reflections on a new year
i have some news: its been 4 months since i finished my treatment, and my blood remains completely normal! there’s a roughly 30% chance of relapse in the first 6 months after treatment, so i’m not out of the woods yet, but so far, so good!
in these 4 months, my platelets have been a bit on the low side, which prompted my oncologist to make my checkup every two weeks instead of every month. but the last two checkups showed normal platelet counts: 151 on dec. 24th, and 178 last week (jan 21st)–the normal range is 155-400. for those who are interested in esoteric stats, my white count was 5.3 (normal: 3.8-9.2) and my hematocrit was at 43.4 (normal: 38.4-48.2). so health-wise, things are very normal.
this is also the one year anniversary of when i was first diagnosed. i’ll definitely have something more to say about that, but for now, i’ll just talk about how the images of that day loop in my head: in the past year, those images have often popped into my head unexpectedly, and in an uncoordinated manner. today, they loop in sequence and with a haunting power: 1. how we woke up before dawn to go to the emergency room; 2. its leukemia …; 3. my family leaving for the night; 4. george bush giving the state of the union address; 5. the most alone i’ve ever felt.
these images remind me that this is my second chance.
and as i’ve said at the outset of the post, i have news: i recently accepted a position at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (yes, the same hospital that i *still* go for monthly checkups). i’ll be writing programs that will help research groups around the world find the genetic causes of various cancers (among other diseases, e.g. autism). i am so *honored* to have this opportunity–this IS a chance of a lifetime. and i am so *excited* to make my best contribution!
I told my oncologist (who had a big part in helping me get these positions) about the news and he said that its a bit “ironic”. i retorted: “27 and leukemic is ironic–THIS is poetic!”.
one year after cancer, i reflect on how BLESSED i am! YATTA! 
Happy (chinese) new year!
Wow, i stumbled on your page accidently, but that is really…i cant think of the right word…interesting? no..more like: fascinating, how you went, are *going* through, all that and your still positive and looking to help others.
hey lexrussian, thanks for the comment. i feel very blessed to have this second chance. many people don’t get that opportunity; i want to make the most of it. what’s there to be negative about?–GOD has made me ALIVE!