On Connection
I woke up this morning and could not will myself to rise out of bed. It’s often difficult for me, balancing daily demands, navigating fluctuating MS symptoms, and staying meaningfully connected to others. I've been more active than usual as of late with the early stages of rehearsals for a show that I'm acting in, and a week-long family visit, and a commitment to more regular exercise—be it on the basement treadmill shrouded in shadows or the sunny trails of the Happy Jack Re
Anne Mason
Mar 24
No “Bings”
This month’s post turns out to be a bit shorter than previous posts. OK, quick update on my condition: After 27 months post Car T Cell procedure my oncologist determined that there was no need for a blood draw this month. No new blood numbers, no new ANC or IGg numbers to be gathered. We are holding steady without any treatments or procedures in March. A planned blood draw in early April will be taken and evaluated and if necessary, changes and/or treatments will be conside
Mark Pajak
Mar 20
On Making the Bed
On many days—most days, actually—I spend more hours in my bed than out of it. This fact used to shame and spurn me. Not that the fact was the agent. I was. My bed-dwelling was cause for self-denigration. Somewhere between my late high school and early college years, I came to believe that the bed was a stigma. It was the place for sinful lust and lazy sleep. It was a necessary evil and, as such, should be a limited realm to inhabit. I ran from my bed like the gazelle from the
Anne Mason
Feb 24
A Day Off?
OK, here is an update on my Multiple Myeloma condition post-CAR T cell procedure which took place some 26 months ago near the end of 2023. It is hard to believe that it has been 26 months since the procedure. Time flies. I am thankful/ grateful to be able to write that my blood numbers have been holding steady. My monoclonal peak number registers as “not applicable” which means that it is not measurable. However, monoclonal proteins might be present just not at a pivotal leve
Mark Pajak
Feb 23
Thoughts Entering Year 12.
January 2026 marks the end of the eleventh full year after I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. I am now living in the 12 th year since I found out. It has also been 25 months since my Car T cell procedure. That procedure was the fifth attempt by my oncologist and myself at managing this most persistent disease ( I could have used the word incurable instead of persistent, but it seemed so harsh and brother in my humble opinion, boy do we need some less harsh energy). So w
Mark Pajak
Jan 19
