Last Chemo This Week

This has been a good week. I was very tired on Monday and Tuesday but I felt great. The weather also helped. After the cold snap early in the week the sun came out and lifted my spirits on Friday and Saturday.

I had enough strength to cut the grass on Saturday. I took several breaks and walked very slowly, too slow actually. My battery powered mower expended its charge and I had to recharge to finish the lawn. After mowing I trimmed three small prickly bushes. We want to keep the bushes small so I pluck off all of last year's growth. Now that I know how I want the bushes to look, the trimming goes quickly.

Carol's sister visited us this weekend. She helped Carol plant some things in the garden. I hooked up the hoses and made sure that the sprinkler line did not suffer a splint from a winter freeze. Fortunately, everything worked the first time.

I have mixed emotions about the Cavs victory over the Celtics. The loss of Kevin Love and JR's possible suspension is really going to hurt. We shall see if Lebron and Irving can carry the team.

This week is my last week of chemo before my stem cell transplant. Since the PET scan could not find any sign of lymphoma, the oncologist at Karmanos recommended canceling treatment #5 and #6. I did not raise any objections. At the moment, I am scheduled to enter the hospital on May 28, eighteen years and 8 days after my last transplant.

The medical staff has much to do before May 28. They want to harvest my stem cells on May 18, conduct tests of my kidney, liver, and pulmonary functions, and examine my veins to determine if I get a pic, or Hickman line. The latter would be cut into my chest and inserted into the vein that leads to the heart. It is difficult to take care of but after the initial surgery I do not feel any pain because it hangs from my chest. The former is in my arm or shoulder and can be painful ever after it is stabilized.

I will be glad when the next two weeks are over and I begin my recovery for my stem cell transplant.

Thank you for your prayers.