What a great weekend!

Since going for a week without a phlebotomy, I've had a surge in energy. Yesterday, I installed a back porch door - latch, strike, closing mechanism, glass, etc. Then, I totally re-plumbed the upstairs bathroom shower with a line straight to the basement source. Now, it has a great stream of water (up from the piddle) and is not affected by flushing, running taps, etc. Fixed the motorcycle and went for an evening ride.

WOWSERS! It felt so good to be more "normal". Tomorrow is another phlebotomy and a trip to the Cancer Institute for my regular monitoring of the Polycythemia Vera. The PV has been lurking in the background, with hydroxyurea (oral chemotherapy) everyday. Tomorrow's tests will determine the effects of the combination of chemical and phlebotomy treatments. the platelets, RBC and WBC counts should all be normal or below, and the HCT count should be headed back to normal.

I'm appreciating all of the new friends and medical associates who I've met because of this bump-in-the-road. I'm also gaining a sense of oneness with others who are afflicted with more visible and/or more short-term mortality factors. I have great feelings of caring and compassion wash over me at times - seeing a child with cancer or an elderly person struggling to "check out". I have dear friends with grave afflictions who serve as positive role models, never complaining but facing the day's challenges with optimism. To all of them, I say, "thank you for being a dear friend".