January 4, 2009 11:55 PM

It has only been 2 months to the day since I was first admitted to the hospital. In many ways, however, it seems like an eternity since so many things have happened since then. Things that have been so foreign to anything that I have ever experienced or ever thought that I would experience. And, for sure, things that I hope and pray none of you have to experience.

It does seem a shame that when I go to the clinic (especially the Dana-Farber clinic) that there are so many people who have suffered or are still suffering from some form of cancer. However, the upside is that everyone you meet there is so positive, upbeat, and encouraging - the other patients, the doctors, the administrative staff, and the nursing staff - that they make you feel as though what you are suffering from is something that just happens to people and that there is nothing to worry about. It helps tremendously because you know that you are far from alone in undergoing your own personal battle.

But, tomorrow I go off to our local clinic here in Manchester. I am very curious to see what my counts are as I am sure that I am on the rise again and I am looking forward to being able to go out again to a movie, maybe visit someone else, or whatever. As I said before, house arrest is better than the hospital but it can still get to you.

The other thing that I have to say after these 2 months is that my wife has been the bedrock of my existence. I don't wish to read up on my disease or my chances because all the information is so clinical and certainly not encouraging. She, however, does, and passes on to me whatever is pertinent to my situation sparing me the gory details of what I don't need to know. Likewise, she has been at my side from the beginning of all this - everyday at the hospital in Boston, driving me to the clinics each time, staying with me at home, seeing that my various needs are met, etc. She is the one who has really been at the forefront in this battle and deserves much of the credit as to how well I have done and continue to do. To some extent, I am just the lowly foot soldier following orders from the doctors and nurses with only one goal in mind - and that is,obviously, to get well. But life goes on regardless of my condition and someone has to live it and face it and my wife does that. And, as we all know, life can be very demanding and my wife faithfully handles all of that as well as looking after my needs as well. It can sometimes be a daunting task that few of us would like to tackle.

We get married "in sickness and in health" never thinking that we'd actually have to live up to those words. My wife has, however, brought those words to life every day. I thank God that she is there at my side.

Bob