Faith, hope and love

BOX SCORE




Element

Current

Std. Range

Trend

Hemoglobin

11.1

13-17

v

Platelets

102

140-375

v

ANC

1750

1800-8300

v

 Sometimes, you just need to go to the beach. Know what I mean? Well, that's exactly what we did. We left Monday afternoon for Gleneden Beach with a reservation at a condo that was recommended to us by my friend and fellow AML fighter, Brian. We didn't know what to expect, quite, but Brian and Rita said they have been staying at this place for 30 years, so it must be something special. We checked in and then proceeded to our unit. We were met with the above pictured view from our living room. Wow! Thanks Brian and Rita!

We had a lovely time enjoying the views, the beach, the luxury, the surrounding area, and above all, a change of scenery. You need that from time to time. We love our home, but a little change from time to time helps us stay on an even keel. I had strained my back a few days before our trip, and I had difficulty  sleeping in the bed, which was softer than our bed at home. But otherwise the trip was just what we needed by way of a pick-me-up.

One of the things the trip did for us was to encourage us that, in spite of AML, we can still do "normal" stuff, like enjoy a trip to the beach. We had lunch at one of our favorite places in Depoe Bay. The Sea Hag restaurant has been in business since 1956. It feels like an old friend when we visit. The food is outstanding, especially the clam chowder. The service is always exquisite. The atmosphere is casual, and the ambience is pure Oregon Coast. 

 My beautiful bride. I sent this picture to family members. Originally I just captioned it The Sea Hag, but before I pressed "send,"  I wised up and added, "Lunch at..." 

We came home on Wednesday, nicely refreshed and prepared for the hot weather in Dallas on Thursday and Friday. When Friday came, it was time for my pre-chemo evaluation with Michelle, our favorite NP. She was very encouraging about my progress, and then she expressed surprise at the fact that I am continuing to take the antibiotic and anti-fungal medications that were prescribed for me. She indicated that the normal protocol is only to take those medications when my ANC  is below 1, 000.  The last time that happened was back in May. She said I should keep taking them until she consults with Dr. Brow, to make sure there is no special reason for me not to be on the protocol. I should hear something by Monday, one way or the other. Interestingly, I had read on Thursday about the side effects of all the medications I am on, and those two in particular list muscle, joint and tendon pains. So, in the event I am able to stop taking them regularly, I believe I can look forward to many days with fewer of those symptoms. 

So, all in all, it's been a good week, full of blessings. We have renewed faith that we can do limited traveling, we have hope that I may be able to cut back on some of my meds,  and we shared a moment of Christian love with Michelle, who shares our faith. 

Faith, hope and love... they sound familiar. 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

                        As the sun sails away from the shore, our ship sinks slowly in the west.


Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 17, 2023 at 12:47 PM

    Your trip together at the coast really tickled me. I'm so glad you were refreshed and encouraged by the beauty and peace of it all. I loved your picture of your beautiful bride. That smile just melts hearts. What a lucky guy you are to see it everyday. :-) Donalynn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 18, 2023 at 9:08 AM

      You are so right, Donalynn, I am one lucky fellow to have this lovely lady by my side, through thick and thin and in all kinds of weather.

      Delete

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