Cancer and Sports Part 5 ~ Whoo Hoo Phillies!

While writing these Cancer chronicles I have been praying for the Phillies to clinch the NL (L)East.  Not only were the faces of the Phils absolutely glowing with raw excitement, so was my husband's face.  After the first round of chemo and a disastrous few days it seemed his fate was entwined with the team's.  Bill Giles cancelled golf for today (that was Tuesday and he told Jeff he was nervous) but just having a short conversation with Bill got Jeff's immune system going apparently, since his doc appointment yesterday showed his white blood cell count better than expected.  If he gets a bad cut or bruise he is in deep dookey but that is red cells and have nothing to do with healing powers.

The fact that he was discussing a team about to clinch with Bill and having golf postponed due to post season strategy meetings (and being the first to know they would be taking place) did more for Jeff than any drug.  He was glued to the TV and screaming like his pre cancer self...bopping up and down, groaning when the Astros had a hit yelling for J Rol, Utley,  the big Lidge scream at the end and filling me in on the stats (he has his PhD in statistics)  as I was trying to get work done (in ear shot of the TV so I did follow the game). 

This win was his win too.  It gave him energy, til last night, when figuring the scrubs would be in, he could do what the doc said and get to bed early!   It utterly boggles the mind that the love of sports so effects the healing ability of a body.  There is an adrenaline rush for sure and we see athletes play with horrible injuries just to finish the game.  Most of us would be down for the count for sure.  How is it that Jeff, a mere mortal spectator, was able to take his love of the game and admiration of the athletes and harness it into something that was (and is) powerful enough to produce test results and reactions that are far beyond medical expectations for his type of chemo?  This confounds me which is why I am doing the cancer blog on Bleacher Report.

I learned a valuable lesson during this first of many courses of treatment that will follow.  Regardless of what an athlete has done off the field, when he/she wins, we all win.  Unfortunately I also came to the realization that no matter what care and love I give my husband as we deal with this damn disease, it will never make him feel as good as a Phillies, Eagles or Flyers win.  I do stand a fighting chance going up against the Sixers if the team does not improve...with Elton Brand back in the line up, who knows.

Thank you to the Phillies without whom this first course of chemo might have been a disaster.  One teeny tiny favor, please...We need the World Series repeat because in 2 weeks Jeff should be losing his hair and will only wear a cap that has the 1980, 2008 and 2009 WC Champions emblazoned on it!