Sept. 9 - Out of the hospital, and no complaints

I have been paroled from the hospital. As I was Neutrapenic (meaning susceptible to any infections), I was kept in my own room and not allowed many people to visit me, for 30 days.

I just went to my first of many check-ups. As of now, it appears that the Leukemia is dead. My white blood cells had jumped up, as had some other cells but they are still in the low end. My primary doctor said that he is excited with how everything is turning out, and is "giddy with joy" that all will be well. Now of course, I cannot say that I am totally cured yet... not fully for at least 3 to 5 years. But I am going to be getting some maintenance treatments and they are going to check my bone marrow again very soon to make sure that there are no more reproductive cancer cells now. Then it will be safe to say that I am OK for at least a while. Personally... I think I am going to get through this just fine.

In expectation (and in actuality eventually) of my hair falling out (which finally started), I have shaved my head bald and grown a goatee. My friend Sue flew down from Reno to do the deed. She even bought the clippers. (Clippers? I thought she was going to shear sheep for a minute.)

Now I have some news to tell you.... I have been finding out some very interesting facts and side-effects that have been occurring to me. In the end, these are actually good things.

1) My hair apparently will be growing back thicker and fuller. Yippee!

2) The Tretinoin (Vitamin A derivative) treatment that I am taking to actually kill the cancer cells, is actually a form of Retin A. For those of you who don't know, that is used to clear up acne and scars. I had begun some strange peelings on my face, and a bit on my arms. And... I had discovered in the hospital bathroom one afternoon... other, more "private" areas of my body, began to peel and shed skin as well. This was quite unnerving at first. It became more distressing when the doctor had never heard of that happening. Well... the end result is this... as it is Retin A in my system, I have basically been having a "facial"... an exfoliating peel from the inside out. The result is this - My face is now flawless. I have no pores and no acne at all... anywhere (and including some very clean privates). This has brought me some nice comments about having a very nice face, and looking years younger. No complaints there.

3) With all the antibiotics, antivirals, having my bone marrow stripped, killed, and redone... and making new blood... I am about the healthiest person you could want to know. (Which I suppose would also make me the safest sex partner.)

4) Although it looked as though I was going to gain weight in the hospital, I have actually lost 30 lbs so far. Nice!!

All in all, how can anyone complain about the above information happening to them? Now, so long as I fully recover and get through the Leukemia, I am going to have one happy new life. Sweet!

A main thing that I want to emphasize about what I think in reflection about all that has recently happened to me...
I hate the term "cancer survivor". It sounds so "victimized." Sorry, but I am not a victim.
The fact is that I am not going to curse God, I'm not going to find someone or something to blame, and I am not going to pity myself.

Things happen to people. Thousands die from influenza (the flu) around the world.
Do the rest of us call ourselves "influenza survivors"? No! Leukemia is something that happened.

In my personal case, I was able to handle it fittingly. I made NO complaints for the literally dozens upon dozens of blood draws that I had taken. I did not complain about the IVs. I did not complain about the chemo.

Do what you must when someone is trying to help you or cure you. I may have been a bit onry once in a while, but I always kept my cool, and I always tried to be the most productive.

I went in expecting to die. I resigned myself to it, and then tried to figure out how much productive time I would have left. As it was, I got lucky.

To anyone who complains about the minor inconveniences of having to deal with things... get over it.
If it's helping you, accept it.

Anyway, I am out now and enjoying everything. I've been out since Aug. 28, and most of that time has been on my feet, running around doing errands, and making my best attempt to get back to work. I don't have time to lay around. I do rest to get myself healed up, but anyone who personally knows me knows that I am ancy and have to be on the move. So that's my story for now.