Many people would find it hard to believe, but there are waiting lists of families looking to adopt children with Down’s Syndrome. A few years ago I corresponded with a woman who had arranged for about 2,000 adoptions. Here’s a good article.CNN.com – Children with Down syndrome sought for adoption – Feb 13, 2006 UPDATE … Read more
The Wall Street Journal had an excellent interview/article on Tom Wolfe yesterday. They posted it on their opinionjournal.com site, so it is available for free. OpinionJournal – Featured Article I’ve only read two of Wolfe’s books – The Right Stuff and Bonfire of the Vanities. I don’t read many novels, but Bonfire is my all-time … Read more
And of computers, students, computer technicians… What, this is not a pressing issue for you? With thanks to the Rev. Bonnie Shullenberger for letting me know (via email!). Click here: Patron Saints Index: Saint Isidore of Seville
As I mentioned in my last post – Thursday – I’d been having a slightly elevated temperature, and also some chills. And I just didn’t feel right – I felt run down – not like chemo fatiique – more like I had a viral infection or something like that. I hadn’t used the dumbbells all … Read more
Saw Dr. Casper this morning prior to getting the rituxin. I’d never met him – he is covering for Dr. Mills. He is evidently the head physician for all the MSK satellite offices and usually practices out of NJ. Anyway the blood results were "respectable". My hemoglobin was down a little, and I think some … Read more
Ambien is the most prescribed sleep medication in the country. I’d never heard of it until my chemotherapy. I used it several times (in the lower 5 mg. dose, not the full 10mg.) and it worked very well. Here’s an almost amusing article inthe NYT on some potential problems and side effects! Some Sleeping Pill … Read more
Tomorrow I start my once a week treatment (for four weeks) of rituxin. It takes about 3 hours by IV and I’ll be getting it at the MSK branch in Sleepy Hollow. I will see one of the physicians there first, and ask him about my sore throat, which is lessened, but still there. I … Read more
One of my environmentally-minded friends – a generally bright, very well-intentioned fellow – suggested I post an editorial from Commonweal (a "progressive" Catholic periodical) entitled "Addicted to Oil". Even though I disagree with the gist and tone of it, why not? And the gist is that the Bush proposals for energy devleopment were "timid, unrealistic … Read more
This is actually a re-read of Sadhana, subtitled A Way to God, Christian Exercises in Eastern Form. Anthony de Mello was a Jesuit spiritual director and writer, prior to his sudden and untimely death in 1987. (For a touching online biography of de Mello by his brother, go here – Tony deMello, a biography ). … Read more
Today is the five week anniversary of my discharge after the high dose chemo and stem cell transplant. And here’s what’s going on. The fatigue factor continues to gradually lesson, but is still there. My taste buds are now making a nice recovery and are almost back to normal. I have a slightly sore throat, … Read more