It has been a long time since I have added to this blog. The good news is that there is no news on the health front. I will be seeing my transplant surgeon, Dr. Keyzner, in two weeks for the first of our visits on the new once every other month schedule. I have been … Continue reading January 23, 2020
December 5
On Thanksgiving weekend I thought of so much I am thankful for – the support of my family, my community, and all those dedicated health care workers who cared for me and continue to keep me healthy. We were able to celebrate at Rhonda’s cousin’s home, just as we have since we moved to Fair … Continue reading December 5
November 7
My return to normal life continues. I began teaching my Tuesday morning class, Nosh and Knowledge, at the Fair Lawn Jewish Center/Congregation B’nai Israel. When I first arrived at the synagogue we began studying the Torah from the beginning of the Book of Genesis, slowly going verse by verse. Now, twelve years later we have … Continue reading November 7
High Holiday Reflections 5780 – 2019
After leading services for over forty years on the bimah, this year I sat with the congregation during the Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe/High Holidays), at the Fair Lawn Jewish Center/Cong. B’nai Israel. It was a different perspective and spiritual experience. Here are some of my thoughts as I look back on the recent Holy … Continue reading High Holiday Reflections 5780 – 2019
September 23
The news continues to be positive from my doctors. My blood counts are steady. We will not need to go to Mt. Sinai each week for a blood test. We will only have that done once a month when we see Dr. Keyzner, our transplant surgeon. As she said, we are no longer in the … Continue reading September 23
August 29
It has been another calm few weeks. Last week I went to Mt. Sinai to see the nephrologist. Since my kidneys failed for a week shortly after the transplant last year, I need to follow up. All was good and I don’t need to see her for about nine months. She was very pleased to … Continue reading August 29
August 5
Good news again from the doctors. The discoloration on my cheeks, according to the dermatologist, while it is definitely graft versus host disease, is a mild form of it. She did not recommend any treatment. She will speak with Dr. Keyzner, my main doctor, and together they will decide if anything needs to be done, … Continue reading August 5
July 24
It has been some time since I wrote a blog post. One reason I delayed is that my blood counts are stable and I have not needed any medication to boost them for several months. Last week for the first time in four years our doctor said we did not need to go to … Continue reading July 24
June 12
During these last few weeks we have had uneventful appointments at the Mt. Sinai clinic. My blood counts are stable. I began the immunizations, like polio, against the diseases that I lost because of the transplant. As I was being given the injection with the polio vaccine, the nurse asked me if I remembered taking … Continue reading June 12
May 29
At this point in my recovery, boring is good. Our last few appointments at the clinic have been brief with no surprises. My hemoglobin numbers are up a bit but my platelets are down a little. We will see our doctor next week. The nurse practitioner we saw yesterday told us not to worry about … Continue reading May 29