April 2, 2011 1:20 PM

Arrived safely! The anticipated huge snowstorm fizzled out and we really didn't have much at all. So the ride to New York was on wet roads only with rain or a rain/snow mix coming down periodically. I say ride instead of drive because my wife drove all the way as she doesn't like me to drive with my eyes loaded with ointments and drops. It's true that periodically I have to put stuff in my eyes and doing it while driving is not necessarily the wisest thing to do. I know that you can pull over and do it. But that is such an inconvenience. However, the reward at the end of the trip was well worth it. To see old(long time friends) and reconnect after about a year is really great. In, fact, in another half hour, other friends are going to stop over and add to hat we anticipate to being a great day. Tomorrow we go back to our old New York church and reconnect with whoever is still left after over 29 years. We can never truly go home again; but we can rekindle old memories and good times and catch up with what's happebed over the years. All of it making for a wonderful time that we feel blessed to be able to have the opportunity to enjoy. Life is still very good... Bob

April 1, 2011 12:10 AM

I wish it were all an April Fool's joke! Both the weather and mybattle with my mail order prescription provider. Out of the two, the snow that is currently following is the biggest joke. Presently, it is only collecting on the grass so we can only hope that by morning we will be able to get underway, as planned, to visit our friends in New York where it is apparently raining at this time. My battle with the precription provider is so ridiculous that you would think it to be a joke. I wish it were. Two of my 90 day prescriptions are close to running out and I have changed prescription services as of January 1st - going from my company insurance to Medicare. My company insurance would have run out in a month when my long term disability ends and I get laid off. This way, I maintain health insurance coverage no matter what. Anyway. I e-mailed my doctor's assistant two weeks ago stating the situation. On Wednesday, not hearing anything, with the precious days ticking away, I re-sent the e-mail and included my doctor as well. This time I suggested just cutting the two prescriptions that I neeeded to my local pharmacy in order to save vital time. My insurance company approved one(the much cheaper one, of course) and rejected the other. The other, more important one, is my immuno-suppressant. As you can imagine - a very expensive drug. Upon calling them, I found out that the reason was that the drug is not approved by the FDA for AML! The woman that I spoke to said that she would provide an override to allow me to get a 30 day supply. Whwn I called the pharmacy, they told me that when they called the insurance company that the woman "misspoke" (like the politicians do) and that my plan did not support reciving a 30 day supply. PLUS, they would need my doctor to call them and explain what the drug was to be used for. So here I am with the insurance company telling me that I can't have a drug that I have been taking for over two years. So, thirty days or ninety days was really a moot point. Meanwhile, my current supply is growing shorter while an insurance company regulates my access to medications that should be under a doctor's control only. Long story short. My doctor properly authorizes the drug and I can get a short term supply tomorrow. Great nes=ws! In the meantime, he e-mailed me back and stated (correctly so) that the drug is used to combat graft vs host diease(GVHD) as is the prednisone that I take. The ironic part of all of this is that the insurance company is right! NO drugs have ever been approved by the FDA to fight GVHD! Based upon the insurance company's logic, I should have had the bone marrow transplant and placed myself in a position where (if I got real lucky) I might actually survive this thing. What is wrong with this system? Let the physicians physic(is that a word?) and the prescription companies honor their requests so that we have a fighting chance to overcome our infirmaties. Yes, the battle is won. Now I have to see if they have properly approved my getting a 90 day supply. If so, the war has been won also, What a frustraing two days this has been. Anyway. Putting all that aside, we are eagerly looking forward to our trip to New York for the weekend regardless what mother nature has chosen to throw at us. Wish us well... Bob

March 31, 2011 12:35 AM

Everything's high but me! Triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure! All caused by that "miracle" drug prednisone. That's the verdict from my regular doctor after my visit today. The net result - I now have to take a pill to handle my elevated blood pressure. This will all continue for at least the next five weeks as I don't visit my oncologist until then. From someone who had absolutely nothing wrong(other than just leukemia) three years ago, this is quite a turn of events. However, as I ultimately wind down to zero with the prednisone, the expectation is that it will all go away. Overall bottom line - I'm still alive! I can't ask for more than that. Likewise, the weather has conspired against us as well. On Friday, we are scheduled to travel to New York to visit friends. So what happens on April Fool's Day? A Nor'easter that is expected to dump over a foot of heavy, wet snow. We'll see what Friday looks like and travel accordingly. As long as the roads are OK - we'll make a run for it. What makes it all so unpleasant is the fact that we have had no snow for quite a while now and the one day that we need to go somewhere is the day that it strikes. And, of course, who would have figured on over a foot of snow for April? That about does it for now. Weather and travel updates to come... Bob

March 27, 2011 9:30 PM

Another milestone day! This is my 700th posting! I nver figured that it would go this long. But with days like today, it is fairly easy to make a posting and, thus, no reason not to. As I said in my last posting, today was the occasion for the annual cancer survivors brunch. There is nothing more uplifting than to see a room full of upbeat and positive cancer survivors - some still with active cancers and still undergoing treatment. But no one was discouraged, depressed, or otherwise begrudging their situation. However, the most emotional moment came when my first doctor got up to give her speech. As I have said before - she is sonething special. She is a compassionate, caring, knowledgeable, and empathetic person who is beloved by all her patients. So much so, that when she got up to speak, she received a lengthy, standing ovation that obviously affected her very much. At the end of the speech and the question and answer session, she was given another standing ovation followed by someone from the audience going to the podium and putting into words what everyone was conveying by the clapping of hands. To see the emotional connection between this doctor and her patients was breathtaking. It brings you back to the days when the practice of medicine was so much more personal than it is today. Now, I can say that all of my other doctors have been excellent. But, they are not at her level when it comes to the entire package. The compassion and empathy are missing. The program concluded with a cancer survivor woman speaking about her journey and the humorous moments that she has had along the way. Very funny. Very uplifting. Very inspiring. I found that taking your situation and making the most of it brought out the best in all those around me and she echoed that sentiment completely. A wonderul time in my journey and a day to remember... Bob