The night went relatively well. Headache left-for awhile-then back again. It shouldn't be there so they are checking on possibilities with CT scan and such. I do not know the results yet. White blood count went up slightly and another count is being done now. Constant changes and adjustments are made.
One of the PA's told Dale that the nurses and CNAs really like working with him. I can see why: he always engages in conversations with them and knows their interests. He is positive, brings smiles, and shows appreciation to them. Go Dale!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
5th pint of blood
Platelets and 5 pints of blood since yesterday and still not doing well.
They have given Dale 5 pints of blood, platelets, antibiotics, and oxygen. He has a constant headache at level 8 most of the time. Doctor just ordered a CT scan on his head to make sure there is not something else going on there. Dale is feeling fearful and has many reasons to fear what his body cannot do for itself and what the medical treatments may do to him. Although he has received the blood, his counts are still low. A couple of weeks ago, it was similar and then suddenly the counts drastically improved. This is such a strange and unpredictable cancer. They told us in the beginning that his condition could change in either direction and quickly. Experience has shown us, yup it changes and boy oh boy! It is a roller coaster of emotions in all directions with fear, hope, then sadness, anxiety, loss of hope, emptiness, then deep appreciation for friends, love, compassion, forgiveness, understanding, and then boredom. Dale needs visits and calls. He will listen to voicemail if he cannot get to his phone. His emails will be read once he gets home and feels well enough to read them.Infection dance
Blood cultures came in and say there is an infection. I do not know where or what kind of infection, but that is one reason why Dale feels so lousy. They gave him platelets, and two more pints of blood, so he feels better, but the infection, will keep him there for a while until that is in check. Poor guy. Body just does not function too well. He asked the doctor if there was something he could do to get white blood counts up. The doctor did not miss a beat and told him they have found that a certain dance just might help...he'd get back to us on that one.
I am glad doctors have a sense of humor.
I am glad doctors have a sense of humor.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Dogs & cleaning gloves
Friday was another very crazy day at school, but we made it through without 99.9% of students and teachers knowing what hit our offices today. The guy in the Halloween death costume did not help--scared the secretaries. It is strange that way, unless you are one of us, most people have no clue what goes on in order to keep students safe and learning, parents pleased, and teachers teaching.
I thank those that read the blog and comment occasionally. The blog helps me to process what is happening and gives me a place to keep records.
I volunteered to go to football last night, but was told it was covered and that I wasn't needed. Great! Now I am not needed at work any more or is it that I have trained them all so well in the last couple of years, they can do it on their own? Apparently, they needed me because we lost the game! Plus, I was told I need to spend time with Dale anyway--I work the dance tonight, so all is well...except Dale is not feeling too well. We may be taking a trip to University ER either early in the morning of later tonight. He thinks he can wait until...??? Headache, stomach pains and lots of bathroom breaks. (Thank goodness for cleaning gloves!)
Dale insisted on vacuuming last night, so he did the downstairs, and today the upstairs. I cleaned and completed Saturday chores (Mom will be pleased) and put in a couple hours of study too. Feels good to be able to do "normal" things as though things were normal.
It was such a pleasant fall evening, I decided to go for a walk, well, with my lawn mower. Felt good to be out and being productive, although, I found that dogs have enjoyed my lawn also, left gifts, and killed the grass on the edges. So what do you do? I cleaned out the tomato plants and found a cat's license collar. I heard the owners in their back yard, peaked over the fence, and gave it back to them...what could they say? Thanks?? I don't mind that people have pets, just that they don't keep them (and the gifts) out of our yard. We did, when we had dogs. It is just respect for others. If this entry seems out of sequence, it is. I drafted it, then we ended up in ER, I took picture and added that entry before submitting this one while waiting and waiting in ER.
I thank those that read the blog and comment occasionally. The blog helps me to process what is happening and gives me a place to keep records.
I volunteered to go to football last night, but was told it was covered and that I wasn't needed. Great! Now I am not needed at work any more or is it that I have trained them all so well in the last couple of years, they can do it on their own? Apparently, they needed me because we lost the game! Plus, I was told I need to spend time with Dale anyway--I work the dance tonight, so all is well...except Dale is not feeling too well. We may be taking a trip to University ER either early in the morning of later tonight. He thinks he can wait until...??? Headache, stomach pains and lots of bathroom breaks. (Thank goodness for cleaning gloves!)
