So.... You've Heard the News Right?

By now you've surely heard the good news, right?

Well in case you have not, read on, and be prepared for a smile or a good cry or how ever it is that you, o' member of Team Rally Hat, experience these things.

Here is a note from Marc written to me, probably with intent for me to paraphrase but I am just going to post up the whole note. His response comes after prompting by phone call (or was it a text?) requesting info to post and then followed by a Facebook taunt "Hey Mr.-happy-to-be-alive... I hate to pull you out of the sunshine and fresh air, but send me an email... then go back to the fresh air and sunny days. :) XOXO Am." ... when the call netted nothin.'

This was his reply with my notes or clarifications added in brackets [like so]:

"Ok here it is. I am now into remission, according to the PET scan there was still a little bit [of something] in my lumbar but the corresponding CT scan was normal. That being said I talked with the doctor about what this means, he took a look at the scans and was not convinced that there was anything there.

From here, there will be no more treatments, the UCSF doctor sent the bone marrow out and the scans to re-evaluated by specialists but said that I am currently in remission. At the time of the Bone Marrow biopsy I was nuetropenic, so they gave me a neupogene shot and told me to go to my local clinic and get a CBC [short for complete blood count, white cells/red cells/etc] done. My counts locally were normal which is great news. I am going back on thursday for another cbc and I am going to call the optomologists because my left eye is still extremely [messed] up.

I have playing a lot of golf, shot an 83 yesterday and 90 today. Spent today last night with Grandma and today, she is a blast. Other than that everything is going very well, I feeling great, still weak and tired at times but I am pushing myself pretty hard to fight both. I am ready to get back to work and hopefully that will happen within the next couple of months.

I am getting ready for the relay for life, we have several people signed up no we just need to get some fundraising done. Your mother gave me some great ideas and I am going to utilize as many of my contacts up here to get that done. [Go to http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=20586&team_id=748026 and click "DONATE TO THIS TEAM" to support Team Marc's fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society].

For the most part that is all I have so far. If you have any other, more specific questions let me know. Love you tons, even though you are done, j/k. Love you.....

Marc"

Anyone else thrilled?

You did it Marc and it has been an honor to be on this journey with you.

Thanks for letting us walk with you (symbolically here and those who will literally at Relay for Life Truckee) our rally hats will be close by our side ready for positive things to rally for, like a new job. I think I speak for your fans on this site and beyond when I say: we love you!!!


Posted by amber with Marc's permission.

May 3, 2010 - Confessions of a Serial Hospital Patient

For the past few weeks... Marc has been actively posting on Facebook... so here is a compilation of what's been up in his own words.... a slightly voyeuristic peek into his occasional commentary on his life. It covers all the important topics: golf, Duke, and, yes, his chemo, energy, and progress. They are posted here in reverse-chronological order.  Anyone else looking forward to R[emission]-day? Holler!

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April 15, 2010 - An Update... and a Nice Break from the Dreariness of Tax Day

Marc sent me another update today and I wanted to get it up right away. There is also a new addition to the rally-hat gallery and I have to say I love the creativity, the depth, that the gallery is gaining.  Keep rocking your hats for Marc!

The short story: too much nausea and bone pain, too little energy and white blood cells.  But as usual, a good outlook and is generally enjoying, or rather, appreciating, not having to shave very much.

Here's some news from the hands of our favorite couch-surfer:

"I finished round 4 of chemo last wednesday and since then have not been feeling very well. The chemo itself went pretty well, they had trouble accessing the port the first night, which in rough translation means no sleep for marc on night one. once they got everything working i made sure that we were back on schedule to finish by the 7th so i could get by butt home. Everything from that point on went pretty smoothly, had a great easter with your family who cam and entertained me for a few hours. and then on  wednesday I of course was released as planned.

The bone pain started thursday afternoon and lasted until about monday. The feeling is basically like a bruise all over the body. three-four days of that gets tough but everythng comes to an end at some point. I still have some bone pain in my knees and legs, nothing a few pain killers can't fix. I just results from my blood test today and all of my counts are pretty low. that accumulates to a weekend of couch surfing until monday when we findout if I need any transfusions. So right now i have a little bit of remaining pain and after writing this email, I can guarantee that all of my miniscule amount of energy will have drained and I will head back to the couch for recuperation.

Mood: surprising high and optimistic tho very little energy to show."

Marc will head back on the 23rd of April and until Monday at least will be honing his movie knowledge and texting skills and sleeping talents.  Keep the love coming and the hats.

(posted by amber with Marc's permission)

Rally Hats and How to Help

a great photo was just sent of Marc with his soccer team and while they didn't have rally hats on... they are wearing medals and Marc is in it... so, fun! Click here to view that page.  please send photos of you and a group of "yous" with your rally hats on for Marc to rallyformarc@gmail.com. 

also, if you have been wondering how you can be helpful in this situation, click here for ideas. thanks for checking back regularly. we'll try to get a post up every couple of days to keep all you fans in the loop.

February 8, 2010 - "I'm Doing Good"

i asked Marc tonight when i talked to him: "what should I tell people about how you're doing?"

he replied matter-of-factly (of course), "tell 'em i'm doing good."

his mom (Stacy), to whom he attributes his high spirits, has been with him through most of this. and he's very much appreciating the blog comments being left for him, the phone calls, and just knowing that people care. all of these things are a part of his supplemental treatment plan, the part that keeps fueling the fight.

now for the news. yesterday was a chemo treatment via IV bags. today, Marc had a second lumbar puncture and received a chemo treatment in his spine at the same time. despite how not-awesome that sounds,his spirits were high tonight and his voice was stronger and clearer than i have heard in a while. while the treatment made him quite nauseous, his tone was filled with hope and at the same time a sort of a hey-cancer-is-that-all-you-got-attitude, which is great. but for the record, yes, we do all hope that this is all that cancer has got.

right now, the hope is that after these treatments and some time to rest, he will be released Wednesday. Marc would really like to be home, or at least, smell fresh air. his release depends on the stability of his sugar, white blood count, and a few other data points. if they aren't as good as his team wants, it's possible that he will need to stay in the hospital for quite some time. break out those rally hats, people. (and send the photos to rallyformac@gmail.com and they will get posted)

Keep those rally hats on, spirits high, and comments coming--they brighten Marc's day.

(posted by amber with Marc's consent)

Welcome. (to this site)

this post is also here: http://rallyformarc.blogspot.com/p/welcome.html

welcome to marc's get-well-soon site.

a series of health complications landed marc at the doctor's office in january. after many pokes, prods, scans, tests, and doctors he was diagnosed with stage four non-hodgkins lymphoma during the first week of february 2010.

the road is long and more tedious stints in the hospital than one would like but there is a finish line and he will cross it. his doctors are working up an aggressive treatment plan to battle the force of cancer and restore health and balance in his body--so that's taken care of. 

it's up to all of us--his friends, family, and colleagues to provide the supplemental care. we are his encouragement apothecaries -- not dispensing medicine but love, support and encouragement. people... it's time for rally hats.

this site was created for two reasons. the first reason is so that you--who are visiting this site--can get updates on how our marc is doing with both his treatment and his spirit. when marc is up to telling you his updates he will, otherwise someone else will write for him.

it's also a space for marc to see how many people love him and are cheering for him. so, please do share your thoughts (in response to posts) knowing that whether he responds or not... he is grateful for your love.