Day +29 "Getting Better All the Time"

No new news today. They haven't taken blood since Thursday, but we're scheduled for tomorrow, with an infusion. I do feel OK... bodily functions are normal, and I'm eating lotsa good stuff.  Bob made Steak Pizzaiola tonight and it turned out really, really good... excellent, in fact. We had it with a side of Rigatoni.

Later, we took a walk out to the dumpster... a short walk, but we took a walk around the "loop" earlier today. Then we went for a ride in Bob's convertible. Funny, my walker doesn't fit in the car with the top down... it’s one of those convertibles with a hard top that folds into the trunk. When it’s down, there's no room for anything larger than a lunch box. So when we got back I actually walked back to the apt without the help of any external devices. Hey, I didn't fall...  that's progress! I was a little unsteady, but I was able to navigate the short jaunt and correct my unsteadiness myself. We'll do a little bit more as the weeks pile up. I want to be walking by myself before I leave here. 

Bob leaves here tomorrow and Ruth Ann will relieve him. It’s been a great time, rehashing old times, and sharing times we didn’t share… Bob’s time in the Navy, his growing up in downtown Hartford and Wethersfield; My Army time and growing up in Waterbury. What wonderful stories we shared. We share a special bond, Bob and I, and he calls me his “Udder Brudder”, to distinguish me from his real brothers! And he’s a great cook!!!

Day +27 Again, Good Ones.

WOW! Neutrophils at 2270! When you consider they were at 80 just a short time ago, I’m just blown away… and I hope you are, too. The other counts were OK… WBC at 3.78, Hemoglobin at 10.7, but platelets slid to 102. Met with the PA this AM and she said when the counts start coming up, they sometimes bounce around a bit on the way up. I don’t have blood work again until Sunday, so we’ll see what they’re at that time.

I did another .4 mile walk today. Felt pretty good, but I would really like to get rid of these clown feet. When I get out of Becky’s Mini Cooper S, I feel there should be another 15 clowns behind me. The Italian Job… great movie, huh?  Hope you’ve seen it.

I’ve had a new caregiver the past couple of days. Bob and I have been friends for over 30 years and we worked together way back then for a very successful life insurance brokerage firm… that’s where I got my start in wholesaling. Anyway, Bob and I went to Italy together back in ’04. Bob had been there before, several times, and felt significantly knowledgeable to plan the trip… and what a trip he planned! We did Rome, Positano (on the Amalfi Coast), Pompei, and Pontalandolfo… whew… a whirlwind trip in 10 days. In Positano, the girl at the front desk offered to push the beds together for us…”No thank you”!!! We must have been quite a couple all over Italy… the two gay guys from Connecticut.

Bob’s quite a taskmaster (I think I mentioned that last night), and really showed his colors today… eat this, (Shrimp Putenesca last night, steak tonight) drink that, take your pills, yadda yadda. I admit I need the nagging. In my shape I forget stuff… lotsa stuff. I’ll be glad if I get a modicum if my brain cells back, especially the ability to remember the short stuff. That’s why I need a “sponge” with me at Dr’s appointments… either Ruth Ann or Becky… and now Bob!

Hey, have a great day. Luv U all.

Day +25 A Quarter of a Way There!

No new news on the counts. They decided that I didn’t need to have labs drawn every day (They’re probably saving the insurance company money!!). I’ve got a full load of tests scheduled for tomorrow. The D is back… ugh! But we’re trying to manage it. Also, we’re working on the swelling in my legs to try to get that down. It especially bothers me on the bottom of my feet… like I’m walking on someone else’s feet.

Speaking of feet… and inches. My caregiver and I (Becky, Ruth Ann or Bob L who is with me now) have taken an evening walk around the lake here. The folks at the hospital told us that the path was ¼ mile around. So last night, Becky and I did a lap, then I sat on a bench and read my Nook while Becky did another 6 laps. Becky said, “That is NOT  ¼ mile”. So we went in and Becky pulled up a map of the area (actually a satellite picture) and used a program that she has for mapping out running routes. Guess what… the route is .418 mile around. I didn’t believe I could walk, with a walker, for that distance!  And I was going to try to do 3/8 of a mile!

I got a call from an old friend tonight, Charlie Brown (no jokes, please). Charlie’s a Triumph guy… I lived through his resurrection of a TR3A. It’s a head turner now and he can be seen bouncing around the Clearwater/Tampa area. Interestingly enough Charlie’s going to be at Moffitt tomorrow for a checkup and an infusion. We’re going to get to see each other in a very unlikely place, no?

Day +24 Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy

Oh boy, I’m being persecuted for missing yesterday. Well, not persecuted, but I got a couple of calls. Geesh, I’m OK. Actually, better than OK. The “D” is gone, and the Neutrophil count was 1800. Yes, Yes, Yes!!! Problem now is that my ankles are swollen and I’m growing Cankles… like, you know… well, let’s not go there. I wear these really attractive white stockings that are too long… all the way up to my crotch, and then I have to fold some down. I gotta see if they can get me a shorter pair, or I have to get longer legs. Crap, that’s not gonna happen… I got those short Eye-talian legs… better to pick the mushrooms and asparagus.

