Saturday, March 19, 2011

Their Stories

I finally was able to go to a photopheresis session yesterday. My new insurance kicked in. I caught 40 winks and did a little reading.

Two patients who occupied the chair next to mine, although not at the same time, demonstrated once again how we who are fighting blood cancer are never alone.

The first patient was a young man, 27, who was donating his stem cells not to a particular person, but just to donate. Hurray for him! He was there to get his first neupogen shot and his schedule for donating. I thanked him for what he was doing, telling him I had received stem cells from an anonymous donor.

The second patient was a middle-aged Hispanic woman who came with her daughter. She was visibly nervous, and I don't blame her. She was getting a neupogen shot to stimulate cells for an autogolous transplant. She has multiple myeloma. She was very nervous about having a catheter installed. I showed her mine and said although it was ugly, it would help save her life.

I walked out into the bright 70-degree sunshine wearing my ultra shades. Ah life.

1 comment:

Ronni Gordon said...

I always feel reinvigorated by hearing stories like the ones you just shared. Good for you that you helped someone feel a little less anxious.