Greetings from a small island that is "Not Europe"

Living in the pro EU stronghold of Oxford, the "leave" posters, rhetoric, and campaigning were few and far between, so it was a shock to wake up yesterday and see the damage had been done.  It seems obvious that the UK is stronger staying IN the EU.  To give a personal example: my health care team....  my head surgeon was Italian, with assistants from India and Poland.  My anesthesiologist -- South African; the nurse anesthetist -- Polish; my first oncologist -- Italian; current oncologist -- South African.  My GP and most of the nurses are British, but many are from Scotland and Ireland.  How would NHS (the UK health system) function without all these fabulous people?  It seems building walls is a mistake, but what do I know?  I do know that one reason I love Oxford is the diversity and international flavor.  The Newcomers Group, Bruce's lab group, my health care providers: it's a fabulous mix from the whole globe and I love that!  

Always trying to look on the bright side. . . . The British pound fell significantly and because our income is in US dollars, everything just got 10% cheaper overnight.  Yahoo -- let's go out to dinner!  Oh, but wait, I can't.  Today I am on self imposed house arrest.  At my oncology appointment yesterday my neutrophil levels were a very low .36 (or 360 depending on the units,) well into the danger zone of a weakened immune system.  In an effort to keep from catching ANYTHING, I am holed up at home while Allison, Sally, and Bob get a tour around Oxford with Bruce.  Oh well.  I have been feeling so well this past week, that all this came as a shock.  I was even joking that I didn't get the full dose of chemo!  I have lost very little hair this cycle and generally the symptoms have been less than the past two cycles.  I will be retested on Monday and if my levels are up, I can have chemo #4 on Tuesday as planned.  Chemo dosing is notoriously tricky, based on surface area, which is an inaccurate calculation from height and weight.  If my neutrophil levels are taking such a big hit it likely means I am getting too high a dose and my final doses will be reduced.  My oncologist keep reassuring me my body knows the correct level, but I want as big a dose as I can manage.  So for now the bone marrow and neutrophils are in charge.  

Since I didn't know I was immuno-compromised we went to the University's  Encaenic celebration and the Merton garden party unaware of my susceptibility.  (Thankfully I didn't get sick.)  We had a jolly time reveling in the academic-ness of it all: watching Paul Krugman get his honorary degree, spotting funny robes and hats, listening to speeches in Latin, the general pomp of it all.   Krugman was the only recipient I had even heard of, but after reading all the bios my new hero is Mildred Dresselhaus.  She broke lots of glass in her career.  I actually enjoyed hearing the ceremony in Latin in the famed Sheldonia Theater.  It made for an unforgettable and once in a lifetime day.  (more pictures from past Encaenia on my friend Shelley's blog)    After the ceremony, the University hosted a lovely party in the Merton Fellows Garden.  Scones, strawberries, and champagne for everyone!  Thanks to Tim and Sonya for getting us in.  

So, that is it for today...maybe I'll blog more now that I'm stuck in our flat!  At least it's not a bright sunny day outside.  

MK