Rebuilding

BOX SCORE




Element

Current

Std. Range

Trend

Hemoglobin

7.3

13-17

v

Platelets

9

140-375

v

ANC

?

1800-8300

?

In 2001, the year Jill and I married, we enjoyed watching an amazing season of Major League Baseball. In particular, the Seattle Mariners made quite a splash by winning 116 games during the regular season. Unfortunately, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The next season, their record was nothing like 2001, and they went into a slump that I eventually dubbed a "rebuilding millennium." They have had a couple of OK seasons since then, but we have kind of lost interest in the team. I know, fair weather fans, but it's hard to watch "your team" go down to defeat time and time again. 

I only bring all of that up, because, having finished chemo on Tuesday, I am now in the "rebuilding phase [millennium]." What does that look like? Today is the fourth day in a row I have received a transfusion of blood platelets, and likely not the last day I will do so. To date I haven't needed any other blood products. So, once the platelets are in, I'm pretty much free to go about my business for the day...now, what was my business, again? Oh, yeah. rebuilding. 

Dr. Brow just dropped in and checked up on me. She said all is going as expected, but my marrow is tired, and it may take longer to recover from the chemo than it has in the past. Well, what else do I have to do? I won't go into the rash of homeowner woes that Jill has been dealing with at home. Like the trouper she is, she takes it all in stride...and still commutes 100 miles round trip to cheer me each day. What a woman. 

We had a visit from son Patrick and his family yesterday. They will drop in again later today. It was a good jolt of holiday cheer for us to see Pat and Katie and their two girls. We look forward to a visit from daughter Tara on Christmas Day. And shortly after that will follow January...the longest month of the year. There is just nothing happening in January...except rebuilding...Oh! And Jill's birthday. Those I can do. 

BTW, if you are wondering about the Box Score, it's all self explanatory except for ANC. ANC has been so low the last four days, that the report says, "See Note." And the "Note" says, "These numbers are too low to report reliably." 

Guess I need to get on with rebuilding. Bye for now, but come back soon.



Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 22, 2023 at 9:15 PM

    I'm glad you are in the rebuilding stage. I pray that your body's natural tendencies to be strong kick in quickly. I know it will be a process, but I hope a speedy process. It's great you got to see Pat and his family and I know you are also looking forward to your time with Tara on Christmas Day. It's nice the family could stretch out the visits so you could see a little each day. Merry Christmas to you both! Donalynn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TomDecember 23, 2023 at 9:11 AM

      Your prayers are much appreciated. They're working, too. My ANC actually registered this morning, and my platelets are up, so no transfusions today!

      Delete

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