So, I haven't said anything about the most important person in my life, and for that I really apologize.

My partner and I have been together through my entire process with the Hodgkin's. She was in the office with me the day I was diagnosed (even if she did have to run outside while they did the bone marrow -- she doesn't like the sight of blood). She was with me constantly at the hospital in November of 1999 and she took me to chemo until I insisted that I was fine and could jolly well drive myself (well, before the car died, anyway).

She has been a rock and a joy through all of this. We will even have a ceremony in June 2002. Too bad we can't get legally married.

At any rate, my partner is wonderful. She makes sure that I take it easy when I need to (and don't want to), she makes sure that I eat well, she makes sure that I rest when I should and that I don't do too much.

Without such a supportive person around, this would be much, much harder and I'm incredibly lucky to have her. It's a shame that there isn't better support for her since we're unable to get legally married, but she has good friends and a great church to help support her (and us).