My most recent bone marrow biopsy spurred that part of my brain which has an existence in the lala land, a land where reality is thousands of miles away and you have the license to build up anything you like however crazy or repulsive the dwellers of Rationalpolis may find it. Let me take you through an alley of my thoughts in lala land. This particular street's name is Chemo Street. Here is some graffiti that I found written on walls out there. The first one is terse - "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?". As we stride along you see more wordy graffitis and I share those with you.
Wouldn't it be loverly if:
- Chemo drugs came in form of drinkable liquid and if they are indistinguishable from your other beverages? Wouldn't it be nice if you had a choice of Cocoa-cola, Strawberry and Tropical fruits flavors? All you need to do is empty the bottle and then wonder why the dose prescribed just one bottle?
- After consuming chemo drugs you start showing side-effects which are more interesting? For instance the patient, hitherto a novice in mathematics, fluently speaks out the first 20,000 prime numbers and can solve even the most arcane of theorems, enough to make the mathematicians' jaws drop? Or perhaps the patient who couldn't even catch a ball 9 times out of 10 suddenly juggles all the 10 balls nimbly. Or maybe the patient starts somersaulting deftly over the saline stand, much to the dismay of the nurse. Maybe instead of vomiting the patient croons when side-effects are at their peak.
- The dearth of a particular kind of blood cell in you can be replenished by an off-the-shelf candy-flavored pellets? The coloring of pellets would be self-explanatory - red for RBCs, yellow for platelets and white for WBCs. And what's more, again, just like chemo drugs they come in your favorite flavors. Just pop them in your mouth, chew and in an hour your hematologist would look at your normal blood report with sheer disbelief.
- If bad cells could be wiped off using your favorite word processor? Simply enter the pattern that identifies the bad cells in the Find box, select all locations using the ever-convenient mouse and press the cathartic Del button.
- If we had an built-in junk cell filter like the one we have in our email boxes? The moment a bad cell (spam) comes into mainstream (Inbox) junk cell filter catches it and removes it before it gets naughtier.
- If transplanted cells could be labelled? That way hematologist will never lose track of cells with tag "Kartik" on baggage carousel.
P.S.: All the "My Fair Lady" movie fans would know where the blog's title came from :)
Dear Kartik kaka
ReplyDeleteWell, there have been lovely things happening though not what you have written. I will tell you what has happned once the journey of your BMT started.
1) You started writing like a poet or may be a novalist. I think the biggest side effect of drugs you have take up. We all have been cling on to the http://kartikdiary.blogspot.com. You both have really made all of us have great journey through the blogging. ( I must not froget surbhi kakai too)
2) Personally I have learnt how to use a blog. (May be many of us have the same feeling).Have been able to know many pepole by their writing. Have come to know what WBC, RBC and platlets have the role in our body.
3) You have shown all of us how to fight with keeping the trendy smile on the face
Well, i would wish your blog is being read by one of your doctors (or may be for that matter any doctor) who intern will communicate it to pharma co. to make your wish come true which will open the new business avenue "Roshni Drug Centre- we serve all the falvours of Drugs here"
Again hoping to see you on the same positive note. Keep on dreaming and keep on blogging
From all of us here at ahmedabad
Dear Milind,
ReplyDeleteYou made an excellent observation! Come to think of it my book reading spree and the urge to write would have never got a boost had I not undergone chemotherapy. And yes that does qualify as a side-effect in my lala-land :).
I am glad you are finding the blog useful for technical details as well though I try my best to steer clear of technical details :). I have so much more interesting and exciting things to discover leaving little time to discover more about my disease. But I have gained lot of respect for the field of hematology. There is no dearth of challenges in this field. By the way Surbhi will impress you more with her grasp on technical details of the processes I have been through - no exaggeration.
Believe me reading comments from you all is what makes me smile. I alone cannot see myself out of this tunnel without a push from you all. And you all have been wonderful friends so far and I know I am clad in all the positive energy and vibes you guys are sending me which keeps me smiling.
Regarding my kooky ideas, he he, we never know. You are right - there might be a Roshni Drug Center already working on this :).
Loved reading your comments, Milind. Keep them coming :).
Another side effect .... 1. at the time of starting the course, they will show you a range of colours, and instead of losing one's hair you suddenly start growing the hair the colour that you chose. And whats more, in the style that you choose too. :)
ReplyDelete2. The cells being transfered would automatically explain the process to you of what they are doing there, whats taking time, etc. They will all croon a marching song of "We shall overcome" :)
We are all singing this with you Kartikbhai.
Milind, it is always a pleasure to read your posts. You are one of our promptest members here! :)
Hey good to catch up with you on your blog again. Its been a long time and i am happy to see you are doing well. The R-mode of the mind seems to be on the fore and the imagery and the lyricism rings through beautifully. My best wishes are always with you and i will keep popping back here to read the blog. Keep the cheer you really aspire us with your strength.
ReplyDeleteSome more...
ReplyDeleteI was imagining the blood cells as Zu-Zu's(who replace pug in Vodafone ads.). They would play pranks amongst themselves inside :-).
Dear Devangi, your lala land is worth a visit :).
ReplyDeleteI would love cotton candy colored hair, only that I will salivate every time I see them :).
Kartik
Hi Maneesh, I am so happy to hear from you! Thanks for your kind words. Please do keep in touch.
ReplyDeleteHa ha yes Sitanshu. I wish things were more interesting like you describe when you see it under a microscope :).
ReplyDelete