Is Feeling Good Progress?

If I told you I sat down to do an update over the past 5 days, would you think I was:

A.  Lazy
B.  Intentionally procrastinating
C.  Had writers block
D.  Most of the above

The answer, as always, is D.  While I didn't really have writers block (because I'm not writing novels or anything) and that I used that excuse unsuccessfully in college, both A and B apply to a large degree.  I certainly want to keep everyone informed, but when you are in a holding pattern waiting for the damn blood cells to grow, there isn't much to report.  I could have been giving you the play by play of Lynn reforming the family room and kitchen, but there isn't a lot of entertainment in that type of writing unless you are a fan of trade magazines that appear in the lobby of office buildings.  I will say that she and my parents (really my Mom, Dad gets a little bit of a mention) have made more progress in the last 3 weeks than Lynn and have in 3 years (see answer B above). 

As I wasn't really allowed to take any part in the project, I had plenty of time to catch up on doings at work (and provide my invaluable opinion(s)!), manage my failing fantasy football teams, exercise the right of watching as much playoff baseball as possible, and finally take some visitors without the chance of me falling asleep while they were here.  But more on the sports later....

I want to provide an update as soon as I can when we find out new information or as the medical schedule changes and today seemed like a good time as we had another meeting with the Doctor to assess progress.  While I have been feeling pretty well since returning from the hospital a couple weeks ago, I have noticed getting tired more easily the past few days.  That can only mean one thing and the standard blood testing confirmed it today, low hemoglobin.  I could see that coming on from the blood tests I get every other day last week as the levels slowly receded and was confirmed today.  I am headed in for a couple pints of the good stuff on Tuesday morning.

As mentioned last time, we are waiting for the white blood cells to grow in order to get a better sampling of the good guys versus the blasts (the bad guys).  Unfortunately, the white cells have been slacking off and we are not seeing the progress needed.  Can anyone guess what that means?  If you answered, "What is a bone marrow biopsy?" you earned $800 and can pick the next category (Sorry, Jeopardy in on in the background).  That procedure is scheduled for this Thursday.  Again, this is all to assess where we are in determining the next steps for treatment.  I can't tell you how comfortable it is to be at home, but as is my nature, I'm ready to get on with it, even though it means more chemo, a lengthy hospital stay, and leaving the family for a bit.  The biggest question we all have is how to get the white cells to grow and multiply.

RESULTS DISAPPOINTING

As everyone knows, being a die hard Reds fan requires decades of patience, and when they got swept out of the playoffs last night, it ripped 6 months of watching intently right out from under me.  Whose kidding who, I can't wait to start watching again in April.  That doesn't mean I won't watch the rest of the playoffs, because I will, and for the southern members of the tribe, I would like the Braves to make a run (unfortunately they look like they have the Reds defensive issues and can't score runs).  For my NE brethren, I just can't get my arms around rooting for a team that beat mine, but as long as the Yankees don't win, all is well.  The Phillies just look too damn good.

Not even going to discuss the Bengals.

As most of you know, the Michigan / Michigan State game was this weekend and while the lines are split up here, I can say I was firmly a Spartan this weekend.  Jimmy, our freshman at MSU,  maintained that he is still supporting the Wolverines, but I sense a movement toward MSU, but not just yet.  Rest assured, he'll be at the rest of the MSU games in the student section, regardless of his UM upbringing.  (Nice fact:  unless UM beats MSU in hoops this year, it will be over 1000 days since UM has beat MSU in football and basketball).

All in all, we are doing well, but want it to get moving forward and I'll provide updates later this week when we get some additional results.

One final request...  while you are thinking of us and our fight, find a little spot for a couple people who are also fighting Cancer and Leukemia.  My good high school friend Mark Momper's wife has AML as well and has recently come out of remission and is facing the same treatment and bone marrow transplant.  As well, a good friend and work associate of mine, Dean Lane, is battling a serious melanoma that has spread throughout his body.  We all all appreciative and unfortunately have the wrong things in common...