Dale insisted on vacuuming last night, so he did the downstairs, and today the upstairs. I cleaned and completed Saturday chores (Mom will be pleased) and put in a couple hours of study too. Feels good to be able to do "normal" things as though things were normal.
It was such a pleasant fall evening, I decided to go for a walk, well, with my lawn mower. Felt good to be out and being productive, although, I found that dogs have enjoyed my lawn also, left gifts, and killed the grass on the edges. So what do you do? I cleaned out the tomato plants and found a cat's license collar. I heard the owners in their back yard, peaked over the fence, and gave it back to them...what could they say? Thanks?? I don't mind that people have pets, just that they don't keep them (and the gifts) out of our yard. We did, when we had dogs. It is just respect for others. If this entry seems out of sequence, it is. I drafted it, then we ended up in ER, I took picture and added that entry before submitting this one while waiting and waiting in ER.
Early morning in ER
We are becoming familiar with ER staff now. Dale is weak, diarrhea, stomach pain, and vomited.
I am glad there are newly paved freeways with clean, well seen reflector lines in dark hours. I am glad the ER staff is so nice. I am glad for Sundays as a day of rest--I need it, and will get it eventually. I am glad we got here in early morning hours--it's so much better than late night people in an ER waiting area.Thursday, October 13, 2011
Two pints & what a night!
Blood counts were low. Received two pints. Feels better. This will be a normal process in between chemo treatments, therefore, every 3 days, blood tests will be done to determine where he is and if and when he will need transfusions. I am glad he made it through. I am also glad for the beautiful basket of food left for us today. Kindness continues. Thank you.
The night was not so good. Two laundry loads and minimal sleep for both of us. Dale tried to stay "out-of-my-way" by staying in the other rooms, but somehow, I know and wake up to check on him several times. What a sweetheart he is: Dale tries his best to do what he can to keep my life as unobstructed as possible. To be able to take him to Huntsman for the blood work, he decided he would come to work with me and wait in the car until it was time to go. In the dark of the morning, and before Huntsman center offices were open for patient appointments, we drove to work, bundled Dale in a blanket, and I met with angry parents about their naughty son who denies his aggressiveness in a fight, then proceeded the process for others in this fight. It took me about 1 1/2 hours. Then the center was open and we were able to go. One must know, though, that I offered to come back home to pick him up or bring him into the school in our break room-a quiet corner that no one would even know he was there for an hour or so, but no! Dale needed to be as less as an inconvenience to me and my routines as possible! It worked out and all is well, but my goodness, I really could have come back home to pick him up! We have several more of this type of blood work appointments during my work day, so we will need to find a better way, it is getting cold out there. Perhaps if students don't get into trouble, parents accept that their child does make mistakes, and students actually attend school and engage in learning, before school meetings may decrease.
The night was not so good. Two laundry loads and minimal sleep for both of us. Dale tried to stay "out-of-my-way" by staying in the other rooms, but somehow, I know and wake up to check on him several times. What a sweetheart he is: Dale tries his best to do what he can to keep my life as unobstructed as possible. To be able to take him to Huntsman for the blood work, he decided he would come to work with me and wait in the car until it was time to go. In the dark of the morning, and before Huntsman center offices were open for patient appointments, we drove to work, bundled Dale in a blanket, and I met with angry parents about their naughty son who denies his aggressiveness in a fight, then proceeded the process for others in this fight. It took me about 1 1/2 hours. Then the center was open and we were able to go. One must know, though, that I offered to come back home to pick him up or bring him into the school in our break room-a quiet corner that no one would even know he was there for an hour or so, but no! Dale needed to be as less as an inconvenience to me and my routines as possible! It worked out and all is well, but my goodness, I really could have come back home to pick him up! We have several more of this type of blood work appointments during my work day, so we will need to find a better way, it is getting cold out there. Perhaps if students don't get into trouble, parents accept that their child does make mistakes, and students actually attend school and engage in learning, before school meetings may decrease.
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