Author Description

Red Pop. That's what they called it. Anyone who has or had leukemia knows the name well. It's the three day induction treatment given at the first round of chemotherapy along with ARA-C, to jump start the chemo. It looks harmless enough but, I've got a few nick names of my own for it! It was January 2nd 1984. God, how did I get here? As I lay there in my hospital bed, nurses were busy getting me ready for my first induction treatment. As the needle found its vein, my mind drifted back to the moment when I came face to face with my mortality. Five days ago...December 28th 1983, the events of that day would be the beginning of a physical, mental, and spiritual fight that I certainly was not ready for. It didn't matter what I thought or wanted. My life and future was out of my hands. "So Doc, when can I get back home? My family is waiting and we're planning our Florida vacation." Why all of the long faces? I looked around the room, studying everyone for some kind of insight into what was going on. My Family Doc was there, and a couple of nurses with blank stares. Was I missing something here? Like a skip in the record, all I could remember, five little words, echoing in my head- "Mr. Dommer, you have Leukemia." Suddenly, the blood rushed to my ears drowning out any of his words or thoughts of my own. My mouth went dry in an instant making any reaction I had completely inaudible. The shock and fear gripped my chest so tightly I thought my heart would explode. I couldn't think, or talk, the only reasonable thought I had was to run, but where? "Mr. Dommer, Mr. Dommer did you hear me? We need to begin treatment as soon as possible. Can you be here January 2nd to start?." Oh shit! Dr. Krishnan's voice again. God, I'm still here! I'm only 29; I have a family, two young daughters, a wife, a job. Maybe I misunderstood him? I looked up into his capacious eyes. I knew in that exact moment, when our eyes met, that he was right. This was no joke and sadl