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 By Argile Stox July 16, 2006 For the past three weeks I have been talking about the statement made by one of the Veterans Administration’s doctor’s that I may have a slight case of leukemia. In my mind, that was like having a slight case of athlete’s foot. My primary care Physician could not figure out why my white cell counts were high and my red blood cell counts were low. He made a preliminary diagnosis of either chronic or acute leukemia. If an individual has chronic leukemia, that individual could live a full lifetime and die from something other than chronic leukemia. If an individual has been diagnosed as having acute leukemia, that individual has about a couple months of life left. To be on the safe side, my primary care Physician ordered a bone marrow biopsy and a few chips of bone taken from my hip. The day arrived and I had the bone marrow biopsy and chips removed from my hip, and I was told that the results would be ready a full five days after the test, on July 14, 2006. To be honest, for those entire five days –I was a nervous wreck. If the results came back that I had chronic leukemia, I could have dealt with that. Individuals have lived ten to fifteen years after the initial diagnosis. If I had acute leukemia, I would be dead within a few months. Yeah, I could have gone through chemotherapy treatments to extend my life –however, those treatments would be postponing the inevitable and buying time. I don’t know too many people who have faced their own mortality and went about life as usual. Those five days were completely nerve wracking. July 14, 2006 rolled around and my primary care Physician was on vacation in Ireland. So, I spoke to his nurse and asked if she can look up the results of my bone marrow biopsy and have a doctor interpret them. I also explained that Tracy and I had some errands to run and would not be home until about 5:00 that evening. I was not about to wait around for a phone call from the doctor, chewing my nails, pacing around the house, and jumping whenever the phone rang. I asked the nurse to please have the doctor leave a message on the answering machine concerning the results. The nurse said that it is highly unusual for a doctor to leave results of a bone marrow biopsy test on an answering machine; however, she would see what she could do. At about 10:00 in the morning Tracy and I jumped in the SUV and made our usual weekly trek to the supermarket and a stop at Sam’s Club (that huge warehouse superstore, where you need an African guide to direct you to different locations of the store to secure the items that you wish to purchase). At Sam’s Club, I had three foot long hot dogs, complete with relish, mustard, and sauerkraut. I washed it all down with two large cups of Coca Cola Classic. I was in New York hot dog heaven. As I was swallowing the last bite of the foot long hot dog and was washing it down with the last gulp of Coca-Cola, Tracy had completed her expedition through Sam’s Club and was ready to check out. It was a hot day. One of the billboards across the street from Sam’s Club announced that the temperature was one hundred and three degrees. While emptying the shopping carts, I actually broke a sweat. When that task was accomplished, Tracy’s stomach began crying out for new inventory to sort out; so, we stopped at Taco John’s and Tracy picked up some desperately needed nourishment. Throughout our shopping adventure that day, my mind was not consumed with thoughts of the doctor calling and leaving a message on our answering machine. It was the farthest thing from my mind. We arrived home at about 3:00 in the afternoon, I told Tracy to start eating her lunch in the house while I unloaded the car. As I was bringing in the first load of packages, Tracy said, “Argile! You have to listen to doctors’ message on the answering machine!” I looked at Tracy’s face and her eyes were smiling. The message went something like this: “Mr. Stox, this is doctor So and So, and I have the results of your bone marrow biopsy test. It is highly unusual for me to leave a diagnosis on an answering machine; however, the nurse advised me that you gave her permission for me to do so. Mr. Stox, the results I am holding in my hands indicates that you are simply anemic. You do not have chronic or acute leukemia. Please make an appointment with your primary care Physician so that he can prescribe a medication to reinforce your red blood cell counts. Have a great day!” I ran over to Tracy, gave her a huge bear hug –and said, “I’m going to live! I’m going to live! I’m going to live!” I held Tracy in my arms and began to dance an improvisational Polish Polka jig. The sensation of not having any type of leukemia was like I had been released from a self-imposed jail cell. That was one worry I was elated to cross off my list. I cannot express in words the joy I felt listening to the doctors’ words on the answering machine. The only thing left was for my primary care Physician to prescribe whatever pharmaceutical medications that the Veterans Administration has in its arsenal of remedies to increase the production of my red blood cells. Period – End of Story! Now that this crisis has passed –and since the condition of my back (degenerative bone disease, two herniated discs, and bone spurs) does not meet the Veterans Administration’s criteria for an operation to correct these conditions, I will have to seek out a private orthopedic surgeon who accepts Medicare, to consider operating on my back. The one good thing that came out of all this, is that the Veterans Administration hospital in Sturgis, South Dakota –can send all the MRI’s, X-ray’s, Bone Scans, and every other pieces of information that they have on file to this new future orthopedic surgeon to examine. All the work and tests have been done already. The only thing that this new future orthopedic surgeon has to do – is examine all the information that the Veterans Administration hospital will forward to him / her. Then, make a decision to correct the extremely painful conditions in my back. The hardest part of this entire ordeal concerning the care and treatment of my back –will be finding an orthopedic surgeon who accepts Medicare. I did do one smart thing; I enrolled in a supplementary Medicare program that reimburses the doctor for the 20% medical costs that Medicare does not cover. Now that I have a clear and free mind to think about other things, I can start my quest to find an orthopedic surgeon to heal my back. While I am on that quest, I also have to find a dentist to get a pair of dentures manufactured. First, have my back repaired–then get some dentures in my mouth. I am extremely grateful for the emotional and spiritual support that Tracy, her family, and others had given freely to me during the “You may have a slight case of leukemia” crisis. These individuals kept my spirits high and soothed my distraught mind. I will always be grateful to them for keeping me sane during this crisis. Well, that is all I know for now. For all those who are disappointed that I will be walking this earth for another ten to twenty years…. Tough! For all those who kept me in their prayers, I am extremely grateful – Thank You! ------------ Email Argile Stox: argilestox@gmail.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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