The Two Step - Second Round of Chemo Done

It is the 11th of December, a Saturday morning, and I was counting on finishing the second round of chemo (consolidation as the call it) on Friday, but when we arrived at the hospital on Monday, by the time they got us checked in and I finished another CAT scan, the chemo treatment did not start till about 9:PM. I was scheduled for 5 treatment and each ran 24 hours so here I am waiting for the last bag to finish about 9PM tonight......am scheduled to be able to go home tomorrow (Sunday) morning. This round of chemo went much better than the last, I started with a higher blood count this time, last time I was running on zero, and me thinks that made a differerence. I have been able to kinda hold the blood counts pretty good which has all the docs surprised, some say it will kick me in the butt again within the next 7 days but if that happens at least I will be at home and Sharon can keep me going. We are planning for a Bone Marrow Transplant at Oregon Health Science Universith, here in Portland. Maybe first part of January. Events have changed since my condition migrating to AML and that we can have it done here in Portland instead of having to move to Seattle VA for 6 months. What a blessing! The possiblity even exists that my sister Kathy (my donor) could donate her stem cells at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY.....this would allow her to stay at home instead of coming here and the nasty travel at this time of the year....this would be a good thing, although I would dearly love to see her, that could wait till nicer weather. Hope to have an answer to that situation sometime next week......be praying.

I can't say too much for the staff here at Portland VA..... great folks, great attitudes.

I feel prretty good considering what I am doing, really looking forward to getting home and seeing the family again. We had a great Thanksgiving, especially, I think, for me! All our family members were there plus a couple of the nurses that did not have family in the area. Sharon did the dinner and it was one of those perfect times when everything came together hot and ready to eat all at the same time, and everybody was commenting how good it tasted. Sharon has had lots of practice and she really nailed it. One special memory I will never forget is Jen & Dave's baby, and our newest granddaughter, Brooklyn, (6 months old) joinng us for the first time at the dining room table. It is a long rectangular table and Katie, Matt and Bethie's 2 year year old, and Brooklyn were both seated at the end of the table in high chairs. Katie seemed especially into Thanksgiving this year and previously Brookers had always been parked in a one of those nic nac things that babies sleep in, on the other end of the table, but this was the first time that she joined the family group sitting at the table. Happy with a plasting baby spoon in her hand, her usually big blue eyes seemed bigger and brighter that ever, as she seemed to realize that she was was now included in the family group. Every once in a while someone would put a little touch of mashed potatoes and gravy or pumpkin pie on the end of a spoon and let her taste it..... don't you just love those faces they make as they experience new tastes? Well, that scene really touched my heart and I will never forget it. A great time was had by all!

I would like to add a little analogy using my old friends from the land of Brer Rabbit..... but I divest from one of the traditional story lines to make a point of my own, but using these friends of mine.

You will remember, I see me as Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox (and cronies) as the the disease that is trying to get me. Well, it seems that one day Brer Rabbit was feeling pretty good about his self, so far he been side steppin every trap Brer Fox been settin for him.....coursin, he knows he ain't been doing that on his own, he knows that there been lots of folks who been helpin and thinkin good thoughts and watchin out for.him......couse, sometimes his own uppity way trys to take over but so far, he been able push that down. This day the sun was shining and those uppity ways was just a pokin out all over, he was kickin up his heels and doing this and doin that......he was sittin down in his laughin place and looks up in the tree and low and behold there sits his ole friend Brer Owl.....jus a sittin ther and watchin him. Now everybody knows Owl is very wise, some say he has a special purpose, given to him by the Creator Himself to watch over all the Brer Folks that knows the Creator story.....Brer Rabbit, he fancies hisself as one of those folks that always loves to listen to the Creator stories as told by Owl.......Morning says Rabbibt to Owl....how uz been? Ain't seen you in a coons age. Owl says morning Rabbit, I been watchin you all along....I been keepin real busy trying to keep you otta trouble........Rabbit says "You is?" "I dunt know that!" Brer Owl says, there lots of things you dunt know Rabbit......but know this.....there ain't nuffin that goes on that ain't seen......there ain't nuffin that goes on that ain't allowed and the Creator cares for all His folks more that you could ever know..... so jus ferguet them uppity ways and watch one day ats a time as to whuts happnin and keep listnin to the stories of the Creator and you will see ur little Laughin Place start gettin bigger and brighter. Now Rabbit.......he ain't no fool.....he likes the sound of that so wif a fresh attitide, he jus Zippy Do Dah down the road knowin that Ain't nuffin that going to happen that ain't spose to be.