March 25, 2009 10:45 PM 64 days to go

The earlier really says it all. But as I mentioned, there is more to the story for those of you who might be interested in getting the full scoop.

My blood counts, as usual, were on the money and the nurse practioner, who we saw today, says that they indicate that my body is making its own blood cells just fine. Just to let you know, not everything is fully back to "normal", but it is where it's supposed be at this point in time.

As for the 98% number - they were looking at anything in in excess of 70% as being OK. So we are way above the benchmark. Some of you have already asked if the number will go to 100%. I guess that my wife and I were bowled over by the great news that we heard because we never asked that question. There was also one other funky number that my wife and I did not fully grasp that they were looking at 40% as a target and I was at 70%. So everything is tracking perfectly at this point in time. They will, however, do another chimera test in a month to make sure that I am maintaining the status quo. This is no big deal as it is simply a blood test - not the pain in the butt that a bone marrow biopsy is.

And to know that there is no sign of the cancer anywhere has been a great relief. Since we could not go out to dinner to celebrate, my wife stopped at the supermarket and bought a couple of lobsters. They were somewhat expensive - but worth every penny of it!

When you add to all of the great news, as detailed above, the fact that I am suffering no side effects from anything at this point in time, one could not ask for a better situation given the circumstances. The nurse basically said that I am sailing through this part of the recovery process as well as I have sailed through the 2 rounds of chemo that I had earlier on.

I thank you all so much for your prayers and support. We are winning battle after battle at this point so, hopefully, that translates into winning the war as well.

One little side comment. With the warmer weather approaching, I have to be very careful about not getting a sunburn. Obviously, a sunburn triggers a reaction by the body to overcome it and, according to the nurse, with my immune system being compromised I don't have all the resources to fight an I leave myself open to infection. So I guess that I will have to forego being that bronzed Adonis for this summer. But there will be others.

I think that about says it all for this milestone day on my way to making a full recovery.

Thank you all again...

Bob