Happy Easter

BOX SCORE




Element

Current

Std. Range

Trend

Hemoglobin

11.1

13-17

-

Platelets

45

140-375

v

ANC

980

1800-8300

v

I suppose it was inevitable. Jill and I have been reveling in the opportunity to be out and about more, since my blood counts have stabilized. But on Thursday, my platelets and my ANC both went down. Thank the Lord my hemoglobin stayed level, and at 11.1 it doesn't cause me to notice being short of breath. The lowered platelets cause me to be unsteady on my feet. I mean I am walking like an old geezer, as if I were 76 years old or something. 

The linchpin of this whole business, as you know if you follow the blog, is ANC or Absolute Neutrophil Count. Neutrophils are a surrogate for immunity levels. It has been a while since my ANC has been into the Standard Range, but my medical team tells me that when it is above 1,000, I am reasonably safe with moderate exposure to other people. As you can see it is below that now. I have another 9 days to go before I resume chemotherapy, and it is likely that all of these numbers will rise again in the next few days. So, we are temporarily in quarantine again.

In the meantime, I am making some progress with my shoulder pain. I diligently do my PT exercises, and although I didn't have a PT appointment this past week, I did get reconnected with Camas who was my PT at Therapeutic Associates. She has moved to Salem hospital, but my oncologist changed my referral so that I can continue to see her. I have an appointment on Monday.  On Thursday next week, I am scheduled for a cortisone injection in my right shoulder joint. This won't cure my frozen shoulder, but it may make it easier for me to do my exercises, and that can help me on my way to healing, and less pain will mean more sleep. 

Through all of these developments, I have been so grateful that the Lord has provided me with so many caring people to help along the way. From Greg and Angela, "my" phlebotomists, to Jackie and Karen and Miles and Monica and Amy and Jill and the two Lisas who are "my" chemotherapy nurses, to Michelle, "my" NP case manager, to Dr. Brow "my" oncologist to Dr. O "my" ophthalmologist, and to so many others who have had a hand in my care there is not a clinker in the whole bunch. And of course, there is "my" Lord Jesus, who has walked by my side through thick and thin; when I was down and when I am up He comforts me. And finally, there is my angel wife, Jill, who dotes on me and takes such marvelous care of me at home and away. Is it any wonder that I can smile through the worst of the days (of which there have been few) of this journey? 

We missed being able to attend Good Friday service yesterday, as we will miss seeing all of our brothers and sisters in the Lord tomorrow on Easter Sunday. But I can assure you, without reservation, that He is risen!

Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
 
HAPPY EASTER, my dear friends!

 

 

 

 

Comments

  1. BenjyApril 8, 2023 at 5:55 PM

    He is risen indeed Tom & Jill! The Good Friday gathering was really special - full room and y'all are always missed but always loved!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TomApril 10, 2023 at 4:17 PM

      So happy to hear there was a good turn out for the Good Friday service. We loved your Easter sermon.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousApril 8, 2023 at 9:25 PM

    Tom your heart of gratitude and praise to the Lord is so inspiring. You truly see His hand everywhere you go and every stage you are with cancer. I know your wife is an angel and there is none more caring and loving than her to be by your side. Love you both! And because our Savior has risen we have hope for today and tomorrow in any circumstance. Donalynn :-)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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

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

Don' be that guy!

Remember the Mighty Casey? In Ernest Lawrence Thayer's famous poem "Casey at the Bat," he was the pride of the Mudville baseball team. We join the story in the 9th inning:  The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day: The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play, And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same, A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game. The crowd was in despair. Down two in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, they were beginning to leave the stadium. The next two batters were the bottom of the order and offered little hope, but Flynn hit a single, and Blake a double. Suddenly, there was hope for the Mudville nine, for the top of the order, none other than the mighty Casey, was coming to bat with two men in scoring position. Even a base hit would keep the game alive, and a home run, well that would end it in a glorious, ecstatic victory.  Now Casey, apparently, had embraced the hype about hi...
Read more