The definition of neutropenic is that a body has no neutrophils in their system. Neutorphils are the germ fighters in the blood. Since Chris does not produce his own blood, he has no neutrophils in his system; which makes it very easy for Chris to get infections, and with his blood issues, he cannot get sick, or it could be fatal. Diarrhea can wipe out his entire immune system or mean a deadly bacteria, a cold can take him down, forget the flu! We as a family, had to be careful, we have a very sick daddy.
When Chris was finally able to return home for one night, we took all kinds of precautions; masks, cleansers, and we made sure the kids stayed off Chris.
Movie night at the Long house consists of a movie, popcorn, a small treat...and usually a kid-type meal prior to the movie. We were so excited for Chris to be home, it had been a long seventeen days since he was first admitted to the hospital. I believe we watched the movie Brave, which was very good.
My reason for posting these pictures are simply because they are not normal family pictures...look at my children sitting next to their father, unable to touch, hug, and snuggle with him. As we all hid behind our masks, I silently was filled with joy and grief at the scene laid before me.
Chris is my best friend, and has been since I met him in 1996. Chris and I have been through so much together...and our marriage has never been perfect. We have taken each other's hands and took each step together, no matter how big of step it may be. We have been through infertility, blindness, AVIG treatments at home for his autoimmune disease, foster care, surgery after surgery which finally led to legal blindness, role changes, me going back to school to support my family, my brain issues, and now Chris' lung removal and Aplastic Anemia. Please, don't get me wrong, I am very honored to have gone through these trials, and allowed to "know me." I look at my husband and I am filled with love and admiration...he is so strong, filled with fight; I feel guilty, at times, for being so weak.
My hope and prayer is that my husband will be by my side, watching our daughters get married, seeing our son become a man, and spoiling our grandchildren.
This night, I held onto my family...we had each other for one night, and I wasn't going to waste this moment worrying about the future; there would be plenty of time in the future for that.
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