Rooster's Blog: September 8, 2008

Welcome to my Blog!

This was originally intended for those who have AML & stumbled across my blog in their search for information or survivors. I also used this to keep in touch with the real world, my support system was vital in my recovery and I also used it to sustain some form of sanity. I am a realist, and I have learned this has been and always will be a fight for my life. The initial leukemia battle is still here in the archives for all my fellow AML Warriors. There is so much information and no one wants to tell you. If you are just starting your treatment you may not even think to ask questions just because you are so sick. Please checkout my archives but start back in September 2008 and work your way towards today. There is a lot to read and a ton of type-o's, but it is all there the good the bad and the ugly. I challenged the Doc's, I always asked questions and pushed them for answers even if I did not like them. The Docs are not used to that so if you can, I encourage you to challenge them. They need to remember that although you are very sick you are not dead! My Blog content has morphed over the years. It's all about my life experiences, definitely my opinions and the lifelong impacts of the disease that pop up from time to time. I am a Gen Xer & I have a lot to say about everything. Rarely do I hold back or turn on a sensitivity sensor. I post regularly on Facebook nowadays just because it is faster. I welcome your comments, questions or feedback.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

September 8, 2008

Hi Everyone,

Happy birthday to me, I am 34 today! I have contacted most of you or asked others to contact you for me but in case anyone was missed I will give a little background & the current update:

After several months of not feeling well, I made an appointment for a physical. My chest kept hurting, I was getting palpitations & short of breath upon any physical activity. Marcus threatened to take me to the ER so I broke down and made an appointment with a Cardiologist last Wed, I received a stress test & was on a 24 hour heart monitor.After working that afternoon from 1-9 at the base I went to Madison County Hospital to have my blood work drawn at 10:30pm.

Long story short after and urgent call from the cardiologist to every Vest in London at 1:00 AM he got Marc's dad to come over & wake us up & call him. When I did he told me to report to the Emergency Room (my hemoglobin was 4 & my platelet level was 1400- this is very very low, so after several hours waiting in the ER I was admitted to the Mount Carmel West that night 7 into early Thursday morning. After several tests (my arms look like a heroin drug user from all the blood draws & transfusions) , the preliminary diagnosis from a Oncologist/Hematologist is Leukemia.

Wow we were not expecting that!
I got out of the hospital around midnight on Friday. I planned to go back to work today but I am going to try to go in tomorrow instead. (I wanted to give my body one more day to recover & in reality I may have been pushing myself to much) regardless I am feeling a lot better now . The doc said I was running on 1/3 of the blood my body needed & my body was overcompensating for it but it got to that point where it could not keep up. The final tally was 6 units of blood & 3 units of platelets.

Wed is going to be a difficult day for the family, we will receive the results of the bone marrow biopsy ( I strongly recommend if you never have to get one do not volunteer for it, it is extremely painful) , the specific type, prognosis, treatment plan and possibly another blood transfusion.

I know that no matter what I am going to have good days & bad days through this but I plan for the good to out way the bad. I have never laid down & took anything so this will be no different. We are being very positive & hoping for the best. I still want to work when I can ( I need to for may sanity, it would drive me nuts to lay around & do nothing & everything I do at work can be done from my desk & phone for the most part) , so I do not want to go off on disability if I do not have to. Thank you for all of the cards & prayers, we will need continued support through this difficult time. As my husband Marcus said I am, very sick but I am not dead, this is a bump in the road pushing us down a path most people do not have to travel but we will get through it. Marcus has been wonderful through this & I know he will need lots of support as well.

If you want updates I will send one out this Friday since we will know a lot more by then & more than likely monthly after that unless there is something major between now & then

Thank you,
Sandi

4 comments:

ben&tam said...: hey girl .just wanted you to know we are all 4 praying everyday and we know you are going to beat this.. we love you ..; September 12, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Unknown said...: Hi Sandi: I just wanted to give you my thoughts and best wishes. You are a strong person who with Gods blessing will endure what is necessary to recover from this condition. My thoughts and prayers go with you.
God bless,
Dale Palmer; September 16, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Anonymous said...: hey you get better or i'll kick your ass. jk. hey its holden just thought you should know that i pray for you and yours everyday. anything you need you let me know. i know you'll pull through this. you should get on myspace its easy to make an account im vintage holdonholden come find me. just know i miss you and you were such an inspiration to me to be a stubborn ass and not give into "the man". i love you for being you. i will come see you soon so keep your head up+ i gotta c this rooster in person . ttyl holden; October 5, 2008 at 1:25 AM
Anonymous said...: Hi Sandi,
Just wanted to say hi and tell you that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Stay strong. You can beat this!
Take care,
Barb Hoffman; October 9, 2008 at 4:23 PM

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Quotes

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Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body but, rather, to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOoHOo! What a ride!!"
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Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.
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Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wiser.
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If you are never scared or embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take any chances.
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Ask yourself: "What have I missed out on simply because I was too afraid of what others would think?"
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Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
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I'd rather have 30 seconds of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special.
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And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count; it's the life in your years.
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How my Blog works...it's all in the archives below

The archives detail my journey through the leukemia treatments and clinical trials and a whole lot of tribulations that have lead me here which is also where I want to stay remission! My blog served as the central repository where everyone could stay informed. I did not have a Facebook back then. At first it felt weird having so much transparency but it was great therapy!

