatment options with us since the leukemia has relapsed. He genuinely meant it, and I appreciated it. I could have made a sarcastic remark, but…
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My Afflictions are Eclipsed by Glory
The cancer is back. We got the results of last week’s bone marrow biopsy yesterday on the eve of my admission to begin the transplant. It’s been a rough twenty-four hours. We have experienced a flood of emotions, but have…
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Time to Jump
It’s been ten years since I jumped out of an airplane, but I’ll never forget it. The first two weeks of training at the US Army Airborne School are spent on the ground and in towers. Soldiers jump from four-foot…
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Abrie Sings the 80s
I proudly confess that I have recently listened to songs by Milli Vanilli and Fine Young Cannibals. In fact, my 80s playlist on Spotify has gotten a lot of airtime. And it’s not just me that enjoys it, either. Abrie…
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