Another first!
Today we had two doctors appointments - first at Dana-Farber and then a quick trp over to Mass Eye and Ear. Even better - they were both highly successful!
At Dana-Farber, my counts were perfectly normal. So much so that my prednisone was cut from 40 mg/per day down to 30 and my next appontment was oncwe again set for three months. Ground Hog Day has been set for the next one with the expectation that the day will not be repeated over and over until we get it right!
At Mass Eye and Ear my eyes were deemed to definitely be getiing better. This does not mean that I am doing well on my way to getting back to "normal" but I am most certainly far better thatn I was even two weeks ago. The end result is that the bandage lens that I was wearing for the past two weeks is now gone along with one of my eye medications. The inflammation in both eyes was deemed to be reduced and I, once again, had tears. However, it was basically at the same level as before which is OK but certainly not a huge step forward. More importantly, my next appointment is now set for five weeks from now.
Al in all, a great day at both places as I get set to mark the two year anniversary of my firat hospital stay at Brigham and Women's Hospital. November 4th was the day and chemotherapy was the game. It's hard to vbelieve that so much has gone on since then. Evereyone says that Ihave endured so much - but I don't feel that way. As we all know, I have escaped so much which seems to make this journey somewhat surreal. Howso? Well, the time has gone by and I basically have done everything that I've wanted to do without giving a second thought to my condition because I have not suffered at all. What a great way to be! I don't feel guilty about it either. As I've said before - why me? I guess that it's just a lesson in having to learn to accept God's grace and just continue on with life.
But, it's hard to accept without feeling the need to say thank you in some fashion. As such, y third "First Connection" call has been very dificult as the party is never there when I call. Multiple calls over the past two weeks have yielded no results - but I'll press on.
I also finished my bathroom makeover for my wife's friend. It looks nice in my eyes with the check looking even nicer. That's the good news! The bad news is that I no longer have anything to do and I know that I'll ge bored to tears.
Oh well...
Bob
November 1, 2010 11:55 PM
Rejected!
Well, at least not selected. Today was jury day and it was very interesting. There were only two ways to get out of it. One was to not be selected and the other was to rely on the judge to excuse me. The rules in New Hampshire are a lot stricter now and oly a judge can excuse you from jury duty. Fortunately, I was not selected because the case we were sitting for was a rape case that would take anywhere from three to four days which would have conflicted with Wednesday's two doctors appointments.
However, I have to return on the 15th for the second and last time. Hopefully, I can dodge another bullet there as well.
As for my eyes, I can see noticeable improvement and I'm looking forward to having that lens removed from my right eye on Wednesday to see just how much I have improved. But, the bluriness seems to be gone and it's only somewhat cloudy at this time.
Not much else to say other than to mention that tomorrow is election day.
If you don't vote, don't complain...
Bob
Well, at least not selected. Today was jury day and it was very interesting. There were only two ways to get out of it. One was to not be selected and the other was to rely on the judge to excuse me. The rules in New Hampshire are a lot stricter now and oly a judge can excuse you from jury duty. Fortunately, I was not selected because the case we were sitting for was a rape case that would take anywhere from three to four days which would have conflicted with Wednesday's two doctors appointments.
However, I have to return on the 15th for the second and last time. Hopefully, I can dodge another bullet there as well.
As for my eyes, I can see noticeable improvement and I'm looking forward to having that lens removed from my right eye on Wednesday to see just how much I have improved. But, the bluriness seems to be gone and it's only somewhat cloudy at this time.
Not much else to say other than to mention that tomorrow is election day.
If you don't vote, don't complain...
Bob
October 31, 2010 11:55 PM
Halloween!
A day to look at and dispel ghosts, goblins, poltergeists, and other evil spirits. For me, it will always be the day that I was told that I had a less than 50% chance to live!
Two years ago, I made my first visit to Dana-Farber on this day for the doctor to tell me what lie in store for me in the way of treatment. Round one consisted of several rounds of chemotherapy to (hopefully) put my cancer into remission and then a bone marrow transplant that would (again, hopefully) serve asthe knockout punch.
At the conclusion of the visit, I asked the doctor what my chances might be and she said about 35%. At the time, I was feeling fine. This got me a reprieve to go home and enjoy my last weekend before chemo began the following week. The doctor also said that if immediate treatment did not begin I would not feel so well in a few weeks and, if no treatment began, in about six weeks I would not be around. It was hard to fathom that such a decline could occur so fast when I felt fairly healthy. The key word is "felt" for, obviously, I was not very healthy. What an insidious disease that really did not appear to be too debilitating for me and, yet, in a few short weeks could have terminated my life.
Was I afraid? The answer is no. I had faith in the treatment regimen that the doctors were prescribing and I had faith that God would be there every step of the way regardless of the final outcome. To get where I am today, in the manner that I have done so, is way beyond the wildest of my expectations. A little bump here and there but I have nothing to complain about.
My life is very satisfying at this point and I am extremely grateful that I have the opportunity to enjoy this time that I have been granted.
Trick or treat is what we say on this day. No trick for me, I got the treat. Thank you God...
Bob
A day to look at and dispel ghosts, goblins, poltergeists, and other evil spirits. For me, it will always be the day that I was told that I had a less than 50% chance to live!
Two years ago, I made my first visit to Dana-Farber on this day for the doctor to tell me what lie in store for me in the way of treatment. Round one consisted of several rounds of chemotherapy to (hopefully) put my cancer into remission and then a bone marrow transplant that would (again, hopefully) serve asthe knockout punch.
At the conclusion of the visit, I asked the doctor what my chances might be and she said about 35%. At the time, I was feeling fine. This got me a reprieve to go home and enjoy my last weekend before chemo began the following week. The doctor also said that if immediate treatment did not begin I would not feel so well in a few weeks and, if no treatment began, in about six weeks I would not be around. It was hard to fathom that such a decline could occur so fast when I felt fairly healthy. The key word is "felt" for, obviously, I was not very healthy. What an insidious disease that really did not appear to be too debilitating for me and, yet, in a few short weeks could have terminated my life.
Was I afraid? The answer is no. I had faith in the treatment regimen that the doctors were prescribing and I had faith that God would be there every step of the way regardless of the final outcome. To get where I am today, in the manner that I have done so, is way beyond the wildest of my expectations. A little bump here and there but I have nothing to complain about.
My life is very satisfying at this point and I am extremely grateful that I have the opportunity to enjoy this time that I have been granted.
Trick or treat is what we say on this day. No trick for me, I got the treat. Thank you God...
Bob
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