May 12 - Platelets, platelets... Come out wherever you are!

"Honey, the truck has arrived!" - this would be about right over the last several weeks.

My platelets have been so low that I bruise everywhere and frequently find my clothes or the bed linens soaked with blood.  Even going 3 x a week for infusions of platelets has only had a mild affect.

Jan has been a real trooper when these bleeds occur, She and I have been using the hydrogen peroxide (in what seems to be by the gallon, to oxidize and thereby remove the blood from clothes and linens).  Being the great nurse she is, she has continued to assist in getting me back to speed.  You'll note the friend below I'm pictured with and starting to resemble.  However, I still wash my hands in a sink and haven't developed an affinity for going through my neighbor's garbage cans!

One of the reasons my entry is a little late was a mishap I had.  It was a beautiful day in early April and I needed to walk so I took my loyal canine, Kipper, for a walk. Exercising bad judgement (in retrospect), I allowed Kipper and I to be a little to close to 3 dogs who were excited.  Kipper did what any dog would do...protect his owner.  Unfortunately, I lost my balance and took a 'face dive' into the curb.  Not a good thing to do with low platelets and thin skin from steroids.  After I hit the pavement, two local neighbors, Jeff and Linda, helped retrieve Kipper and walk me home.  I went immediately to the bathtub to contain all the bleeding.  Jan came home and my other neighbors, Ronnie, Barbara and Ron helped me until Jan arrived.  To the ER I went and was admitted to control the hemorrhage and get transfused with red cells.  Six weeks later and I am mostly healed.  The "combat dressing" (a dressing that helps stop the bleeding) has fused with my left arm and we can't easily remove it.  It should slowly "grow out' and skin will be left in it's place (I hope).

Kipper the loyal dog

Besides keeping all the outpatient appointments and infusions, I've been trying to get back in the office.  Since we are without our practice administrator, Jan and I have been busy closing many loops on the business side and we're finally starting to see 'the light at the end of the tunnel'.  I am also impressed with our nurse practitioners who have 'stepped up to the plate'.  Thank you Karen Marshall, FNP-C, Sheila Higdon, FNP-C and Joanna Sampson, FNP-C. Thanks to Jan for doing so much before I came back (and she continues to help the practice in so many ways like hiring the NP's). There still is a lot to do to on-board these great clinicians. This is due to our office using information technology across a broad realm of applications and processes.

Yesterday, the 33rd year of the great community event below occurred. The Warren County Public School system (student atheletes, coaches and other WCPS staff), the Warren Memorial Medical Staff and the wonderful WMH staff came together to provide pre-participation sports physicals for the athletes at Skyline HS and Warren County HS.  The $20 paid for this service is them given back to the individual schools to help our student athletes be safe and healthy in their various sports venues.  I am sorry I couldn't be there due to acute bronchitis!

A special shout out to the Shenandoah Valley Family Residency Program under Frank Dennehy, MD and other docs at Front Royal Family Practice for doing the bulk of this this community service..  This event usually happens every 2nd Saturday in May ... so... Mark your calendars!

For those of you who are patients at Skyline Family Practice, I have been doing telehealth visits with some of you to catch you (and me) on your health care needs (and is generally covered by insurance).  Make sure you ask our receptionist about this if you are interested.

Finally, and again, I really appreciate all the caring inquiry you have directed to our staff and Jan.  Your prayers and other kind acts of generosity continue to help Jan and I.  We thank God for you every day.

Tripp