8.09.2012

Thankful Thursday & Infusion Confusion

Thankful Thursday

First off: have you taken a photo that relates to our word, Olympics, yet this week?
If so, please send it along today.  Thanks to those who have sent yours in already!  So fun! Ideas: a photo of you or your kids playing "Olympics" or an Olympic-style outfit, or a tv set tuned into the Olympics.  Whatever you prefer would be awesome!

And now: My "Thankful Thursday" list!

I am thankful for:
Kimono time in Wabasha
Learning about eagles
Eating lunch with my mom while watching the construction cranes
Hope
Presenations
Great friends
Great friends who share garden produce
Time to weed the garden
Medicine (for a related note, see the bottom of this post)

What would you include on your list this week?
Share a few things in the comment section. 

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The phone rang around 8am Wednesday morning.  I got a knot in my stomach when I saw "Mayo" on the caller ID.  I had a blood test at 6am yesterday morning, and I knew they were calling early with the results (which meant the results were not good).

The treatment I had last week was not effective and my platelets are back down to 11,000.
So my hematologist ordered one round of IVIG for yesterday and another for today.  He hopes that by receiving two rounds close together, that will get my body back on track.

A few things are worth being thankful for:  first off, I live 15 minutes from the Infusion Therapy Center.  I cannot imagine how frustrating and inconvenient this would be if I lived farther away from a place where I could get this kind of treatment.  Another thing worth being thankful for:  the Infusion Therapy Center is open from 7am to 11pm.  This means that treatments don't have to interrupt my working life.  My infusions take between 5 and 6 hours, so I can keep working and schedule the treatments at varying times when it is convenient for me.

I feel pretty good physically.  No side effects yet from yesterday's infusion, so that's a big bonus. I also feel: hopeful, discouraged, happy, sad, angry, resentful, joyful, and uncertain.  Yes, that list of emotions is full of contradictions.  Just like me.

Time for a small "complain":

I don't want to have Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura anymore.  I want it to go away forever.  It's so silly.  How can a person be so sick on the inside and totally fine on the outside?  I would not even know I had it if it wasn't for the blood tests.

I don't want this to be my life. I don't want to worry about internal bleeding, low platelet counts, and bruises.  I don't want to be on the patient end of a hospital visit - I want to be on the pastor end of a hospital visit.

Time for a "reality check":

But this is my life.  And I do have ITP.

And I know God is with me, and I know that God is using the beautiful, wonderful friends and family members in my life to lift me up when I need it most.

Thanks for listening.  Please pray that today's infusion goes well - and that it works.  Thank you!

6 comments:

  1. Kids returning home from Camp Olson with delighted tales of new songs, new friends, new adventures.

    Exploring familiar places, but having new experiences showing it to a friend.

    Garden vegetables.

    Sharing a meal.

    Having time to spend with friend.

    Sharing "Singing in the Rain" on a rainy day with friends — and having the tunes dancing in my head for a day or so.

    Getting pictures from visit home.

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  2. I think you're warranted an occasional complain... my prayers are with you!

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  3. I'm so sorry, Emily. Please know you are loved and many people are praying for you...

    Hugs!

    I'm thankful for themed parties, wonderful neighbors, silly kids and the internet which can help you keep in touch with friends who are far away. :)

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  4. Such an inspirational lady, Miss Emily! I continue to admire your amazing attitude.

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