It appears I reached my nadir day, the low point after all the chemotherapy to destroy my immune system. Although my hemoglobin was still OK (11.1) my total white blood cells are at less than 100 and my neutrophils (good guys) are too low to count. My platelets (the blood cells that allow my blood to clot) were just above 20,000, so I suppose I am looking at a platelet transfusion tomorrow. We are now at the point where the field has been plowed and all the weeds removed. It is up to Kevin’s stem cells to “seed the field” with new cells to grow the leukocytes (white blood cells), platelets, red blood cells, neutrophils, and other cells and form a new immune system. This is called engraftment, and can take two to four weeks.
During this time, it is open season on old Mick, for every type of opportunistic infection, fungus, and or virus on the mean streets of downtown Elwin McKellar. During this time, I will have a simulated immune system, and be taking every precaution we can imagine and implement. During this time, we wait, pray, and hope I don’t even get my feelings hurt...:-)
We walked to the hospital for my daily checkup and back, most of it underground (fortunately) because it was both chilly and snowy here in Rochester. I felt like the Engergizer Bunny’s sick cousin the Totally-Hosed Hare. My batteries are low at the moment, mostly because my body is dealing with so much at once. I am sleeping well as can be expected. I asked the doctor about my energy level, and she just remarked that a lot is going on in there at the moment, and just do what you can.
I was proud to make the entire walk without the use of a wheelchair. Even if my butt is dragging when we get back, it feels better than having to be pushed along. I credit your prayers, good thoughts, and the wonderful e-mails, notes, and cards for keeping me shiny-side-up and trundling along.
Marian is dealing well with the total boredom vs. potential terror thing. It helps that she can walk to Mass at St. John the Evangelist Parish, four blocks from here. It is also good she can keep her sense of humor, as mine tends to vanish from time to time.
Clean Up In Lakewood, TN
The community is coming together to clean up the mess after a terrible storm I mentioned yesterday. To see a video about the clean up, click here. Again, prayers really help.
Tomorrow is Day +6, and with tomorrow’s check up, I should receive my last injection of methotrexate -- a chemotherapy drug to help tame hyper active T-cells and keep my meds at therapeutic, rather than toxic levels.
Hope to have even more good news on the morrow. Best I get some rest and start up my thank you prayers for the evening.
Thank you all,
Mick