Just a Little Sample

Everyone loves samples! I can't thank the team at HarperCollins enough for allowing me to share the introduction and the first chapter with you. 

Click HERE to view the sample! 

9 Weeks, 6 Days

Most days I don't have any idea how my body is responding to cancer treatment. Sure, I know all too well the side effects that are brought on from the meds, but I truly haven't the faintest idea if the meds are working or not. 

I have a competitive spirit. I love to win. I don't play for the fun of it. I expect to see results in this fight. My oncologist has tried to temper my expectations. "This is an ultra-marathon, not a sprint." 

Each day I take 4 pills. 

Most days I wait for a sign that won't come. 

But every 9 weeks and six days, I get a report. This report is full of medical jargon. I read it word for word. I don't think I could write the report, but I can interpret it and I know what the words mean. I am looking for something like, "There has been significant improvement" or "no longer evident". 

My summer MRI showed a "slight decrease" in the two lesions. It was definitely not the report that I wanted nor expected. (Previous Post) After such marked improvement in the first phase of the treatment, I was devastated. 

My last MRI was a few days ago. I sat with one of my doctors a couple of days later. However, I already had a copy of the report. I had already cried. I stood in the other room and didn't know how I could take a few steps to my wife, Lissa, and tell her these results. 

"...has not significantly changed since the previous examination." 

I needed a few moments to absorb this information. Once I finished drying my face, I thanked God. The cancer hadn't grown. It hadn't spread. This was good news, just not the news I needed or wanted. 

So, the fight continues. Thursday was not unlike most of my Thursdays since February. I ate dinner, waited two hours, and took my meds. An hour later I ate a snack and promptly fell asleep. I was tired. 

I am tired. I know that fatigue has set in as a side effect, but the length of this fight has also worn me down. I'm going to bed most days shortly after dinner. I struggle to get up in time to make Emma's lunch. 

My medical team has suggested a short break from the meds every three weeks. I'll take the meds for 18 days then take a 3 day break. Guess what! This is my break week. Man, I need it. I need a little respite from the side effects. 

Tomorrow is a new day, a day that I'll be ready for battle. 

Next Update: 9 weeks, 6 days. 

With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Rocket 4 the Cure - UPDATE

Rocket 4 The Cure Update

You rock!!!!

I just received an email from the team! They received over $1000 in sponsorships yesterday. It was their best day ever!!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. You helped these two boys make a difference and realize that actions can make a difference. Doing something is important.

If you're seeing this post and wondering what I'm talking about, please click here to see where it started:

http://www.napkinnotesdad.com/blog/2014/9/23/rocket-4-the-cure

Rocket 4 the Cure

I want to be upfront and transparent with you. I am not a big fan of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The "pinkification" of cancer isn't something I support. Cancer isn't as simple as a color. (You'll see why this matters in a bit.) 

My cancer "colors" aren't pink. Frankly, I don't even know what color ribbon I should have. Do I mix the two? Do I just show off two? Does my cancer color even matter? 

I was introduced to a pretty awesome story the other day. There are a couple of high school kids that will break the Guinness Book of World Records for the most rockets simultaneously launched. I am taking their words directly from their website: 

We created Rocket4theCure to raise money for the battle against breast cancer.

And we'd like to break a world record while we're at it.

That's freaking awesome! Dylan's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. This is his way of supporting his mom and other breast cancer patients, and I love it! Sanzio is his good friend and loves rockets. The two of them will be unstoppable! 

Why is this story resonating with me? These guys are doing something. They woke up and decided to help someone, somehow, in a way they could. This project will support the Susan G. Komen Foundation and I am supporting them wholeheartedly. 

"We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone." - Ronald Reagan

This is how I am going to ask you to help these two cool guys. 

1) Like their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rocket4thecure (That's the easy one, right?) 

2) Share this story on your own social media sites. (I know this is a little out there, but this is how word gets out.) 

3) Sponsor a rocket. It's $10. (Yeah, I know. But I am really asking. I wouldn't ask you to do something I wouldn't do myself. I just sponsored two for $20.) Click here to sponsor a rocket. http://rocket4thecure.org/sponsor-a-rocket/ 

I am really asking you for your help. Spread this story. Help these two guys. Why? Because they are doing something and if we support them, others will be encouraged to do something, too. 

