Gift of life, give blood
Rusty’s birthday
We are at the hospital again for Rusty to get his weekly blood transfusion. In recent weeks, his platelet count has kept falling; the last time we checked, it was 3,000.
The average healthy adult’s platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000. If platelet count falls below 20,000, spontaneous bleeding will occur and is considered a life-threatening risk.
In a few minutes, Rusty will receive two bags of platelets and a bag of hemoglobin. The entire transfusion will take about five hours. As the nurse read Rusty’s personal particulars off his medical wrist-tag, she let out a little yelp.
“Patient 51777248, Rusty D, 4-16-… oh! It’s your birthday today!”
Rusty, newly 33, grinned, and even in the stupor of painkillers, managed an exaggerated wink. I smile proudly.
After the transfusion, we ride back home in our towncar for a quiet evening. I make dinner, a fresh couscous salad and cream linguini with bay scallops, rock shrimp and crabmeat.
Rusty has four small bites, and it is more than he has eaten in the last two days.
We eat with the television turned off, deciding instead to listen to the easy patter of rain outside. A few infrequent cars drive by, echoing faint solos of short, rumbly instruments.
Even with the windows closed, sitting inside, I smell the road’s wet tarmac, and the rain’s refreshing, crisp wind on my skin.
In a few hours, Rusty will ease into a feathery sleep, and when he does, I will turn down the lights, pull the covers over his body and kiss his forehead goodnight.
Then, holding his hand, watching the window, I will fall asleep too, thinking of the sun out tomorrow, and all the spring flowers waiting to bloom.
April 17th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Happy Birthday Jesse!
Birthday dinner sounds lovely - if only a few bites.
-Katrina
April 17th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
I am on the Apheresis machine right now, trying to type with one hand. Great big hugs to you both.
April 17th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
and happy birthday Jesse!
April 17th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Happy 33rd Jesse!
Cheers!
Love the sound of rain especially when I am indoors =)
April 17th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
愛情存在輿論性
承受這批鬥與你笑著革命
市內全民皆兵 聽著流言之聲
我若能擁抱你已是險勝
受盡炮轟任由戀愛沒有世界共鳴
維持著愛護與尊敬
未怕沒有親友贈興
寧願犧牲也與你以愛捐軀
從歷史中見證這轟烈一對
愛到倒下去 浮沉是非中一對伴侶
謠言裏 人潮裏
尋求我幸福至少無罪
那怕走得再崎嶇
言論之中去見證愛情萬歲
未似對正常情侶
你我縱是殘餘弱旅 頑抗愛下去
愛情長路如絕嶺
無論傷口再中箭也未怨命
世上如何孤清 對望仍然溫馨
都不可封殺戀之風景
彼此不必世界的嘉許
只想講生命至少也許
每人亦有最珍惜伴侶
旁觀的怎麼拼命插嘴 潑下冷水
寧願犧牲也與你以愛捐軀
流下這可歌可泣動人眼淚
滲進沙漠裏 懸崖上開花一對伴侶
曾難過 曾憔悴
尋求我幸福更加無懼
愛侶不需要心虛
承受子彈去愛你也是壯舉
若有了我們兒女
與你故事遺傳下去 能愛到萬歲
April 17th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Happy Birthday JESSE!!!!!!!!!
and the dinner sounded wonderful Yen!!!! (made me hungry!)
(HUGE bear hug) … b
April 17th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Loved this entry. Give Jesse a big birthday hug for me!
April 18th, 2007 at 7:50 am
Happy birthday Jesse!
Please hug him for me, Yen.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Here come my straggling wishes: Happy Bday J! and happy birthday-of-boyfriend, Yen! *huggle*
April 18th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Happy belated birthday!
xoxo
April 18th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Hey Yen
A little late, but a belated happy birthday to Jesse! May there be many many more to come ….
It seems like you had a nice, quiet birthday with him *hugs*
April 19th, 2007 at 12:39 am
Belated happy birthday Jesse!
April 19th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
I wish for Jesse a belated birthday wish, for much love and many happy returns.
April 26th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
[…] By the time I make it back home, it’s already past 4pm. I am normally so exhausted from the chemo or the blood transfusions that just making it up the one short flight of stairs takes an eternity. […]
April 26th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
Thanks everyone for all your birthday wishes and hugs. Both Jesse and I feel very blessed to have you in our lives.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:18 am
[…] A year ago […]