Seems like an eternity

 Edie, Life  2 Responses »
Oct 162008
 

It’s been a week now since Edie went into the hospital, and it sure isn’t getting any easier. And even worse, I’ve got at least two more weeks of the same to look forward to.

Having to go to work, grocery shopping, the laundry, making sure Sylvia eats, keeping up with my exercise routine, and visiting Edie in the hospital is starting to take its toll. I’ve never had to do so much for such a long time with no help, and I’m just not sure I’m up for this.

One thing for sure, I’ve certainly developed a new found appreciation for single parents (especially those with small children), and what they have to endure.

Fortunately Edie’s doing pretty good so far, and she is keenly aware of my limitations, so that removes some of the stress of the situation. It’s just not enough.

So if you’d like to help, and have some time, stop in and visit Edie. Despite the fact I had previously indicated visiting wasn’t a good idea, I think Edie would appreciate seeing some other familiar faces, and not have to listen to my whining all the time.

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 Posted by Marc at 9:37 pm

Scared the bejeezus out of me!

 Edie, Life, Off Topic  1 Response »
Oct 132008
 

Last night as I was surfing the internet, I was startled when I heard Sylvia holler MOLLY.

Molly was my my mothers name, and she died some 10 years ago.

Sylvia then came running (ok, that is an exaggeration) into the office, and asked what was that bell? Did I hear a bell ringing?

Well there wasn’t any bell. Obviously, Sylvia had awoken from a dream, a nightmare, or whatever during one of the numerous naps she takes throughout the day. She soon realized there was nothing wrong, but I’m not so sure she knew she even hollered my mothers name, and I didn’t feel it necessary to ask.

Still it sent chills up my spine.

Oh, and BTW, in case you haven’t received an email from Edie, she is doing fine.

Edie received her stem cells around 11 AM today, with little, if any fanfare. She was somewhat drowsy afterward, but only because of the Benadryl they gave her to prevent any allergic reactions. It was also good that City of Hope offers room service to all their transplant patients, so it was easy getting lunch when she awoke.

It’s almost like being in a hotel. Emphasis on “almost”.

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 Posted by Marc at 6:54 pm

The reality of it all

 Edie, Treatments  1 Response »
Oct 122008
 

Edie's hook upsWell, here it is one day before “Day 0″ (the transplant), and the reality of all this is finally settling in. I know I’ve been preparing for this day for several months, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

I’m not sure how I’m going to deal with the next two weeks, making dinner for Sylvia and myself every night, the thought of not being able to share a good bottle of wine with Edie, and sleeping in that great big bed alone.

Oh well, at least the City of Hope makes it very comfortable for the transplant patients.  The rooms are nice size and private, and even have a DSL connection for accessing the internet.

But no one will ever mistake this ordeal for a vacation, as evidenced by the numerous drugs and monitoring devices attached to Edie (not sure what the flashlight is for though), and the ordeal visitors have to go through.

Before entering the room, everyone (doctors, nursers, technicians, and the catering staff included) has to wash their hands, and put on latex gloves, and this very uncomfortable face mask. And so you don’t forget, there’s a sink, gloves and face masks at the entrance to each and every room.

I know there’s good reason for all the precautions, which should become more evident in the next couple of days, as the Melphalan does its dirty work, and after the transplant, but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with.

So if you were planning on a visit, I would recommend against it. While I’m sure Edie would appreciate seeing everyone, she would probably feel worse knowing how uncomfortable you’d be.

Calling, emailing or instant messaging are much better options.

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 Posted by Marc at 7:15 am

The last supper

 Edie, Food & Wine, Treatments  2 Responses »
Oct 092008
 

Well there’s no turning back now. The City of Hope called, and Edie is scheduled for an 11:30 AM check in tomorrow. So tonight was time for a special dinner.

We stayed home, and I cooked the perfect medium rare filet mignon, with rice and broccoli, accompanied by a 2005 Hartford Court, Sevens Bench Pinot Noir, and boy was it good.

Not only did I cook the steak to a perfect medium rare, but the wine was one of the better Pinot Noir’s we’ve drank recently. It was a full bodied Pinot, exhibiting a good balance of fruit, tannins and acidity, and with good texture without the high alcohol taste that seems so prevelant in the wines being produced now a days.

Of course, not even the perfect meal, and bottle of wine, can change the reality of the next two or possibley three weeks. They’re not going to be a lot of fun.

Saturday and Sunday, Edie receives high dose melphalan (reduced slightly due to a slightly impaired kidney function), to destroy the old immune system, followed by the transplant on Monday.

Then comes the hard part, waiting for the new immune system to take effect.

I know I’ve been preparing myself for this moment for quite awhile, but that doesn’t make it any easier, especially when you know there isn’t anything you can do effect the outcome.

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 Posted by Marc at 9:51 pm

Even the medical profession is slow

 Cycling, General Health, Life, Treatments  2 Responses »
Oct 092008
 

It must be. Why else would the hand specialist be so ready to operate on my hand to correct my Dupuytren’s Contraction?

That sure wasn’t the response I was expecting when I went for my appointment with the hand specialist yesterday. I thought I would go in, and the doctor would look at my hand, and say it wasn’t that bad, and I should just keep an eye on it making sure it doesn’t get any worse, and then come back in a couple of months for a follow up.

Needless to say, I was caught completely off guard. I really wasn’t ready for this. I had heard horror stories about the pain associated with the operation, and proceeding would obviously put a crimp in my cycling. I was hoping he would propose the use of injectable collagenese. That I would have gone for.

But no, the doctor indicated injectable collagenese hasn’t been approved for use just yet. BUMMER!

So now I have to make a decision. Do I or don’t I want to risk the operation?

The doctor was very reassuring, trying to allay my concerns, stating that since my contraction had not progessed that far (30°), it wouldn’t be a difficult operation, and he thought I could be back on the bike in about 3 weeks. He did indicate I could watch and wait (something most lymphoma patients are very familiar with), if I wasn’t quite ready, but to keep a close eye on it, and make sure it doesn’t progress too far. Then it could become a problem

I just don’t know. The horror stories I’ve heard, still linger in the back of my mind, but I did put my name on the list to be called, to set up a time for the operation anywaze. I don’t have to have the operation right away, and could schedule it for a few months from now when the weather is not very conducive for riding.

Oh well, such is life :(

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 Posted by Marc at 12:53 pm  Tagged with:

4 days and counting

 Edie, Life  3 Responses »
Oct 072008
 

Not even a seemingly endless stock market decline, nor the Angel’s loss in Boston last night, can take my mind off the fact Edie is going in to the hospital for her scheduled stem cell transplant on Friday.

Fortunately my livelihood doesn’t depend on the fate of the Angels, and I’ve been able to keep losses in our financial portfolio to a minimum (only down 1.5% for the year), so those two events don’t concern me much.

I only wish I could say the same for Edie, and have as much control over the events to follow, as well as I have been able to control our current financial situation, and weather the economic storm I believe is soon to follow (especially should John McCain be elected the next president of the US).

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 Posted by Marc at 6:57 am  Tagged with:
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