Kelly Diaz ~ MyTPen

The past few mornings, the air has been cool here on Lacon Mountain. I learned that was the name of this beautiful hillside where we live when Kenny came by to visit one day last week. He’d heard the buzz of chainsaws and the crash of tree limbs landing with ground-shaking thuds, and his curiosity got the best of him. “I figured you was doin’ something major over here,” he said. “Gettin’ rid of a few trees, huh?” John stepped over to the open driver’s side door of Kenny’s pic

John immediately offered up the usual objections—the vet bills, the flea and tick meds, the food—all legitimate points, but he also knew they were ultimately futile.

I feel as tired as ever most of the time, but there is so much to do around our new house, I don’t really have time to think about it. As of today, I have visited the Clearview Cancer Center (CCI) three times. It is an easy drive into Huntsville from Falkville—only about five minutes longer than my old drive from Navarre to Pensacola. Huntsville is a beautiful city, and the most recognizable landmark we pass is the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, affiliated with the Smithsonian a

One thing was certain: there were deadly predators much closer to the house than I'd realized. It was June 30, 2026, a Tuesday, when a terrified Eli made a mad dash for the open doorway and freedom from the chaos of this strange and frightening place where he'd been unwittingly and involuntarily brought. The humans, arms loaded with boxes and furniture, simultaneously stopped in their tracks as the panic-stricken animal streaked between their feet. In an instant, he was movin

"...caught up in the rustic appeal and sentimentality of this one-of-a-kind house...Nothing seemed too difficult or beyond our ability."

Cat Musings is a quiet collection of reflections on life, loss, love, and the small, mysterious creatures who share my home—and gently shape my heart.

Texas holds a special place in my heart for many reasons, not the least of which is Hubert H. Moss Lake—simply “Moss Lake” to me. My family spent many summer weekends and holidays at the cabin of our family friends, the Davises, where the water was cool and inviting, the hours were carefree, and life was sweet. Now, my trips to Texas carry a different weight. They are stressful and filled with worry. What will the new tests reveal about my treatment last fall? Am I in remissi

Here we are on the verge of another trip to Houston, this time for the follow-up tests that I put off last month. December is always so busy with the holidays, and frankly, John and I just didn't feel inclined to make a seven-hour drive to Houston, so, I rescheduled my appointments for the next available time slots, this Wednesday and Thursday. While I'm not really looking forward to the drive, I do feel very hopeful about the tests. I will undergo a PET scan, which should te

When an argument gave way to grace . It was a crisp October afternoon as my husband John turned into the north entrance of the parking lot of The Woodlands Medical Specialists in Pensacola. I was scheduled for what we expected would be a brief visit to the Infusion Suite where RN Becky would give me a Filgrastim injection. As we rounded the first turn in the congested parking lot, I spied reverse lights on a large white SUV about to pull out of a parking space close to our en

The results from my first follow-up PET scan were less than stellar. The written analysis of the scan is always available first; the scan comes a day or so later. After reading the report, I wasn't terribly interested in seeing the scan. I guess in my mind I had already determined it wasn't very positive. Has this million-dollar therapy been a waste of time and resources? I began to wonder. I was expecting to see an immediate improvement, and instead, most of the SUV (sta

I have been sick with a chest cold since John and I returned to Florida last Saturday. That's why I haven't written to update everyone. It's no wonder I'm sick because the CAR T therapy tanks the immune system. Yesterday I saw Dr. Joudeh and had labs drawn. As soon as he saw the results, he called me personally to tell me I would need to go in for filgrastim injections three days in a row starting this afternoon with another three-day regimen next week. That, along with the B

Waiting used to feel like wasted time. Lately, I’m learning it’s just another form of faith in motion.

As treatment days blur together, I’m reminded that healing is more than medicine—it’s gratitude, patience, and the steady practice of hope.

Houston wasn’t on my bucket list, but it’s where the road to healing has led me. Between the hospital visits, city noise, and unexpected...

Friday's visit brought encouraging news — and a renewed sense of gratitude for small mercies along the way. We again met with APRN Michelly who covered my labs from earlier that morning and answered all our questions. Through MyChart, the online patient portal, I can see my lab results as soon as they’re available. Over the past few weeks, I’ve learned what to look for — especially my white blood cell count. If it’s too low, I know I’ll get a Filgrastim shot. They’re not real

At my visit last Tuesday, APN Michelly told us the FDA had approved a shorter monitoring period following CAR T.

"There will be more whiskers, more purrs, and, someday, more goodbyes. Yet each new companion will carry forward the lessons of those who came before — reminders that love is always worth the risk of loss."

Welcome to the 15th floor of the MD Anderson Cancer Center. This is where I eventually ended up last Thursday morning, although when I...

It's long past time that I wrote a proper update, so over the next few days, I'm going to give it my best. John and I have been in...

I’m going to drop a quick note here to let everyone know I’m doing all right. This experience has been a challenge, and I look forward to...