Checking in Again

Hi all!! I recently remembered amidst preparation for finals (next week... eek!) and school that I haven't blogged in a while. Obviously this blog will turn into an ordinary blog, seeing as I hopefully will never have to deal with cancer again (although I am dealing with an ear infection at the moment... icky), so I will not be offended if anyone unsubscribes, in fact, I don't think I will know if you unsubscribe because the website has no way of telling me who is subscribed in the first place!

Anyway, I thought I'd post a picture of me and my new head of hair! Usually it's curly, but I straightened it. Also, there's one more with a special effect that I really liked... I couldn't resist. ;-)

I will be finishing up the semester soon. This week is the last week of classes, and I plan to head home on the first and celebrate my 19th birthday in Ithaca with some close friends and family. Summer is almost here, and I got my job of choice at Stewart Park Day Camp as a boating assistant, so I recently had to get my CPR certification updated. I also got my First Aid certification, and I still have my lifeguarding certification. I figured, with all of my medical problems from last summer, I might as well know what they are/how to handle them in case I or another person needs it.

To all you nurses at Strong: I REALLY hope I can visit you all this summer!! I might just surprise you all and stop by some weekend. :-) Bet you won't recognize me with my hair this way!!

To my Ithacans: I miss you all and hope to see you over the summer. Let me know if you'll be in town. I'm trying to make up for a missed summer last year, so you'll most likely find me at Second Dam (I'll be the one covered in sunscreen) or on the commons enjoying the sun as much as I can (and as much as my parents will allow) when I'm not at work, that is.

To my family: I will be SO busy this summer because Caley asked me to help plan hers and Greg's wedding! Don't worry, I'll do a good job. Ooooh! I love parties!! I'm very excited. :-D

Much love,

Marika

Still at Clark

Hello once again!

I am currently enrolled in my second semester at Clark University and everything is going well so far. I am on the atra pill again, but this time, aside from an annoying headache (easily stopped with some tylenol), I am tolerating it very well. Today is my last day on the atra until March, at which point I will take eight pills every day for fifteen days. My pill schedule is confusing and annoying and I'm sure you don't want to hear about it (fortunately, contrary to the belief of my parents, I have it COMPLETELY under control).

So far my classes are going well. I have a lot of work now that I have a full course load, but I think I'm managing it well so far. I am getting good at balancing my social life with school work. :-)

Anyway, as most of the followers of this blog know, I'm posting a lot less frequently now. THIS IS A GOOD THING. THIS MEANS THAT NOTHING BAD IS HAPPENING.

Lunch time!

-Marika

BMB COMES BACK CLEAN!!!

Yes, that's right! My bone marrow biopsy showed no signs of cancer!! I'm on to chemo in pill form now and after about a few years of that, I'm DONE!

Clark is still amazing as ever and I am loving every minute of it. People here hardly notice my extremely short hair because there are so many bald girls here anyway. By the way, my hair is growing back very nicely (thanks Crystal for the warning about parting it ASAP) and I can now go outside without a hat or a headscarf and be OK with it. My mom loves the look and people have told me I look like Twiggy, Audrey Hepburn (my favorite) and Drew Barrymore in the past month, and a lady in the cafeteria serving sandwiches complimented my "haircut" (I didn't have the heart to tell her it was unintentional).

-Marika

Still Surviving

Hello all!

I am still here at Clark and still loving it just as much.

To answer your question Aunt Terri, I'm not neutropenic anymore, so I don't have to watch out for raw foods, but I also am not about to hit McDonalds and ruin my health that way (oooh I hate fast food). So I am eating healthy foods, but I have no limitations on what I can eat, which is nice because there are really good sushi places around here.

Classes are going really well. My first paper was a success (I got a B, got referenced in class and the professor told me that if I make one or two minor corrections, I could turn it into an A, so I did and I have yet to get it back).

Unfortunately, my absentee ballot has not come in the mail yet. The good news is that I am very confident Obama will win NY, so I won't feel extremely guilty for not voting. I tried...

Anyway, I am off to dinner!

Much love,

Marika

Back at Clark!

I am writing from my desk at Clark University! At last I have returned to campus and cannot wait for things to start to come alive again after the Columbus day vacation. Everyone is welcoming me back, and I'm genuinely surprised that I managed to meet this many people and that this many people remember me. Anyway, I've gotta go catch up on some work here, but I'll try to keep posting. I still have a bone marrow biopsy in my near future to write about.

Much love,

Marika

Almost Out!!

Well, I am now only waiting for my neutrophils to come up. My white blood cells are high enough to get me out of here and the fever seems to be gone, so all I need is a few more neutrophils and I am outta here and back to Clark!!

-Marika

Last Time (For REAL.... I Hope)

Hello once again!

Sorry I haven't updated this in a while. I'm sure Laurie has kept all family members well informed, but just in case, and for everyone else, here's an update:

I am back in Strong Memorial for a few more days because of the neutropenic fevers caused by the last chemo. I got my port removed because the doctors thought it was infected. We don't know if they were right or wrong, but my fevers have gone down a LOT. In fact, I haven't had one in over 24 hours, which is GOOD GOOD GOOD. Last weekend I think I had a fever as high as 105.5 which, until then, I didn't know was possible.

My counts are slowly coming up and as soon as they're safe, I am outta here and back to Clark (yes Laurie, MA. YAY!!). Nothing else has been happening, I miss Clark U and I want to go back... That about sums it up. See you (family) at Hanukkah!

Much love,

Marika