Red Cells and White Cells and Platelets, Oh My!

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 9.3 13-17 ^ Platelets 108 140-375 ^ ANC 1790 1800-8300 ^ It's official. I'm ensconced in room 14K29 at OHSU. I didn't get a room until about 5:30pm. We were home waiting for the hospital to call and tell us that a room was ready. At about 2:45, Jill said, "I wonder if we should head for the hospital." We finished packing up the Ford and hit the road. We arrived at Marquam Manor at 4:08, found the lock box, got the key and went in to reconnoiter the place. Satisfied, we unloaded the car, which was no mean undertaking, and while we were at it the hospital called and said my room was ready.  Since we got here there

BOX SCORE 04/28/24 Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 8.3 13-17 ^ Platelets 74 140-375 ^ ANC 1770 1800-8300 ^ Yesterday we met again with Dr. Meyers at OHSU. We also met a number of other people who will be an integral part of our lives for at least the duration of my hospital stay: Theresa, the MA who drew a blood sample and took my vital signs; Christie, the RN who will be my case manager; Kelli, who is the donor coordinator for OHSU; and Halli, who is the coordinator for the clinical trial I will be participating in to help the medical staff zero in on the best dosage of immune-suppressive medication to keep Graft versus Host Disease (GVHD) in check after transplant. What a won

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 7.7 13-17 ^ Platelets 42 140-375 ^ ANC 1150 1800-8300 v If there is anything that life has taught me it is that change is not only inevitable it is unstoppable. As Jill and I prepare for a sojourn in Portland, our lives have been like an evolving tapestry.  What I mean is that, like a tapestry, our lives are woven together from threads from many different sources and in many different colors. Day by day the tapestry unfolds, revealing a bit more of the picture, and yet there is more to come tomorrow.  My last post was about the myriad pieces of the puzzle we have been assembling for the past months(??), no, it's just over three weeks s

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 7.5 13-17 ^ Platelets 20 140-375 ^ ANC 1210 1800-8300 v I would like for you to do a little exercise with me. The first step is get a piece of paper and a pencil. If you are cock sure of yourself, a pen will do. If you don't write notes on paper anymore, use the Notes App on your phone. OK, are you ready?  Step two) Write down all the things that you need to do to your home in the next four months.  Step three) Write down all the things you need to do for yourself in the next four months.  Step four) Write down all the things you will need to take with you, when you move to another city for four months.  Step five) Ready, set, Go!  We

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 7 13-17 ^ Platelets 8 140-375 ^ ANC 1910 1800-8300 ^ Communication. It is, undoubtedly, a pillar of human thriving, and somehow we all seem to be pretty bad at it at times. God made us to live in community with Him and our neighbors. The word "hermit" was never in His vocabulary, or at least the word does not appear in the English Standard Version of the Holy Bible. The two greatest commandments are love God and love your neighbor as yourself. And how do we do those things?  Hymns are not very popular in contemporary evangelical churches these days, but there are a few that are dear to me. One of them is called Trust and Obe