Last month I promised to share details of my new myeloma treatment plan. As I write this, I’m waiting to meet with a leading myeloma specialist at the University of Iowa for a second opinion.

I spent several days here undergoing extensive testing, including a bone marrow biopsy, PET scan, and MRI that looked at two thirds of my body and took an ex­cruciatingly long 80 minutes; that’s a long time to hold still!

I’m anxious to go over the genetic data that was collected from my biopsy, along with any insights …

‘Why do you call it the bacon, Daddy?’ five-year-old Lizzie asked as she wheedled her way onto my lap against my mock protests back in the summer of 2010.

At the very mention of ‘bacon’, arguably one of the English language’s most enchanting words, I entered into an almost Manchurian-candidate-meets-Pavlov’s-dog-like trance:

‘Bacon? What bacon? There’s bacon?’

‘You know, that bacon thingy you’re doing that Mommy says I shouldn’t bother you ‘cause of.’

I had to laugh because Lizzie’s interpretation of not ‘bothering’ me was to place herself squarely between my computer and …

If you were to walk through my kitchen, you’d see myriad white ironstone platters and pitchers atop honey-colored cabinets. You’d probably also spy a golden tabby smugly perched on the stone countertop. And, most days, you’d find a jigsaw puzzle on my kitchen table.

I like jigsaw puzzles. I’ve been putting them together for years. I like the process of sorting out the border pieces and piling like colors, patterns, and shapes. I take satisfaction in finding bridge pieces that connect large sections together. I enjoy the zen-like practice of searching, finding, …

At the end of my last column, I teased that one of the most positive out­growths of my myeloma diagnosis was that it fostered an unexpected reunion. This is that story.

I was sitting in my hospital room on a Sunday morning the day after I had been told that I likely had multiple myeloma. I remained hospitalized fol­lowing my Friday night / Saturday morning transfusion experience so that I could get a bone marrow biopsy first thing Monday morning.

My girlfriend (now fiancée) Audrey had gone home to shower and …

A myeloma diagnosis is overwhelming in so many ways. Not only do you have to face the fact that you now have an incurable disease, you have to learn an en­tire­ly new vocabulary – and learn it fast.

M-spike. MGUS. IgG. Smoldering myeloma. Revlimid.

I’d never heard any of these terms before the fall of 2005. Now they’re part of my regular vocabulary.

I’m not one for learning languages. I struggled through many semesters of Spanish in high school and college, usually with a C average. If a native Spanish speaker spoke …

My topic for this column came to me during my son’s recent birthday party. Because I was still suffering from the effects of a recently contracted RSV virus, I kept apart from everyone and watched the activities going on in the kitchen and dining room from afar in “my chair” in the living room.

As we celebrated his 19^th birthday, I couldn’t help but wonder how my condition has impacted him and whether I have done the best I could in helping him and his older sister deal with the fact that …

Let me start with a disclaimer. Nothing in this month’s column is meant to be perceived or taken as legal advice. If, after reading this column, you have ideas about estate planning, please consult with an attorney of your choice in the state in which you reside.

On my recent trip to Oregon, while 30,000 feet up in the air, it occurred to me that I had last updated my will in 2005, prior to my marriage. It also occurred to me that I have a term life insurance policy (still good …