April 7th Journal
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About one month and three weeks post transplant. I am feeling
good. I woke
up early this morning and watched the sun create a silhouette
of Mount Rainier
and listened to the birds greet the day. Life is good. I have
enjoyed
watching everything come alive with spring. I feel like I am doing
the same
thing in a way as I continue to recover.
Recovery Information:
Current Weight: 173 lbs yesterday. (173 before transplant).
Back to normal.
Energy Level on Scale of 1 to 10: 6, main thing I notice is I'll
feel great
one day and push myself too much and be pretty tired the next.
Stamina will
come in time.
Blood Counts most recent check...April 3rd:
| Hematocrit | 3/21(30.1%) | Today(34.5%) | Normal(34-55%) |
| Platelets | 3/21(91,000) | Today(92,000) | Normal(150,000) |
| Neutrophils | 3/21(1,900) | Today(3,950) | Normal(7,000) |
| WBC's | 3/21(3,100) | Today(5,380) | Normal(7,500) |
I continue to exercise daily. I'm riding my bike at least a
half hour every
other day. On the off days I go for walks. My youngest son Tanner
(6) and I
go down to the river with the dog and take walks in the mornings
before he
goes off to kindergarten. Great memories being made on those walks.
I am very excited to announce I had my Hickman line taken out
of my chest
yesterday. I had my neighbor yank it out for me. By the way, my
neighbor is
a surgeon and I went to his office for the procedure. The subcutaneous
tissue under my skin had grown to the line. They design it that
way. A
small piece of velcro like material is attached around the line
just under
the skin. Once your body tissue adheres to the material it makes
it
difficult for the line to be removed by accident. The doctor ended
up giving
me some local anesthetic because he was having to pull hard. The
removal
procedure went pretty smoothly and wasn't painful after the local
was given.
The Hickman was great during my transplant, but I am so glad to
have it out.
Tanner said, "Hey dad, your pipes are gone now!"
I am still pretty much bald. My hair hasn't started coming
back yet.
Actually, much of my body hair continues to fall out. I look like
an Olympic
swimmer. Well, I don't quite have the same physique, but the hairless
body
is what I am speaking of.
My friend Steve Smith is in town visiting from New Mexico.
It has been great
to see him. Later this morning my college roommate, Dave Becker,
will be
flying in for the weekend. I am excited to see him too. Since
the
transplant this has been a terrific spring. I can't say enough
how much I
appreciate and enjoy everyday and every moment of life.
Easter Sunday is coming up soon. It is always a special day
for me and my
family. This year my family can celebrate the ressurection of
our Savior
and my new life without cancer.
I can't close without continuing to thank everyone who continues
to pray for
my recovery.
Lord's blessings to all of you.
©2000-2003 John Shula-All Rights Reserved