Rejoice!

BOX SCORE




Element

Current

Std. Range

Trend

Hemoglobin

11.2

13-17

>

Platelets

98

140-375

^

ANC

20

1800-8300

v

I'm a bit disappointed this morning, because my ANC is still going down, after having gone up significantly a week ago. This is a new experience. Usually, when my ANC begins to rise, as it did a week ago, the rise becomes dramatic until it reaches the Standard Range. I will try to connect today with oncology to see if this is a concern or just a bump in the road. Jill and I had hoped to have a meal with daughter Tara this weekend, if my ANC  was out of the neutropenic zone. Instead, we will remain in quarantine. 

Part of the frustration is that I have been feeling so well and ready to engage life. I have done a couple of projects around the homestead. The most dramatic one is installing a hot water recirculating pump on the water heater. What it does is circulate hot water from the tank to the most distant water faucet, which happens to be in out master bathroom, and back to the tank again. That way, there is hot water available immediately instead of having to wait several minutes for hot water to arrive when, say, we want to take a shower. That was a real waste of water. Those of us on wells are especially sensitive to wasting water. 

The pump is programmed to come on before we wake up, so we can have a hot shower. After our morning toilette, it turns itself off to save electricity. I have programmed the pump via a smart outlet so that we can turn it on any time we need to have hot water at a sink or shower by use of a phone app. The app responds to voice commands, which simplifies the process. 

And so, life goes on for us at home, where we are very comfortable, but we are anxious to be able to enjoy our new life paradigm, in which we can see friends and family and our community, when my ANC is up. 

God is in control, and I am sure He has a reason for this lag in my neutrophil recovery. Perhaps, He is protecting me from something. Perhaps, He is giving me an opportunity to learn to be more patient. James 1:2-4 says, 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

So, we will persevere. "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24) After all,  He has given me one more day on this side of the sod; we have food and shelter; I'm feeling fine, and we have "instant" hot water!

Rejoice!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 6, 2022 at 9:54 PM

    I love your positivity Tom! Praying your ANC will improve dramatically. Donalynn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TomOctober 7, 2022 at 9:14 AM

      Thanks, Donalynn. I contacted oncology, and the nurse promised to call me back after checking with one of the doctors. I didn't hear anything back yesterday, so if I don't get a call this morning, I'll check in with the nurse again this afternoon.

      Delete

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