French Word of the Day: rémission (ray-miss-ee-own)- remission

The test results for the chemotherapy and in, and they are looking fabulous!  I would have been just a touch angry if the doctor had come back and said, “Well, that whole 6 months of chemo thing was a bust.”  Luckily, her words were, “Your levels are almost to normal! (Except for some abnormalities due to your disease.)”

Please note that this does not mean I’m cured.  I’ve had to specify that a lot.  I think every time I speak to someone about it I confuse people.  To save myself some time, I’m going to write the conversation I’ve been having with everyone.

Person: Oh my God, your results are good! So you’re completely cured!!!!
Me: Um, not quite.  It’s under control.  But not fully.  My kidneys are no longer being destroyed.
Person: So you’re not better? Do you have to go on chemo again?
Me: No, I’m better!
Person: But you just said you weren’t.
Me: I’m better than before.  My body is no longer attacking itself.
Person: So you’re cured!!
Me: You can’t cure lupus. It only goes into remission.
Person: So you’re in remission!
Me: Not yet. I’m going to be taking a special medicine for at least the next 2 or three years to control everything.
Person: But I thought you were better? I’m so confused.
Me: Tell me about it.  I’ve been confused for the last 8 years.

 

In celebration (and because my hair has grown back in the last two months), I got a haircut.  Check it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Days Until My Next Parisian Pain Au Chocolat: 16