briansereno.com

…I have but one thing to say.

BRING ME MY SWORDS!

GBM

As is now customary for the Wednesday before a new cycle of chemo, I had a morning appointment at the oncologist’s office today to check my blood counts before I’m permitted to continue with the protocol.  We left with more great news as my WBCs checked in at 3.3, while my neutrophils registered at 2.2.  Interestingly, as I previously noted, my neutrophils are no longer flagged as ‘low’ even for a person that isn’t undergoing chemotherapy.  My WBCs are slightly on the low side once again, but are more than sufficient to commence with Cycle Four on Friday.

Reflecting back on this ordeal from the beginning, I can’t help but marvel at how far we’ve come in such great condition.  I remember my hesitation to enroll in Duke’s study; a hesitation that was created almost entirely because of my trepidation about Irinotecan.  It has a reputation as a nasty drug, and while I’ll admit that it is ever-so-slightly unpleasant for me to handle during the infusion, my worries about it vastly exceeded the reality.  What now seems like years ago – but so recently at the same time – I was anxious for my first infusion of Irinotecan.  As I now prepare for my seventh IV on Friday, no longer am I wondering what to expect.

I’m fortunate that I’ve been so able to tolerate the symptoms and side effects of this experience, and I’m unfortunately fortunate that I’m now an old pro at the routine.  I’d rather not be a pro at this kind of thing, but better a pro than an amateur.  Until Friday, I’ll just keep on keeping on.

GBM

I was too caught up in the excitement/soreness of yesterday’s yoga session to mention the less-than-best news that I received yesterday. You may recall that I was issued what I thought was a speeding ticket on our last trip to Duke. The officer that pulled me over said that I was going “a little fast” and that I could pre-pay the penalty without having to return to Brunswick County to appear in court. As it turns out, she was right on both counts. I was going just a little fast, and I don’t have to appear in court…but what she failed to mention was that failure to appear in court would be an admission of reckless driving! Evidently, for Virginia residents in the state of Virginia, any citation for driving over 80 mph, regardless of the speed limit, is worthy of a reckless driving charge. As the court clerk told me on the phone yesterday, a Virginia driver operating a vehicle within the Commonwealth at 81 mph in a 70 mph zone is according to the laws of the state driving recklessly. Yes, I was shocked as well. So, next Wednesday - May 6th at 11:00 am - I’ll be in a Brunswick County courtroom telling a judge that on an open road in southern, VA on an otherwise beautiful March day the last thing I was doing was driving recklessly with Jessie and Chrissy in the car. Wish me luck.

On a brighter note, as I’m now the self-appointed honorary driver of the Capitals bandwagon, the Caps completed their comeback from a 3-1 series deficit to defeat the Rangers tonight. Bring on the Penguins.

Other

My first experience with yoga tonight was enjoyable for the most part, though I found myself in multiple different positions which I’d never been in before that will certainly leave me sore tomorrow. I hadn’t anticipated how rigorous of a workout it would be, and it’s a darn good thing that I don’t have much of an ego or else I’d be down on myself for my inability to perform many of the strength exercises that the 100 lb. girls in the room were performing with ease. There was somewhat of a gymnastics component to the festivities - which was appropriate since we were in a youth gymnastics-looking venue - and after I got over my concern of catching swine flu from one of the germ-ridden children that the building houses during the day, I settled into a comfort zone of laughing off my inability to do some of the simplest looking tasks. Not surprisingly, I’m just not that flexible. All in all it was an enjoyable and centering experience that I’ll do again soon, hopefully returning with a better sense of know-how and less unfamiliarity with the protocols. As for the day’s grades, I’d give yoga an A. My inability isn’t yoga’s fault. Jessie also gets an A, as the instructor called her “a natural”. I’m giving myself a C for performance, but an A for effort…averaging out to keep my status safe as a solid-B student. Namaste.

Other

I’d have a hard time recalling a moment of this weekend that was anything but great, so let’s go ahead and call it a perfect weekend. Every weekend should be as good as this one.

I’ll head back to work tomorrow, and I’m holding out hope that my perfect run continues. In fact, I’ll make my debut inside of a yoga studio tomorrow night. Certainly many blog-able details will ensue. Stay tuned.

Other

My concern that our colder-than-average Spring in DC would result in us skipping my favorite season in its entirety was proven today to be for good reason. After languishing in 50 degree weather through March and most of April, the thermometers today skipped through the 60s, 70s and 80s today to touch 90 in mid-afternoon. I’m not complaining though as I’ll take 90 instead of 50 eight days a week. Fortunately for us, our new Altima is well built with ample AC, and my colleague with the Orioles - Jay - set us up with a foursome of suite tickets for tonight’s O’s game so that we could enjoy the game in comfort rather than in the rained-on seats below us. All in all, with summer having arrived in the Nation’s Capital, Saturday was a glorious cancer-free day for me. I look forward to many others this summer.

Other

Lost in the excitement of tonight’s hockey game was the great news that we received this morning at my weekly blood check.  My neutrophils checked in at 2.8 today; a number that not only is great for me in my current drug-depleted state, but that actually registers within the ‘normal’ range for folks that aren’t enduring chemo.  Additionally, while my WBCs didn’t quite reach the ‘normal’ range (>4.5 for non-chemo patients), at 3.8 today they qualified as superb for someone in my situation.  Maybe it wasn’t so silly when I suggested that I’d ‘meditate my counts higher’.

GBM

Jessie and I are in attendance at my first ever hockey game.  After one period of play, so far so good for the home team.  There is electric energy pulsating through the building that is infectious.  More to come.

UPDATE: The second and third periods of tonight’s game proceeded in the same manner as the first.  From start to finish, the Capitals thoroughly dominated en route to a 4-0 win that pulled them to within 3-2 in this best-of-seven series.  I left with complete satisfaction about my first hockey experience, and truly hope that I don’t wait another 29 years to attend another game.  

Shout out to Caps PR guru Nate who provided us with the tickets tonight.  Let it also be noted that Jessie has now attended twice as many NHL games in her lifetime than I have in mine.  What a sports nut, huh?

Other

…since I was in middle school, I’m in bed at 10 pm. I’ve taken the doctor’s orders to ‘listen to my body’, and my body is so tired for some reason right now that it barely has the strength to tell me to go to bed. After a good night of rest, I’ll be good as new again tomorrow. Until then…

GBM

As the Wizards prepare to introduce our 22nd head coach in franchise history - Flip Saunders - at a 3:00 pm press conference on Thursday, it is germane to note the situation of another ex-Detroit Pistons coaching legend, Hall of Famer Chuck Daly.  Daly, who won a pair of NBA Championships in Detroit and also guided the 1992 Dream Team to Olympic Gold in Barcelona, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few months ago.  Recently, in honor of Daly, the National Basketball Coaches Association decided to dedicate the 2009 NBA Playoffs to Daly.  For the duration of this season’s playoffs, if you’re watching on television at home, you’ll notice coaches throughout the NBA wearing the ‘CD’ pin pictured herein.  Some media members may also choose to honor Daly; a man who I’ve never met but have the utmost respect for, not only for his coaching acumen and mark on the game of basketball, but particularly for his brave battle with this insidious disease.  Again, while his fight is no more gut-wrenching than that of the millions of other people battling the same foe, when it affects someone of fame more people tend to take notice and choose to join in the fight.  For that reason, I’m glad to see the NBCA throw their considerable weight into the ring.  We can use all of the support we can get.

GBM