|
25 years ago, at about this time of year, I was making plans for finishing my Ph.D thesis while a single cell in my lymphatic system turned against me. Some unknown cause created a mutation in that cell which altered its DNA in such a way that it and its progeny did not respect the normal tissue boundaries and limits on cell reproduction. The cell somehow escaped all the checks and balances of the immune system including macrophages whose sole job is to eat up bad things in the body both from the outside sources as well as internally generated outlaws. (Macrophage means big eater in Greek.) This cell took a ride in my lymphatic and bloodstream and found a comfortable spot under my the skin near the border between my forehead and temple just above my right eye, There it put down roots and sent out the call for capillaries to feed and oxygenate the expected accelerating number of offspring. The plan for domination of my body was in place, and initial stages of the assault: cellular division and growth had began. I was unaware that all these things were happening.............
|
