What a great Beatle song! AND IT DOES.....we hope for a long time. Sorry for the long blog pause. Had nothing to report until Doc visit. Doc says you "should" be cured.....am I skeptical or is he? Now that's another story....for later.
Its been over a month since we last talked. Actually feeling good....most of the time I have energy and "walk like an Egyptian" ...however the mid- south allergens and the hot weather (the amazing ozone layer) sometimes take their toll. Numbers (see other posts) look good.....Platelets are responding slowly-...who would have thought that you would need more than 100000 of these babies.....And, I am getting rid of the chemo fog and actually starting to seek rationality-....although some would think otherwise. Summer is good for my psyche....I'm dreaming of the endless summer, surf city here we come, gotta take just one more ride, endless waves, and Hawaiian shores.....and just plain hanging at any beach I can find.....I'm even getting to think that lakes really have shores....ah! maybe.....and this is a good thing.....till later smile and stay happy and healthy.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Round em up; move em out - Engraftment
If you all remember when we started all of this, we were aiming at an outcome of something called "Engraftment". This means at Zero +9-11 days, after a shot of Neupogen (to stimulate white cell movement), there is an expectation that you white cell count will recover from zero to at least a respectable 500 or more neutrophils in a cubic millimeter of blood. For the more technical in the audience...
Neutrophil — A type of white blood cell
ANC — Absolute neutrophil count
Neutrophil engraftment — ANC count of 500 or more for 3 days in a row
Platelet engraftment — Platelet count of 20,000 - 50,000 (without platelet transfusion)
On Wed evening my system went into grafting mode...a little ahead of schedule....but this time I decided to be an A+ student. My whites were 0.5, my Neutrophils were 0.35, and everything was on the way up.....so we really couldn't call it grafting until we got the response the next day and exponentially for a few days....and if we could stay away from infection.....
Believe it or not by Thursday afternoon, I was released from the hospital and sent "cautiously" home-with a "boost" of platelets. I am on the way to recovery. Technically I have engraftment of the whites, but technically not the platelets yet.....but I'm sure Monday will bring this measurement.
Did the stem cells have a GPS.......yes and God has allowed me a new life.
There is no moral to this story. My body and mind will recover at a pace over the next 6 months to a year...and yes I'm going to push it because thats me and thats what I do.
Thanks for following my story, for all your prayers,chants, and motivating comments. Thanks for being there for me.....I will write as often as I can to keep you posted of my progress....I'm hoping to tell you most of it face to face.....
Love Y'all.....
Robert M. Cosenza
Neutrophil — A type of white blood cell
ANC — Absolute neutrophil count
Neutrophil engraftment — ANC count of 500 or more for 3 days in a row
Platelet engraftment — Platelet count of 20,000 - 50,000 (without platelet transfusion)
On Wed evening my system went into grafting mode...a little ahead of schedule....but this time I decided to be an A+ student. My whites were 0.5, my Neutrophils were 0.35, and everything was on the way up.....so we really couldn't call it grafting until we got the response the next day and exponentially for a few days....and if we could stay away from infection.....
Believe it or not by Thursday afternoon, I was released from the hospital and sent "cautiously" home-with a "boost" of platelets. I am on the way to recovery. Technically I have engraftment of the whites, but technically not the platelets yet.....but I'm sure Monday will bring this measurement.
Did the stem cells have a GPS.......yes and God has allowed me a new life.
There is no moral to this story. My body and mind will recover at a pace over the next 6 months to a year...and yes I'm going to push it because thats me and thats what I do.
Thanks for following my story, for all your prayers,chants, and motivating comments. Thanks for being there for me.....I will write as often as I can to keep you posted of my progress....I'm hoping to tell you most of it face to face.....
Love Y'all.....
Robert M. Cosenza
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
"The Deck"
One of my favorite words for life is "deck" (some "terra firma") a solid place that is mostly situational.
I remind you about the greatness of the word by showing you that by adding verbs, prepositions, etc., you can create whole new visual environments. For example, on deck, off deck, or get off the deck, or hit the deck, or I'll deck you!!!
John Wayne hit the deck a lot, so did Rocky B, and most recently as Vince Papale, and Irish Mickey Ward, Marky Mark hit the deck continuously.