I talked about the Posse in Orlando, but there has been a posse that goes WAAAAY back... Our N.E. Posse. In fact it started back as far as grammar school. The relationships started that far back. Joe and Joan: Joe’s my 1^st cousin and went to school with Ruth Ann. Pam and Russ: Pam went to school with me (HS), and college with RA; and Russ and I went to grammar school together and played BB at Town Plot park; also Russ was RA’s paper-boy. Tom and Laurie: Laurie went to grammar school and high school with Pam; Tom went to college with Russ. Eddie and Mary Lou: Eddie and Joe have been friends (it’s the Lebanese thing) since they were little guys, and Eddie went to HS with RA and Joe, too. That’s lot of long term relationships!

Ruth Ann and I were reminiscing about a trip to the Jersey shore years ago. There were a bunch of couples… the Posse plus… who had rented a couple of houses close to the shore. Ruth Ann and Becky (just a little kid) and I trucked down there with the trailer and parked it in the back yard of one of the houses. What a fantastic couple of days… including the beach (I got poison ivy trying to do number 1 in the bushes), and a trip to one of those animal parks that you drive through. We piled EVERYBODY into the Suburban… monkeys on the roof, goats climbing on the doors, a giraffe trying to get in through the window. The kids were hysterical. We loved it!

Hope you’re having a great week.

Day +22 : Sound the Gong!!!

We knew it was eventually going to happen and overnight (or maybe the D helped… LOL) but… drum roll please… Neutrophils are FINALLY UP!! I saw the numbers and they confused me so I just listened to the PA and believed what she said! Up far enough that the team has decided to remove some of the antibiotics that I’ve been taking and had infused.  That meant that this morning, for example, I only needed the magnesium, which is wasted by the anti-rejection drugs. We’ll see how the week flushes out, but I may be able to get rid of the central line. THAT piece of equipment is a real pain... has to be kept dry when I shower; shower shields are tearing up my skin. Switched to Glad Press ’n Seal… seems to be working better and no torn off chunks of skin.

The lower GI situation persists, but not as bad as it was. I figure it’s on the wane… wish me luck. I gave them a “sample” today… they want to check for all kinds of stuff. Just let it go away.

Had a visit today from my neighbor and good friend, Mike and his wife Artha. We had a great two hours together. Mike, being my next door neighbor, has assumed the role of chief house watcher. He and Artha are Posse members, and I could never thank Mike enough for what he’s been doing for me… from keeping an eye on the house painter, to taking care of the pool, to helping with the meds for the cats.  He and Art had gone to Sarasota to pick up some glass… Mike is a stained glass wizard… and stopped here in Tampa on the way back to Orlando. Great folks, great visit.

Have a great Sunday.

Day +21 Oooh that hurts

When I left you, we had plans on doing some cooking. Well, by the close of cooking today, we had the chicken soup done (just have to add the noodles or pastina or orzo). The meatballs and sauce are done, and the fazooles have been cooked (they only need the ditalini to be added, or elbows). We found that if you put the pasta in and then freeze the portions, the pasta gets soggy and soaks up all the jucies. Tomorrow, I have the job of washing the escarole for the escarole and beans. By then the freezer will be full of GOOD stuff.

My stomach is still rolling…UGH! Had a little “D” yesterday… you know that lower GI tract thing that you have to stay close to a bathroom for. Told the doc this morning. She said we’ll watch it. Well, I watched it ALL AFTERNOON! I lost count of the times. We finally had to call the Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic (That’s one of the things that they “watch”). Of course they said…”you’ll be in tomorrow and we’ll do a culture”.

There is a good side to this if you can figure out how! This lower GI thingee is an indication of GVHD… Graft vs. Host Disease. A little bit is a good thing, and this also indicates the stem cells are working. As to the good thing, this helps the docs to monitor the graft and how well it’s working. I think that’s how she related it me.  But, it’s a good thing and my backside HURTS!

Let’s hope it helps the neutaphil counts, because it’s still down, while the other counts are incrementally up again. We asked the doc this AM if she was concerned and she said no. So I have to go with that and see how the next week flushes out.

In the meantime, ya’all have a great weekend. Have a drink for me. 

Day +20, Now we're a 5th of the way there!

Good Day Folks. Update on medical condition first: Counts are up... White Blood Cells, Hemoglobin, and Platelets(close to normal). However, the big one, the one we're all waiting to jump, the Big Kahuna, Star of the Show, the Neutraphils, refuse to budge off a low level. They're coming up... actually kinda bouncing around... down a bit, up a bit. Sluggish, asleep. They were expected to take a jump this week... WAIT, we still have tomorrow. They're not worried, could be next week, too. In older patients and donors, it sometimes takes a while...zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

All's well at the apartment. Since Ruth Ann got here last night, she's been adding the “Ruth Ann” touch to the apartment. She brought me a ton of stuff I asked for from the house and has added her little touches (like the arrangement of stuff in the bathroom!!) all over. Really starting to feel like a home instead of a college dorm! Today, she went to the grocery store to pick up a “few” items. By Monday, we should have the freezer filled with chicken soup, red sauce and meatballs, escarole and beans, and pasta fazoole. Fit for a king. This is penicillin for Italians! Can't wait.

Ruth Ann and I tried to wake up those Neutraphils this evening... went for a little walk. I actually did a quarter mile with my walker. My legs did OK, but the tennis balls on the back legs of my walker are done in... worn to within an inch (maybe a 32'nd of and inch). If you got any airless tennies, send 'em my way.