Thursday, August 10, 2006

Irony

I was just doing an internet search of this blog to see if it would come up in a google search. It did not. Instead, one of my hits was for an article on research I conducted for my dissertation. Here is the link. It shows a picture of me in 2001, 5 years prior to diagnosis working with a leukemia patient. I know I have mentioned the ironies in my diagnosis in the past, but this picture really hit home. I remember working with this boy every time he came in for his treatment. He had a different form of leukemia which required ongoing chemotherapy. He would get so nervous about having the needles inserted, so I would distract him using a virtual reality system during the procedure. It worked so well for him that he would sometimes not realize when the nurses were done. I still use virtual reality, but now I use it to treat people who are afraid to fly, speak in public, or heights.

Sometimes I wonder if there is a reason I have leukemia. Othertimes I think it is just bad luck. Either way, I still have to deal with it. I am lucky to have an easy treatment and great support around me. Hopefully, I will never need distraction like that boy did in my study. Although, I do have a bone marrow biopsy coming up next month. Something to look forward to.

5 comments:

Rosanna =) said...

My husband was diagnosed with CML at the end of June. The bone marrow biopsy was definitely the most unpleasant experience for him. It's nice to read another man's experience with CML. We make regular visits to your blog ever since I found it linked to Erin's blog. Thanks! =)

James said...

Hey Jon. I'm right with you brother. At 33, I was diagnosed with CML 7/19/06 and am on Gleevec. Things are going good, just like you. We're very lucky. Come visit my blog when you get a chance. http://strengthtoday.blogspot.com

Stay positive!

James

Anonymous said...

Do I detect some sarcasm? ;)

Anonymous said...

Hello Jon.

I've finally got a minute to read your last 2 blogs. It's amazing how quickly time flies. Your 8/3/06 blog concerns me a bit because regardless of the press "blowing the info out of proportion" the risk DOES EXIST. Even if its in the smallest percent, those who love and care about you will ALWAYS be concerned. I'm an not trying to hit a nerve here but think of the horror we would all feel if you "breeze" through your Gleevec treatments to end up with heart failure. It's like a "catch 22" (of some sort). You know that I still and will always believe that no matter the siuation,the reported warnings, your side effects to Gleevec, the uncertainty of your next appt, etc, that these are the phases you'll have to go through before that blessed day when you'll be able to tell us all that your Dr. has finally given you "a clean bill of health." That day is coming, I believe sooner than we think.

I will have to come back to give you my feeling on your latest 8/10/06 blog. It's about 1:30am and I'm exhausted. See ya soon.

Sue

Anonymous said...

Hi Jon,
Me again. Just wanted to let you know my feelings of your latest blog. There's not much to write on this one except that you mentioned if there may be a reason why you have leukemia or if it's just bad luck. I don't believe it's bad luck because you don't deserve it to this extreme. There could be a reason why though! Maybe God has a plan for you in respect to how he antisipates your utilizing your knowledge and personal understanding to help others in the fight against Leukemia. Does this plan make sense to you? I don't know but (if there really was a reason) this is the only one I could come up with over and over and over again & because of the kind of man that your are, could there be any other reason? Let me know if you understand me and what I'm trying to express here. If your not sure ask your family, I'm sure they would know.
See you soon.

Sue.