OK, so do you really wanna be on the deck or would you rather be -Lets say-getting up from the deck. All of these proverbial and thought provoking conundrums of the mind could go on forever...so lets cut to the chase.
On Thursday late afternoon and evening , Zero Plus 3, I hit the deck three times...remembering mostly the sounds of battle (and one time ---but I'm not sure--so don't quote me on this....someone saying..don't hit him in the head...)
T made some remarkable slash and dashes to protect me (some that would have made Eli's Expensive but worthless RL Tackles envious). Dr. Pallera's look of horror (as we explained that ---no doc we didn't hit any walls, or solid objects, just the deck!) convinced me that outpatient stem cell care might be in its infancy or just not for me. So we checked me into to BMHE while the immune-suppression docs, nurses, and staff and all of my caretakers wait with me for stem cell grafting day. Believe me it's not easy here, but you don't need to focus on my stay. After all, I've been on deck 2 (NO NOT A PLEA FOR VISITORS...I HAVE NO IMMUNE SYSTEM)for almost a week, haven't hit any decks, nor have I decked anyone.......
I remind you about the greatness of the word by showing you that by adding verbs, prepositions, etc., you can create whole new visual environments. For example, on deck, off deck, or get off the deck, or hit the deck, or I'll deck you!!!
John Wayne hit the deck a lot, so did Rocky B, and most recently as Vince Papale, and Irish Mickey Ward, Marky Mark hit the deck continuously.
OK, so do you really wanna be on the deck or would you rather be -Lets say-getting up from the deck. All of these proverbial and thought provoking conundrums of the mind could go on forever...so lets cut to the chase.
On Thursday late afternoon and evening , Zero Plus 3, I hit the deck three times...remembering mostly the sounds of battle (and one time ---but I'm not sure--so don't quote me on this....someone saying..don't hit him in the head...)
T made some remarkable slash and dashes to protect me (some that would have made Eli's Expensive but worthless RL Tackles envious). Dr. Pallera's look of horror (as we explained that ---no doc we didn't hit any walls, or solid objects, just the deck!) convinced me that outpatient stem cell care might be in its infancy or just not for me. So we checked me into to BMHE while the immune-suppression docs, nurses, and staff and all of my caretakers wait with me for stem cell grafting day. Believe me it's not easy here, but you don't need to focus on my stay. After all, I've been on deck 2 (NO NOT A PLEA FOR VISITORS...I HAVE NO IMMUNE SYSTEM)for almost a week, haven't hit any decks, nor have I decked anyone.......
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Overheard in the Cracker Barrel: NO MEAT!
Zero +3.
I'm thinkin God put bacon on earth to help us understand what it means to be moderate and healthy and happy in our food choices...or to test us. And he is testing me right now through my impeccably fine tuned body.....(he said with a smirk)
And its the time in the Opus that I need to spin some words while the plot twists and turns are looming in the future episodes till grafting (a point where the three cells of life meet the new Cosenza bone marrow near Three Rivers Stadium (oh no that's not right...that's my baseball theme).
So where am I ....4 whites left, very few platelets (they are counting them by microscope), and very few reds. No its not the Billy Joel lyrics, A bottle of red, a bottle of white, it all depends upon your appetite, because the appetite...hence the food theme...is crazy. Everything I thought was part of my gourmet palette (including pizza) tastes horrible.
So as the caretakers spend hours and hours in the test kitchens trying to cook for my ornery self...I leave T with these words, I'll meet you any time you want
In our Italian Restaurant.
I'm thinkin God put bacon on earth to help us understand what it means to be moderate and healthy and happy in our food choices...or to test us. And he is testing me right now through my impeccably fine tuned body.....(he said with a smirk)
And its the time in the Opus that I need to spin some words while the plot twists and turns are looming in the future episodes till grafting (a point where the three cells of life meet the new Cosenza bone marrow near Three Rivers Stadium (oh no that's not right...that's my baseball theme).
So where am I ....4 whites left, very few platelets (they are counting them by microscope), and very few reds. No its not the Billy Joel lyrics, A bottle of red, a bottle of white, it all depends upon your appetite, because the appetite...hence the food theme...is crazy. Everything I thought was part of my gourmet palette (including pizza) tastes horrible.
So as the caretakers spend hours and hours in the test kitchens trying to cook for my ornery self...I leave T with these words, I'll meet you any time you want
In our Italian Restaurant.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
ZERO +2: And then there were none. Ok it's not that bad!!!
