31 Aug @1852:
New day new ramblings...to update you all on my current values they are as follows:

• WBC - 4.3
• HCT - 34.3
• PLTS - 146k

Inchin up little by little/day by day. Slept fairly well last pm in fact right through breakfast. I've now been given the duty of monitoring all my intake both solids and liquids. Yes I wrote solids! I finally convinced a nurse to allow me at least a try at real food so she was kind enough to give me chicken noodle soup for a late afternoon snack. I was really surprised when the dinner tray arrived because it had real strips of meat, broccoli crowns and rice pilaf. It looked so good but unfortunately at this point in recovery my taste buds have developed into tastebads. Everything I eat has a very distinct taste - plastic. Not very appetizing to say the least but I persevere to put on weight and to keep up me strength - what little I have left.
Not much more to say for now so me thinks this will be a good time to end. To all a good pm and stay healthy.

-me

Good evening to one and all. Tonight my writings are a wee bit later than usual (1950 hrs). But as the 'ol saying goes, better late than never.
Today has been a long day. It seems I've waisted most of the day in bed aslumber - which aint such a bad thang because we all know how much wees love to sleep. Problem being is that I slept through breakfast, which is really no loss considering what the menu has to offer.
Last I wrote I said I had requested "real food". Well the real food menu is as follows:
Bowl of broth
Popsicle
Cup of tea
Juice
Jello
You've gotta start somewhere. The issue I wasn't prepared for was my stomach wasn't used to real food so with every loving sip of vittle came out in a furry of spittle. It's sooo amazing how little one can have in ones stomach can produce. I believe I upchucked more than that famous upchucking woodchuck - a story yet to be proved! That my friends was yesterday and I may say today is another day. Stomach's more settled and I can eat most of my tray - food that is.
Me madre is in the hood and is visiting daily. We now have secured the housing across the street. Unfortunately I left the address/phone# in my room but rest assured I'll get it in the next insert. As for vacating my current housing supposedly I'll be out of here on Tuesday and in the new housing as long as everything remains status quo.
I took a nice long walk today including setting foot outside and enjoyed sitting in the shade and admiring the incredible gardens that draw you up to the front of Hospital. I was accompanied by me madre and a dear friend Paula who happens to work here at Stanford and drops in to check on me on a regular basis for a friendly game of Cribbage and Yahtzee. I admit it took a bit out of me walking back to my room. It still amazes me how weak my body still is even though my brain says I'm ready to run and play and cuddle with Robyn - with whom I miss daily.
Well kids, It's that time again to mosey on back. A nurse just came by to tell me she needs me back in my room to draw blood.
I miss you all and appreciate all the comments more than I can express. On that note, to all the staff at French - I thank you for all you have done to get me here and will never forget your love and respect you gave me and hopefully I to you. Abby - congrats and your news brought a tear. Brently- what's with the obsession with pictures LOL. To those I inadvertently left out much love to you and all your well wishes.

-me

Well kids, another day passed in BMT land and believe it or not I'm still alive and kickn'.
I promised #'s today regarding my progress so here goes:

Normal Values:

Platelets (PLTS) 150K - 400k
White Blood Cells (WBC) 4.0 - 11.0
Hematocrit (HCT)(Red Blood Cells) 37 - 50

My current values:

PLTS @ 66k
WBC @ 2.2
HCT @ 35.1

Considering we started with Zero on Day + 1 and we are where we're at on day +21, I'm pleased with the progress. It's been an extremely painful process but we're gettn' there!
Oh by the way, I'm moving today into new digs...nothing too exciting - just down the block in the same housing complex - E UNIT. I'll be sharing with another sucker er, I mean survivor. I also requested to initiate real vittles for the first time in weeks so we'll see how that goes too. We're still hoping to move into my temporary digs - which are located across the street - by the end of this week. I feel like such a gonad...nomad being bounced around Stanford U.
My new address is: E-UNIT / Room/bed #38a / Phone #650.498.3213. I requested the window bed and was granted my wish! Hopefully I wont be there for long.
Well kiddos, I bes' be gettn' to my new view. To all best wishes and above all....stay healthy!

-me

This should be interesting today because I'm typing minus my left ring finger because it's taped up with an electronic device to monitor my O2/heart beats per minute. Other than that all is basically the same 'ol x2.
The latest addition to my medicinal repertoire is a rinse - consisting of a very small amount of cocaine, aiding in the constriction of blood vessels which helps reduce the painful effects of my oral issues - lesions on both sides of tongue as well as underneath, lesions on both cheeks and the continual shedding of cells from my esophagus and mouth. Admittedly I appear to be doing much better but as I have said over and over, looks can be deceiving.
True the outside appearance is much improved but unfortunately it's what's on the inside that still burns like a son of a gun! Oh well, it's all part of the fun - YEEHAW!
My numbers continue to climb which is what we're aiming for. I'll have numbers by 'morro for those who are keeping track.
Well kids, I'm not much for writing this pm and on top of that I'm just plain tarred. Until next time I torture you with my lack of witticisms and writing skills, I bid you adieu. Stay healthy.

-me

Hi kids! It's been waaay too long since I've had the time let alone the energy to write to y'all. Trust me when I write there is plenty to write about but I was restricted to my room whilst suffering - scuse me, surviving this whole ordeal.
First and foremost I would like to take this opportunity to thank "Roomate Robyn" for keeping those inquiring minds fed with all the news that's fit to print. This hasn't been easy in any way shape or form for either one of us. Shanks.
As for the butterfly description...very sweet but I would have to say the moth is more appropriate due to the fact that I was, as of a few days ago, seeking the solice of the "white light" as opposed to breaking out into a beautiful colorful being - but I appreciate the sentiment and it's not lost.
Well kids, I'm getting tired and it's time to get back to my room. Until next time...

The mother cell has been located

Curt's blood count almost doubled in one day - he was up to 1.4 by last night. The mother cell has been located! As you can imagine this is very good news for Curt to hear. He getting more comfortable everyday although still cranky, which the nurses say, is a good sign. It means he's ready to get out of here and will do whatever it takes to get out of here. Today is day+17 so he is right on schedule and by day+20 he will probably be a functioning person again.

Curt's sister Cara is coming up today so I can get back to SLO and have 1 day to deal with a very neglected house and, yard and get organized before school starts. This summer has been a blur and soon I will be able to say the same thing about the BMT. It will be but a memory.

So - from now on you will hear straight from Curt. He will have to catch up on the 2+ weeks of comments, but rest assured that he will be writing his witty narratives very soon.

Robyn

The AMAZING butterfly!

WOW - what a difference a day makes. Curt's Dr's told us that his blood levels are up to .8 (woohoo!) this AM and that he is doing fabulous. They told us that within the next 12 hours his mouth will get better very quickly and that he will probably be able to start eating as soon as Mon. His face is no longer swollen or scabby and his rashes are all gone. He was able to shower by himself this AM and he rode the life cycle for 20 minutes. We were told that by tomorrow he will be able to walk around outside the room (with his mask on) and that he will probably be released to the on site housing Wed or Thurs.

I am blown away by the transformation - it is truly amazing. When I arrived yesterday Curt was cranky and just wanted to get the F--- (as Curt put it) out of here. He will be getting his wish soon and we want to invite any and all of you that want to come up to visit to do so. It was a hard journey and although not long by society's standards, brutally long for some one to go through.

Thank God we are on the final stretch and now we can appreciate our second chance in life~

Robyn