The Good, the Bad, and the Acceptance.

This year has been moving very fast for us. We have much to cover in this post, but I will try to keep it brief. I chose this title to express how Michele and I have been feeling lately. I expect a few tears, so those who need them, grab some tissues.

The Good (A new grand baby)

There is a lot of good that has happened. We welcomed our fourth grandchild in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Allison Michele Alleman, Born March 11, 2025. We call her Allie, and already she has a nickname, AllieGator, that will stick forever in our hearts. She is a special angel in our hearts and we are torn on how we get to spend more time with her.

Allie’s parents, Andrew and Andrea Alleman, are doing well and are excellent parents. Andrew was born in Louisiana, as I was, and it is incredible to watch them build a family and life there. They live in a wonderful historic district 100+ year-old home near the capital and in great places in their work lives. This is Good!

The Good ( A new wedding)

I believe in life, some milestones are set out for us. One of those “Adulting” milestones is getting married. Our youngest, Christopher, achieved this milestone on April 12, 2025. Marrying Lexi (Elios) Alleman on the most perfect wedding day. As I think about it, while I am writing this, all our kids got married in Outdoor ceremonies with absolutely perfect weather. Each in their unique places. For this wedding, we were in Comfort, TX.

The city is a perfect small Texas town. A group of us stayed at an Airbnb located across from the venue. What was most fascinating to watch unfold was how the timing, the service, and the pace of the day were uniquely Chris. He was never one to be rushed, and it was clear his project management skills played it out perfectly.

My favorite part of the day was during the dance reception, with Chris and our granddaughter Isabella doing ballerina turns. I expect to see them recreate this when Bella gets married!

This was a good day!

The Good (The March toward the last treatment)

Michele officially has two more chemo sessions left, May and June. We arrive at this point with a bit of joy, having navigated the disease thus far. These doses are relatively minor compared to some of the treatments Michele has had over the years. Michele continues to be the biggest trouper of all. Sometimes, it is steroid-induced. Other times it is her pure heart and passion driving her.

I recently commented that Michele is relentless. When she is on a mission, it will get done. We hope these last two sessions and the post-session return to the new normal will be navigated with the same rigor.

The Bad (We lost one)

Over the blogs, we have mentioned my brother-in-law, Raymond James Prejean, and his own battle with Lung Cancer. On January 30, 2025, he ascended to his next resting place. He gave it a strong battle, and we were able to visit with him a few weeks before his passing. He is the third male in our family to succumb to the disease.

You often hear that someone has left us too soon. He had the soul of someone you wanted to have more time with on this earth. I also know that when the disease is taking its toll, we all want the suffering to come to an end peacefully.

Please keep my sister, Michelle, and her family in your prayers. She is a survivor and a resilient woman who will find her peace.

The Bad (Health Challenges along the way)

At this point in the treatment cycle, we have gotten used to days of energy and the days of rest. Michele and I love to travel, but lately we have pulled way back on it. We have also found that predicting the bad days is too challenging.

Leukemia is never considered cured. It is only in remission.

The chemo attacks all the cells, not just the bad ones. Her immune system will be forever impacted. There are a lot of things that have been core to who we are that are riskier now. Being in large crowds of people from all over the country can pose a high risk. So conferences, sporting events, and even the many incentive trips we have come to love are most likely never to return.

We recently spent a day in the er followed by a couple days inpatient after a stomach virus. We know that she needs to go to MD Anderson when she is not well, as they know how to treat her. It is a part of how we operate now. Treating every little virus is not just a little virus in the eyes of md Anderson. The body does not recover like it used to before chemo, and likely never will.

There are random times she has issues to combat. I expect several nights a month to be woken in the middle of the night with her neuropathy shooting extreme pain through her feet. Even this morning, as she woke early and was working on postcards for her clients, she slowly got tired and curled up on the couch.

We take it one day at a time.

The Bad (A friend enters Hospice)

Another friend who is in his battle with Cancer, Wes Foote, recently entered hospice. Brain cancer is such a fierce battle, and one that Wes has fought for several years.

Wes and his family are fighters. Please keep them in your prayers.

The Acceptance

I think the biggest thing over these last few years has been to understand the word Acceptance better. You can look at that word from many angles. I have often considered it in the context of defeat. I now understand the deeper beauty of the word.

With Leukemia, you have to accept that some things are not possible anymore. Accepting that has become easier.

We have already lived an exceptional life. I still have things to do and places to see. I know that we have already done more than enough for several lifetimes. We have grandkids to influence and our own kids to continue to shape. The work is never done.

As we are watching this morning, one of my favorite series “Aerial America”, that takes us to many places, we are also fine with seeing it on TV. Just need a bigger TV.

A final admission for this blog. I like history and memories. As such, I hold on to things. This weekend in cleaning out our garage space, I came to accept that it was time to hang up our road bikes (bicycles).

It was a great period in my life when I was actively doing it, and a bonding time with Christopher and Andrew. So I have a couple of bikes and some stationary trainers to shed. Time to accept that for our health and well-being, we will be ok, without putting ourselves out among the cars.

Thank you all for your patience waiting for this blog. We have clearly had a busy season and a lot to digest in our changed world. I have struggled with how to honor our journey while wrestling with my own challenges to get the words down. I hope this catches you all up and I will let you know more as we complete the next two months.