I had my blood work done again yesterday. For only the second time since my remission began six months ago, my numbers ALL went up. However, the first time this happened, some of them only went up a tad bit. This time, the main ones that count went up over 50% each! My white cells went from 3.0 to 4.5 My Nuetrophils went from 1.6 to 2.8 My platelets are still 175,000 which is really good for me. Reds and Hemoglobin are going up nicely too.
Since my numbers are going so good, I’m going to go out to the cancer Relay for Life in Mansfield tonight. Katie and her sororiety sisters are doing the 12 hour walk. I had told them I couldn’t make it but I’m feeling great so I’m going to show up and say “Thank You” in person.
I’ve got a friend that was diagnosed with cancer a while before I was and has been doing great. She now has felt a couple of lumps where lymph nodes are located and is obviously nervous. Say a prayer for her as she is waiting to find out what is up. Having lived through this, every time you feel something different, your first thought is the “C” word. She is strong and will be able to handle whatever it turns out to be but…..
I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again. Stephen Curtis Chapman is right. “This is the great adventure”.
March 28th, 2008 at 05:42pm
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Did that title catch your attention? Katie asked me to come talk to her sorority about cancer and how it affects a family. She has gathered a group of girls that is doing a 12 hour relay walk for this weekend and wanted them to meet someone that had dealt with the disease. I have to tell you, it wasn’t what I expected.
We probably had twenty girls come up to us, reach out to shake our hand and introduce themselves before the meeting even started. Tami and I couldn’t stop talking about how impressed we were with the girls of AXO at UTA. I have to say that Katie couldn’t have made a better choice of sororities.
It’s funny looking back at it. I have been trying to get Katie to join a sorority for the last two years. Katie’s excuse had always been that she wasn’t the sorority type. I think that was partly my fault after her hearing all of my stories about frat life 25 years ago when hazing was not only not something that was not banned, but was actively encouraged. Things have certainly changed….and I must say for the better.
If any of the girls from AXO read this, thank you. Thank you for your help in raising awareness for cancer. Thank you for helping raise money for cancer research. But most of all, thank you for being an incredible group of young ladies that represent your organization in a very positive light. It was a pleasure visiting with you tonight.
If you would like to help support the girls and their Relay for Life effort, you can click on the following link to go to Katie’s page
Brad
March 24th, 2008 at 09:10pm
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Hope you guys like the new look. I simply got tired of the same old style and decided to make a change. I’m supposed to be watching a movie Tami and I rented called “The Nines” but it’s just too hard to keep up with so I’m playing around on this thing.
I had my bloodwork done again today and my platelets just keep increasing. Today they were 175K which is almost where they were a year ago before chemo. My whites still won’t get back to where they need to be as they dropped back down to 3 today but my nuetrophils actually went up a little. Reds and HGB are both fine. I’m finally beginning to get over the crud I’ve had for several weeks so that alone is making me feel better.
Other changes may be coming soon too so stay tuned.
Brad and Tami
March 21st, 2008 at 09:30pm
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One year ago today we rec’d the news that I had this strange form of cancer. Everything we read and were told said that 12 – 18 months was probably about all I had. Here it is a year later and now the docs are telling me that not only am I clear of any cancer, but that it may never come back. Things sure can change in a year!
I know this is going to sound funny, or maybe just a little goofy. However, it’s been interesting…sorta in a good way. You find out alot about yourself, your friends and your faith. I’m glad I had to find out. Not sure I want to ever go through that again, but it was a learning experience for sure.
Anyway I just rec’d one of those, “holy crap” calls. For those of you that don’t watch Everyone Loves Raymond, you don’t know what I’m talking about but you’ll get the point anyway. MD Anderson just called. The lady said she was from admissions and just needed to ask a few questions. I’m so use to talking to them that I said “sure” and started talking….that is until she said that I needed to check in next week on the 12th. Of course my natural reaction was “not me, I’m still cancer free”. When I asked her what I was supposed to be there for, she said THAT word…”CHEMO”. For a moment, my mind went back to my bone marrow results from last week. One side was totally clean, the other side had to have a second opinion because there were some unusual B-cells there. The report said the two doctors agreed that it was nothing, but then why would I be set up for chemo. I assured her it was a mistake and we hung up. I just checked my schedule online and there is nothing scheduled. So, I presume it was a mistake but just in case, I’m writing the doc now.
Until I find out, we’re just going to curl up on the couch and watch the snow…yep, snow in Dallas/Ft. Worth for the second time this week.
Bradley
March 6th, 2008 at 06:51pm
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