Spring Break '09!

Spring Break '08! And Good Riddance to Consolidation:

Last year at this time, I and three friends backpacked into the Adirondack mountains and camped in stormy, freezing temperatures for four days so that we could snowshoe to summits of mountains in the high peaks region.

The snow was 6 feet deep at camp, 8 feet deep at elevation. Our feet were blistered; our hands perpetually numb. A pesky and clever Pine Martin would find ways to raid our food supply every day at base camp regardless of how much time and energy we spent trying to outwit him.

The Lean-To we had chosen was too small for two tents to lay flat, so one tent needed to be laid over a log support. Each night two of us would have to sleep with our heads well below our feet, not exactly the most restful way to recover from a full day's snowshoeing and climbing.

Being spring break we brought a fifth of whiskey along with us. The whiskey was largely ignored, however, the bottle of IB-Profen would get passed around each morning with oatmeal.

We would stand atop peaks, freezing our asses off and joke about hot white sand beaches with cold margaritas and ladies in little bikinis. The joke quickly became to scream "Spring Break '08!" any time we were so cold that we could hardly stand it any more.

After four days, we hiked out and returned to my sister's apartment in Clinton, New York. We drove 20 miles to feast on massive, gooey burritos at Tex Mex, my all time favorite Mexican restaurant. On the return trip, I decided we had better stop at a liquor store to get some whiskey and Saranac Ale to wash down the tasty Mexican.

It was well passed two in the morning -- after the contents of the liter bottle of Seagram's Seven and box of beer were finally depleted, after the chicken nibbler eating contest had finished -- before someone finally bothered to ask me "what time are we leaving tomorrow for home?"

"Eight O'clock." I said.

"There's no way you're going to get up and be ready to go by eight!" another said.

"Oh, I'll be ready to go."

A moment from that infamous night is pictured above.

I awoke at seven to the sound of my alarm and hushed voices downstairs in the living room.

"Do you think Sam will be awake enough to drive?" I heard my friend Cavan say.

"There's no way." I heard Karsten say.

I took this as a challenge. I jumped into the shower, dressed, walked down the stairs and said with a gigantic smile "Mornin' boys. Let's get going," promptly at eight o'clock.

After drinking a bowl of coffee in downtown Clinton, I was not only awake enough to take the first stint of driving, I drove non-stop from New York to Wisconsin, through a blizzard. We arrived in Madison after sixteen hours, my point well made. It was a great trip.

I share this story because it is the best way I can describe the last round of chemo -- the "Month from hell" felt remarkably like it feels to drive 16 hours through a blizzard on 5 hours of sleep after spending a night of heavy drinking and 4 days snowshoeing over mountains and sleeping in fifteen degree temperatures and heavy winds.

But... The 57 Day "month of hell" is now officially over -- Goodbye and Good Riddance.

Spring Break '09 and a Medical Update:

The protocol that I'm on requires that my platelet count rise to over 75 and that my neutrophil count (infection-fighting white blood cells) rise to 750 before beginning the next round. While my platelets are in good shape (just over 100), we're still waiting on my neutrophils to rise in order to start (they're at about 200).

While I would prefer that my counts were a bit higher, this little break in chemo came at an opportune time as it corresponds not only with an abundance of sunshine, but also with UW's Spring Break meaning I've been able to spend a great deal of time with Katie and my buddy Phil.

Also, because my marrow seems to be revved up to kick out red blood cells and platelets, I've been feeling very well and having more energy than I've had in months. It's amazing how quickly the body recovers. Whereas a few weeks ago I had days when it was a struggle to remain conscious (this is not an exaggeration), now I'm feeling remarkably well. Certainly not "normal" but very, very well.

In fact, one of the struggles is remembering that I cannot engage in some of the behaviors that I used to. It's a sign that I'm feeling a great deal better when I find myself forgetting things like wearing a mask when I have to go to the clinic, and having to think things like "Sam, don't lick that doorknob even if it would be funny, you don't have any white blood cells, remember?" Or, "Mmmm, Whisky... No, you're liver's already in an endurance competition known as chemo -- you can't drink whisky, remember?"

Particularly special this week was that I was able to ride my "Soma" a single speed mountain bike that Phil and I spent last summer finding parts for and building. We finished this bike shortly before I was diagnosed, and I was able to ride it only once before starting chemo -- Then it sat in my basement this winter for months. Getting out on three rides on the Soma this week in the Springtime sun felt symbolic of a comeback in so many ways.

Also, it occured to me this week that I had not left the city limits in months. It was a beautiful day, and I immediately jumped in my car and headed for my favorite trout fishing stream on a scouting mission and a short hike. It felt great to walk next to the babbling stream in farm fields as well as to drive far too fast down old curvey country roads with the window down while listening to the likes of Bruce Springstein.

Any writing without the mention of food is, in my opinion, a waste of words. If you ever leave my blog without feeling at least a twinge of hunger, then I fear I have failed. So, the food report:

Although my slender appearance may suggest otherwise, those of you who know me well know that my affinity for good food is surpassed by few others, and this week I've really enjoyed some great food. I'm getting better and more creative with the neutropenic diet and it's making life a lot easier.

Figuring I could use the luck of the Irish, on St. Patty's Day I enjoyed the best corned beef and cabbage I have ever had -- salty, filling and delicious. Last night, I grilled out with Katie and Phil and had a grilled portabella mushroom cap with grilled zucchini served on a toasted italian role with mayo and roasted red pepper -- It was amazing to eat something comprised almost entirely of veggies. Tonight, Fish and Chips, a classic that is hard to beat.

Overall, I am extraordinarily grateful for my "Spring Break '09." It's been one of the best Spring Breaks I've had as the events of the last 5 months have magnified my appreciation for the little things in life to an extent that I never imagined possible. A meal, a dance, a song, drive, walk, rainstorm, moonrise, or moment can be more beautiful than words can describe -- and for this perspective, I am thankful.

Happy Spring Break,

Sam