14/07/2023
✅ Round 4/6 of chemotherapy is complete!
I’ve got so many things to be thankful for this month:
✔️ I’ve been in my home gym lifting weights nearly every day and I’m feeling so much better! I’m not setting any PR’s, but I’m pushing myself every day and I’m getting stronger.
✔️ My platelets continue to improve, they were at 145 yesterday and back in the normal range. This is HUGE compared to my initial tests of 2 and 1, when doctors were worried about spontaneous brain and organ bleeding.
✔️ I’m still waiting for my IgM protein test to come back (a tell-tale marker for my type of cancer), but my overall protein marker came back much lower this month, another sign that the treatment is working.
✔️ A mysterious lump on my chest (most likely a lymph node) has reduced in size by 30%. This wasn’t as high on the list of doctor’s concerns at the moment, but it’s reduction in size is another positive sign.
For yesterday’s and today’s infusions I was sporting my new T-Shirts from the UFC and Dan Pemble’s U.S. Muay Thai in Marquette, MI. Dan is a fantastic coach and has some bad-ass fighters training out of his gym. Unfortunately a bad storm caused the roof to collapse on their facility and now his non-profit organization is searching for a new location to rebuild. Check them out, get an awesome T-shirt, and help support an awesome community!
The UFC’s marketing team has their Facebook targeting on 🔥! They got me hook, line, and sucker with their American Cancer Society, “We are all fighters” T-shirt. But hey… it supports a great cause and I love the message! I share the infusion room each month with some people that have had their bodies utterly destroyed by cancer and chemotherapy. I guess I’m both lucky and unlucky to be the youngest person I see there every time. If I can somehow inspire just one of them to believe in themselves and keep fighting… then it’s all worth it!
Last week I was fortunate enough to visit Fortitude Krav Maga in Neenah, WI to teach a Kickboxing & Muay Thai seminar. I’ve had to turn down coaching gigs, national tournaments, training camps, and more because I can’t predict how I’ll be feeling from one week to the next. I’m so thankful that the team at Fortitude was understanding of my situation and we were able to make this work! I love visiting this gym! The coaches are so passionate about helping their students reach their goals; everyone is sweating, smiling, and learning; and their skills are improving so quickly! Thank you to Joel, Tamrah, and Smit for having me out!
Thank you all for sharing your love ❤️ and keeping me in your thoughts and prayers 🙏 I truly appreciate it!!! These next few months are going to get harder physically and mentally, but I’m ready, and with all of you in my corner, I know I can finish this fight victoriously!
Dan Pemble U.S. Muay Thai UltimateFightingChampionship American Cancer Society Fortitude Krav Maga Joel Ellenbecker