Finally! Yes, finally I have some good news to report
about my white blod cell count. It has risen enough
over the last week to indicate that my body is able
to protect itself without chemical assistance. So
Dr. Thai has given me some more freedom. It's OK to
be out in public, but stay away from people who are
obviously sick. I don't need to wear a face mask
any. I can eat fresh foods! So I celebrate with a
salad. Soon I'll get a pineapple, and later today
I'll eat a banana. It's funny to be excited about
eating fruit.
Dr. Thai believes that the blood work indicates that
the treatment and cure is working. Of course, the
only sure-fire way to know that I'm cured (and will
probably remain so the rest of my life) is to have
another bone marrow extraction. Under the microscope
it will be seen if any hairy cells remain. But that
test will be performed in the future, some weeks.
For now though, I can begin to work and exercise
more. I'm only on one medication, an antibiotic for
the surgical incision area on my left arm. I have a
litle infection right at the place where one of the
sutures was placed. It's not bad and I expect in a
couple days that it will be just fine.
Am I rejoicing? Not really. It'll be a while before
I know conclusively that I'm free of disease.
Strangely though I don't feel any great relief
either. Perhaps it's that I've felt all along that I
would be fine anyway. Perhaps I'm drained
emotionally from this thing. Perhaps I'm an
ignoramus, who should be jumping up and down
shouting, "Hey! I'm going to be just fine, I'm
getting my health back. I've got a new lease on life
and I'm going to make the most of it!"
July 26th
