Thursday, January 17, 2008

Homecoming Accessories

I checked out of Hotel Hope on Tuesday with two bags of dirty laundry, a half-used box of Kleenex and a dazzling set of new accessories.

Drugs: I'm still taking the steroids and a counter full of newly prescribed antibiotics.


Temporary Disabled Person Parking Placard: What's good in more places than the cancer card? What has more credibility than chemo brain? My Prius's latest accessory, the temporary handicapped placard, is good until July 2008, but I think I'll ditch it before the end of the month. And, no, you may not borrow it for your trip to the mall.




Flying Report Card: I went in for a blood draw yesterday and found that my blood levels are soaring again.


Day 55, Wednesday, January 9, 2008
(Numbers in parantheses are normal ranges.)
WBC 0.7 (4.0-11)
RBC 2.44 (3.8-5.2)
HGB 8.2 (11.5-15.5)
PLT 37 (150-350)

Day 62, Wednesday, January 16, 2008
WBC 4.0 (4.0-11) NORMAL!
RBC 3.37 (3.8-5.2)
HGB 11.1 (11.5-15.5) ALMOST NORMAL!
PLT 55 (150-350)

Appetite: For the first time in nearly three months, I have an appetite (thank you, steroids), and I can actually taste the food. I celebrated my stellar blood counts and the return of my taste buds by stopping at a whole-in-the-wall Mexican joint that's just a few blocks from CoH.

When it comes to Mexican food, I say don't listen to a north-of-the-border food critic, even if he does have a Pulitzer Prize on his wall (or is it on the mantel?). Listen to the CoH cleaning staff and watch where the gardeners go. They steered me to La Paloma, where I enjoyed a home-made pork tamale and bowl of cocido, a traditional beef shank vegetable soup.

13 comments:

Piper Robert said...

Congratulations.
1.Your numbers are up.
2.Appetite is back.
3.Got a temporary parking pass.
4.You found a diamond in the rough eatery.

That adds up to a very productive stay.

Love ya!

Piper Robert said...

Just finished...

WVU 73 St.John's 64

Susan C said...

I didn't know the Mountaineers played St. John's. I didn't even know St. John's had a football team. Everyone there majors in philosophy. (That's Dr. Forman's alma mater.)

Piper Robert said...

Men's basketball. St. John's has quite the strong tradition in basketball.

Have you been keeping tabs on your weight? A few pounds would be a good thing, yes?

Anonymous said...

Congrats!!!! - we'll have to inform Jonathan Gold that there's a Curmudgen de Cuisana on the loose! Let us know when you get your Compadres de Taste Buds back and we'll join you on the next exploration - cheers - M&D

Susan C said...

A DUH on me. Of course, it's basketball season. (And the high ending scores should have been a tip off.)

Re. Weight: I've really been enjoying my food, so I think the weight gain will follow. Right now, I feel like I'm convex where I should be concave! If only doctors could invent a smart pill that directed the fat to targeted areas. Hey, they're doing it with cancer drugs.

Susan C said...

Oops - I meant I'm concave where I should be convex (i.e. no junk in the trunk)

Nancy said...

Susan, Now you're just scaring me!!! Aren't you on low bacteria diet for 100 days like the rest of us were? I couldn't eat at a restaurant FOREVER!!! Maybe it's the difference between auto transplant and allo transplant. Please be careful, you definitely don't want to end up back at COH. I've seen the restaurant and in the 6 years I've been going to COH, I never ate there. I must be missing out! Awesome counts!!! Truly amazing! love, n

Mrs. Duck said...

Hurrah! Inflation is a good thing in the Smookie Nation! But make sure The Smookie Economy doesn't get overheated.

Unknown said...

Great news!

Anonymous said...

Hey Susan, Was glad to hear your appetite is back, looks like your ready for Frances famous Cabbage Rolls...Talked with Tina this morning and she told me she has been sending up prayers for you.

Anonymous said...

Fabulous news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW, do you have an address for La Paloma, or even vague indication where it is? (and yes, ask the locals. Great advice)

Susan C said...

La Paloma
1314 Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA 91010
(626) 359-1716

Located in a tiny strip mall on the corner of Duarte Road and Buena Vista