But what about second breakfast?

February 24, 2011 is the date of my Stem Cell Transplant which should rid my life of cancer permanently. Although doctors don't like using the word cure, provided the procedure itself doesn't kill me, I should be cured. Having been diagnosed with leukemia (ALL) back on May 15, 2009, I was put into complete remission at home in El Paso by June 8. Dr. Sumit Gaur is my home oncologist and he is a very capable, caring man. He referred me to UTMDACC, M.D. Anderson in Houston and I have been under the expert care of Dr. Deborah Thomas ever since. Finally, after a year and a half, my medical team has decided that it is in my best interest to proceed with a bone marrow transplant while I am still disease free. Dr. Partow Kebriaei has taken over the responsibility of managing my disease with her world-class transplant team. I will be admitted Tuesday, February 15 to begin the preparatory regimen of marrow-ablative chemotherapy which will effectively kill me. Nine days later, on the 24th, I will receive a transfusion of donor stem cells harvested from my very own mother. Her stem cells will hopefully graft within two to four weeks and begin making blood for me. Until that time I will be dependent on the donation of blood products by generous members of our community. After engraftment takes place I will be closely monitored for a few months until the doctors deem it safe to release me back into the general population. My bone marrow, and my life, will have been rebooted.

In this blog I shall chronicle my treatment and recovery, and also perhaps some of the more interesting anecdotes which happen to cross my path.

Since this is a second chance on life for me, I can't help but be reminded of the witty dialogue between Pippin and Merry in The Lord of the Rings. Peter Jackson's version of Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring has the following exchange between Pippin (Peregrin Took played by Billy Boyd) and Merry (Meriadoc Brandybuck played by Dominic Monaghan) as Stryder (Lord Aragorn played by Viggo Mortensen) prods them onwards:

Aragorn: Gentlemen! We do not stop 'til nightfall.

Pippin: But what about breakfast?

Aragorn: You've already had it.

Pippin: We've had one, yes. But what about second breakfast?

[Aragorn stares at him, then walks off.]

Merry: Don't think he knows about second breakfast, Pip.

Pippin: What about elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them, doesn't he?

Merry: I wouldn't count on it.

-from MovieMistakes.com

I know I've had my breakfast, but can I have seconds, please?