The day could have started a little better, but it ended fine.
I have not had cereal for breakfast for quite a while and, obviously, this means milk as well. Upon concluding the meal, I had another bout with nausea. My concern at the moment was that I might be suffering from a touch of lactose intolerance. But, none of my drugs produces that side effect. It was definitely nothing systemic as I felt fine after the incident and, as I mentioned above, the rest of the day was fine.
Of course, in the grand scheme of things, this is nothing. But, in the interest of fair reporting, I could see no reason to suppress the information.
With the nice weather, I did get a chance to see one of my granddaughters play soccer today. It is nice to be able to participate in some of life's activities again. These moments certainly are special as they very well could have been denied to me.
I did forget to mention one other item from yesterday. As I did say, our priest came to visit yesterday. A few years ago, I asked for and was granted the pulpit on a Sunday morning. Yesterday, I asked him if it would be possible to do it a second time when I finally have the opportunity to return to church. He nicely acceded to my request as I hoped that he would. I was counting my chickens, I admit, because I have already written most of what I wish to say. Of course, we still have a long way to go but the bulk of the activity and the meaningful moments have already occurred. My walk has exhibited many, many instances where God's presence has obviously been there. And, most importantly, I would not feel that my journey was complete unless I took the pulpit. It would always bother me if I could not obtain that closure.
So much for today's entry. I hope and pray that all is well with each of you...
Bob
May 15, 2009 11:00 PM 13 days to go
It's a "lucky" 13 for me as today is my "real" birthday. Like most of us, I don't need to be reminded that I am a year older. But, the day does come, nevertheless, and you might as well own up to it.
As part of the celebration festivities, my wife had many people send me birthday cards and they ranged in tone from the funny to the serious to the singing kind. I wish to thank all of you who took the time to respond to her request and forwarded cards to me. It certainly added to the enjoyment of the day and it was somewhat mind boggling to see the number of cards that were sent. Secondly, she invited a group of church friends from our foyer group over to enjoy a meal of frozen pizza(that's all that you can do at this point!) and birthday cake.
They tell you to enjoy every day and to look at it as a gift at this point in my life. To tell you the truth, I do not necessarily think of that every day. However, on special occasions like today, the thought does cross my mind that there was a distinct possibility that I would not see the day. These days are special to me and I am so grateful that I have been blessed to continue to see them.
Also, my priest came by this afternoon and we did have communion which also added to the day.
For someone who cannot get out, it was a wonderful day. How we will celebrate birthday #2(February 17th), I don't know.
Again, thank you all so much for contributing to the day...
Bob
As part of the celebration festivities, my wife had many people send me birthday cards and they ranged in tone from the funny to the serious to the singing kind. I wish to thank all of you who took the time to respond to her request and forwarded cards to me. It certainly added to the enjoyment of the day and it was somewhat mind boggling to see the number of cards that were sent. Secondly, she invited a group of church friends from our foyer group over to enjoy a meal of frozen pizza(that's all that you can do at this point!) and birthday cake.
They tell you to enjoy every day and to look at it as a gift at this point in my life. To tell you the truth, I do not necessarily think of that every day. However, on special occasions like today, the thought does cross my mind that there was a distinct possibility that I would not see the day. These days are special to me and I am so grateful that I have been blessed to continue to see them.
Also, my priest came by this afternoon and we did have communion which also added to the day.
For someone who cannot get out, it was a wonderful day. How we will celebrate birthday #2(February 17th), I don't know.
Again, thank you all so much for contributing to the day...
Bob
May 14, 2009 10:20 PM 14 days to go
Wow! It's now down to 2 weeks! Whoda thunk it!
The time does fly when you're having fun.
Of course, I am feeling fine except for the fact that I am now in waiting mode for another delivery of meds from our wonderful internat provider. They, of course, have chosen the most effective delivery service that they could find - our beloved US Postal Service. The quote is 2 to five business days and yesterday was the ship date. Place your bets on 5 or more!
