at the southeast community blood center in tallahassee, florida, i am watching a frankensteinian experiment. for the first time in tallahassee, a provenge treatment is being performed. my father justin is the lucky patient, and lucky is absolutely the word.
provenge is a cancer treatment which promises up to three months of continued health. it costs $90,000. luckily, justin is covered by insurance.
when i came down to florida, i had an expectation of renting a car and toddling all over the place meeting facebook friends. i had a great sense of anticipation. but i was anticipating something that isn’t happening: instead, justin’s wife left for a business trip and i am a witness to history. although provenge has been done in other parts of the country, this is new . . . for tallahassee and for justin.
nurses adam and denise are referred to as “vein whisperers” because they can get a needle into the very smallest of veins. over a three hour period, all of justin’s blood will circulate through a machine that extracts white blood cells.
justin’s blood will go through tallahassee airport. .. . i hope it doesn’t get stopped by the t.s.a. and then . . . they’ll put the blood back into him!
arlynnpresser 
September 11th, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Keeping you and your Dad in our prayers Arlynn. Keep us posted on how he’s doing.
September 12th, 2012 at 2:42 am
I am , and always will hope for the best Arlynn. I like your dad, and I hope to know him for years to come! It was a pleasure meeting him!