We arrive in Houston on Tuesday, 4/26. The entire drive from Cape San Blas to Baton Rouge to Houston was very windy. I had commented that it was a bad omen for the Deep South since I knew that a storm was brewing. Little did I know that it would be so destructive and take so many lives as well as disrupting the lives of thousands. The pictures of the destruction is mind boggling to me. Two of our church members families had children attending college in Alabama with one living in a home off the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa. You already know the force that hit that town. Mollie, who is to graduate in May, thankfully was saved by hiding in the bathroom of a house while the house was destroyed around her. We give thanks to God that she was spared but still saddened by those who lost their lives. God has something special in store for Mollie.
We checked into the same Homestead Studio Suites in Houston near the Galleria where we have stayed for extended times twice before. The staff knows Joe, Max and me well so we were greeted with big welcoming smiles and they gave us the same studio suite again which takes care of our needs.
On Wednesday Joe's appointments started at 2PM with a blood test then followed with an appointment with Dr. Romaguera in the Lymphoma department. We saw Goley first, followed by a "fellow" then Dr R who greeted us warmly. Joe's blood counts have been amazingly stable. The big negative has been his high hematocrit which was 56 that day. I agreed with Dr R that that chemo would drop it. What is great about this time around, it that Joe's platelets are in the normal range at 266. Even though Dr R says Joe is in remission, he still wants to Joe to complete the last two scheduled rounds of chemo to attempt to keep him in remission longer. I am for that.
We had about an hour to waste while Joe's paperwork for chemo and admission was completed. We decided to eat at the Rotary House across the street from M D Anderson Cancer Center. It is similar to a Marriott Hotel so the services are quite good. Dinner was enjoyable in the nice, quiet surroundings.
Joe was admitted to the new 22 story High Rise on the 16th floor of MD Anderson about 7PM. It is truly state of the art and very nice. It makes the hospital stay much easier for Joe with the wide hallways, colorful artwork, shiny hardwood floors, huge nicely decorated patient rooms, the best of up to date technology in and outside the hospital room. They also thought of family members and created two comfortable family rooms. One has a large flat screen TV, vending machines and wonderful views of Houston. The other family room is the quiet room. It is a very nice considerate touch for caregivers and their families. I am going to put a few pictures of the new High Rise of MDACC.
I stay with Joe till about 10:30 PM then I go back to the hotel to take care of Max and sleep. Joe started with the monoclonal antibody, Rituxan, at 11PM and finished it at 4AM with no reactions. Joe says he slept right through it. At 6 AM Thursday the nurse started the IV of Cyclophosamide that is given for 3 hours every 12 hours for three days. To protect the kidneys Mesna is also given via IV continuously for three days. He is also given Saline Solution continuously to keep him hydrated.
This same routine was also done on Friday. He is comfortable and has no adverse reactions to the chemo. I go back to the hospital each day by 2PM and stay till 10:30 PM. I try to sleep late, take a hot shower, take Max to the Dog Park since he is still scared of doing his business around the hotel with all the strange noises that he is not fond of.
Joe's blood tests continue to amaze me as he undergoes chemo. Today his platelets were at 240 (normal range). Thankfully his hematocrit has dropped to a much safer level at 51.3. Joe's white blood count did not drop real low yet but it will. Joe is happy that I am there to keep him company and to keep track what is going on.
I am thankful to God for taking care of Joe and making him comfortable as he receives chemo.
Good night!
Bonnie
Joe is doing great. And you are too! You know what to expect, and in a couple of months, all this will be behind you both. I am sure Joe will bounce back from this one quickly :)
ReplyDelete