We played a new game this holiday called Things. It’s incredible how even our four-year-old grandson was able to participate and create some spot-on answers. Questions included: THINGS… that are confusing, THINGS… people should stop trying to do, THINGS… people should be more concerned about or THINGS… that have gotten worse. All of these questions peppered our evening games. Recurring answers seemed to be “Politics,” “COVID19,” “Dale Duty” and “Weather.” Dale is the latest addition to the family – Amy and Brendan’s 9-month-old red labrador retriver. Needless to say, he’s still a lot of work right now. So, taking turns with Dale was like a coin toss. But the other categories like “Politics,” “COVID” and “Weather” are really THINGS…we can’t control. And those responses also fit the question, THINGS…that we all don’t agree on.

Now the weather topic is what I’m going to focus on. Not because it’s frigid and gloomy, although Dave would say, “It’s beautiful out today.” To which I would reply, “It’s too cold out there for me.” And not because our driveway and sidewalk are so icy that they can’t even be chipped away. Because, Dave would say, “I’ll just go out later and give it a go because I like doing it.” That’s when I just roll my eyes and huff out an exaggerated sigh that pretty much implies he’s crazy.

I’m focusing on weather because of the difference a day makes … or a year makes. Last year, January of 2020, Dave was just four and a half months outside of his last bone marrow transplant. He was quite thin, his coloring was that of a gray sky, and he was just recovering from a dreadful case of mucositis. If you can recall, mucositis is the painful inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes, which affected his mouth, throat and digestive tract. In January, he was just starting to eat solid foods and was focusing on gaining strength, stamina and weight. Additionally, he was always cold. Shivering cold. His hands and feet were like ice. And more than once I’m sure I said, “Welcome to my world!” I know. Not nice. But he has never empathized with my opposition to cold weather and always feeling cold. Why? Because he had never experienced the constant iceberg-feeling until post transplant.

Like a slow moving train heading around a curve, Dave’s transformation began when he started to enjoy the warmer weather in Florida last winter. And as our Florida neighbors can attest, his day-to-day progress was extraordinary. When we returned to Michigan in April, it was amazing to witness the obvious rebuilding as he really picked up steam heading into the summer months. Gaining weight, stamina and strength had reshaped him into the “old Dave.”

Dave will hit 500 days in remission tomorrow. It is monumental, memorable and motivating. The first bone marrow transplant took a turn for the worse after 107 days. That was dismal and devastating. As an MLB baseball player, if one hits 500 career home runs, he is surely a lock for the Hall of Fame. Only 27 players have hit 500 career home runs, and 17 find their busts in Cooperstown. Those not enshrined after clubbing 500 long balls mostly played in the steroid era. The likes of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Ken Griffey Jr. all share the memorable distinction. Dave’s memorable feat parallels the grit, determination and hard work required to achieve a monumental accolade like the Hall of Fame.

Like the weather, each day hasn’t always been sunny and bright. Nor has it been all gray and gloom. We’ve certainly faced challenges that required faith in God and an abundance of prayers. Thankfully, we have always been motivated to forge ahead and fully expected to hit 500 days in remission. Moving forward past that mark and setting our sites on two years in remission is the ultimate goal. Because if Dave can achieve that holy grail, chances are he can stop looking over his shoulder every day.

It is easy to answer these questions: THINGS… that are challenging, THINGS… that have gotten better, THINGS… that are awesome. The difference in a day is monumental.