March 2nd, 2005

First of all, thanks for all your prayers. Please continue. They are working.

I don’t have a lot to report, other than I’m still feeling good, most of the time. There is an occasional queasiness or muscle pain, but the muscle pain is likely to be the “getting older” thing. My stamina isn’t what it used to be (or at least what I remember it to be). Again is that getting old or a side effect of the medicine? I don’t see many other guys my age playing in basketball leagues or bull riding.

On January 25th I had blood drawn for the first test to see how well the Gleevec is working to reverse the chromosome DNA back in the Leukemic (Philadelphia) cells. I’ve been waiting for a long time for the test results. I was first told that I would have results in 17 days. However, it takes about 5 weeks for results on this particular test. Yesterday the oncology department left a message with the initial results. There is a “log” reduction in the count of Leukemic cells relative to normal white cells. That is good, I guess. In my distant memory of mathematics courses, logarithmic scales are used to show major changes without the difference in the numbers getting huge or miniscule. I have an appointment with the oncologist next week for a thorough interpretation of the test results.

Sorry for those of you who have asked for an update. I was waiting for the test results because everything else has been the same since the last one in January. I’m feeling good and my blood count is holding steady at great levels. I’ll let you all know the official test results next week.

It is still amazing to me how a health issue can so radically change the way a person perceives life and their own priorities. I’ve had the opportunity to talk to several people with health challenges and the all have experienced changed thinking. I am equally amazed that the people I’ve met haven’t changed their thinking in the same way as me or each other. I think the single most identifiable factor I’ve found in a person’s response to adversity or disappointment is their faith.

Thanks again for your prayers. I’ll write again soon.