Thanksgiving was just a week away. My Thursday appointment, the third week of November, marked sixty days from the DLI procedure in September. My bloodwork was back from my last appointment and again it was basically unchanged. Unremarkable in most cases but again… my WBC was not dropping. The normal reading of 6k to 10k was never reached. I was still hovering around the 20k to 25k range. My count had dropped somewhat but the progress needed to successfully reverse the course of the recurring Leukemia was not evident. More bloodwork today and the hope for better results lay in the balance for my recovery. Dr. Dave was cheery as usual since what other way could he be. He knew this was a serious situation. We both did. I wasnt really sick though. I felt pretty good. I was essentially in the same shape and situation that I was in when I was diagnosed originally. I felt fine then too. Dave just told me to keep my head up and we’ll see what the new bloodwork results yield next week. “Have a nice Thanksgiving, regards to the family and I’ll see you in December”. Yep.
I had my sights set on better news for the family, for my boys and for Lor. I could put on a great game face though. “Status quo” would be my go to reply. I’m feeling great, all is good and the waiting game continues. Sounds good. Holidays were so special to me now. I loved being around my family. I wanted to enjoy every moment. Things could go south very quickly for me. Let’s soak it in. Thanksgiving was great. The food, the fam and the conversation. My sights were set ahead to the following day. Black Friday is the start of my big season for Christmas. My team will be working twenty seven straight days in a row until Christmas Eve. Like crazy! We really do love it though. The customers are always so cheerful, happy and in the moment. Their gift from our store was usually the most expensive, biggest and most treasured gift of the season. Jewelry is so loved by wives, moms and daughters. A happy gift of gold and diamonds that can last forever and be passed through generations. The month, for sure, will wear us all out. I will miss spending time with the boys and Lori like every year but business is business…I am a Jeweler.
My next appointment for bloodwork will be mid Christmas season, mid December. I will have to break away from the madness to find out whether we have finally progressed towards remission or have taken a step backwards. If we don’t show any progress over the first three months, we’ll probably have to go back to the drawing board…. Or Dr. Dave’s Leukemia playbook as I called it. Time to get my head in the game though. The season begins next week. Honestly, my head was hurting. My heart was hurting. No excuses. Its time to play Santa. Ho Ho Ho.
Another side note: I got a call last April 2020 from a friend asking to open up my store during the pandemic shutdown. Her daughters fiance was just diagnosed with brain cancer and they needed wedding rings asap so they could marry that weekend. The diagnosis was dire and they literally had their first major consultation the day that they met me at the store. Wedding bands set and wedding successful their journey began. They had a baby daughter and many plans. Unfortunately, the brain cancer had other plans and the young man passed yesterday. Cancer sucks. It really sucks. Rest in Peace Joe Bosak. Another wonderful husband, father and friend gone too soon.
Next up: Santa’s a No Show