Well, here’s a little piece of good news! As you will recall, two weeks ago, our heroine’s platelets were too low for round 3 of chemo, so she got a week off to recoup. When she was tested last week, her platelets were ready to party but her neutrophils (a Continue Reading
debrarian
quick update: chemo postponed till next week
neutrophils still low yesterday, so no chemo yet. also no montana trip. maybe a couple days at the oregon coast instead, this weekend. (plan E.) they’ll be re-testing her neutrophils monday (8/11). if they’re up, val will start chemo again tuesday. if they’re still not up on their own, then Continue Reading
Hazel Rand
I will tell you that today was Hazel’s memorial service. And that should impart some kind of information to you. So that you can picture the buffet table and the BBQ pork. The outside tables set up at a friend’s house. The cooler of Coors Light. The smokers over by Continue Reading
Oh! One other thing!
As a postscript to our most recent hurried conversation, Val added this tidbit from TerriSue: Apparently the Apomab people – that’s her trial drug – have decided to ditch the placebo part of the trial and give everybody the guaranteed real deal drug from here on out!
pop quiz
Pop quiz! One question! Ready? 1. Define neutrophil A) A type of water rat native to the Pacific Northwest B) Extract of quinoa; commonly used as an ingredient in protein bars C) An impediment to a predictable schedule D) A type of white blood cell Did you guess answers C) Continue Reading
scheduling around platelets
We were up at 5:30 today, out of the house by 6:30 to start the chemo-day across town at 7:00. And I’ll tell you what, ever since Val coughed up those tumor bits I’ve got a whole new attitude about chemo. Chemo is the bee’s knees. Chemo scorches the tumors Continue Reading
Hairball #3
Val called me at work this morning to say she coughed up another piece of her tumor! Or anyway, she coughed up something unusual, of a slightly different texture than last time, about the size of a smallish pea. It’s now awaiting biopsy in a little jar filled with homemade Continue Reading
urban fortune cookies
I was driving to work this morning in the cold and gray, cursing Portland’s quotation marks around “summer” and trying to breathe through the thumps of anxiety in my chest. Everything felt desperate and impossible. Felt like I’d never again be able to animate the muscles of my face. I Continue Reading
Trying to play “Cluck o Hen” for some scaredy chickens
Please come back Chickens- this song is for you!
automatic… systematic… hydromatic… enzymatic
Val update: When I spoke with her yesterday Val reported the following: TerriSue (oncology nurse supreme) says Val’s white and red blood cell counts are down. This is a good thing, because it means the chemo is successfully affecting her body. So yay. (This also means we should all remember Continue Reading