- The Gallery: Roel Wielinga is a working graphic artist who has been widely published in the comic field. When he was first diagnosed with Leukemia, he began to explore his hopes and fears with paper and pencil. The result is a remarkable record of unique visual images that will inspire and explain.
- The Roel Photoblog can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/marknewell. This is a full photodocumentary of his story and some of his art.
- Beginnings: After a lifetime of good health Roel Weilinga suddenly felt out of sorts. Nothing specific other than a fever and bleeding from the gums. Within a few days he would learn he had Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
- Dealing With the Diagnosis: We all think we have a life. Years ahead, adventures, romances, career success, a wife, kids, family…it is all fantasy. We are not even guaranteed the day. There is no harder, tougher realization of this fact than the moment when you are diagnosed with a disease that could end your life.
- Starting Chemo: We have all heard of chemo. Immediate visions of stricken faces and bald heads. It is not as bad as we imagine. Just knowing what happens, and what the chemo is actually doing to make us well, makes it a lot easier to handle.
- About Chemo: Exactly what is Chemo? More here on how it is delivered, what the side effects are, and how Roel handles them.
- The Hair: We all expected Roel’s hair to disappear overnight. Long after the first round of chemotherapy it was still there. Then, on morning…. Roel decided to be pro-active.
- Why Me?: There are always those agonized moments when you rail against fortune…
- First Results: After a sleepless night, Roel gets the results of his first round of Chemotherapy. Did he respond to treatment? What does the future hold?
- Consolidation Round One: After searching his family for a bone marrow transplant candidate, Roel learns that his own bone marrow is starting produce health cells. The chemo is working, the future looks hopeful, and a transplant may not be needed.
- Consolidation Round Two: Another great result. Roel learns that remission is around the corner. He can begin to be cautiously hopeful about a complete reecovery.
- Why Roel’s Story?: Why did Roel Wielinga ‘go public’ with wqhat for many is very private and challenging experience?
- Dying To Live: Attitude is can have a major impact on the success of treatment. Roel has demonstrated this many times over the month since his diagnosis. He follows the path of another friend, John Rogers, who overcame multiple cancers with attitude and a supportive family and network of friends
- VADs & TIAs: A routine check up prior to starting final chemo session four turns into a major health challenge as Roel’s VAD cause a minor stroke.
- The Final Stretch?: Roel was diagnosed when he was a healthy individual in most other respects – but even so – dealing with side effects of chemotherapy has not been easy.
Posted in Blog Updates |
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I am soo glad that things are moving in the right direction! Praying for you. Take Care.