Blog Entries

Just Another Typical Day With Leukemia

Posted on by Rob

It was another typical day with Leukemia.  You know, I got up, had breakfast, watched myself on national TV.  That kind of day.

Ready for Your Close-Up?
If you haven’t seen it yet, you can see my interview here.  It was fun to watch and I thought they did a great job putting together the story.  I never met Drew while in the hospital, but I was familiar with his name.  I saw it on all my walks, so it’s nice to put a face with a name.  It was interesting to see how the story turned out, as there was actually another gentleman interviewed.  They also interviewed a coordinator for Dr. Cripe’s office.  I imagine that the stories of Drew and I were similar enough that they decided to concentrate there.  It was fun to see what parts of the interview they decided to use and I think they put it all together perfectly.
Weird Beard
I’ve always been a 5 o’clock shadow kind of guy. I could get the closest shave possible in the morning and I’d still have some decent stubble by 5.  When I don’t shave over the weekend, I can grow in a few days what it might take others a few weeks to grow.  That’s why it’s a bit weird to have smooth cheeks (upper cheeks) these days.  I haven’t shaved in 5 days and I still see nary a hair growing.  I suppose I should enjoy not having to shave, but it was a bit of a sense of pride to be able to grow a beard so fast.  Oh well, it will save me a few minutes each morning if I don’t have to dawn the shaving cream to get a smooth look for a few hours.
Speaking of My Last Shave
The last time I shaved really was a razor optional moment.  I didn’t so much shave as I did squeegee the hair off my face.  It was all loose enough that basically it just came out like I had put nare on my cheeks.  That’s an interesting thought…which is worse, chemo or nare on your cheeks?
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
I like 80’s music.  I fondly remember summer days at the pool as 80’s music would blast over the speakers. Wake me up before you go-go was a song by Wham! in 1984.  My own version of this song occurs multiple times a night when my bladder wakes me up before it go-gos.  I’m still drinking a lot of water and for some reason I become thirstier at night, so the timing of my body processing the water leads to frequent half asleep trips to the bathroom.  Thankfully I don’t dream of waterfalls or anything that would cause an accident.  My bladder let’s me know when it’s full and it’s time to go-go.
Guestbook
I’m a little behind on reading my guestbook.  I’ll try and catch up soon.  Thanks again to everyone who leaves encouraging messages.  I read them all and they are a big help.
Blood Draw
Tomorrow is my next blood draw.  It’s really a simple process of getting poked by a needle and then going home.  Still the significance of that little needle prick is not lost on me.  The draw tells me if I continue to get better and it will show if something has gone wrong and I am getting worse.  It’s such a simple thing, yet there is a bit of anticipation going in.  It’s probably the closest I get to worrying about anything.  I wonder what story tomorrow’s blood draw will tell.
A Duck Dynasty Prayer
Dear God, thank you for a great day with family and for time to rest and relax.  Be with Drew Rariden as he fights his own battle against leukemia.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the interview and story that the NFL Network did.  I hope my words honored you.  Thank you for using me in a positive way.  I don’t know how else to do this but one step at a time because I know you hold my path.  Thank you for another day.  Amen.

NFL Update

Posted on by Rob

The segment on Coach Pagano and parts of my interview should air tomorrow, Sunday, at 11:40 am EST.  It will air on NFL Network, and I imagine they will have a video of the segment online after it airs.  The producer recommended we start watching at 11:30a and be prepared to keep watching until noon, just in case things get switched around.  Here’s a link to a story about coach and a promo of the interviews.

A Taste of Freedom

Posted on by Rob

Since I’ve been home, I’ve only been out of the house twice.  Once for the interview and once for my blood draw.  Both times Lindsey chauffeured me around and we stuck to the bare minimum stops.  Today I had a doctors appointment and I went on my very own.  First time I’ve driven a car in a month.

Slow or Stop???
I put my contacts in this morning.  Usually I wear my glasses, but since i was going out, I thought I’d wear my contacts.  I discovered that my vision was a bit more blurry with my contacts.  That wasn’t a big issue until I came to some road construction with a one lane road.  The flagger was dutifully holding his sign.  One problem.  I couldn’t read it.  It either said Stop or Slow, but as I approached I wasn’t sure which one it was.  Seeing that no traffic was coming the other way, I bet on Slow and kept going.  Thankfully I was right 😉
I’ve Never Seen Leukemia Present That Way
I’ve been told it’s never good to be the first or be unique in medicine.  Hopefully the presentation of my leukemia is the only unique thing about it. I had my appointment with my PCP today.  Really it was just to check in, as my care will be directed by my Hem Team (as in Hematology Team).  We were discussing that my abdominal pain was now gone.  The abdominal pain is what brought me in originally and led to my diagnosis.  The unusual part is that leukemia patients usually have pain on the left side due to an enlarged spleen.  All my pain was on my right side and specifically around my gall bladder.  As my doc shook his head he said “in all my years, I’ve never seen leukemia present that way.”  I’ll try not to be unique in the future.
It’s on the Way Home
As “luck” would have it, the Colts Pro Shop was on the way home from my doctor’s office.  I stopped in briefly to look for a case for my football, but alas they didn’t have anything.  I had my trusty pocket sized hand sanitizer with me to ward off any germs.
Speaking of Hand Sanitizer
Even before my leukemia I was a hand sanitizer freak.  Lindsey would make fun of me because wherever we went that had hand sanitizer I would always get some.  Didn’t matter if it was the mall, a restaurant, or just walking around the hospital while I worked.  I love me some hand sanitizer.  In hindsight it’s a very good habit to have.  My Hem Team said I am more likely to get sick by touching something than I am by breathing in something.  I take my pocket hand sanitizer with me when I leave the house and we now have 4-5 pump sanitizers strategically placed inside the house.  Heck, just typing about it makes me want to use some.  Excuse me for a moment.
Neutropenic Fast Food
I’m not allowed to eat anything that’s sat out for a bit or anything that’s been under a heat lamp.  That basically eliminates all fast food.  The only thing I’ve had since I’ve been home is Penn Station.  For those of you that aren’t familiar with Penn Station, it’s basically a sub shop that does hot and cold sandwiches.  They also make their fries fresh.  Since I can have cooked food (aka hot sandwich) and since the fries don’t sit out, I can have Penn Station.  I stopped there on the way home and picked some up.  It was another normal activity for me and it felt nice.
I Got Gas
My last stop during my freedom tour was the gas station.  I grabbed some paper towels out of the dispenser and proceeded to use the pump.  People probably thought I was some sort of germ freak, but there are plenty of freaks at the Meijer gas station so I just fit in.
Another Day in The Books
Other than the above, I spent another day working.  No word yet on when the NFL interview will air.  My mom is here tonight to help out.  Lindsey is scheduled to work tomorrow, so it will be good to have someone else around.  I find that I still get tired during the day and need time to rest.  As my counts come back up, that should get better.  Well, at least until we whack them with another round of chemo.
A Duck Dynasty Prayer
Father, thank you for a good week.  Thank you for the little bit of hair I have left on my head.  Thank you for the gift of friends.  Thank you for another day.  Amen.