Dana-Farber visit

I had some good news at my clinic appointment yesterday: My liver enzymes are lower and I can decrease the prednisone again, from 20 mg. to 15.

Dr. Alyea had hoped that my platelets would increase with the higher prednisone dose and the improvement of the Graft vs. Host in my liver. That didn't happen, however, and they remained at 60. (That's up a tiny bit, but inconsequential.) Everything else was fine, and he didn't seem concerned.

My white count is a normal 7.8, and my hematocrit and hemoglobin are normal, at 35.9 and 12.2 respectively.

We talked a little tennis, as we often do. I was about to write here that we talk tennis when, thankfully, there is nothing serious to discuss, but actually, in a way tennis talk is serious because it's a gauge of my well-being (just as talking about progress in a variety of ways is important for other survivors). I told him I had hit a nice passing shot down the line, and he smiled and said he loves the feeling of that shot.

He also told me that in his notes about our last visit, he had included that I had an ace. I smiled at that as an indicator of his subtle sense of humor and of his overall perspective (and that of my other Dana-Farber doctors) on the importance of knowing the total person.

Katie had come with me to Boston, and she high-fived me when I gave her my report. On the way home, we stopped at the gigantic Natick Mall, a very nice place as far as malls go. I've bought enough for myself lately, so we were looking for some clothes for her. She doesn't ask for things that are too expensive, and we were both happy to find the right things at the right price.

We got home around 7:30, and Joe had dinner waiting.

Good kids, good day.