Back in Tomball, and I still want your blood
I have had a catheter in my chest for over four months, it has just been removed and I feel free and liberated. To celebrate my independence I will be hosting a blood drive at Dream Rooms Furniture, 8622 Eastex Freeway Houston,TX 77093 - 59 North & Loop 610 . Jesse Valdez is being so kind as to let us use his location for this much needed event. All donors will receive a custom designed shirt and 10% off any furniture purchase. For more details and information on the fine furniture offer please contact (281) 541-3435. The event will begin at 1 p.m. on July 5, 2009 and I am in need of donors so please call me at (786) 281-8316. This is the first time I am hosting a blood drive and I need your help to make it a huge success.
I packed my truck yesterday and made it to Tomball. I am now sitting in the same room I was in a few years ago. The owners of this home have since given birth to a beautiful niece that is forming sentences, I have been diagnosed and treated for a life threatening disease. In the span of a few years I have lived more than some that have been afflicted with my illness. I want to go on with my life but due to the fact that my immune system is still weakened there are numerous activities that I can not resume. No yard work (generates mold & pollen in the air), no prolonged exposure to the sun (skin is weak and can develop sores/bruises) and I still can not eat a salad. The time I spent at MD Anderson intorduced me to a world that most people will never see. I saw cancer daily. Looking into peoples eyes you could tell if they were having a good or bad day. There are times when just saying "Good Morning" are too much to handle.
I am back in the real world now, I do not have a bracelet that states I am a cancer patient at MD Anderson, there is no catheter in my chest or IV's in my arm. My head attempts to grow a few follicles, but I shave them. Before the procedure I was unsure of my future, that has not changed. I do know that I will have a chance at a healthy future and the nightmares of needles in my veins have stopped. The insomnia remains, there are medications to help me sleep but when I take them they knock me out for up to 16 hours at a time. I want to host successful blood and marrrow drives as well as volunteer for some local charities. It can be up to a year before I can get dirty with my hands again, I need to find a life. I just may have to take up scrapbooking and go with my sister to Hobby Lobby, it is the least I can do for someone that has given me the gift of life. I Love you Lucina.
Roger, what you are now doing, and want to do, are admirable. I caution you not to overdo it. It's almost like going to a cafeteria buffet when you are hungry, but your "eyes" are bigger than your stomach. You get more food than you can eat, and if you do eat all you took, you get a bad stomachache. If your immune system is still weak and you haven't been off of the tubes/catheter very long, you don't want to overdo it and make yourself sick. Not after you've come this far! For me, I started giving blood when I was in college (many, many years ago), but really haven't lately. Apparently, I've built up scar tissue which makes it VERY difficult to give blood. I still have, on occasion, if needed for a particular person, but they have torn up my arm in the process. The built up scar tissue makes it difficult for them to draw blood, now, when it is needed for medical procedures I've had, or even just to get a lipid panel for a complete physical, which I do annually, in July. So I don't think I'll be able to participate in your Blood Drive. However, are the shirts for sale? I'll buy a few if they are.
***Editors Note***
I will see on Sunday if I can get some of the shirts donated. These are being supplied by the blood center, Thanks for taking the time to write and staying along for the journey,.
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