Chemo brain

I find it interesting – there is a marked cognitive loss … difficult to explain. Sometimes it’s vague, sometimes it’s just short-term memory, sometimes it’s longer-term memory, sometimes it’s just vocalization. It’s a weird impact that has lessoned as I’ve emerged from the Chemo twilight (as I like to call it). And there was a [...]

My dearest Teddy …

I take it by your conspicuous absence that you have made it safely to Australia, and Steve is taking good care of you in Cairns. As your exchange student in America, I thought it only fair that I give you the latest on your dad from the past week.
His numbers have rebounded and he’s feeling [...]

Where the numbers at?

So after a couple of days of my numbers trending low for white blood cells, ANC’s and platelets, they are starting to rebound nicely. I met with the oncologist yesterday and she said that if the ANC’s keep trending down I may go back to the hospital very soon just to get on stronger anti-biotics [...]

Voodoo visit

Finally … kisses!

Originally uploaded by sdpalmer.

Yesterday, I had a great visit with Voodoo. Check out the photos. I miss her. (Thanks, Lenna. Thanks, Allison. Thanks, Mom. — the 3 women who have taken care of Voodoo while I’ve been unable.)

Coming along

My ANC’s are declining, as are my platelets, but my other numbers are looking good and there are still no leukemia blasts in my blood. I’m still at home and feeling a little stronger every day. I’ve been doing more work for my job and accomplishing more things at home. But lately, I’ve been feeling [...]

Good news

On Wednesday, I met with my oncologist who had some great news. There’s so much of it, I’m going to have to just bullet it out:

I’ve gained about 5-7 pounds since I left the hospital 4 days earlier – eating my own food on my own terms on my own schedule is doing good for [...]

First night at home

It’s a curious thing to have your family around you again; it’s almost like I was growing up again – except my mom’s older, my brother’s married and is here with his wife … and I’m still single
Anyway, I didn’t wake up at 5am as I had feared, out of habit for the [...]

I am home

Exactly 8 weeks after I was admitted – to the minute – I left the hospital. This morning at 11:30am, I left the hospital and my Uncle Lenny brought me home. The car ride was the weirdest part of the move. When you drive in the car, you body compensates for all sorts of shifts [...]

I’M GOING HOME!

I’m going home from the hospital either Friday or Saturday. My ANC’s are climbing, though they’re not over the neutropenic threshhold yet, but my other counts are good. As the doctors explained, I’m more at risk being in hospital for catching some other bug, bacteria, infection or virus than I will be at home. And [...]

Family crossing

I’m so excited! Alan and Sheera are arriving here Thursday night. So much to catch up on and I’m so glad they’re coming now.

In the past 52 days …

me-outside
Originally uploaded by sdpalmer.

I haven’t been outside or walked up and down steps. That changed today. First, the physical therapist (read terrorist) came by and we walked up and down a whole flight of stairs. Very weird. My leg muscles haven’t had to move like that in a long time. I was able to make [...]

Voodoo update

Voodoo napping
Originally uploaded by sdpalmer.

Voodoo was being taken care of by Allison for the past several weeks. But it’s been a long time and Voodoo is now with my friend Lenna in suburban New Jersey. Voodoo’s been getting good exercise and after a 2 mile walk today, Voodoo crawled up on Lenna’s couch, on top [...]

Celebrating Deb’s Birthday

IMG_0878.jpg
Originally uploaded by sdpalmer.

Yesterday, Deb and Neil came down so we can – as we always do – celebrate Deb’s birthday together. This was a milestone birthday so it was particularly important and as you can see from the fine vintage malt beverage I provided, we got off to a rockin’ start.
We had foie gras [...]

Home couldn’t come sooner

I’m really looking forward to going home soon. But with my ANCs still floating in the high 100’s, I’m still a long way away from going home. We’re thinking that they’re still so low because I’m still fighting the infection in my lymph node. < sigh > On the one hand, that’s a good thing [...]