January 21, 2009 11:15 PM

Having called the health insurance company as I said that I would yesterday, the women on the other end of the line remained unflappable. She claimed that no mistake had been made and that the double charged items had been paid for only once. Try as I may to get an understanding as to why my statement was so incorrect, she basically told me to ignore it and go by the company's web sit which shows the bill only being paid once. I am still a little dumfounded that the statement could be so wrong and that the insurance company will make no effort to correct it!

At the lab this morning, they took 24 tubes of blood. This was an alltime record for me, but the fellow who drew the blood said that he had done as many as 42 in the past! Also when I asked to get my results, because of the large number of tubes, the blood results were far more inclusive than what I normally see. Knowing that I am such a stickler for following good health practices(burgers, fries, regular sodas, gravy, stuffing, sweets, etc.), my wife was a little put out to see that my cholesterol level was 153 - well below the 200 number that they look for. Likewise, they did a urinalysis and that came out fine as well. So, basically every test that has been run, I have been able to pass with flying colors. As the doctor said later on, it's all in the genes.

After the lab session, we spoke to the social worker who really did not offer much new information to us. But she did say that the bone marrow specialist that I have(Dr. Joseph Antin), is world famous which is sure a comforting thought. In fact, he heads the Stem Cell Transplant Program of the Department of Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber.

The day concluded with a meeting with Dr. Antin. He explained the various drugs that are used to prepare for the transplant - which, as was said before, is a reduced intensity transplant. As a quick refresher, this means that the chemo beforehand is not quite as strong and there is no radiation treatment before the transplant either. The transplant itself is exactly the same and the likelihood that it will take is exactly the same as well. The overall difference is that there is more of a possibility for the leukemia to return with the reduced intensity that with the normal transplant procedure. Given the fact that 10 years ago, they would have done little or nothing for someone my age, I'll gladly take my chances. Dr. Antin is also known for being very conservative with his recuperation procedures and has basically laid out a 1 year program before I can get fully back on my feet again.

As we all agreed, however, we have to take it one day at a time because no one can predict the future as to how I'll react to the transplant and the medication that follows. He did say, however, that the goal is to be completely off of immuno-suppressant drugs at the end of the one year period. This is something to strive for! I thought that it was given that I would be taking these drugs for the rest of my life - you learn something new every day!

In the short, there was a further bit of good news in that after Friday's visit to the clinic, I do not have to make any more clinic visits before going into the hospital on February 11th. With my counts being fine, he said that I could take the 2 weeks off. Hallelulia!!

Lastly, I want to thank my coworkers at Nortel for once again sending me a thoughtful card. I know that times are tough there and to think that they will still spend a few moments of their time to think of me is very moving for me. I can't say enough about how much of a boost it gives my spirits. Thank you so very much!

Bob