An update for a Friday evening

Today I got the news that I will probably be out of commission until 2012. That's a bit daunting but at least I've been down this road before and know what to expect and what to look out for.   I remain bitterly disappointed with United Health Care and its lousy reputation with and choice of nursing home facilities. With Humana I was placed in a top tier facility with a private room and a first rate rehab staff. UHC has me in a third rate site, double room, no Internet or TV and a limited staff of occupational and physical therapists. You can color me unimpressed with UofL's second rate choice during the contract dispute with Humana. Since I was just finally getting on my feet and back to work after my first bout with myeloma, I did not have a lot of time to build up resources before the two new tumors reared their ugly heads. This time things are going to be a little more drastic. My landlord has been notified that I am giving up my apartment and putting my belongings (mostly books) in storage while Farris and Michael search for an accessible apartment for me. There is a chance that I'll continue to need the wheelchair for quite some time if not permanently. So with my apartment in storage, no utilities, and no car payment, I should be able to pay MD bills and insurance with the 60% of my salary UofL pays for disability. For the next few weeks I'll stay at Regency. At the beginning of September I'll go back to the hospital for a week or so of chemo before being sent back out to a (hopefully better) nursing home. There will be scans and biopsies to make sure no new tumors are growing and hopefully the chemo will do a better job of cleaning up my bone marrow. If not I will have to be evaluated for a bone marrow transplant in December. This transplant is from me to me. No donor required so don't be nervous. That's enough dreary news for now. I could be on my feet after my next chemo and able to give up my spot at a skilled nursing facility. Somebody else is doing all my packing and moving. I loath moving with every fiber of my being so I'm ok with others taking charge. Last time I hired a company to move me after numerous friends came to my place to pack, hold my hand and remind me to breathe. While cancer is, indeed, a bitch, I'm not throwing in the towel just yet and there are even some things going quite well. My left hand, for example, is improving. Thank you for your prayers, support, well wishes, positive energy and healing magics. I'm very grateful. See you later. Jim