The Two Week Hiatus is Over

A visit to the Oncologist today and blood work revealed good liver numbers. The enzymes are where they should be at long last!  We are scheduled to return to Seattle on Sunday. Since my stem cells have been harvested I should be ready for my high dose chemotherapy, losing my lovely locks (temporarily), getting my stem cells returned to me through my Hickman Catheter (apheresis machine), losing my immune system (temporarily), getting monitored and monitored and monitored some more until given the green flag to return home, recover and carry on with my life.

Being home for two weeks has been a dream come true for me.  I have rested deeply, spent time with  my adorable grandchildren, lunched with friends and my darling daughter, walked when the air quality wasn't dreadful, meditated, read and baked...ALMOST like a normal person sans a job and church responsibilities. Actually meditating isn't normal for me but it seems to be helping me relax and focus on what's most important right now. I look forward to returning to my wonderful job and church responsibilities in one short year. Once I get home and get all my immunizations I will need to be extremely careful not to get sick or be around anyone with any type of sickness at all for several months.

I've been mildly annoyed with the idea of having a permanent pacemaker installed in my chest. I still think it was an overreaction on the part of my medical team. My cardiologist told me my heart was fantastic and numerous EKG's revealed nothing but good heart vibes. My brother Aaron said he would testify as to how great my heart was...thanks Aaron. That was sweet anyway...then it hit me....I have a BIOTRONIK Pacemaker. The term BIONIC hit me like a ton of bricks and then these words came to me...

Pamela Halgren, KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, a woman barely alive.
We can rebuild her. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first BIONIC kindergarten teacher. We can make her better, faster, and stronger. Pamela Halgren will be that kindergarten teacher. (crescendo of whirring sounds and music)

I'm going to put this little bionic pacemaker to the test!



My grandson Morgan was absolutely intrigued with the idea of his grandma having an electric battery inside her. He asked me, "Grandma, are you like a robot?"    

"YES    MORGAN    I    AM    LIKE    A    ROBOT."    He was delighted!