Napkin Notes - The Next Chapter

Napkin Notes: Make Lunch Meaningful, Life Will Follow

It's real. I have been reluctant to share this part of my journey because it seemed so unbelievable. However, I have been paging through my advance copy. It's real. I can hold it in my hands. I can sense the weight of the paper, and turn the pages. I can read my words.

On Feb 26, I met with a team at HarperCollins. They were interested in hearing my story. I was hoping and praying for the time to be able to tell it. Little did they know I was going to drop a small bombshell when we started. "I have cancer again. It's my fourth diagnosis. We have a plan, but let's face it, statistically, patients like me have an 8% 5-year survival rate."  

The meeting paused. Someone picked up the phone and called Memorial Sloan Kettering, the country's best kidney cancer center. HarperCollins showed me that they cared about me as a person first. 

I did go to MSK a couple of weeks later. I was able to confirm a treatment plan. But that's not what this part of the story is about. 

I was deeply touched by the concerned actions of the team at HarperCollins. They saw me as a person. They were interested in our story. I was interested in sharing it. We went about working on this project. I was committed to finishing as quick as possible. After all, I have Stage IV kidney cancer. I am well aware of time passing. I wanted to see this project to completion. 

We went to work. I'll be frank. It was harder than I thought it would be. I am a positive and happy man today, but writing about telling Emma I had cancer for the first time was nearly impossible. I had to dredge up memories that we're pushed into the back of my mind. It was gut wrenching and painful. The first year or so after that initial diagnosis was dark. Writing about it was a challenge. (and oh, by the way, I was in treatment, fighting nausea, fatigue, etc. It wasn't the best environment for storytelling!) 

We turned in the first draft in early June and I still didn't share that here. Why? It wasn't 'real' to me yet. It became real when I opened up my copies just a few days ago. It became real when I saw it up on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Crazy, right? 

Last week I found out that the book will be translated into complex Chinese and sold in China. That's the latest in the list that includes Brazil, Portugal, The Netherlands, Mozambique, Angola, South Korea, and Germany. Crazy, right? 

Lissa, Emma, and I are literally walking around our home wondering how we have become so blessed. 

I hope the story will do two things: 

• Inspire parents (& everyone else, too!) to write notes on a regular basis. I believe in my heart this will make a difference in any relationship
• Inspire cancer patients to fight like hell. It's a battle against something that doesn't fight fairly and we need strength and support

If you know someone that could use some inspiration in their life, please click here. 

Bucket List Item #2

Last February I wrote out a bucket list. It had 36 items. I taped a copy of it to my home office window, posted it here, and basically was sharing it with the world. I did this for a few reasons. I wanted to publicly state that these items were important to me and that I was going to make them come true, one by one. I also wanted others to think about their own bucket lists, to create them and then follow through. Create action. Make a change. Do. 

A funny thing happened once I made my list. (Here's the original post.) I actually started to check off some of the items. In many cases, others stepped up to help. I am eternally thankful. Today I am happy to check off one more item. 

2. Own a pub in Ireland and pour pints of Guinness for my friends 

I'm thrilled! We're going to Ireland! (Everyone named Callaghan should visit the homeland at least once!) We're taking a break from "real life" next April and going to explore our heritage. Even more importantly, a dear friend of mine, Molly, has arranged for me to become an honorary pub owner along the way! You'll have to be patient as you wait the 119.5 seconds for the pints of Guinness to settle.

One of my bucket list items will be crossed off in about 7 months. Well, that is, if I have friends to pour for! Lissa and Emma are coming with me. Colleen, my sister, will tag along, too. I think Molly is planning to travel with us and a high school friend, Dawn, will be there.  The trip has space for about 47 people, and there are a dozen spots left. I am extending an open invitation to my friends. If you have always wanted to travel to Ireland, I'd love to meet you there! This is a true invitation. I value the relationships in my life more than anything else. 

If you're interested, you can take a gander here: Ireland Trip 

I have never poured Guinness from a tap. I have a lot of practice ahead! 

PS - For everyone out there fighting cancer or any long term health battle, making long term plans is an incredibly important commitment. Plan for a future. Fight. Live!