My daughter, her husband, and their two children moved in with us while their new house was being built. This physical closeness (there were six of us in a very small house!) gave us all a chance to develop a spiritual closeness as well. My daughter has a wonderful heart and cares deeply about almost everything. I, of course, already knew this – I raised her after all – but living in such close quarters I was reminded of it. One evening in particular we were watching a movie in which the main ch...
Jun 14, 2024•23 min•Ep. 22
How to have a spiritual life when you have leukemia.
May 27, 2024•31 min•Ep. 21
I just came up with the perfect distraction to take my mind off leukemia. Although I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone else. Last week I was trying to unhook a utility trailer from my car. As soon as the trailer left the car's hitch it rolled forward and, like the idiot I am, I tried to stop it. The next thing I knew the tongue of the trailer fell, crushing the little finger of my left hand. My wife rushed me to the emergency hospital and they sewed me up, but they said I had to see a hand surgeon...
May 24, 2024•4 min•Ep. 20
Throughout this podcast I've tried to encourage people with CLL leukemia that they can have a well-lived life in spite of their disease. Well, now it's time for me to take my own advise as I face a new challenge: bladder cancer.
May 13, 2024•6 min•Ep. 19
Like so many things in life, leukemia brings change. When CLL came into my life, I still felt the same physically. But in my head I felt suddenly different. I knew the future was no longer going to go as I'd planned. The question was, and still is, how will I deal with that change? Do I fight it or embrace it? Do I let fear and doubt rule me, or do I push through it -- acknowledge my new life and move forward. Hopefully this podcast will have some answers.
Apr 27, 2024•20 min•Ep. 18
Don't let leukemia stop you from enjoying life. One of the best ways to do that is by setting and accomplishing goals. The aim of this episode to to encourage you to live a full life, no matter how long you have.
Jan 31, 2024•24 min•Ep. 17
Yes, you have leukemia, but if you allow yourself to take your time you can accomplish more than you think. It's okay to take longer to do a project than it did before you had CLL. On today's episode I talk about my adventure tiling our bathroom. It took me three weeks! A job that most would do in a few days. Now, some of that time was spent learning how to do a job I'd never done before. But I also had to work at a slower pace. But I did it. So don't give up on yourself. And don't let Leuk conv...
Dec 04, 2023•18 min•Ep. 16
CLL leukemia, it ain't fun. Though my leukemia can seem like an invisible disease, sometimes leuk raises his ugly head and I just have to take a day off. That happened a couple days ago. So, of course it was a bit frustrating, but I didn't let it get to me. I didn't let leuk control my thoughts. It's okay to take some time off if you need to. Tomorrow will be better. Don't be hard on yourself if you can't accomplish ever thing you want to in one day. It's okay. You're okay. And, you are not alon...
Nov 01, 2023•12 min•Ep. 15
There are ways to beat the fear and worry of having leukemia. Today we talk about setting short-term and long-term goals and how that can have a positive influence on your life. Don't let Leuk beat you down. Engage in Life again.
Oct 28, 2023•13 min•Ep. 14
Those of us with CLL leukemia can tend to narrow our lives down, letting leuk change us. But there is a whole life out there that we shouldn't let go of. Recently I spent a day playing disk golf with a friend. I was reminded that there is more to me than the leukemia. I can't let my disease stop me from being who I am. Leuk may be changing me physically, but I don't have to let him change me spiritually. I am still me.
Oct 09, 2023•7 min•Ep. 13
It's easy for those of us with leukemia to become kind of selfish at times and get too wrapped up in our own lives. We need to remember that those who love us - our caregivers, family, and friends need encouraging words, just like we do. A simple text from a friend reminded me of the power of uplifting words.
Sep 30, 2023•7 min•Ep. 12
Welcome to my life with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia a.k.a CLL. Today I've got the tireds, but I'm pushing through it.
Sep 23, 2023•7 min•Ep. 11
Feeling a bit down today. It's not the CLL leukemia so much, I guess it's the Fall season and the weather... who knows. If you're down too maybe today's episode will help. I know it's helping me just producing it. Also in this episode I mention a special listener to my podcast. So this is for her and all the others listening today.
Sep 19, 2023•11 min•Ep. 10
This whole leukemia thing can get in the way sometimes. This last week Leuk did his thing and I had to lay down. I'd had a great day with my grandson, but the next day I felt tired. Not just tired, but a kind of weak tired. So, although our grandson was staying for two days, I wasn't available for him as much as I wanted on the second day. I've had to learn to accept my CLL and not let the down days get to me. I hope this episode will remind you that when you need rest, do it. Don't feel guilty ...
Jun 25, 2023•8 min•Ep. 9
Those of us in the leukemia club sometimes face a temptation that’s seldom talked about. It doesn’t affect all of us but possibly more than care to admit it. Even though blood cancers are more survivable than ever before, we are acutely aware of Leuk’s death threats. This possibility of a shortened life can get our minds cranking in a direction we’d not considered before, or if we had, it was something we rejected as fool hardy, morally wrong, or even dangerous. Ideas that once played out in fan...
May 01, 2023•9 min•Ep. 8
It's not often talked about. In fact, most folks avoid the subject. But those of us with leukemia are perhaps more aware of it than most. Today's episode is about dying. Now don't leave, it's not going to be a downer. In fact, I think you'll find it uplifting. It's a story, a metaphor, really, about life and death. And it starts in the arms of a caring mother.
Mar 30, 2023•7 min•Ep. 7
If you have CLL leukemia, you know it can be hard to take your mind off it. The thing that really helps me forget about Leuk for awhile is m family. Today I'm talking with my grandson, Josh. Please forgive the sound quality, we only had one mic. Anyway, this podcast series is about how I have a well-lived life even though I have leukemia. And my grandchildren help me do just that. Enjoy.
Nov 10, 2022•7 min•Ep. 6
This episode talks about leuk's brother and sister - Fear and Worry. If you have CLL, there is a way fight back at these foes of leukemia.
Oct 21, 2022•10 min•Ep. 5
Those of us with CLL leukemia could always use a bit of encouragement. So, here to do just that, is the great Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: A Psalm of Life Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morro...
Oct 01, 2022•8 min•Ep. 4
If you’re new here, my name is Jim Smith and I have Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, a.k.a. CLL. Today I thought we’d talk about coming out. Oh, I don’t me THAT kind of coming out! I mean when you come out and let your friends know you have leukemia. For those of you who just received the news that you have C.L.L., I don’t know if you’re like me, but maybe some of you have decided that you’re not wanting to tell people you have leukemia. I was like that. Of course I had to tell my family. I did tel...
Sep 03, 2022•8 min•Ep. 3
Have you just recently leaned you have CLL leukemia? If so, then this podcast episode is for you. Everyone has a different reaction to the news, but we also have a lot in common. I’m hoping this episode will help you see that you are not alone and you can still be you despite the leukemia.
Aug 17, 2022•19 min•Ep. 2
Welcome. This is Me and Leuk, an upbeat, sometimes downbeat, podcast of my life with Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Hi, I'm your host, Jim Smith and I have CLL, which, if you found this podcast, you probably already know stands for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. But I think CLL could stand for "Could's Lived Longer!" Did you ever have some one show up on your door step you really didn't want to be friends with? Maybe he was too high maintenance or needy. You'd been trying to avoid him, but t...
Aug 15, 2022•16 min•Ep. 1
