A Full Rich Day #2

 I had a restful night until 4:00 when all the fun began with vitals and a blood draw, followed by a wake up at 4:45 to tell me I need a transfusion. Followed by a 5:45 pump alarm saying the rate was incorrect for something. Once that got fixed, I got up to use the bathroom, and just as I was settling into my comfy chair, my pump started sending an alarm for air bubbles in the line. So, Yang, the night nurse came in to fix that and offered to get me coffee. I said, "I promise to stop being such a bad boy, if you will get me some coffee." 

I really should not be so much trouble. Yesterday was a wonderful family time. Son Patrick came from Eugene to spend the day with me and Jill. He brought a party box from Taco Bell, so we had fun food and played games and just generally got caught up and enjoyed one another's company. 

 Patrick is good for Jill, because he continually encourages her to take time for self-care. Neither he nor I want to see her burn out from trying to carry the load or be strong. God knows she does those things well, but this is not a sprint, it is a marathon, and even God rested on the seventh day. So, they made a kind of pact to arrange for spelling each other when it comes to visitations. Patrick even offered to get a hotel room near the hospital and come for several days. 

In addition to that, a dental school classmate from Roseburg offered the use of his condo, which is nearby. Bill and Mickie keep the condo for times when they want to fly out of Portland. They can come the day before their flight and stay the night before proceeding to the airport, reversing the process when they arrive back from their travels. Consequently, the condo is not used most of the time. So, they said we can use it on nights when Jill is too tired to drive back to Dallas, or Patrick needs a place to stay for a few days. What a blessing! And such offers continue to pour in. It is truly humbling.  

If that wasn't enough, I had a call from one of my dear friends who follows this blog. He said, "It's fine to follow a blog, but it's even better if you check in with the author to see how he is doing." I agree, Mike. Thank you for your love and concern. 

Today brings a red blood cell transfusion. My morning labs showed a decrease in hemoglobin to the threshold for transfusion. My platelets are still hanging in there, although declining in numbers. My Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) is at 5,000, so I still have immunity going for me. 

The declining counts of RBCs and platelets, I am told, are signs that the chemo is working. So, that is good. 

In other news from Club Sunnyside, I will have a shower and clean clothes soon. My breakfast was delicious. The coffee is perking me up (pun intended). Jill is due to arrive soon. I'm still feeling pretty good. My head is clear enough to write this blog and even do some bookkeeping this morning. God has been very gracious to me through this journey. As our friend Job said, "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21)

I almost forgot. I received a beautiful bouquet from a business associate. 

Unfortunately for me, due to risk of infection, I can't have them in my room, so they are sitting in the hallway outside my room for everyone to enjoy. Thank you, Wayne.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Dream Come True

Image
BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 11 13-17 ^ Platelets 89 140-375 v ANC 2810 1800-8300 ^ When I was a youngster, probably about 10 years old, my dad introduced me to model making. Mainly we built models from kits, but Dad also taught me how to make a stick and paper airplane from scratch. It actually flew, with the help of a rubber band motor. But one of my favorite plastic model kits was an MG-TD sports car. You may remember this car from your youth (if you are old, like me) or from old movies, or maybe from a car show. It was a little, English two-seater with long sweeping front fenders and a vertical grille. The windshield (well, windscreen, if you are Brit...
Read more

Happy Anniversary

Today is our wedding anniversary. Jill has survived 21 years with me. Our marriage is old enough to drink!! In many ways, it seems like only a couple of years since our wedding day, and in other ways it seems as if we have always been us. This, I believe, is what is referred to in the fairy tales as "wedded bliss." Only, in our case, it isn't a fairy tale at all. It's just, well...wedded bliss. How I love that girl! A year ago today, I finished my induction chemotherapy at Club Sunnyside. Jill picked up German food at Gustav's, which is across the street from the hospital campus. She also picked up Bundt cakes from "Nothing Bundt Cake;" a little one for us and a big one for the oncology staff. It was as fine a celebration as we could muster under the circumstances, and one we will never forget.  Today we had a morning clinic visit. This time for Jill's blood pressure, which with the help of a new medication added to her regimen, is perfect, thank you...
Read more

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 ...
Read more