I encourage you to add your comments or feedback. You can do that by clicking on the "Comment" link at the bottom of each post. You can also read any comments left by others. When you opt to write a comment, you will be asked to choose an identity -- your Google account name (if you have one), or "Other" (giving you the opportunity to sign your name to your comment), or "Anonymous" if you choose this option please put your name at the end of your comment so I know who it is from.

My Chemo Brain has interfered with my psychic ability. I look forward to hearing from you, thanks for dropping by.

What can YOU do for Cancer Warriors all over the world?

One answer is "Roll up your Sleeve!" You might not know that as a result of my treatment, my ability to produce enough of the various blood cells that we all take for granted were severely diminished. I received many units of red blood cells for my anemia and even more units of platelets to boost my immune system. You can help replace or bolster these products by making a donation at any Blood drive location. Each time someone gets an infusion it costs just under $3,000. When someone can get the blood & blood products for free from the Red Cross versus a Plasma Center it saves quite a bit.

Did you know you can give platelet's, you can donate unidonor platelets which is where the platelets of your blood are separated and the blood is cycled back into you. This takes about 2 hours. It normally takes about 10 units of blood or 10 people to do what one person can do if just platelets are donated. Additionally, this causes less chance of a reaction to the platelets and more chance they can be used. Most people are able to give platelet donations every two weeks or so. If you donate blood, you can't donate platelets for about 4-6 weeks.

Consider Becoming a Bone Marrow Donor. I still do not have a match and if this ugly beast rears it's head and I relapse I am going to need one my only option will be to get a bone marrow or stem cell transplant or die. In that process, the bone marrow is literally killed using chemotherapy/ radiation and replaced with that of a donor.The first place we looked was my immediate family members. My sister Sharon underwent testing to see if she was a match; unfortunately, she isn't. A second source is an unrelated donor normally through the National Marrow Donor Program ("NMDP"). My Wingman Joe Drake and Kim Sandusky for the 445 AES coordinated a Bone Marrow Drive while I was in the hospital. Many people join the NMDP registry as a result of knowing someone like me and wanting to help. In order to register, you must be willing to donate for ANYONE in need along with me.

How much is a life really worth in dollars?

Who ever thinks they will really have a price tag on your head? You would not believe how unrealistic the financial burden is that is placed upon someone going through cancer treatment. I am a planner and I was so unprepared for it; but, then is anyone every really prepared for that? I have had so many friends and family ask me what they could do to help. I address this in some of my archived posts. It was really tough for me to ask for financial assistance. Marcus and I were very fortunate that we both had stable jobs with the state at the time so we had decent insurance. What I did not factor after all the co-pays and the deductibles was all of the non-covered services, not to mention every department bills separately. It all added up very quickly. How quick? I will never forget the first bill I received from the James Cancer Hospital. It was for OVER 2 MILLION buckaroos and it only included my first 6 weeks of induction chemotherapy at the hospital. That did not include the X-Rays, Dr. fees, lab tests, ect. Its crazy but I laughed when I looked at but after awhile when the kids were not around I cried really hard because I just could not believe it & I knew I still was going to have almost another 14 months of treatments still. My credit score was around 750 when I was diagnosed with AML. Needless to say that is not where it stayed. If you are reading this know that anything and everything you sent helped. We almost lost our house because I was off work so long and the prescription costs depleted anything we had saved. It was hard economic times for everyone then and it is not much better now. I worried a lot about how all of this would impact my children's future. I can tell you I will be doing everything I can to mitigate a potential relapse. It took me awhile to realize we will never pay for it all. I had a real hard time accepting that; payment plans made it possible to salvage my credit. Bone marrow biopsys and aspirations went from quarterly, to annually to we'll se with follow-up. So for my fellow Cancer Warriors don't get too hung up on the medical bills. You are never going to be able to pay for them all. Once you are through the treatment set yourself up with payment plans that you can afford to pay on for the rest of your life. just make sure they are realistic ie. keep the payments small, you will have multiple billers. For everyone else, it is my intent to continue to share my story with others and what it has taught me. There is so little information out there that is positive. My mission now is to take all this experience and all your support and pay it forward. If you would like to contribute to this cause:

Rooster's Blog

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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

September 8, 2008

4 comments:

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