June 6, 2004
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(2000-2003) • CLL Information •
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Cancer Care Alliance • MD
Anderson
1Thess 5:14
Been a pretty non-eventful weekend. Everything is staying pretty stable. I stop by the clinic in the mornings to check blood counts and chemistries, and everything is going smoothly. I did need to stop by the triage nurses station to get a little extra sodium infusion, but nothing serious.
I did have a slight fever spike yesterday. Temp only hit 99, but went back to normal in a couple hours. Been normal since. Thank you Lord.
One of the positives of going through this transplant experience is the other cancer patients you meet. You see many of the same patients everyday. As a result, some new friendships have resulted. I am thankful for them. I have met some incredible patients. The honesty and candidness of our conversations are very special to me. You rarely see courage, strength, and faith like you do in someone fighting this battle. I feel honored by the patients I have met and how their strength and courage encourages me in my own fight. One thing I have found is that the majority of the patients I have met all have a strong faith and they are willing to pray for you.
While at the clinic yesterday I needed to get a small infusion before leaving. While I was lying there I started feeling a bit lonely thinking of Michelle and the boys. Kyler and Tanner have a little bug so I won't be seeing the family this weekend. During the infusion a Chaplain named Bert stopped by to say hello. God's perfect timing. I have not met him before, but we proceeded to have a wonderful conversation and a powerful prayer time together. Thank you Lord for that special time with the Chaplain.
My brother-in-law stopped by for a visit the other night. Thanks for stopping by Ken. It was great to see you and to check out your new bike. What a beautiful machine! It
would feel pretty good right about now to hop on that Harley and just ride off some long, beautiful highway. Probably not a good idea for me right now, however. I will just focus ahead a ways for when I am hammering down some long country road on my Litespeed Road Bike.
(Note: No motor on my bike...just a cancer free me:)
Thank you for everyone who continues to pray for me. My stomach pains are much improved and as you may have read from yesterday's journal, my initial test results are excellent. May further testing continue to give good news. I still struggle with fatigue. The combination of the transplant and all the medications really leave me wiped out. I continue to walk once or twice a day and work out in the fitness room every other day to maintain try and maintain some strength and energy. The walking really is the best thing right now for my energy level. Strength on the weight machines is another story. It'll all come back in due time. I just need to be patient.
In closing, thank you to all our friends out there who are supporting and helping Michelle and the boys back at home. So many people do so much for my family. I am so grateful to all the help we have been given and how this journey has been so much easier for us knowing we are not traveling it alone.
"A friend loves as all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17
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