Posts

Preparation

Well , I suppose it had to happen eventually. I have a cold, the first one since before the pandemic. That's well over five years. Not a bad run. We have been out and about more than usual, and at a time of year when there are "bugs" out there. But you know, there is always a silver lining. This is the first real trial of my my new immune system, which is working.  Although I awoke with a sore throat this morning and a bit of coughing, some hot drinks and a few tissues later, I am feeling better; better than I did yesterday, which seemed to be the nadir of this affliction. Jill ran out this morning and picked up some Dayquil for me (and some Nyquil for tonight). Is she the sweetest thing on the planet? The medicines will help, but I can tell by the feel of things that my body is fighting this bug, just as it has done with my original immune system.  One of the things that is of concern for a bone marrow transplant recipient is that challenges to the new immune system can ...
1 comment
Read more

Things just keep on changing

BOX SCORE 11/22/24  Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 13.2 13-17 ^ Platelets 177 140-375 ^ ANC 2810 1800-8300 v When I reported for duty at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Naval Dental Clinic, fondly known to the inventors of military-speak as NavDenClinCamPen, I had just finished my twentieth consecutive year in formal education. To wit: eight years in elementary school, four in high school, four in undergrad college, and four at the University of Oregon Dental School (UODS). Now, to my knowledge, that name (UODS) was about in the middle of the string of names of dear old Alma Mater:  North Pacific College began in 1893 as the Tacoma ...
1 comment
Read more

Great is Thy Faithfulness!

Did you ever let your enthusiasm run away with you? What did that look like for you? I sometimes do that when I am feeling well, and boy have I been feeling well. Add to that some other blessings, and you have a combination for getting into a little trouble with your wife, who complains, "I can't keep him down." On Thursday we met with Dr. Krishnan, the oncologist standing in for Dr. Brow while she is on maternity leave. The main purpose of the meeting was to review the preliminary findings from my recent bone marrow biopsy (BMBx). Dr. K was happy to report (and we were happy to hear) that the microscopic examination of the aspirate and tissue sample showed normal cells in normal numbers and no abnormal cells. He also updated my medication list and asked a bunch of standard review questions. To wit: Have you had any nausea or vomiting?  -No Have you had any constipation or diarrhea? -No Have you had any skin rashes? -Yes. A couple of small ones that disappeared with one d...
2 comments
Read more

Celebrate! Celebrate! Dance to the music!

BOX SCORE 11/5/24 Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 12.7 13-17 v Platelets 165 140-375 v ANC 2860 1800-8300 v Well, 'tis the season!  Most of the pumpkins in our neighborhood have disappeared, along with the spider webs, witches, ghosts and goblins of all sorts. The rain is falling frequently, much to Jill's chagrin. She is using the treadmill as I write this, in lieu of our daily two mile constitutional around the 'hood. (She campaigned for a treadmill last year and is mostly glad to have it for days like this, but confidentially, she really hates using it. She'd rather walk outside, as would I.)  The Christmas commercials have ...
2 comments
Read more

T+179 - Poor old Bill

BOX SCORE 11/1/24 Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 13.2 13-17 ^ Platelets 178 140-375 ^ ANC 3050 1800-8300 ^ Perhaps, I shouldn't admit this, but sometimes at night, when I have difficulty sleeping, I turn on my iPod and use the YouVersion Bible app as a kind of white noise. It helps me get back to sleep. The stories are familiar and comforting, so I drift off pretty quickly. I want to state here and now, however, that I have never fallen asleep during a sermon in church! In the Bible, there are numerous stories about dreams. Jacob, Joseph, Laban, Saul, Solomon, Nebuchadnezzar, Joseph of Nazareth, they all had dreams, in which God sent them a message of one ki...
1 comment
Read more

T+171 Until we meet again, Brian!

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 12.5 13-17 v Platelets 170 140-375 v ANC 2540 1800-8300 v   For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:   a time to be born, and a time to die; (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2) I lost a brother last night. He wasn't a blood relative, but our history goes back to 1967, when we were a couple of green freshman at University of Oregon Dental School (UODS). Brian's family name was Crockwell, and since mine is Waugh, and since we were always seated alphabetically, we didn't get to know each other much at that time.  Brian went to Grant High School at the same time that I was attending Madis...
Post a Comment
Read more

T+168. Look for it!

BOX SCORE 10/18/24 Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 12.8 13-17 v Platelets 168 140-375 v ANC 2650 1800-8300 v In 1961, when I was a sophomore in high school, there was a movie produced by one of my favorite producer/directors, Frank Capra, who made lots of feel-good movies. The title is  Pocketful of Miracles , starring Glen Ford and Bette Davis. It was a musical remake of an old story that has been portrayed on film numerous times. Frank Sinatra recorded the theme song, and it made a splash, but my favorite version was a cover by a sunshine pop group called Harpers Bizarre. Here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haPojzbcMgw And if you don't like to...
1 comment
Read more