It Came From The Porch : All About Me

Just what is this leukemia thing all about?

Well, here's what I can tell ya. I started writing about this well before I actually went in for the transplant. As a result, some of my expectations were a little... wonky. So, especially for you folks who are facing this thing, please remember that I wrote the following sections BEFORE I knew what it was really like!

• CML - an off-the-cuff but reasonably accurate description of what CML is all about.
• Bone Marrow Transplant - an off-the-cuff and more or less sorta well ok not really accurate description of what the BMT is all about. (at least it's got notes from my Doc to correct some things!)
• Leukemiatic Thoughts - random thoughts about the whole situation. Again, these were all written before I went in for the treatment.

It was, by the way, nothing at all like I expected, and NOTHING as bad as I expected. So take heart, you kids who are about to do the same thing - it's almost surely not as bad as you fear.

I had my bone marrow transplant on June 4th. Um, this entry is not gentle. As a matter of fact, it's one of the most vulgar, angry entries IN my journal, but that's what the day was like. It was one hell of an experience. I seem to have come out on the other side just fine.

I'm back at work now (this being written on Sat, Oct 23, 1999) and life is, while trying, more or less normal. Sorta. :)

For a much more complete account of what this is all about, I'm afraid you're just gonna have to read my whole journal. Which is what this site is mostly about, anyway.

Also, please realize that everyone's treatment is COMPLETELY different. I really can't emphasize this enough. My journal is my account of what I went through, and may have an awful lot, or very little, in common with yours.