T-3 Countdown and Mercury

BOX SCORE
Element	Current	Std. Range	Trend
Hemoglobin	7.9	13-17	v
Platelets	92	140-375	v
ANC	1660	1800-8300	v

T-3 and counting. Sounds like a countdown for a NASA space shot. I hope this goes better than the early rocket launches at NASA did during the Mercury trials!! It got to be hard to count the number of rockets that exploded on the launch pad. I remember hearing a joke in those days about the first day of Pre-school, when the teacher asked the children if any of them knew how to count. One little boy excitedly raised his hand and said, "I do, I do." 

"And would you tell us how to count, please? " 

"Yes ma'am. I learned from my daddy. He has to count a lot at work," he replied.

"Go on then," said the teacher and the little boy started in...

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one...s**t!" 

"Oh my," said the teacher. "That's a terrible word. We don't use that word here. Where does your daddy work?" 

Came the reply, "NASA." 

Today I had one chemo infusion. One and done, although I am still being flushed with saline solution 24/7. (Actually, so far it is 24/3, but who's counting? You need to be careful whom you ask to count!) I am feeling really well. The staff keeps commenting on how well I appear to be feeling. That is the Lord's doing. Some people get really ill with chemo, and I have been so blessed through it all. 

As our medical team was leaving this morning, after doing their rounds, they asked if there was anything we needed from them. I said, "Just keep doing what you are doing. It is going really well for me, not nearly as horrible as I was told to expect." The oncologist on duty, Dr. Chen, said, "I want to hear you say that again in two or three weeks." I know that the post-transplant medications and the presence of the new cells in my body will be a challenge, but day by day I am feeling more confidence that this is all going to turn out quite well. 

So, that's the latest from Floor 14K. I will have one more dose of chemo tomorrow morning (T-2), and then I will be free of the IV stand. The one I had at Sunnyside I dubbed Olive Oyl, after Popeye's girlfriend. You know, tall and skinny, loyal and always there to help! 

Tuesday (T-1) I have total body irradiation therapy, but the doctor we consulted with in that department said, "This is a low dosage. We give 60 units [the name of which I missed] in an isolated area in breast cancer patients. You will receive 2 units over your entire body." So, no terrible side effects are expected.  

We are once again thanking the Lord for His care and providence. We are beginning to feel at home with the staff and the facilities here at OHSU. We did another mile of laps around the oncology unit this morning, and the swelling in my limbs has diminished greatly. I lost 8 lbs overnight, after gaining 6 lbs overnight the day before! It's all water weight, so I don't recommend a diet of chemo and Lasix for those who are minding their figures. For those of you who are praying, thank you so much. You are doing a world of good. Jill and I appreciate your faithfulness. 

In fact, we count on it!