Why Blog?

I decided to write this blog for several reasons.

1. Until now, I have been updating people on my progress via email. This is not very efficient as it requires me to keep a running list of everyone’s email addresses, including adding new names and changing bad or expired email addresses.
2. I don’t want to miss anyone, or bombard people who don’t want to receive regular emails from me (although I can’t imagine that ANYONE wouldn’t want to receive my emails!).
3. My emails may be treated as spam in some email systems as my bcc list is becoming large.
4. I received a lot of positive feedback on the blog I wrote during our trip to China to adopt Lucy (http://www.lucyinchina.blogspot.com/). People seemed to enjoy the regular updates and the pictures.
5. I wanted to document what I am going through so that I can remember all the fun years from now.
6. I have lots of brilliant and funny (at least to me) thoughts and ideas going through my head these days, and writing them down seems to be better than letting them fly around in my head unobstructed.
7. Perhaps my story will help others deal with similar issues.
8. I have received several interesting references from people who have read my emails, from news of potential clinical trials to doctors that deal with melanoma to patients who have been through similar ordeals. This has been very helpful and I hope it can continue.
9. I should have plenty of time on my hands!
10. Did I mention that I will have plenty of time on my hands?

Please feel free to pass along the URL for this blog to anyone that you think will benefit from it or who may be able to offer me some advice or assistance on dealing with this challenge. I hope that people will still call or email periodically. I have enjoyed hearing from everyone.