January 24, 2006

Over

Thank You, God.

I'm home.

I'm done.

I am tired.

I am full of Taco Cabana. Yum.

You never know how much you miss your own bed until you get back into it.

Your assignment today (or this week) is to give blood. If you can, give it. If you've never done it, go do it. If you can't do it, get someone else to do it. If you are organized, organize a blood drive. I'm not kidding. I so am not.

Giving blood - I know it's a scary thing to do. I know it's a time consuming thing to do. Needles suck. Trust me, I got stuck a minimum of 12 times or more a day.

If you are scared, think about all the little kids with cancer who get stuck all the time too. They have no choice. They are little. They don't understand. But it ends up being the life you lead. It hurts, but after a while, you just give in to it and it becomes your life. You're black and blue, but you just do what you have to do. You do what you do to get better.

And what I needed to get better today was another unit of blood. My doctor said there was such a shortage that she had patients who were bleeding and still weren't able to get blood. (you usually have to wait until after the surgeries are done before you can get some). My unit arrived after 2pm. I woke up feeling horrible because my red counts were in the dump (red cells bring oxygen to your body - when they are low, you have zippo energy). If I didn't get my unit today, I'd still be in the hospital bed feeling lousy.

So. Please give blood if you can. Thank you.

Posted by debutaunt at January 24, 2006 07:38 PM
Comments

Amen. I had to get four units during a plain old routine appendectomy, where my surgeon tried to kill my ass. ;)

Glad you are home. Nothing is better than your own bed.

Posted by: Kami at January 24, 2006 09:23 PM

I am thanking God right now you are home. You and
Kranki are both home-the best news of my day.

I hope you sleep like a baby tonight.

Your plea for blood I really pray the bloggers
take this to heart. It's a little stick not
a big owie but a big WOW I helped!

All your angels are watching over you Deb.

Nikki

Posted by: Nikki at January 24, 2006 09:33 PM

i'm glad you're home, and OH how i love taco cabana. I went to school in san antonio, and tc's was my introduction to mexican food. i still long for it. i have a trip to dallas planned for may and tc's figures heavily.

i'm giving blood tomorrow.

Posted by: kristin at January 24, 2006 10:46 PM

Welcome home :)

Posted by: Anna at January 24, 2006 11:07 PM

I'm glad you're home and you got the blood you needed. In case you want to get the word out, that church up here by me is having a blood drive on Feb. 11th. I've got 3 people lined up so far to donate (since I can't), and I'm working on more. I think I'll pass out a flyer at the upcoming Moms group meeting.

Jason weighs over 100 pounds. I wonder if they would let him donate even though he isn't even 14 yet? *grin* (Hey, every bit counts, right?)

Posted by: Christine at January 24, 2006 11:59 PM

Glad you are home for your own bed!

Probably a silly question, but are you following any kind of vitamin regimen to help you through this? I remember hearing Robert Urich talk about how quickly his counts were right again...

alan

Posted by: alan at January 25, 2006 03:37 AM

...I'm so glad you are home and done.

Posted by: blackbird at January 25, 2006 06:44 AM

Good Morning Zeeskyte:
I slipped in your Yiddish word right up front.
Zeeskyte means sweetie. That word sounds just the
way it reads. Boy am I glad you are home so
you can study really hard. We could be having a
test soon.

Now how come you went out and had some Mexican
food and didn't invite us? HUH. You were
probably afriad I would start dipping into your
plate with my fork.

Did you jump on the bed and give it a big WooHoo
I am home?

We are all very glad you are home in your own
crib. I hope you feel OK today and take it easy
today.

Love,
Shoshie

Posted by: shoshie at January 25, 2006 07:26 AM

"Zeeskyte sounds just the way it reads." So does that mean zeeskite is how it sounds?

I'm glad you're home and in your own bed! It's always wonderful eh?

Posted by: Traci at January 25, 2006 08:01 AM

I donated blood two weeks ago-my church has a blood drive twice a year and I have not missed one. So I will encourage others to donate-such an easy way to make a difference in someone's life.

In the past year I have also registered in the National Bone Marrow Registry. I cannot tell people how much it means to those who are looking for a match that you take time to do this. I have witnessed first hand the miracles that occur from bone marrow donation. Do this people-it means all the world to those who need it.

I am glad to hear you are home-be well.

Posted by: deneen at January 25, 2006 08:37 AM

I'm going to give blood this afternoon in your honor.

Posted by: CJ at January 25, 2006 09:10 AM

So glad you're home. I am a big medical chicken. But I'll give blood. It might not be today. It will be this week, though. I'll freak out, but I'll do it. To celebrate that I can :)

Posted by: Susie at January 25, 2006 09:11 AM

I'm so very glad you're back home, sweetie.

Take care,

Kelli

Posted by: CircusKelli at January 25, 2006 09:32 AM

As of today, I can give blood again as my eight weeks are up - so Sunday morning I will be at MDA Blood Bank to give blood and platelets! Anyone feel free to join me.

Glad you are home again - call if you need anything.

Posted by: D1 at January 25, 2006 09:41 AM

I've got a couple weeks still before I'm eligible again, but you bet your ass I'll be out there as soon as I can!

I get all kinds of teary when I read your entries, you know. But the good kind of teary. The "wow--she really rocks!" kind of teary.

Posted by: Ms. Pants at January 25, 2006 10:50 AM

I have been reading your blogs and find it interesting that I went through the same thing 5 years ago (March 2001). I was diagnoised with Aplastic Anemia (bone marrow disfunction stop producing cells). After two years of "guinea pig" treatments and oodles of transfusion (platelets and blood). I had a bone marrow transplant. I had a MUD (Matched unrelated)doner to give up some peripheal blood stem cells (he didn't want to give marrow).

I too am a single mother and can feel the emotions you have (I actually teared up and don't even know you).

You sound strong and determined and that's what it takes to get through. And knowing you have to get back to those kid(s). I love reading the determination and humor involved in what seems like the darkest tunnel ever.

The enlightening statement: "Sarah's biggest fear was not for herself, but for those of us she would leave behind. I now know why Sarah was afraid." Really says it all. I felt it too.

If you want to talk, let me know. I was "turned on" to this by a friend and I beleive an aquaintence of yours--Alison.

Thanks for letting me share. You are a brave mother and your faith and determination will be great example for your daughter. My prayers are with you.

Posted by: Lee Ann at January 25, 2006 11:07 AM

Should I swing by and pick you up for lunch?

I think it would be about a 3 hour flight or
about a 3 day drive?

You could introduce me to that salad you talk
about here. Or else we could pig out at Mortons.

Now I will have to get somebody to lead the troops here. Maybe one of your sisters would do
the swap?

Posted by: Nikki at January 25, 2006 12:47 PM

It's good you are home now. There's nothing like your own bed for peace and relaxation. Look after yourself!

Posted by: karen at January 25, 2006 03:40 PM

1 unit, O+, bottled and banked, per instructions. Glad you're home, Zeeskyte.

Posted by: eclectic at January 25, 2006 06:40 PM