Joe was suppose to be admitted to Emory University Hospital at 10:40 AM on Thursday, January 27. The Admissions Office had called us before we left home to advise us to stay home till they call us since the hospital room was not ready. It was such a contrast from the last admissions experience where we waited four to five hours for a room to open up. I liked the way this was handled so much better. Joe got tired of waiting around at home and suggested we have lunch near the hospital then head over there after wards. Panera Bread in Emory Village was our choice for lunch where we both had soup and a half a sandwich. It was jammed packed with patrons for lunch not sparse like breakfast.
It was about 3:30 when we headed over to the Emory Hospital parking deck. As we got out of our car, the Admissions Office called and told us to come on in. Joe went into the Infusion Lab for his blood draw as I headed to the Admissions Office with the luggage. Joe met me there about 4Pm. I purchased a five day in and out parking pass for $25.00 where the normal cost for five days of parking would be $60. At 4:30 PM the Admissions escort took Joe in a wheelchair as I followed to the 6th Floor off the E Elevator. It was the first time that Joe agreed to be taken upstairs in an elevator.
About an hour later the floor hematologist/oncologist stopped by to tell us that the chemo will proceed as normal. I stated. "Normal?" If it were normal, Joe was to receive Part B of the HyperCVAD-R. The Doctor explained that Emory was able to find some Cytarabine since Joe did not need a bunch of it. There had been a staff meeting that morning where the shortage was discussed and SURPRISE, there was some for Joe. I am so glad that neither Joe nor I stressed about the shortage since we knew we had no control over that situation.
The first infusion started at about 8:30PM with Rituxan which is the monoclonal antibody. I suppose it lasted a couple of hours. I went home about 11PM. Joe had gotten his benedryl and tylenol which put him in la la sleepy land. They started the infusion of the Methrotrexate at 4AM which would last about 24 hours.
I started Friday with my visit to Ms. Kim's Bagel shop on Five Forks Trickum where I saw Neal Nicholson who was unusually quiet thus I knew that he was not feeling good. After the perfect bagel I went over to Bally's Total Fitness and spent 35 minutes on the tandem cycle where I completed a little over 13 miles. At 11AM I had my hour of physical therapy on my shoulder and arm at Benchmark in Tucker which consisted of lots of pulley action, specific stretching movements, cycle movements with my arms, stretching with a thick rubber band. Some of the exercises are easy and some hurt like crazy. I was surprise that one particular movement was not possible for me to do but they said that it would come in time. A solo lunch at Chick Fillet in Tucker was fast, decent and nearby.
I headed back home to get a long hot relaxing shower and take care of Max who has been so sweet and patient. I wrapped up an Amazon return item of a Kindle cover where the light did not work. They had replaced it right away. Amazon has good customer service. I spoke to a dear friend in Virginia using SKYPE which was only the second time that I used it. I packed up the stuff Joe requested that he needed. Just as I got on US78, I called Joe who requested a few more items so I turned around and picked those items up. At Publix I picked up some fresh fruit, cashews and Orange Juice to take to the hospital. I dropped off the Amazon return package at the Tucker Post Office.
I got to Joe's Room about 4PM and he looked relaxed sitting in the chair watching TV. He was happy to see that I remembered to bring all the things he wanted and some bonus treats. Nurses were in and out of his room regularly checking vital signs and changing empty IV bags. Joe was given two units of A+ red blood cells since his hemoglobin had dropped to 7.6. When the HG gets to 8.1 or below, they transfuse blood. No platelets were needed since they were at 111. We expected Joe to need Red Blood Cells since he has needed it each time that he has had Rituxan.
Joe did not want hospital food for dinner and requested pizza. I had a pizza delivered from Capozzi's which Joe really enjoyed. We watched TV but nothing really caught his interest so he would doze off here and there. At 10:30 PM Joe says he was tired and wanted to go to sleep for the night. I tucked him in and he felt warm to my touch and his face was flushed red. I took his temperature but it was normal. I begged him to call me if he felt bad during the night and I would come back over. I also told him that it was not the time to be brave and that if he felt bad that he should page the nurse and they would take care of him. I hope he keeps his promise to me. His room is at the end of the floor in the corner so it is nice and quiet back there. There is a zero view out the window since it faces other hospital walls.
It is nice to have a calm routine day. I pray that will continue.
Ciao!
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