Monday, May 19, 2008

day 5

monday, 5/19/08

after i posted yesterday, a few things happened:
my mom and i took a walk through the hospital. it was pretty awkward. i had to wear a mask to prevent picking up airborne bacteria, and i had to tote around my IV as well. let's just say, people noticed. when i went into an elevator, people covered their mouths because they assumed i was contageous due to the mask i was wearing. we had to explain a few to a few people that i was wearing a mask for MY saftey, not theirs. furthermore, outside of the elevator i noticed many people staring at me. i guess it's not everyday that you see a girl with a mask, jammies, a bathrobe and an IV walking through the halls, but it was still a little weird to have people stare at you as you pass by.
later that night, they started me on a light chemotherapy treatment called atra last night as well as a steroid in hopes of reducing the side effects (specifically a spike in my white blood cell count). today, my white blood cell count is down from 130,000 to 90,000 and my fever is going down as well, which means the atra is working and the steroids are doing their jobs as well.
as of this morning, my picc IV, however, is bleeding a lot. this is mostly because i have a harder time forming clots.
as for gradutation, my family has arranged with my guidance counselors for potential wheelchair seating, because we don't know what kind of condition i'll be in on june 26th. prom... i'm still deciding whether or not to go. i've got a date, a dress and will have tickets, but i won't have hair. ick...

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Hair or not, you should come to prom. You'll look gorgeous no matter what.

Janet Snoyer said...

Hey girl, you are a natural at this!
Thanks for the happy news that your WBC is in decline. Keep up the good work! Love, Janet

Patricia said...

you are indeed a natural blogger! Isn't it weird how people assume that you're the contagious one??? and sometimes people stare because...well, because people stare. I'm sorry that I haven't been up to Rochester. I've been hanging out at Cayuga Med. Keep kickin', love Patricia

Patricia said...

Marika, you really are amazing. This is great. Thank you, everyone, for your support. love, Dad

LAURIE said...

HOWDY MARIKA, THIS IS FABULOUS! IT MUST BE REALLY NEAT TO HAVE A PLACE TO TELL THE WORLD HOW MUCH IT SUCKS TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL OF THIS, ESPECIALLY NOW!!! I TOLD GOD THAT IT WAS TIME TO GO PICK ON SOMEONE ELSE. I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I HAVE SOME INFLUENCE IN THE GOD DEPARTMENT, BUT I'M AFRAID THAT IRREVERENT FOLKS LIKE ME DON'T EXACTLY GET ALOT OF AIR TIME FROM THE BIG BOSS. ANYWAY, I WANT YOU TO KICK ALL THOSE NASTY WBC'S (WHITE BLOOD CELLS) IN THE ASS FOR ME AND SHOW THEM WHO'S THE BOSS. AND IF YOU FIND YOURSELF AWAKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH NO ONE TO TALK TO, CALL ME. I'LL PROBABLY BE AWAKE ANYWAY AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE OF WHAT'S IN THAT MIND OF YOUR'S.

LOTS OF LOVE, (AUNT) LAURIE

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Marika,I agree with Kevin above. If you feel well enough you should go to prom!Hair or not you will always be gorgeous.Stay strong!-Josie