Holiday Kindness

As many of you know..I have a very rare NHL (Non Hodgkins Lymphoma) called CTCL/ MF (Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma/ Mycosis Fungoides)

Because my cancer is so rare..it's difficult to find anyone locally where i live here in NY that has my cancer...CTCL/MF has often been referred to an an "orphan disease" simply becasuse no one knows about it..most doctors have never heard of it....diagnosis is difficult because it mimics other things like allergies..eczema etc...and funding is simply not there for reasearch and services for orphaned diseases....so therefore..we are the forgotten individuals with a cancer that most have not heard of..or know anything about...

So since my diagnosis in October 2003..I have been a member of an on line support community of people with my disease...while i am blessed to be surrounded by caring family and friends who ride the roller coaster ride of this cancer with me...i find my on line support group friends to be invaluable when it comes to support and information..they have walked in my shoes..i have walked in theirs..we are on the same journey...to do it alone..would be emotionally impossible and disallow any hope...

One of the individuals that i have "met" thru this support community is Nick...

I am posting here to ask that you send a card to Nick..who has my cancer..while I am at Stage I....and have been blessed to have a life that remains somewhat normal..without aggressive treatment etc..or severe impact to my overall quality of life...Nick has not been as fortunate...

He recently had a bone marrow transplant..after a long difficult span of time doing various treatments..drugs..and radiation... while Nick was in the hospital for his BMT (bone marrow transplant)..his wife was in another hospital delivering their second child..a son...this touched me so..because while he and i have many things in common...i couldnt imagine that happening in my life...

All of Nick's treatments have brought varied..and sometimes temporary and short lived results...some being more successful than others....to say Nick has battled his cancer with courage..dignity..grace..faith....hope and determination only touches upon what can be said of him...

While he had done well with the BMT..had returned to work after a LONG period of not being able to work...A few days ago he was readmitted to the hospital for some concerns...being apart from his family (an infant and a 3 yr old..and his wife katie) is difficult for him emotionally.....particularly now..as the holidays approach...)...but still..when he writes in his Caring Bridge Journal (on line) his spirit thirves..if you visit his journal and read back on his journey.. you will be awed by him...you'll be humbled by him....and you'll be reminded of the truly good and wonderful things in your own life..that you are grateful for..and sometimes forget...

I cannot imagine the financial strain this has imposed on his family..particularly now..with the holidays upon us..While we cannot take away the emotional physical and financial stresses that he and his wife have endured....or deliver a sleigh full of presents for his children (wouldnt that be fantastic!)...or erase his physical and emotional pain...we can let him/them know that thoughts..prayers and good wishes are sent their way...

If you would like to send Nick a note...a card....brighten his day..and help to keep his inner spirit thriving..... during this holiday season...pls post a note here and i'll send a pm to you with his mailing info

If you would like to read his Caring Bridge Journal where he documents his incredible journey and eloquently and freely shares his thoughts and feelings about the life we live with this cancer that we have....pls go to:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/nicholasgraham

Thanks to each of you who may ask for his address..