It is sad to notice my memory for certain things just return blank. It's like the irradiation of the last 2 years fried away some sections. I was trying to remember which Vonnegut book has the main character writing science fiction shorts that he can only get placed in porn mags. Was that Breakfast of Champions? Anyway, with this photo, that is how I feel.
Day 69 today. It is pretty dang cold up here in Palo Alto, in the 50s. I was in the Cancer Center for my morning appointment, and the doc and I agreed that I could come in 12/22 and then next on 12/29 (Day 90). So that means we can leave the apartment on 12/22 and move back to SLO! The only monkey wrench dangling is if the tests on 12/29 don't go well and they find some leukemia, which isn't going to happen. If that did happen, they turn down the immunosuppressant (Prograf) and let the bone marrow hunt down and kill the leukemia, and hope for no side effects to the kidneys, lungs, or liver. They will want me close at hand while they do that.
My weight is steady, my blood counts are steady. My brother Frank took great care of me for a week, had me hiking around a little more, pushed me up to the Stanford Dish. We ate well, lots of brussels sprouts and asparagus, pasta, salmon, and he made a 20000 calorie pecan pie to go with the pecan ice cream. He left Saturday and Dana returned from her reverie.
Mike and George B came by on Saturday for a visit, landing between Frank going and Dana coming. George was taking the arborist exam in SF, so they swung by for a while.
There is an editor, and he is me. If I get enough flak I'll change something, unless I don't. I get to highlight things, hide things, repeat things. I want to make note of the comment Earl about his Uncle Tommy left on the 'Big Eats' post, because it was so poignant and because he doesn't write often. I like to stay positive in writing this blog, but as we approach day 90 with it's scary tests that predict my fate, I have more early morning moments of 'what if?' I have rekindled my hopes by asking the docs what if, and not shying from the possibilities. I love to hear that we have more options.
Day 69 today. It is pretty dang cold up here in Palo Alto, in the 50s. I was in the Cancer Center for my morning appointment, and the doc and I agreed that I could come in 12/22 and then next on 12/29 (Day 90). So that means we can leave the apartment on 12/22 and move back to SLO! The only monkey wrench dangling is if the tests on 12/29 don't go well and they find some leukemia, which isn't going to happen. If that did happen, they turn down the immunosuppressant (Prograf) and let the bone marrow hunt down and kill the leukemia, and hope for no side effects to the kidneys, lungs, or liver. They will want me close at hand while they do that.
My weight is steady, my blood counts are steady. My brother Frank took great care of me for a week, had me hiking around a little more, pushed me up to the Stanford Dish. We ate well, lots of brussels sprouts and asparagus, pasta, salmon, and he made a 20000 calorie pecan pie to go with the pecan ice cream. He left Saturday and Dana returned from her reverie.
Mike and George B came by on Saturday for a visit, landing between Frank going and Dana coming. George was taking the arborist exam in SF, so they swung by for a while.
There is an editor, and he is me. If I get enough flak I'll change something, unless I don't. I get to highlight things, hide things, repeat things. I want to make note of the comment Earl about his Uncle Tommy left on the 'Big Eats' post, because it was so poignant and because he doesn't write often. I like to stay positive in writing this blog, but as we approach day 90 with it's scary tests that predict my fate, I have more early morning moments of 'what if?' I have rekindled my hopes by asking the docs what if, and not shying from the possibilities. I love to hear that we have more options.
Just wanted to drop in & say hi, I have been following your Blog for about a month. I am your sister in the Leukemia fight of your life race! Contimue to stay stong & stay postive,
ReplyDeleteSandi
John Da Man,
ReplyDeleteOoh La-La! Fish net stockings too. Wow!
I was going to make some comment about asking if that was a boa constrictor in your jeans. . . ah, I think I just did.
I’m already sending positive waves to the 29th on your calendar. I’m sure you’ll do fine.
Mac
The word here is "inalsd". This is a rather trippy experience for you and all of us! Under macho- mountain man in wikkipedia there is a picture of you. To watch you go through all of the horrors of the illness, the treatment and the recovery has changed many of our lives. It was shocking that you, of all people, had been stricken but here you are. Your fight, analysis, tenderness, anxiety, fear, hope, expectations, ruminations, have all been shared with all of us. I cannot tell you how proud I am to know you, to have you in my life. You are the most amazing person I have ever known. ('course you are married to the bestest friend I have in the whole world so you had to be pretty terrific to start with). Still, YOU ROCK!
ReplyDeleteThe first time you entered Stanford was on my birthday almost four years ago, the 29th is our wedding anniversary, I like the odds. In my prayers, always.
Love to you both, always.
Chrissie
Mac,
ReplyDeleteWhen it's fish net stockings, it's trouser trout, not boa constrictors. Now we will probably get edited. See what you started.
Bleep!
ReplyDelete