Entry #1: Welcome

Dear Family and Friends,

The motivation to join the digital age comes from my recent diagnosis with "multiple myeloma" cancer, also known as cancer of the bone marrow.  The "multiple" part indicates that it appears in more than one location.  So we launch this in order to answer concerns and questions about my treatment; respond to the many expressions of love, support and prayer that have come our way; and to give Liza something of a break from being the constant bearer of news and updates.

There is no good time to have this particular cancer; but there is a better time, and it is now.  Now, compared to ten years ago when they would have patted me on the back and sent me straight to palliative care and offered me serious pain killers.  The advancements in pharmacological research, the progress in cellular biology, and the ability to see and manipulate ever smaller structures of matter have all led to some astounding drug protocols.  Think of the droid or iPhone in your hand.  You hold more memory and more computing power that a roomful of computers a generation ago.  Similarly, medical technology has gone deeper into the nature of proteins and DNA, studying ever smaller particles and enzymes.  So the current generation of "chemo" drugs are able more accurately to pinpoint the B-lymphocytes and other runaway white blood cells and attack them, without as much damage to the patient as was so often the case in the past.

So the good news is that there is great hope for remission of this cancer.  Treatments started three weeks ago, and currently they are administering a recipe of four powerful drugs, all taken intravenously.  Two are late model "chemo's" which in numerous clinical trials have resulted in greater success rates when used in tandem rather than alone.  The third is a steroid which will help healing and strengthen tissue and also attack certain lethal proteins in myeloma cancer.  Therefore, I expect to be totally buffed out and capable of hitting my drives over 275 yards.  The fourth drug is for bone repair.  In time they will add an oral cancer-fighter which my oncologist says, "You will be taking for years to come."  No, they do not say "cure" or "healing," but the operant word is "treatable," with great hope for a long and busy life, probably dying from some other bullet.

Also, thanks be to God, there have been so far no sinister side effects.  No doubt that is helped by the ingestion of three additional medications taken just for that purpose.  The most notable side effect is exhaustion.  Fortunately there are naps -- a fine Piatt family tradition.  Frankly, I am fortunate to be able to tolerate all these chemicals.

In addition to the medical and physical report, there is the spiritual report; and in that regard it is even better news.  More prayer.  More Bible.  More time with God.   To use a social networking metaphor, the Lord and I are BFF's.

There will be additional reports about some poignant and funny things that have come up in treatment.  These will be listed under the heading "The Little C."  You will also find in the weeks to come some other writings about family, friends, and former students.  There will also be a section called "Devotions."  You'll see.

Thanks for checking in.  Thanks especially to Liza -- prayer buddy, medical advocate, record keeper and cheerleader.  Thanks also to many who have written, emailed and called with good wishes.

It says in Philippians that we are to be "anxious for nothing."  (Philippians 4:6-7).  That is really an astounding promise of Scripture, that we can cast our cares on Him and be free of worry even in tough and painful circumstances.  To wit, my most recent BP is 104/66.

Next time!  Tim

Liza and Tim at Annie's wedding, Boulder, Colorado, June 2011