It's all in how you look at things


BOX SCORE




Element

Current

Std. Range

Trend

Hemoglobin

11.8

13-17

v

Platelets

53

140-375

--

ANC

940

1800-8300

v

(I started this post yesterday, May 11, 2023 and got interrupted)

Did you ever have one of those stretches in your life when you couldn't wipe the smile off or your face? You thought it would go on forever, and then Whoops! It all came to an end. Hey, at least the world didn't end.  If you look at the box score above, you will see that my ANC has headed south. When it's under 1000, it's time to pull in the horns and stick around home for a while, while my bone marrow rests before creating a whole bunch of new blood cells. In the meantime, we had a couple of weeks of "real" life, seeing friends, visiting with family, going to real stores and restaurants. But now that is on the shelf for a time.

That doesn't mean, however, that life is all dreary and depressing. There are several things we have to be thankful for. For one thing, my frozen shoulder is beginning to thaw out. I had a Physical Therapy appointment yesterday, and Camas said she didn't need to see me any more. She gave me a final list of exercises to keep things on the road to complete recovery and a couple of new toys to play with. I am so grateful that things have improved so much. When I started PT, I was skeptical about the pain in my shoulders ever going away. But here I am, less than three months later almost back to normal...well, as normal as I ever am. 

Today, was a beautiful sunny day. Jill and I worked in the yard. I am making some frames out of PVC pipe for our raised veggie beds. We will be able to support shade mesh on them when the really hot days of summer arrive. As I worked on the project, I suddenly realized that I was standing there reaching above my head with my frozen arm pounding pipes into the soil with a mallet! I remember asking both Camas and Dr. Joiner, the orthopedic surgeon who injected my shoulder with cortisone, whether my shoulder would kind of pop and be free again. They both told me that most people report they just one day find themselves doing things they had previously been unable to do.  And now I understand.

I guess I didn't realize how much pain I was having, because now that it is gone (well, almost) I have more energy, and I can't wipe the smile off my face. Even though we will be in quarantine for a spell, there are fun things to do around our home. I have my best friend by my side, and thanks to the miracle of electronics, I can easily stay in contact with other friends and family. 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

Hmmmm, maybe this good life will go on forever! 


 

 

 

Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 13, 2023 at 11:08 AM

    Your life will go on for eternity. :-) So glad to hear that your shoulder is doing marvelous and you are able to physically do the things you want to accomplish. Have wonderful weekend. I hope the waffles were tasty today. Donalynn

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 13, 2023 at 5:15 PM

    Hey Tom, Just read your epistle and had to study it a bit, and yeah, you need to stop playing footsie with pipes and tiptoeing around the garden. GO REST!

    Just finished a call to prayer (Saturday the 14th) and sent it out. Went to Nashville on Wednesday to have my Subaru 90 k check up, and then watch my granddaughter run her 4x 400 relay leg with her Dad on Thursday. I had the good fortune of staying with the Leonards, Merrily's sister and enjoy the best Sirloin ever. She is a great cook. I almost begged to stay for the rest of my life, but....that didn't materialize.

    How often do you update. Once a week or more? I will keep up...hopefully. Mowed my lawn today on my riding mower, my big event outside.

    You are in my daily prayers Brother. Now shape up or I will lose my halo!

    Dave

    ReplyDelete
  3. gardengirlMay 17, 2023 at 10:17 AM

    This is wonderful news, Tom, that Jill may put you to work now! Just joking, but I'm thrilled your shoulder has recovered and even more happy that you got to spend time with family. God is Good.

    ReplyDelete

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