Day + 19: Home at Last
Man, it's good to be home. I was discharged from the hospital yesterday as my white blood cell counts continue to climb. Although I couldn't leave without a quick infusion of platelets. As I might have said before, white blood cells recover first and red blood cells and platelets lag behind. They'll eventually climb back.
Out of the Woods and Into the Forest
Coming home is a big step for sure and I'm feeling great but still managing a few side effects, appetite, nausea and fatigue namely, but overall, I did really well with my first step in this long process. But it is a long process. The in-patient process - the chemo and the infusion of new stem cells is just the beginning of the journey. It's great to have tolerated the first step, but having cleared the woods, the forest looms as we begin the home isolation process. Maybe looms is too strong a word, but as I leave the protective enclave of floor 4C, as I enter the world ever so cautiously, we still have another 81 days (give or take) until we are clear of this next step. Day +100 is when things open up. The food precautions lift a little bit; the isolation requirement eases a bit; life starts to get a little more normal. But we were reminded of how even the little things can pose unforeseen challenges. Today, on my first day at home, I got a paper cut from opening a box of crackers. Not a big deal... unless you are very low on platelets which makes clotting a challenge; unless you are at risk for infection. Fortunately, we dealt with it, but it was a quick reminder that I need to be careful even in what were usually
Things I Was Looking Forward To
Back on Day +4, I said that I was looking forward to when coming home were, in this order:
Cracking open a window; Going outside; Company; My dogs; My smart TV; Food. Fortunately, the weather cooperated and on my first day home, I was able to spend some time outside, with the dogs and Stacy, just chatting and enjoying the fresh air. We took a walk around the block -- much better than 28 laps around the floor. And Stacy cooked a chicken panang dish that we love with fresh vegetables and rice and it tasted great. Plus, a little Ben & Jerry's for dessert. Yum. And I'm writing this as I'm watching the Red Sox lose to the Pirates on a TV that I can actually see. So check, check, check, check, check.
On the pictures at left, that's me and Buttercup - don't let her smile fool you. She's not overly happy to see me; she just loves to be outside and run. Below, Rocco, our needy child who is very happy to have me home.
