The Goose is Getting Fat . . . And So Am I

I just logged on to do an update and I almost forgot how to do this whole blog thing; it's been that long since I last posted anything. Since then (October 2), I have been in and out, up and down, around and about.

I finished the whole in the hopsital, out of the hospital, back in the hospital bit with the second round of consolidation chemotherapy by mid-October. I went back to the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center on October 18th at which time Dr. Rifkin decided NOT to do the autologous stem cell transplant, but for me just to continue with consolidation chemotherapy. I asked about stem cell harvesting and he said I stole his thunder (not those exact words) as he was going to discuss that as an option. We decided that --- if the insurance company would cover the costs --- I would have my stem cells harvested and frozen for use in the event the AML returns in the future.

Of course, my family said insurance be da**ed, I would have the stem cell harvest even if everyone had to sell all their worldly posessions and live in tents and get around on Shoedebakers (what my father used to tell me to use when I would ask to drive the car). Well, the insurance came through and in mid November I spent two days having the stem cells harvested. It wasn't a big deal. The patient (me in this case, ha - ha) has a big a** needle stuck in their arm with tubing that goes to a really big Willie Wonka type machine. Another IV needle is in the patient's other hand and the blood that goes through the machine is returned to the body. After five hours, you get to move, go to the bathroom and get something to eat.

It took two days to harvest a little over 6 million stem cells. All we needed was 5 million, but heck, while you're hooked up, you might as well go the distance.

I had one day in between the stem cell harvest and going back into Cheyenne Regional for round three of the consolidation chemo. That started on the Friday before Thanksgiving and I was released on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I would like you all to believe that I got out of the hospital on Wednesday and cooked the big, traditional turkey dinner the next day, but the truth is my daughter and son-in-law did the dinner this year and they did a terrific job. They may even have worked themselves into a permanent gig.

The following week was spent going to the Ambulatory Infusion Center every day and four out of the five days, I had either blood or platelet transfusions. The Infusion Center is staffed with three of the kindest, most wonderful people, so I really enjoy going to see them. What I try to do is get there early so I get to call the shots on what happens in the room. You see there are two to four patient chairs in each room and one television set and one remote control. If you are not the first one in the room, you might end up watching five hours of a Cops marathon on Spike TV or black and white Loretta Young movies on AMC.

I was cleared to return to work the following week and, as usual, it was great to be back in the office surrounded by the people who make my days full of fun and challenge. I don't know what I would do without those breaks in the treatment routine when I am helped more by the laughter than with the drugs.

Last Thursday, my husband and I went to Minneapolis to give Dylan one last "mommy move." He was living in a really bad part of town (hookerville and drug deal plaza) with two girls. One of the girls is going to Ireland for the MCAD study abroad program next semester and she cancelled the lease on the apartment. It was bad timing, but OK in the long run. He now has a studio apartment by himself which is just three blocks from his campus. He only got to spend one night in it before coming home with us for the holidays, but he said it was wonderful to have his very own space.

So, let's see, there's what . . . seven days left until Christmas? Oh, that's plenty of time --- I just have to shop for presents, wrap the presents, bake some cookies, make some fudge, go to a wedding, and cook a big dinner. It will all get done and I'll have the best Christmas ever with my family and I will go back to the hospital on the 27th for the final round of chemo. I will probably get out on New Year's Day.

Yes sireee, 2008 is going to be GREAT!