It’s been quite a while since my last post. Apologies for that. My first treatment of the second round of treatments happened on December 18. It’s been three weeks since then. It seems like half a lifetime.
Christmas time came, and I enjoyed the season very much with family visits and spending cozy evenings with my wife watching football. My energy level was not good, making me nap nearly every day. Flu-like symptoms came and went and came again. But a few days before my second dose, most of those symptoms settled down and I enjoyed a few days of feeling reasonably well. What a relief!
Today, I’m getting that second dose. We will see how I react this time.
When I signed up to participate in this study, I agreed to allow the researchers to analyze and record my DNA. Considering how important this study is to me and to others who could benefit in the future, I decided it was worth the risk, though I’ve always been concerned of the consequences of DNA testing and having my info “out there”. In fact, a couple of years ago, my daughter got me an Ancestry.com DNA test kit. I declined to use it then, but recently I dug through my office to find the test kit. If other people could see my genetic heritage, I certainly wanted to see it, too! So I spit into the tube and mailed it in.
While at the Ancestry website, I signed up for a free trial to the tools to research my family tree. This turned out to be a very interesting pursuit. As I added people I knew, I learned more details about their lives. Of course, I also learned about relatives I never knew. It’s exhilarating to discover the names of relatives and family members, some of them six and seven generations back. I got clues about what they did for a living, the churches they attended and were married in, the wars they fought in, when they moved to or moved across America, and how they died. I’m looking forward to sharing this info with my family.
Many thanks to my family and friends for their love and support. We’ve been blessed with emotional and physical support and delicious dinners from many people. Roslyn and I appreciate you all. You are beacons of God’s love in our lives.
Traveling with Friends 
Thanks for keeping us informed. We all are praying for you. On another note—so glad you are delving into your family history. I’ve been researching mine for 50 years and have been fascinated with all the information I’ve found. It has also been a good hobby over the years to take my mind off life’s problems. I’ve connected with cousins and that has given me a deeper sense of connectedness and comfort. I have a wonderful family in Italy that makes me feel whole. Enjoy your discoveries.
LikeLike
Kitty, the family tree has been a great distraction on days when I’ve really needed a distraction. The wealth of relatives I’ve identified help give me a sense of perspective and of history.
LikeLike
I’m happy the kit has brought you a positive distraction! Love you ❤️❤️
LikeLike