December 23, 2008 9:30

The big family event for the day is that it's my mother's birthday today. Somewhat of a bummer to have your birthday 2 days before Christmas but I think that that is more than offset by the fact that she is still able to celebrate them!

Anyway, during the conversation about some of the limitations that I will face during the bone marrow transplant phase, I commented that I will initially not be able to have pastry and baked goods from the outside - thus eliminating Dunkin' Donuts doughnuts. She responded by saying, "That's OK, Nancy will make doughnuts for you!" I thought that that was a brilliant idea! However, my wife took exception to the suggestion and threatened to disown her.

They called from the hospital today and gave me my Friday appointment schedule up until January 23rd. Basically each appointment has the following format. Arrive early and have the blood work done and then look at the counts. If everything is OK, I am informed of that and can go home. If not, then whatever needs to be administered has to be ordered at that time. Then, hopefully, three hours after the blood work was done, the appropriate fluid(s) will be administered and then I get to go home. This activity could take an hour or two as well - so Fridays could possibly be very long days. Something to look forward to! Mondays will be the same except that they will be done in Manchester and not Boston. Boy, I sure hope that Santa brings me a portable game player for Christmas! More than likely, however, I'll get a month's supply of No Doz!

As a final reward for surviving all the other appointments, on the 23rd I have another bone marrow biopsy scheduled. I can hardly wait!

So, I guess that I will be home for the next month. But it is where I have to be as my counts sink once again and I really cannot be out in public until they begin to come back (obviously hospital visits are the exception). This will probably take about 3 weeks time to happen.

The other major event of the day was that I got to eat home cooked food once again - you just don't appreciate how good that is until you are deprived of it!

Until tomorrow.....

Bob