Rooster's Blog: February 24, 2009

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, February 24, 2009

February 24, 2009

Here are my Lab Updates from Friday & today:
Day----WBC----ANC--------Hgb--------PLT---- Transfusions
30 Jan---150-----2.8----1000---------10.4----------85------------N/A
2 Feb---153-----36.4----31700--------10.6---------131------------N/A
4 Feb---155-----3.9-----????---------9.9----------160------------N/A
6 Feb---157-----3.2-----1500---------10.0---------190------------N/A
9 Feb---160-----6.0-----4000---------11.8---------262------------N/A
12 Feb---163-----3.1----1810---------10.3---------257------------N/A
17 Feb---168-----2.3----1400----------9.4---------246------------N/A
20 Feb---171-----3.1----2200----------9.4---------177------------N/A
24 Feb---175-----2.4----1800---------10.5----------97------------N/A

As I told you in my post on Friday Brandon has been sick, I was finally able to get him into the Dr. this morning. They gave him a breathing treatment & a few prescriptions. His Dr. believes he has bronchitis.

Unfortunately these last few days I have not gotten any better I have gotten a little worse especially with the congestion & runny nose alternating. I was getting pretty paranoid especially with my counts dropping last Tuesday. However I was able to pick up my labs today 7 they have come up some, yes my platelets are still dropping & my ANC has went down a little from Friday but it is still above 1,000 so that is a good thing. I called the James cancer Hospital this morning just to be safe. After reviewing my labs they were comfortable with calling me in a prescription of Zithromax & as long as I don't get worse or any fevers I should be alright, WHEW! I was getting scared they would try to admit me again. I am glad I currently have a little bit of an immune system to fight this bug or I would be back in the hospital for sure.

Over the weekend I felt really good, I even wore a little make up on Saturday night & Mark took me to a meeting.

I haven't really wore any make up at all since I got sick. I noticed I still do not have any eye lashes & my eyebrows what little is left are getting thinner by the day.

I am supposed to be going back down to the base tomorrow & Thursday to make up my February drill weekend. My waiver is supposed to be expiring at the end of March but I got a phone call over the weekend that said it is expiring the end of February so I e-mailed my Dr. to get an updated letter with my progress ASAP. If I do not get this sent in soon I may have to go a couple of more months on a medical profile 4 which will not let me participate. I e-mailed my Dr Saturday so I hope we can get it in time for the waiver to stay in place. I thought I had until the end of March & I see my Dr on the 4th so I was going to get the letter then, I must of been having chemo brain, that was happening quite frequently awhile back so it would not surprise me.

I am looking forward to my appointment on the 4th. I hope my Dr is ready to release me back to my civilian job at least part time. She was not ready to do this last month so we will have to wait & see.

So that is what is happening for now. We did pick up some paint for Zack's new" bedroom up stairs, it used to be the girls old bed room. He was all excited about picking out the colors last night. He finally settled on London Red Raider's Red & White. This should be interesting...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...: Red Raider Red & White!!! It doesn't get any better than that :) I continue to pray for you, and please let me know if there's anything we can do for you. ~CoachG; February 24, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Debra said...: You look great! You are still in my thoughts and prayers!; February 24, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Anonymous said...: You look wonderful! I moved my blog and lost touch... Hope you can go back to work. Woo! Hoo! Sending many blessings your way!

Caroline; February 25, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Anonymous said...: You look wonderful!! I hope that you feel better!! Good luck to Zach and his color scheme, that may be and interesting room,lol. Take care Hugs and Kisses Betty; February 26, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Ian said...: Looking great Sandy!!

Ian; February 28, 2009 at 8:00 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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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

February 24, 2009

5 comments:

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