PLEASE Don’t Kill Me

I miss not having her when I need her the most.  She has always been there for me and strangest thing…she started humping the leg that had the leukemia in it.  Was she trying to make me well? I’d like to think so.  I’ve loved her for 10+ years and I will continue to love her forever.  I’m a proud cat mom.

I may or may not have mentioned this but we had to find some amazing and willing friends to take care of Lucy once I had my transplant and up to a year.  Unfortunately, for me, my type of transplant does not allow for her to come back before the year mark.  Anyone that owns an animal, knows they’re like family.  It’s hard enough if you have to be away from them for any reason.  I’d already been away from my kitty for more than 100 days.

We have found that some of my doctors are more strict than others which has started confusing my family and I.  At the end of my appointment, as always, the doctor came into my room.  He knew I had asked one of the nurse practitioners if I could have my cat back.  I missed Lucy so much and not only do I love her like crazy but it’s now been 115 days since I’ve had her.  Most people know and understand that animals are not only therapeutic but also offer comfort in times of need.

Reality Sucks


Alright, here we go, it’s the end of the appointment.  My Dr. said, “Oh yeah, there’s something else you wanted to talk about.  You want your cat back.”  I started pleading and explaining and almost doing so in tears.  The thought of not getting her back until the year mark of July ’15 is mind baffling to me.  Well…that didn’t work.  He cut me off rather abruptly and gave me a stern talking to.  It was, to say the least, unexpected but perhaps necessary.  He reminded me of the bacteria that she can carry and how she can be dangerous to my health.  Also, how they have done so much in order to save my life this year and I should be more grateful.  Really??!  I had no idea I had stopped appreciating the fact that my medical team was doing everything they could to save my life.  The reality…I believe I had started taking things for granted.   Why did I think this?  Because we had just started enjoying living a little, using our common sense, going to restaurants and other places at odd hours.  If I had stopped being grateful for my life, then you really need to stop and take stock of your life.  Do it for you.  Do it for me.  Do it for your spouse.  Do it for your family and friends.  For me, I had forgotten that my life is still in jeopardy for up to a year or longer.  That is my harsh reality and maybe I deserved the reality check I was given by Dr. Patel.  The holidays are a wonderful reminder that we should all be thankful for what we have.

Look how life can change in just the span of one month. Don’t forget to cherish every moment and love what you have.

Months ago the doctors said if I’m doing well and my immune system is strong, we can start to do more things.  As stated in my previous blog, I was in and out of the hospital with fevers recently. Someone in my condition, this can be very dangerous. I suppose this is why my doctors have gotten a bit more restricting with my freedom.  Lately, I have become a prisoner in my own house.  What does this mean?  I can’t go anywhere 99% of the time so my house is where the visits happen and the rules are very strict.  They’re not my rules.  You can not visit if you have been sick within the past 2-3

weeks.  Or been around someone who has been sick for that amount of time.  Or have had any immunizations or antibiotics.  This has probably been one of the things that has had me laughing, almost in tears, angry and downright confused with how some people don’t want to understand these rules.  I mean come on, it’s flu season!  I get it.  I love you and I love that you want to visit so badly.  But please          
stop trying to kill me.  (That is how serious it is.  I have no immune system right now!)  We will see each other when the timing is right.  I realize how unfair this is for you (Michele being facetious), but please consider everything I’ve had to endure this year.  Trust me when I say there are much worst things in life to deal with.  If I’m ok with these rules so I can survive, then please be happy and understanding about that and know that this too shall pass.  (REMEMBER, I AM HOUSEBOUND RIGHT NOW.)   For all of those who have understood everything, thank you.

Now, on a serious note, I would like to take the time to Thank my wonderful medical team at the Florida Hospital and Florida Center for Cellular Therapy for all that they have done this year for me. Never in my entire life did I think I would get cancer at any point, much less at such a young age.  A special “Thank You” to my Dr. I’ve had the whole time, Dr. Khaled.  He makes me laugh, he wishes he looked as good as I do when bald, and he even has a song dedicated to me ‘The Man’ by Aloe Blacc.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL THOSE WHOM I LOVE INCLUDING MY WONDERFUL FOLLOWERS!!