A busy hospital laundry

Dale had a night of constant diarrhea, nausea, and lack of rest. He'd get cleaned up and there it comes again! Bed sheets, bathroom, him, hospital clothing, oh dear. What a mess. I met one of the techs this evening, a very delightful young lady, without a care of her responsibility to clean the explosive bodily fluids. It continued the same throughout most of the day. It was not very pleasant for Dale. Doctors say this will probably continue for another four days. The chemotherapy kills the natural fluids necessary for the digestive system to function and so it creates an environment of the necessary elimination the only way it can: diarrhea. Better their laundry than mine-this week anyway. This too shall pass...

I am glad toilet paper was invented

Today is BMT day 4 and 11 days of hospitalization at this point. We anticipate another 10 days, but that is our guess. Dale is beginning to become neutropenic, as expected, which means his blood levels are getting low, therefore, blood transfusions will soon take place. He is upbeat, talkative, and trying as hard as he can to be a "good patient." If you have tried to call him and he does not answer, it is likely because the diarrhea called first. He always tries to answer that call before all others.

Platelets today

Dale is right on schedule. His platelets are low as predicted so they will give him some. Blood counts were okay, although it is anticipated that those will need to replenished a few times along the way until the transplant is grafted. I am amazed at the science, the minds experimenting, and the successfully used techniques. Someone had to think of it along the way and some patient had to be the first. Thanks to all those that contribute to the world of science.

Getting through each day

Dale's days of feeling particularly lousy, have begun. Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and zero appetite has set in. When I got to him this afternoon, he was very quiet but said, "well, it's started so that means I have fewer days left to stay here!" He is working hard to make the best out of all of it. What a good guy! He is mine and I am keeping him. Dale's attitude through the past several months remains positive as he suffers each ailment of the treatment. He will get through this, one day at a time.

New Birthday

January 5, 2012 is Dale's new birthday. Immune system as fresh as a new born baby. The staff brought him a blanket and sang "Happy Birthday" to him while he received the bone marrow transplant today. It was uneventful, except for Dale's normal nausea and chills. Chills come from the transplant. They come in a container in frozen cassettes, defrosted in a warm water tub, then into his IV line. The 13 bags took a couple of hours with both the technician and the nurse with Dale the whole time.

Happy Birthday

Stem Cell Replacement

He should do okay for 2-3 days and then it hits. We'll see what that means for him. The nurse was helpful in telling us what to expect. They will keep track of everything, and when his levels get at a certain point, he comes home. There will be a very awful week of extreme fatigue, nausea, and loss of appetite, so they have to help him through that. Here he is today:

Doing fine

BMT today

Dale has done well in the last two days. Final chemotherapy was yesterday with no incidents. Today the bone marrow transplant happens. Nurse tells me it is uneventful. They bring in the machine, hook him up and drip in 13 bags of his harvested stem cells which should take about three hours. Since it is Dale's stem cells, the only reaction could be from the preservatives and there is medications to help with that. I am hoping it is uneventful.

Dale is excited that he thinks his beard is beginning to come back, although that means shaving again. What a delight!

Toxic waste

Dale felt okay today, although they had to bring in the toxic waste cleaners because he had a bit of an accident in the middle of the night. The chemo/urine mixture is not healthy to have sprayed around the room. He also has a port-a-potty next to his bed in case he needs it, quickly. He tells me all the cords hooked into him and the IV stand got tangled and he could not get out of bed quick enough. Makes sense. Poor guy. Probably not the first time such a cleanup has happened. Hope there are not too many more for Dale. He has a chemo tonight, then one more tomorrow. The next day will be the bone marrow transplant. After that, who knows? It will depend on how he is able to take it. One day at a time.

I am glad Dale is doing as well as he is
I am glad that happened at the hospital and not at home
I am glad Dale is at this point so much earlier than we anticipated
I am glad the weather is cooperating with my excessive driving needs on potentially snowy roads
I am glad others in my doctorate cohort are getting their proposals completed. Gives me hope it is possible--eventually

Glad game time

Dale is surviving the treatments, but it is not very fun. Nausea, chills, and diarrhea prevail now. He slept some of the day with cat naps and looked more rested. His appetite is down and energy level sinking. I suspect a blood transfusion is close by. He maintains a good attitude, mine is so-so. I am weary, feel incompetent, and don't trust decisions I make. Its time for the glad game.

I am glad for my eclectic music collection
I am glad I have caring, understanding, and supporting friends, co-workers, family
I am glad I was able to meet with a nice family from Connecticut "school searching" today
I am glad we have such a flexible staff to accommodate our students
I am glad that I love my career (although feeling out-of-sorts and incompetent this year)
I am glad a mistake I made today was quickly and unobtrusively found then quietly corrected
I am glad the guys are watching out for me
I am glad to each of the students who called me by name in the halls just to say "hello"

I am glad I am feeling better: listening to music and playing the glad game--good combination