Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a “Dream.” In perhaps the most inspiring and powerfully delivered speech of our generation, he outlined his ambitious goal of equality for all.

I have a dream too, although mine is far less encompassing – and decidedly more self-centered – than Dr. King’s.

For many years, my dream was pretty simple: live to the ripe old age of 93, surrounded by scads of grandkids and great grandkids. Live an active life right up to the end.

And then the doctor came into my hospital room last …

With children’s choirs clad in red and green singing round nativity scenes, eager shoppers filling the stores, and lines leading to knee-weary Santas, I've been thinking: What is the perfect Christmas gift this season?

At various points in my life, I definitely would have answered that question differently.

There were countless Christmas mornings when I awoke wide-eyed, hoping to see the fruits of the “nice list” rather than the “naughty” one.

As a little girl, I adored Princess Leia from Star Wars.  Santa really rocked my world one year with an action …

Shortly before Thanksgiving, I started seeing my Facebook news feed fill up with articles about how to make healthy food choices during the holiday season. How to avoid weight gain. Why cookies will kill you, and why you need to step away from the eggnog and head to the gym.

I started seeing friends complain about the size of their thighs. They revealed the crushing guilt they feel from having that extra serving of mashed potatoes. They acknowledged that they’re suffering emotional damage from taste-testing the sugar-cookie dough.

And I say: Enough. …

I struggled mightily with my column this month. I started, stopped, started again, and finally gave up on a half-finished story that seemed relevant at the begin­ning, but eventually got mired in minutiae that my heart just wasn’t into.

What struck me was that the things that were important a few weeks ago when I started to write seemed exceptionally trivial just a short time later.

What changed?

My perspective.

You see, during this period I was touched by the situations some of our fellow patients are in and the …

It was in December of 2008, six short years ago, that I first began infusion treatments in my madcap battle against multiple myeloma.

Diagnosed at Thanksgiving, I spent Christmas and the better part of the next nine months in Arkansas, several hours away from my home, wife, and young children.

In the spirit of the holidays, and with my sincere – for the most part – apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, author of ‘The Night Before Christ­mas,’ I offer the following silliness:

‘Twas The First Day Of Chemo

‘Twas my first day …

Living with multiple myeloma for the last decade, I have tunnel vision. It’s myeloma this, myeloma that. It’s the oncology appointment every five weeks, the bottle of Revlimid (lenalidomide) on the table, the peripheral neuropathy, the blood draws, the whole nine yards of myeloma. Even this column: myeloma, oncology, death, and treatment. Myeloma, myeloma, myeloma.

Tunnel vision.

Not that myeloma isn’t a major factor in my life. I’m not suggesting that a little positive thinking or a different focus would allow me to zip through my days worry-free and …

The days are getting much shorter here in the Northern Hemisphere, and we are approaching another solstice. This is a time of cheerful lights, caroling songs, and celebrating with family and friends.

It is also the time for spiritual reflection on the end of one year and the birth of a new one.

As part of this reflection, I would like to share some of my ‘grown up’ wishes for the myeloma community.

At the very top of my holiday wish list is a cure for myeloma. Although better …