Jeff took the train to the city for his six-month visit with Dr. Porter. This was the longest stretch to date between appointments and he was eager to see Nurse Heather and Dr. Porter - more on a personal level than for their medical expertise.
He must have been a little too eager to see them. He gave his name at reception and, when the receptionist couldn't find his name in the day’s appointments, Jeff realized his mistake.
"I don't have an appointment today, do I?"
He'd arrived on Tuesday, February 19th instead of Tuesday, March 19th - a month early! He said it was a "practice run”. The construction between the train station at University City and the Perelman Center had progressed quite a lot in the six months - well, five months- since his last appointment. Even the road had been straightened and the news stand relocated.
At his actual six-month appointment, Heather told Jeff that Dr. Porter would have seen him on his earlier trip if he'd only asked. Apart from telling Jeff to follow up with the family doctor and a gastroenterologist about a swallowing issue he is experiencing, Dr. Porter had nothing much to say. He was confident Jeff will continue to do well and said the most amazing thing. "Come back in six months. No! Let's make it a year." A YEAR! Wow!
Weird and interesting: Jeff has had eye pain for about a month. It went away for a while but came back and was concerning him. Off to the ophthalmologist. He learned that his eyeballs are swollen. Yes, swollen eyeballs. The doctor said, “Your body just does this sometimes.” The quick and easy cure is Ibuprofen but Jeff’s kidney specialist will not allow him to take that. Instead, eye drops should take care of it in a couple of days.
Our friend Michael from Gilda’s Club is a candidate for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man of the Year. We have been saving up our donation dollars to give to Michael during the campaign period, now underway. A Beer & Whiskey Kick-Off event was held on Saturday night and we had a lot of fun seeing friends from Gilda’s and friends of Michael’s whom we’d met at past fundraisers. We even came home with a couple of baskets of goodies that we won at the silent auction. Michael and his wife, Monique, are awesome representatives for L&LS and their commitment to funding research which may someday help Michael is impressive. Jeff commented that sometimes it seems our social life is centered around cancer friends and events. We’ve met some really nice folks this way.
Also on our social calendar was a visit with old family friends - five siblings and their spouses and four of the Claus siblings and our spouses. It was great to see everyone, reminisce about old times, and eat good food. We shared Jeff’s good news from the oncologist – “Come back in a year”. One of our friends had lost her husband to leukemia and we were reminded that the disease is not easily conquered. We are always and forever grateful for donors like Nicole and Niece Amy Lyn, for Dr. Porter and all those who dedicate their lives to helping blood cancer patients have a better chance at survival. We pray for a cure for all blood cancers one day.
