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.





Tuesday, January 6, 2009

January 6, 2009

These were my admission labs they drew on Saturday, it is a wonder I don't need a blood infusion while I am here they draw so much blood when you come in & then daily thereafter.

My day went really slow yesterday but I had no bad side effects from my Chemo so I cannot complain. I actually felt good enough to go get on the treadmill in front of the Nurses station for 30 minutes. I was able to do a little over a mile & a half! No that may not sound like good time for all you health buffs out there but I have not been able to do that since June of 08 when I did I it in 16 or 17 minutes roughly. I remember the next month in July of 09 I was at UTA doing the mile & half run for PT and I had to stop jogging at the quarter mile mark. I was so out of breath & my heart was racing so fast it was all I could do to walk & breathe. So this is tremendous progress. I still have a lot of work to become "fit to fight" again but I will get there.

My room mate had the OSU game up so loud last night & then left it on so I could not sleep until her boyfriend left about 3am. They have me on 2 separate bags of IV fluids at 245 ml's per hour so I put out over 3,000cc's last night it was cray, I begged them to reduce the fluids this morning & they dropped me down to 145 ml's which is still a lot when you add to what I am drink as well but it is better than what they had me on.

Here are today's labs:
Date------Day----WBC----ANC--------Hgb--------PLT---- Transfusions
20 Dec-----109---5.2-------4300-------8.6-----------43----1 Unit Platelet
22 Dec-----111---12.3------10800------8.6-----------23--------------N/A
24 Dec-----113----3.3-------1400------7.3---------45----1 Unit of Blood
26 Dec-----115----32.5-----29600------8.8-----------70--------------N/A
29 Dec-----118----3.6-----1836------9.6-----------121--------------N/A
2 Jan-----122-----2.7-----1400------10.1-----------193--------------N/A
4 Jan-----124----4.4------????------10.0-----------225--------------N/A
5 Jan-----125----2.9------????-------9.9-----------214--------------N/A
6 Jan---126----6.8---6100------10.1-----------203--------------N/A
I asked my Nurse Practitioner for my ANC counts since the nurses have not been calculating them. Once I receive them I will add them in, but as long as the White Blood Cell count is high it is safe to assume so is the ANC count.

Marc took Brandon with him out to the clubhouse last night to watch the game until halftime & then they were home to bed. The girls did real well with Zack, who by the way got a white day at school yesterday!

This is a cute picture I took of Brandon & Zack before I was admitted last weekend.Paige was showing her Christmasy SpiritThis was Katie giving Spike a treat
So there is nothing real eventful to report other than I am still fighting the fight & we all appreciate your support so much.

It's Time to Roll up your sleeves
For those of you that will be in the Lima area on January 8th from 8:00-2:30 there will be a Blood Drive dedicated to me at the Allen County Department of Job & Family Services 1501 S. Dixie Hwy.Lima, OH 45804 (in the old Westinghouse building). I believe this will be open to the public (walk-ins welcome), however if anyone knows ahead of time they want to participate please call Tracy Hollar @ 419-999-0297 for possible scheduling. My Aunt Debe has been working real hard with her employer & they have made great strides in making this a very coordinated effort with multiple agencies involved. Unfortunately I will be in the James at the time of the Blood Drive undergoing my 4th & hopefully final round of hospitalized Chemotherapy but I will definitely be there in spirit!

Benefit Scheduled
Many of you who know me may remember I used to be on the Board & the Treasurer for the London Assembly #208 Rainbow Girls when Katie & Paige were in Rainbow. I was contacted by Mom Wendy Hall, Mother Advisor from The London Assembly #208 Rainbow Girls & they are holding a Spaghetti Dinner Benefit for me on January 24th from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm at the Chandler Lodge located at 65 North Main Street, London Ohio. The Menu will be Spaghetti, sauce with meatballs, bread & butter, salad with dressing & a drink for $5.00. Desserts will be available for a donation & you can dine in or carryout is available. If you would like any information please contact Keith Hall @ 614-302-0431or airforcekeith@sbcglobal.net

4 comments:

Aunt Lynn said...

Hi Sandi,
Sometimes uneventful days are a blessing. I think I would've had to ask the roomie to turn the TV down a bit. I tried to watch the game but in the 3rd quarter I fell asleep & found out this morning they lost by 3...I was bummed to say the least. I will now have to take some ribbing from my in-laws cause dennis' sister is a Texas fan. But, I just tell them you can't be perfect all the time. I am very happy to read you're having no bad side effects from the chemo this time. And, I have no doubt in my mind you will be fit again & God help anyone that wants to "fight" with you. Katie is such a pretty young lady, I bet she has pretty white teeth too, tell her to smile & show those pearly whites once in a while. I'm praying your week is as uneventful as your 1st day but also hope the time passes quickly for you, as always I love you.
Aunt Lynn

Firehat said...

Hey Sandi,
I hope all is well if not better. I was a church the other day and said a prayer for you and your family. It sounds like you are doing great. Now if you want I can come down the next time you are on the tread mill and scream at you to MOVE IT!!! lol. I hope your holidays were good and I'll see you soon. I was sad I missed you at the Christmas party. All is well at the unit. We just keep trucking along. You know how that goes. Take care and you are always in our prayers.

Fredrick, Mary, Aidan & Xander Hageman

Caroline said...

Hi Sandi! Happy New Year! Sending you many many blessings and miracles. Believe in yourself! XOXO

Unknown said...

hi honey, i am glad you are doing well this round. i could not do any time on the treadmill so you are doing great. one of our parents at school donated yesterday for you.i sent a note home monday and i hope that will bring in a few more people. katie sure is a beautiful young girl.that was a good picture from her visit with her dad.i love you hang in there.love, aunt bonnie

Sentimental Journey

2010 Family Pics

Moments in Time

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.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

They call me Rooster

They call me Rooster
& Leukemia did not snuff this one!