Today I am at a 100 white cell count. Now what this means is ONLY FIVE of count are set for battle for a while against infection.
I'm hoping Colonel Travis gives the order this time an everyone stays and mans all sides of the Alamo. Four is definitely too few!
And their rations include powerful antibiotics, antivirals, with exotic names.....
I'm hoping Colonel Travis gives the order this time an everyone stays and mans all sides of the Alamo. Four is definitely too few!
And their rations include powerful antibiotics, antivirals, with exotic names.....
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Zero Day +1: Or Honey I'm Almost Home!
We have heard so many cliches, songs, wit, etc., about home...Home on the range (Roy and Gene), Home is where you hang your hat, I'm already there (some country) Honey I'm home (Desi and Luci), Home away from home. wait till I get home, or like I would always told my mother...I'll be home in a minute (sure).... and there is even Home fries.....(where did that come from).
Well my Stem cell babies made the journey yesterday at about 9:30 am. It was supposed to be a magnificently orchestrated moment thanks to Dustin my IPOD musical Coordinator- with Blue Danube waltzing the babies in. Bottom line, the bubba cooler arrived, the babies were thawed and hung....and I fell asleep..... to awake complete with my 2.5 mil plus SCBs.
Yes they are in a home, me but not really in the home they need to be YET! my bone marrow. This will occur, if all goes well.....and why not! beginning on days 10-14 from zero day implant.
Right now I'm trying to stay healthy to help them along. To the chagrin of my Doctor for sure...I even had a sub sandwich this afternoon....Gotta do what you have to do.....to get along.
For those interested in Pics....here are some of the events...except the one of me sleeping and snoring big time.....
They Arrive
They are Defrosted
They are on their way!!!!!!!!
Oh by the way, to add another experience to the delivery.....let's give it an odoriferous same day next day...experience. What do stem cells smell like "after the fact" at least for a while as they ooooze into your system.
My Grandfather Erminio (gee I loved this Man) would eat a bowl or two of linguine vongolle (Clams) lots of onion, oil, garlic, butter, broth, and other amazing seasonings), some bruchetta -more roasted garlic,(actually five day old Italian bread) with the sharpest provolone cheese - you could cure in your cellar in wheels (like so good), drink one or two glasses of home-made Ginny red....go to sleep and then meet you at the breakfast table in the morning to pursue some conversational wisdom. Get the picture.
Well my Stem cell babies made the journey yesterday at about 9:30 am. It was supposed to be a magnificently orchestrated moment thanks to Dustin my IPOD musical Coordinator- with Blue Danube waltzing the babies in. Bottom line, the bubba cooler arrived, the babies were thawed and hung....and I fell asleep..... to awake complete with my 2.5 mil plus SCBs.
Yes they are in a home, me but not really in the home they need to be YET! my bone marrow. This will occur, if all goes well.....and why not! beginning on days 10-14 from zero day implant.
Right now I'm trying to stay healthy to help them along. To the chagrin of my Doctor for sure...I even had a sub sandwich this afternoon....Gotta do what you have to do.....to get along.
For those interested in Pics....here are some of the events...except the one of me sleeping and snoring big time.....
They Arrive
They are Defrosted
They are on their way!!!!!!!!
Oh by the way, to add another experience to the delivery.....let's give it an odoriferous same day next day...experience. What do stem cells smell like "after the fact" at least for a while as they ooooze into your system.
My Grandfather Erminio (gee I loved this Man) would eat a bowl or two of linguine vongolle (Clams) lots of onion, oil, garlic, butter, broth, and other amazing seasonings), some bruchetta -more roasted garlic,(actually five day old Italian bread) with the sharpest provolone cheese - you could cure in your cellar in wheels (like so good), drink one or two glasses of home-made Ginny red....go to sleep and then meet you at the breakfast table in the morning to pursue some conversational wisdom. Get the picture.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Floating on the Blue Danube!
Last night in an ativan (prescribed) state of semi consciousness, I decided that my stem cell babies needed some stimulation on the ~9:30am journey into my system. Since my usual tour de force, AC/DC was unacceptable until they were a lot more mature, I decided on the beautiful Blue Danube Waltz......
Johann Strauss II -
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