Other than that, there's really not a lot to talk about. I still continue to defy the odds. As someone said to me today, I should play the lottery. But, I am already winning the lottery that I need to win and that's good enough for me. Not to say that we don't buy a lottery ticket - but, of course, we never win anything.
That's about all for today, the hockey game is getting down to the end and it's all tied.
Gotta see the finish...
Bob
The time does fly when you're having fun.
Of course, I am feeling fine except for the fact that I am now in waiting mode for another delivery of meds from our wonderful internat provider. They, of course, have chosen the most effective delivery service that they could find - our beloved US Postal Service. The quote is 2 to five business days and yesterday was the ship date. Place your bets on 5 or more!
Other than that, there's really not a lot to talk about. I still continue to defy the odds. As someone said to me today, I should play the lottery. But, I am already winning the lottery that I need to win and that's good enough for me. Not to say that we don't buy a lottery ticket - but, of course, we never win anything.
That's about all for today, the hockey game is getting down to the end and it's all tied.
Gotta see the finish...
Bob
May 13, 2009 10:00 PM 15 days to go
It was a beautiful day weatherwise and at the clinic!
As usual, my counts were great. When I questioned the doctor about how well I was doing, he said that, obviously, I was doing great because, up to this point, I have had no side effects from the transplant. But, he cautioned me that during this phase many others(though certainly not all by any means) have also undergone no side effects. He said that the real battle is just about to begin.
Next Wednesday, I begin the weaning off of the immuno-suppressants - first one and then the other. The first one is currently a 2 mg dose twice a day. To this he commented that it was already a low dose but it will be reduced monthly by .5 mg. Thus it will take 4 months to get off of this drug - if all goes well. The second drug will then take another 2 months before I am weaned off of that one. So, we are looking at 6 months here - the end of November is currently the goal. During this time period, they expect me to exhibit some graft vs host disease side effects - but it is still possible to navigate through the 6 months and have none.
When I also questioned him as to the new rules after the 100 days is completed, he stated that the only changes would be dietary in nature. No crowds; watch out for people who suffer from colds, flu, etc; no hands-on contact with people; etc. would all still be in affect. We still have a long way to go.
Basically, the doctor said today that we take each good day as it comes. It gets us closer to the end - and having no problems is just the frosting on the cake.
I'll take that...
Bob
As usual, my counts were great. When I questioned the doctor about how well I was doing, he said that, obviously, I was doing great because, up to this point, I have had no side effects from the transplant. But, he cautioned me that during this phase many others(though certainly not all by any means) have also undergone no side effects. He said that the real battle is just about to begin.
Next Wednesday, I begin the weaning off of the immuno-suppressants - first one and then the other. The first one is currently a 2 mg dose twice a day. To this he commented that it was already a low dose but it will be reduced monthly by .5 mg. Thus it will take 4 months to get off of this drug - if all goes well. The second drug will then take another 2 months before I am weaned off of that one. So, we are looking at 6 months here - the end of November is currently the goal. During this time period, they expect me to exhibit some graft vs host disease side effects - but it is still possible to navigate through the 6 months and have none.
When I also questioned him as to the new rules after the 100 days is completed, he stated that the only changes would be dietary in nature. No crowds; watch out for people who suffer from colds, flu, etc; no hands-on contact with people; etc. would all still be in affect. We still have a long way to go.
Basically, the doctor said today that we take each good day as it comes. It gets us closer to the end - and having no problems is just the frosting on the cake.
I'll take that...
Bob
May 12, 2009 10:05 PM 16 days to go
Another usual day for me as we get ready to rise early tomorrow morning and go to the clinic for our weekly Wednesday visit.
There really is nothing much to comment about today. All that I can say is that there is still a long way to go here even though it seems that I am in the home stretch. The next few weeks will see the start of the next phase as the 100 days draw to a close(ya-hoo!!!) At that point it will really get uneventful as I start to wind down on the immuno-suppressants.
I do thank those of you who continue to follow my progress through this rather boring time. But, I still need and appreciate all the support that each of continues to provide.
Even though they are uneventful, I thank God for that status and relish each day that I have been given.
