Party time?

BOX SCORE
Element	Current	Std. Range	Trend
Hemoglobin	8.9	13-17	v
Platelets	78	140-375	-
ANC	40	1800-8300	v

We are celebrating! Well, we are feeling celebrational. Celebrating seems to me to imply sharing good news in person with friends and family. Alas, we can't do that right now, because of the number in the Current ANC box in the Box Score above. So, why are we feeling like we would celebrate, if we could? 

Yesterday, we received the preliminary report on my latest bone marrow biopsy. It reads, in part, 

“There is no definite morphologic or immunologic evidence of residual acute leukemia, and the findings may be consistent with marrow regeneration after chemotherapy.  However, low-level minimal residual disease may not be entirely excluded with this analysis. Correlation with the complete cytogenetic and molecular study is recommended.”

In short, I am in remission! Granted, this is a preliminary result, and as such it will need to be supplemented with cytogenetic (chromosome level) and molecular (DNA level) studies. But the finding of no abnormal cells is very encouraging, since abnormal DNA or mutated genes tend to result in abnormal cells. The cytogenetic and molecular studies will  be done at OHSU and will probably take another 7-10 days. 

In the meantime, Dr. Brow (nee Waugh), my oncologist, confirmed that there is no sign of the leukemia in the biopsy. As a result, she has OKed a one week postponement of my next cycle of chemotherapy. Why? Look at the number in the Current ANC box again. My ANC has been depressed for 3 months, which means I have to be in quarantine due to extremely low immunity. The hope is that another 10 days of resting my body before resuming chemo will allow my blood counts to rebound sufficiently to let me "get back in the game," so to speak. 

So, once again I ask, if you are a praying person (and the nation's reaction to the stunning collapse from cardiac arrest of 24 year old Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills football team, during their game against the Cincinnati Bengals last Monday night, suggests there are a lot of you out there) please pray that my bone marrow will take the extra time off to pump out enough new, healthy cells to get me out of the danger zone. We are so hungry to be able to be with our family and friends and to have a hug from our granddaughters. 

In the meantime, you are hereby officially granted permission to stage your own celebration as you rejoice with us about this good news! 

In the words of the Apostle:

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15)

And as long as you are on your knees, say a prayer for Damar and his family. He is apparently making a strong recovery, but speaking as one who has battled medical issues, I tell you every prayer is felt and appreciated by those of us who are fortunate enough to have prayer warriors on our side!