The First Day of Summer?

Independence Day is past. It was a pleasant, quiet affair...until bedtime, when neighbors started setting off fireworks. The weather was mild, and everyone else was busy somewhere else. Jill and I had smash burgers and corn on the cob for dinner. All things considered, it was a happy holiday. 

Today is July 5th, the day of my bone marrow biopsy. I downed my pre-meds, and we were off to the clinic. There was some rain on our way in to Salem, and skies were gray. This is not the July 5th that I always laughingly refer to as "the first day of summer." Last summer, while I was chilling (literally) in a climate controlled oncology clinic at Club Sunnyside, the temperature was 90º F, but it had been 117º F on June 28th, just a week earlier. 

So, today, while quite pleasant, was not "the very model of a modern Major Summer Day." (with apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan). I'm not sure the temperature reached 70º F today. Works for me. I'm not a heat guy. 

The biopsy appointment went very smoothly, and Michelle, the NP who performed the procedure was pleased to get three 1.5 cm long cores. It will take a couple of weeks to get all the lab results back on this biopsy, so as of this moment, we don't know anything except that things went well. 

I had a concurrent blood draw for a Complete Blood Count (CBC). The results on that procedure show my platelets dropping slightly, but "not enough to require a transfusion," according to Dr. Waugh. My hemoglobin is just below the lower end of the normal range, too. The really good news is that my white blood counts are right in the center of the normal range. Hallelujah. 

So, what to expect? Got any ideas? I don't know what all of this means. Worrying about it will not serve me well. And we are back to "one day at a time." Actually, we never leave that position, since that is all God gives us...one day at a time. 


I appreciate you who read this blog. It's purpose is twofold. One is to keep friends and relatives apprised of my progress in living with AML, and the second is to keep a chronicle, a journal if you will, of the experience and the attendant feelings and insights and blessings. One of the blessings is knowing that people care. So, if you enjoy reading it, please drop a comment, even if only to say. "I'm here."

Stand by for further developments.

Comments

  1. gardengirlJuly 6, 2022 at 12:23 PM

    Pat and I are HERE. Love you

    ReplyDelete
  2. AlanJuly 6, 2022 at 1:18 PM

    I’m here and reading. I’m also praying for you and Jill.

    ReplyDelete
  3. TomJuly 6, 2022 at 4:52 PM

    Thanks for dropping by and for your prayers. They keep me afloat!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJuly 7, 2022 at 6:47 AM

    I am here and posted a comment but it doesn’t appear - must be doing something wrong. You are both in our prayers, so glad the biopsy was successful. Happy anniversary to you both! We remember your very special wedding day. ♥️♥️♥️ Melissa & Steve

    ReplyDelete

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