Ouch!
Yesterday's photophoresis session was a little out of the ordinary in the fact that the nurse initially missed my vein and they had to go probing around with the needle. As you can imagine, it was a little uncomfortable while they manipulated that needle in search of my vein. Even at the end when they removed it, my arm was sore when they put on the bandage. Admittedly, the nurse apologized for the incident but it still didn't ease the physical pain. It's the first time that anyone has had any problems so I can't really complain.
Good news on another front! On Monday, I start with the first of three appointments for my scleral lenses. We'll see how that goes(pardon the pun). They are nicely working around my Wednesday and Thursday photophoresis appointments thus tying up lust about every day over the next two weeks. These appointments are all day affairs so you do not leave until 4 in the afternoon - just when commuter traffic gets underway. Ugh! Fortunately, through health insurance and the generosity of our local Lion's Club, it's all paid for. As you can imagine, as with everything I seem to get involved in, it's expensive. As my wife says, add it all up and I'm becoming the six million dollar man!
Today, friends from New York are coming for a few days. We're looking forward to that. It's nice to touch base and the change of pace will do us good! I just feel a little guilty in that, in my current condition, I can't assist more. However, the goal is that this, too, shall pass and that's what we look forward to.
So, the net result will be that, by the end of the summer, I expect to see improvement in several areas. Not that I'm wishing the time and all that good weather away, mind you. I like summer even though I cannot have much exposure to the sun. The warm weather, the beautiful flowers, the images of life all around you - summer is so much better than the cold reality of winter.
Thank God I can still experience them all...
Bob
July 13, 2011 11:45 PM
$10,000!
We got our first statements for the photophoresis treatments that I am undergoing and saw that EACH visit cost just over $10,000! Since I already have 12 under my belt and, at least, another 13 to go - this is going to be a costly venture. Thank God for medical insurance! And, to think, there are people there who have done this for years!
Upon looking at that, my wife and I thought that it would be a good idea to buy a couple of machines for our basement and start giving the treatments ourselves. What a money maker! The set up cost is only $1,200 per visit so there's a hefty profit to be made even when other expenses(such as liability insurance, trained help, etc.) are factored in.
Otherwise, a quiet two days withour usual trip to Boston this morning with the second one coming up tomorrow morning. Getting up at 5 AM is no pleasure but it beats fighting evening commuter traffic going home by a long shot.
As for my son, he goes for surgery on Friday to fix his ruptured quad. For this week, he has figured out a way to drive so he has driven himself to work every day. Even though he can't move his knee, he can still move his foot so that he can properly drive. The doctor said that evryone in his situation adjusts and comes up with a way to drive. After the surgery, he will most certainly be out of commission for a while as he will not be able to flex his knee at all.
Still feeling the same. The eyes seem to have stabilized with some days being a little better than others. This is good news because there really are times when I don't think about them at all. As for being somewhat tired and weak, that's par for the course and won't go away for a while. Meanwhile, I still get around and do what needs to be done. As the saying goes for all of us, "You do what you have to do." Not as catchy as "Live Fee or Die" (our state's motto), but it is more personal.
Gotta go, 5 AM comes up real quick...
Bob
We got our first statements for the photophoresis treatments that I am undergoing and saw that EACH visit cost just over $10,000! Since I already have 12 under my belt and, at least, another 13 to go - this is going to be a costly venture. Thank God for medical insurance! And, to think, there are people there who have done this for years!
Upon looking at that, my wife and I thought that it would be a good idea to buy a couple of machines for our basement and start giving the treatments ourselves. What a money maker! The set up cost is only $1,200 per visit so there's a hefty profit to be made even when other expenses(such as liability insurance, trained help, etc.) are factored in.
Otherwise, a quiet two days withour usual trip to Boston this morning with the second one coming up tomorrow morning. Getting up at 5 AM is no pleasure but it beats fighting evening commuter traffic going home by a long shot.
As for my son, he goes for surgery on Friday to fix his ruptured quad. For this week, he has figured out a way to drive so he has driven himself to work every day. Even though he can't move his knee, he can still move his foot so that he can properly drive. The doctor said that evryone in his situation adjusts and comes up with a way to drive. After the surgery, he will most certainly be out of commission for a while as he will not be able to flex his knee at all.
Still feeling the same. The eyes seem to have stabilized with some days being a little better than others. This is good news because there really are times when I don't think about them at all. As for being somewhat tired and weak, that's par for the course and won't go away for a while. Meanwhile, I still get around and do what needs to be done. As the saying goes for all of us, "You do what you have to do." Not as catchy as "Live Fee or Die" (our state's motto), but it is more personal.
Gotta go, 5 AM comes up real quick...
Bob
July 12, 2011 12:15 AM
Many thanks to my daughter!
Having been made aware of the Tufts 10K road race coming up this fall and being aware of my part in the postcard marketing campaign, one of my daughters has decided that she will actually run in the race! The effort is to collect donations for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society which supports blood cancer patients in a wide variety of ways. Each runner needs sponsors in order to be able to compete.
My daughter has crafted the following e-mail message that explains her efforts and what is involved.
"I am raising funds fo the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society(LLS) as a participant in their Team in Training program and I'm asking you to help by making a donation to my fundraising campaign.
Of course, this is in homor of my dad, Robert Johnson, who is almost a three year survivor! He has been asked to participate whereby his picture and story will be used to promote this raceand to personalize that blood cancer happens to real people! I sure can attest to that!
Please use the link in this email to donate online quickly and securely plus learn more about my program. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/ms/tufts10k11/jparkhurst
Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Nearly 958,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers. I am hoping that my participation in Team in Training will help bring them hope and support.
On behalf of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, thank you very much for your support. I greatly appreciate your generosity.
Thank You,
Jennifer Parkhurst"
Your donation will not directly benefit me in any way but will benefit many other future victims of blood cancer diseases and will make my daughter's efforts all the more worthwhile.
If you feel so inclined to contribute in any way, I also thank you...
Bob
Having been made aware of the Tufts 10K road race coming up this fall and being aware of my part in the postcard marketing campaign, one of my daughters has decided that she will actually run in the race! The effort is to collect donations for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society which supports blood cancer patients in a wide variety of ways. Each runner needs sponsors in order to be able to compete.
My daughter has crafted the following e-mail message that explains her efforts and what is involved.
"I am raising funds fo the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society(LLS) as a participant in their Team in Training program and I'm asking you to help by making a donation to my fundraising campaign.
Of course, this is in homor of my dad, Robert Johnson, who is almost a three year survivor! He has been asked to participate whereby his picture and story will be used to promote this raceand to personalize that blood cancer happens to real people! I sure can attest to that!
Please use the link in this email to donate online quickly and securely plus learn more about my program. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/ms/tufts10k11/jparkhurst
Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Nearly 958,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers. I am hoping that my participation in Team in Training will help bring them hope and support.
On behalf of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, thank you very much for your support. I greatly appreciate your generosity.
Thank You,
Jennifer Parkhurst"
Your donation will not directly benefit me in any way but will benefit many other future victims of blood cancer diseases and will make my daughter's efforts all the more worthwhile.
If you feel so inclined to contribute in any way, I also thank you...
Bob
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