3-26-03 Journal Entry

Main Page • John's Journal • CLL Information • Contact John • Seattle Cancer Care Alliance • MD Anderson

Snuggled up on the couch with a warm blanket and the Sonics/Wizards game on…life is good. Can’t get enough basketball in the month of March. Tonight’s relaxation is a sharp contrast to last night. After work I was screwing down the sub floor while working on the ongoing shower repair/demolition/remodel headache when suddenly I heard a hissing sound. I thought to myself, ‘There is no way I’ve punctured a water pipe. I’ve already had two water pipe disasters on this project.’ Well…I did puncture the pipe and the race to shut off the water began. Even though I got the water off quickly, water was streaming out of one of the light fixtures downstairs. I had to rip up the sub floor so I could perform the all too familiar task of sucking up the water in the floor and get the fans going to dry up the water before too much damage could be done. Unfortunately, I have to report that I did not maintain the best level of self control during this experience. I was quite enraged. Needed to pray for some forgiveness for losing my cool. Once the flooding was controlled and the drying process underway we had to get the pipe fixed so we could have water. The happy ending to the story was how our friend Ed came over at nine o’clock after a long day at work to repair the pipe for us. This is the second time Ed has bailed us out in the last couple weeks. What a blessing he has been to us lately. Ed, if you read this, we can’t thank you enough for your kindness and willingness to go out of your way for us. You are amazing. Lately this journal is more about my shower repair woes than about my Leukemia treatments. You could say I’ve been pretty distracted from my illness…which is a good thing I guess. However, I think I would like a less frustrating distraction.

Regarding my cancer, last Monday’s blood check was pretty good. My WBC count is good, staying at 4.4. Neutrophil count dropped a bit to 50%(was 60%) and lymphocyte to 38%(was 28%). I would like the neutrophil percentage to go back up and the lymphocytes to go down. Hopefully the declining neutrophil/lymphocyte numbers are a result of being sick over the past couple weeks. I’ve had a sinus infection which is improving after my second antibiotic. I did have one night last week with a fever of 102, but it only lasted the evening. My platelets are doing great, at 152, which is the best they’ve been in four years. I still have a low hematocrit (30%) which affects my energy level. I’ve been getting weekly Procrit shots in my abdomen to bring up the hematocrit. Fortunately, I haven’t had to get any blood transfusions since my last treatment. I feel confident the treatments are being effective and hope some of the poor numbers are just a result of being sick lately.

I had a pretty special thing happen to me at work today. I was chosen as the 2002/2003 Fife High School Teacher of the Year. It is a very special honor and I am humbled to receive it. I do feel very fortunate I have a job I love so much. I am blessed to work at a great school with an incredible staff and great students.

I’m going to enjoy the rest of this week and get my self prepared for my next cycle of treatments which begin on Monday. The big question is, “Will I work on the shower this weekend?” Oh…probably. The boys and I are heading up to a Sonics game Friday night, so that should be a lot of fun. Talk to you later.