Who's Counting?

On my driveway basketball court, growing up in So. CA, I had more game-winning buckets than Michael Jordan. My brothers and I would frequently play the old "game-winner countdown" - 10..9..8..7.. and I'd drain the game-winner w/ nothing but net as the final buzzer sounded. It wasn't just that final second that mattered, though, but the 9 seconds of drama leading up to this final shot that made it so sweet. Nobody ever counted down from 1 second and threw it up, it HAD to start at 10. The boys might challenge my stats, but my memory is all you'll have here!

I find myself in that familiar position again, some 35 years later (but I still got game!), where the scoreboard displays "10 to go" - not seconds in a game, but sessions in my treatment plan. Can finally count them all on two hands, so the countdown is on. I'm going to focus on the experience and not look ahead to final shot (or zap in this case!), but I will be ready to nail it! I've tried to take my positive attitude into the treatment environment at City of Hope, for both staffers and patients alike, trying to give them a temporary lift when they need it most. None of my fellow cancer patients have the energy that I do, but I hope the positive interaction and jokes that I share with the staff is contagious (hopefully I'm not annoying them), and makes their days at City of Hope a little easier to endure. "There is little success, where there is little laughter" A. Carnegie

On Wednesdays, I have full days at City of Hope - getting nuked in radiation (10 min in the microwave) and then sitting for almost 4 hours in chemotherapy getting my chemical cocktail infusion. You can see to the right, it simply means moving my office & continuing with business as usual. Sending email, working on budgets and communicating with customers. Even through all the disruptions from my treatment, we managed to have a record month in Jan! My colleagues have been so impressive in their support, both in covering for me and working around this crazy schedule I'm keeping. I thank them sincerely for demonstrating what I already knew - they are a phenomenal team of professionals who care as much about each other as they do for the business. I've been blessed to work with a great group of friends...it makes a significant difference in our approach to business.

OK, about that countdown - today is 10 - count them with me for added drama! 10 more radiation sessions and only 1 more chemotherapy session. On Feb 20, I'll hoist up the game-winner and watch as it sails through the net. I still feel really good, with just some discomfort in my chest from the radiation - like a sunburn from the inside out. White blood count is down, so after this weekend, I'll likely stay home and stop joining friends for dinners, bike rides and trips to the mountain. Don't want to risk infection as this treatment plan winds down with great success. So don't take it personal when I can't go.

10..9..8..7..it's gonna be a sweet shot at the buzzer!!