Bob
There really is nothing much to comment about today. All that I can say is that there is still a long way to go here even though it seems that I am in the home stretch. The next few weeks will see the start of the next phase as the 100 days draw to a close(ya-hoo!!!) At that point it will really get uneventful as I start to wind down on the immuno-suppressants.
I do thank those of you who continue to follow my progress through this rather boring time. But, I still need and appreciate all the support that each of continues to provide.
Even though they are uneventful, I thank God for that status and relish each day that I have been given.
Bob
May 11, 2009 10:50 PM 17 days to go
Another easy day for me.
Our friends came over this afternoon and we played bridge - which was great! It felt really nice to get the old brain cells working for a while(notice the emphasis on the old)! And to talk about what's going on in other people's lives was interesting. At least other people have interesting lives - my current existence is far from that.
I logged on to work today - something I do every few weeks just to get a rough idea of what's going on. Anyway, now that I have started my long term disability, I find that I am supposed to turn in my company laptop and that my company e-mail will now suspended along with my company telephone. I guess that you become a non-employee in their eyes at that point. My only question is - how do I notify anyone when I'm supposed to return to work? But, if that's the way that they want it - so be it!
A remark made by the doctor last week came to mind today and it really bolsters my confidence in the choice that I made where I wanted to have my treatment done. He said that Dana-Farber has been doing bone marrow transplants for 30 years. Earlier, one doctor said that they were number 2 in the world for bone marrow transplants. The quality of my treatment has certainly been testimony to the years and amount of experience that they have. I have never once regretted my decision.
It's coming up to Wednesday again and I fully expect another non-event to occur. Only 3 more weekly Wednesday visits before the monthly visits start - that'll be another nice milestone to reach.
So much for today...
Bob
Our friends came over this afternoon and we played bridge - which was great! It felt really nice to get the old brain cells working for a while(notice the emphasis on the old)! And to talk about what's going on in other people's lives was interesting. At least other people have interesting lives - my current existence is far from that.
I logged on to work today - something I do every few weeks just to get a rough idea of what's going on. Anyway, now that I have started my long term disability, I find that I am supposed to turn in my company laptop and that my company e-mail will now suspended along with my company telephone. I guess that you become a non-employee in their eyes at that point. My only question is - how do I notify anyone when I'm supposed to return to work? But, if that's the way that they want it - so be it!
A remark made by the doctor last week came to mind today and it really bolsters my confidence in the choice that I made where I wanted to have my treatment done. He said that Dana-Farber has been doing bone marrow transplants for 30 years. Earlier, one doctor said that they were number 2 in the world for bone marrow transplants. The quality of my treatment has certainly been testimony to the years and amount of experience that they have. I have never once regretted my decision.
It's coming up to Wednesday again and I fully expect another non-event to occur. Only 3 more weekly Wednesday visits before the monthly visits start - that'll be another nice milestone to reach.
So much for today...
Bob
May 10, 2009 10:05 PM 18 days to go
Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers. Us dads will have our day in another 6 weeks. It was a good day. As I mentioned before my mother-in-law was here as well as my wife's side of the family.
Everyone is pleased to see that I am doing so well and that I am around for these celebrations. Of course, questions still abound about what the significance of the 100 days is. And, to be honest with you, we could not answer them all. So, with a few weeks to go before the time is up, we'll get the answers. Questions such as how big is a crowd? How about alcohol? If people are willing to use sanitary hand wash, can such things as church be on the agenda?
We're looking forward to having company tomorrow and playing cards.
It's nice to have good friends...
Bob
Everyone is pleased to see that I am doing so well and that I am around for these celebrations. Of course, questions still abound about what the significance of the 100 days is. And, to be honest with you, we could not answer them all. So, with a few weeks to go before the time is up, we'll get the answers. Questions such as how big is a crowd? How about alcohol? If people are willing to use sanitary hand wash, can such things as church be on the agenda?
We're looking forward to having company tomorrow and playing cards.
It's nice to have good friends...
Bob
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