The visit with Dr. Rifkin today was uneventful. My basic blood counts (white, red, platelets) are normal. We'll get myeloma numbers (IGGs) next week. I've still got a small amount of the crud that leveled me a few weeks ago, but it's on its way out and I feel fine. So they juiced me up with velcade and the steroids and I'm off and running for another week. After being off the 'roids for 3 weeks, I'm bracing for an all nighter tonight.
Soon after returning from Paris Susan came down with the same flu I had. She's been quite sick for the past 10 days and is finally moving about again, although still not 100%. We're tired of it!
But now for the real statistics. Every once in awhile I get a report on my blog. It has some very interesting statistics. For example, the blog has had 968 visitors since March 17. The visitors have been from 4 different continents (North America, South America, Europe and Asia) and 20 states in the U.S. with an average of 12 visitors per day. All this activity causes me to think I should make this blog more interesting. But, then when it was more "interesting" I was a lot sicker. I think we'll hope to keep it boring.
Finally, as I mentioned earlier, I've taken a position on the Executive Committee for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk in Denver. If you're wondering what to do with those Economic Stimulus Package checks that are coming in the mail, a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society would be a great way to stimulate our economy. I will be setting up a website as in years past. Checks can be sent to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Rocky Mountain Chapter, 5353 West Darmouth Ave., Suite 400, Denver, CO 80227. Please note on the check "Dan Patterson's Team". And thank you. I can't emphasize strongly enough how important the research is, for me and many others like me. In my visit today with Rifkin I asked how long he thought I could go on this velcade maintenance program. His response was he didn't know (of course). But more importantly he said, it would depend on what other drugs have cleared the clinical trials and are available. The Leukemia Society's funding of cancer research has been highly successful, including the application of Gleevec to chronic myeloid leukemia, which is estimated to have saved 20,000 lives already. Any amount of a contribution is greatly appreciated.
I'll let you know about the IGGs next week. May you all have a great week.
Love,
Dan
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1 comment:
Dear Dan,
for the first time since I know you, you disappointed me in this blog.
Why? Well, let's say there are two good chances for misunderstanding.
1) chance of misunderstanding is, that maybe, probably, of course, my English knowledge is not good enough,...
2) chance of misunderstanding is that maybe I take this blog too seriously, being it my only chance to know how you're doing.
Why you disappointed me? Well, if you think that this blog is interesting only when you have worrying, bad news, if you think that we bloggers get on the blog only when you're not doing well, then let me firmly tell you this my dear friend: I, Ingrid, sitting in italy, Europe do NOT find your blog interesting when you have bad news, but much more interesting when you have GOOD news.
How can you only believe it is more interesting, when you have bad news? Shame on you!
Do you really think we bloggers are only bad news hunters?
Or are you willing to understand, that at least I am getting on the blog hoping EVERY time to read something positive, and if it would only be that you had a sunny day in Cherry Creek, which you appreciated, or, that you had a wonderful lunch with Susan, telling us what you ate, telling us how great that was, or writing which flowers are growing now in your front garden, like the tulips you got from Maria Jeanette, which Susan planted a year ago and how happy you are looking at them.
Please know, that at least on this desk here in Italy, there is sitting somebody, who cares about the good news and who would love to read this blog more interesting, because you're willing to share much more those little things in life, which so many of us do not even see anymore, let us read, how many details in your daily life you really appreciate.
Make the blog more interesting under this point of view.
I was pretty offended by your words, but look forward to reading something where you deny what you wrote.
I love you Dan, just like probably anybody who gets on this blog, and we all want you to live a long life with us, reading positive news.
Ingrid
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