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Mary Sansone is a survivor of acute myeloid leukemia. She was first diagnosed in 2016 at the age of 51, and again in 2020. She received a bone marrow transplant at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa in 2020 during the pandemic.
While spending weeks in the hospital for acute myeloid leukemia, I tried eight fun things to keep me busy.
I had acute myeloid leukemia twice. Each time I was diagnosed, I was immediately hospitalized to begin induction — a treatment plan that consisted of receiving chemo for 24 hours over seven days. I then had to stay in the hospital until my neutrophil (white blood cell) levels came back up to normal — which for me was another three weeks. Neutrophils are an essential part of the immune system, and they were depleted by chemotherapy.
After the second diagnosis, I not only had induction but four months later, underwent a bone marrow transplant. Again, I spent weeks in the hospital.
Now, I want to preface this blog by saying that I spent most of my time in the hospital doing whatever I could to improve my physical discomfort. I spent considerable time on the toilet. I made efforts to find positions that took away the cramps and nausea. I often had a visitor from my Gemeinschaft (Fancy word for close family and social inner circle. You’ll understand later.). Doctors and nurses constantly attended to my needs. I slept a lot. I tried to eat. I cried. I mostly rested.
But when I was alone and awake, I had my thoughts. I wanted to do something that would alleviate the boredom, assuage my anxiety and lift my spirits. Surprisingly, I don’t think I turned on the TV once! That’s extra good since I am an ex-smoker. Watching TV made me crave a good cup of coffee and a cigarette. Keeping busy with my hands helped.
My matutinal (fancy word for morning ritual) would be to call for coffee and yogurt. Both tasted like metal (a chemo side effect), but “mind over matter.” I then consented to all the Aesculapian directives (relating to medicine and physicians), proffered by my physicians and let the nurses and doctors do their thing.
Next, do something to make the day not so miserable. As a matter of fact, make it as enjoyable as possible.
It started with water coloring. But I ended up with omnifarious (fancy word for all sorts of varieties) creative outlets that took my mind off cancer. I thought I would share some with you.
Put $5 million aside for taxes and enjoy the surplus — if any — later. I would give a specific amount here, but at least $2 million divvied up between family, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, NDMP (bone marrow matching), Moffitt Cancer Center, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Borneo’s Orangutan Foundation International and the best institution to support whales. For fun, one mega vacation and a great wardrobe. Bank the rest to decide later.
Elephant. Gorilla and Orca are right there too. I’m fascinated.
U2’s Joshua Tree. I was never so moved by music in my life until I first heard the album. (Do they still call it an album?)
Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song” or Prince’s “Purple Rain.”
To see Orcas in the wild. Ideally, I would travel the world with a National Geographic whale scientist to see all the types of whales on comfortable safe yachts and in calm seas.
Elephants in the middle of the ocean flinging me with their trunks into outer space where I had to save my cousins. If I flew past them, I couldn’t save them. I had to stay beneath them.
My dad’s scrambled eggs — he adds a little cottage cheese, chives and bacon bits and doesn’t overcook them.
You would think it would have something to do with animals, but I would love to be a choreographer or fashion designer. I’d get involved with wildlife sanctuaries.
Everything I needed to survive happily and comfortably. One could argue that this is “one thing.”
Make up your own interview questions!
Wishing everyone peace and happiness.
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