What I'm Thankful For

I'm thankful for the option to have a holiday centered around the 

Thanks beast, family, and great friends

I'm thankful for My wonferful mother and (although deceased) my father

I'm thankful for My terrific brother and sister

I'm thankful for lots of sweet and savory options my djanky taste buds can choose from

I'm thankful for the Good Samaritan Hospital ER for getting seen quickly this morning (again)

I'm thankful for the 2 bags of blood I was transfused with today

I'm thankful for Dr Chun doing an effective endoscopy and cauterizing 3 new bleeders in my stomach

I'm thankful for the luck to land the Shropshire suite again (single occupant room I've had before during hospital stays)

I'm thankful for the very nice and capable nursing staff taking care of me 

I'm thankful for my oncologist Dr Blanchette and will miss her when she moves on sometime in January

I'm thankful for still being able to put up a fight to live

I'm thankful for Keytruda being approved in September and being authorized for it's use treatment that month

I'm thankful for both insurance and Medicare

But most of all, I'm enormously thankful for my partner turned fiancé Ki Kurtz! I'm very lucky.

This morning I had to come in as I had a fairly dark movement (meaning GI track bleeding) and needed blood again.

3rd Keytruda Infusion

I'm rocking the 3rd Keytruda infusion from Tuesday, and using the portacath is totes the way vs. endless IV's. So far no side effects such as 20% chance of stuff (there's a LOT of options to choose with Keytruda.)

Also got 2 more bags of blood transfused, but Dr Blanchette felt strongly it needed to happen on Wednesday, so the only available location was in the Good Sam hospital in Albany, which is about 20 minutes drive from Corvallis. I've had blood transfused there once back in August, and they remembered me, which I thought was cool and a bit of a surprise.

Lately when I'm in these treatments everyone seems amazed at my height. I tell them 6'3" unless I'm retaining water and then it's 6'4", you'd think us tall guys never get ill? But watch out if we stumble (I haven't fallen in some time thank goodness.)

On a great positive note, I asked Ki if he wanted to get married and after wet eyes on both sides, he said yes! 

We're planning for May, and hope either the 23rd or 30th works at a very nice venue that's in-between Corvallis and Eugene. We're not slumming it, but likely won't get crazy big with it either. Lots and lots of details to decide. We have family and friends to plan for, but still need to finish his, mine and our shared lists. Some good friends and family have offerrered to help too!

The only blip is Ki wasn't too aggreeable on putting Musuicians Friend/Guitar Center on the gift registry for some reason ;)

Oh and we found these lovely rings with titanium and exotic woods.

Lovely rosewood for Ki

Zebra wood for mine

We're still in the beginning planning phase, but it's super exciting!

First Portacath Use

My blood levels slipped to 7 this week (tested on Tues.) My hem/oncologist had the hospital transfuse 2 bags of good old O positive blood today.

This gave me the first opportunity use of my portacath. It went fine, and now I'm taking a nap.

Eventually, I'll know most of the nursing staff at this rate.

it's certainly better to know about this ahead of time than before I have to rush into the ER.

I'm getting blood checked each week, and until we see reduction in tumors (hopefully from the current cancer treatment/Keytruda.) I'll likely need some transfusions on a continuing basis, but this seems better than having my stomach removed ...

On the upside, I had a nice room.