Hi,

Went to a follow-up appointment with the pulmonologist, Dr. Dukes, today.  He was one of my docs in the hospital, so he knows my story which helps a lot.

The "nodule/tumor" in my lung has shrunken.  It was 3.6cm (June 24th) and was 2.6cm on Monday.  It is not a tumor, it is a glob of BOOP.  So we're just going to stay the course, monitor it, and wait for it to get lost.  I am still tethered to the oxygen machine, which gets a little frustrating at times.  I am up and about more, which indicates that my lungs are getting better, it's a slow process. 

It's difficult to know/guess how long it will take the inflammation from the BOOP to go away and for the scar tissue to heal.  Dr. Dukes guess-timates "weeks to months."  Not very helpful, but knowing it may be September before I'm better allows me to plan ahead.  

There is the possibility that my lungs are damaged badly enough to require oxygen permanently.  Obviously, this would really, really suck.  I believe that I will be healed, that God will heal me, and I will return to my "normal" life again. 

I have accepted this scenario as possible and am laying out "Plan B" if needed.  I do not sit around and worry about it and I have let go of the fear of such a thing happening.  As we all know, prayers help.  So, please pray for my lungs to heal and be able to support me on their own. 

I had a second blood transfusion on Tuesday.  My hemoglobin can't keep up with the lack of oxygen and all of the antibiotics I was on.  There does not appear to be anything wrong with my marrow, thankfully.  My platelets are bouncing around between 40,000 and 60,000.  My white cells are normal.  I have to admit that getting a transfusion was a horrible deja-vu.  It was literally like stepping back into a nightmare that ended 16 months ago.  I was overwhelmed by the whole experience and hope not to repeat it.  Fingers crossed.

Once again our families and friends are up to the task and are helping us day in and day out.  I have said before that there are no words to express the type of gratitude I feel.  I think the only word to use is L O V E.  It is amazing to see love in action, to feel it all around you, to be given it unconditionally and consistently.  I am the luckiest, most loved man I know!  I wouldn't trade my health for my family and friends!  Thank you and I love you.

Abi is taking driver's ed.  Stay off the roads folks!  Her bestfriend, Amber, is here from CA.  She'll be here for 3 weeks.  They're having a blast.  Sophie is hanging with her friends, swimming a lot, shopping at the mall, and chillin with her dad.  Jennifer is having to do too much around this house and yard.  I have a very hard time not being able to jump in and help her.  Poor thing's so exhausted she got tonsilitus.  Bad deja-vu for her too.  We do get some enjoyment being together more, but I think she'd prefer if my butt was at work, HA. 

I think that's about it for now.  I have follow-up appointments every 2-3 weeks and will post when those occur.  I will post if something changes drastically, or I'm feeling lonely and need attention.

Thank you all for checking, reading and writing.  Oh, can someone welcome my friend Patty to the guestbook.  She is chicken/too shy to write in it.  She'll love that I wrote this about her.  NOT. 

Enjoy each day as if it were your last. 

"They who have noting to be troubled at, will be troubled at nothing." -Ben Frankliin

FIGHT!!  FIGHT!!  WIN!!
Mark