Dom looks good and feels good. They've got him hooked up to monitors, but those are coming off in about a half an hour! All is well with our world.
For those of you following his bloodwork, here it is. Unable to email from this hospital connection:
DAY 0 Transplant Day
HCT: 27.3 (elevated from the 2 units of red blood cells yesterday)
WBC: 3.1
ANC: 3000
PLATELET: 71
Dom and I both send our love to you guys!
Friday, July 17, 2009
DAY 0..... Happy Birthday to Dominic!
Well, gang.... today is the day. Our patient both looks and feels well.
A MOB of doctors and nurses came in to check on him about an hour ago. His kidneys are fine. Dr. Safah said that he was dehydrated, and everything is back to normal. Said that he was "doing great". That's good to hear!
They threw me out of his room a half an hour ago. The transplant (stem cell infusion) should have started at 11am. 5 bags. Should take a couple of hours.
They'll be checking his vital signs constantly. We're excited.
When they allow me back into his room, I'll give an update.
A MOB of doctors and nurses came in to check on him about an hour ago. His kidneys are fine. Dr. Safah said that he was dehydrated, and everything is back to normal. Said that he was "doing great". That's good to hear!
They threw me out of his room a half an hour ago. The transplant (stem cell infusion) should have started at 11am. 5 bags. Should take a couple of hours.
They'll be checking his vital signs constantly. We're excited.
When they allow me back into his room, I'll give an update.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
"Day -1" was a BREEZE!
We had a great day today. Dom looked and felt GREAT. Flew through both of his radiation treatments.... didn't need any breaks. Great appetite. His normal charming self. The erotic sponge bath that I gave him didn't hurt! *grinning* We even did some walking today.
Had a talk with "my John" this morning. Apparently, something showed up elevated, signaling a possible problem with his Kidneys. (From the chemo and drugs). They did an ultrasound. Got him on alot of fluid drips. Theoretically, the condition will heal itself. Said this was probably no big deal, and not to freak out over it. Have I mentioned how crazy about John I am????? *grinning*
For those of you following his bloodwork:
HCT: 24.3
WBC: 4.1
ANC:3900
PLATELETS: 98
Because his HCT dipped below 25, he got 2 units of Red Blood Cells
Tomorrow will be his big day. His "new birthday". Transplant is scheduled for 11am. Depending on how many they give him, the infusion will take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours.
I'm not allowed in his room while they do it. There'll be a shitload of nurses- constantly checking vital signs.
The room becomes spic and span tomorrow. I'm no longer allowed to eat or drink anything in there. I'll be curious to see how close I can get to him. He's in the back of the room with his own air filtration set-up. There's a glass partition that pretty much cuts the room in half...with an opening. I can drink my coffee, etc, in that area.
It was explained to me that tomorrow will be a piece of cake... just like getting a couple of units of blood. The "shit will hit the fan" in the coming days/weeks.
Taking my laptop in with me tomorrow, so will report. Going to spend time with Dom in the a.m., get thrown out of his room, then visit after transplant.
Today was really, really UPBEAT.
Keep the prayers coming. We love you guys!
N
Had a talk with "my John" this morning. Apparently, something showed up elevated, signaling a possible problem with his Kidneys. (From the chemo and drugs). They did an ultrasound. Got him on alot of fluid drips. Theoretically, the condition will heal itself. Said this was probably no big deal, and not to freak out over it. Have I mentioned how crazy about John I am????? *grinning*
For those of you following his bloodwork:
HCT: 24.3
WBC: 4.1
ANC:3900
PLATELETS: 98
Because his HCT dipped below 25, he got 2 units of Red Blood Cells
Tomorrow will be his big day. His "new birthday". Transplant is scheduled for 11am. Depending on how many they give him, the infusion will take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours.
I'm not allowed in his room while they do it. There'll be a shitload of nurses- constantly checking vital signs.
The room becomes spic and span tomorrow. I'm no longer allowed to eat or drink anything in there. I'll be curious to see how close I can get to him. He's in the back of the room with his own air filtration set-up. There's a glass partition that pretty much cuts the room in half...with an opening. I can drink my coffee, etc, in that area.
It was explained to me that tomorrow will be a piece of cake... just like getting a couple of units of blood. The "shit will hit the fan" in the coming days/weeks.
Taking my laptop in with me tomorrow, so will report. Going to spend time with Dom in the a.m., get thrown out of his room, then visit after transplant.
Today was really, really UPBEAT.
Keep the prayers coming. We love you guys!
N
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
We've got a "Hurtin' Little Cowboy", gang....
What a difference a few hours makes!
Yesterday morning, when I spoke to Dom, he was feeling great. Good appetite, good spirits. Several hours later, he was miserable.
They pulled the Pic Line out of his arm. He was all swollen. An ultrasound showed a big blood clot. He was exhausted.... sweating, chills, etc.
They spent about an hour on his "good arm" to place a new Pic Line with no luck. He was miserable.
I spent the day in MS yesterday while all of this was going on. The house was standing, the kitties were sassy, all was fine.
Got to Tulane around 9am, to find our patient gone. Checked with his nurse to find that they were putting the new Pic Line in him. He'd had his morning radiation, which didn't go well. Had to stop a couple of times.
When they wheeled him back to the room, he looked horrid. And, he sure wasn't his normal charming self.
While I was there (until about 3:30), the Occupational Therapist visited, as did his Physical Therapist. She was the last broad that he wanted to see, and told her to scram. She persisted and had him out of bed for a short time.
His fingers and bad arm started cramping.... the pain woke him up. I called the nurse, and she got a painkiller for him. It helped. Gave him another shot in the gut for the blood clot, which you can't even see anymore.
Radiation picked him up at about 1:30. While he was gone, I straightened his bed, got him another pillow, tidied up in general.
To my delight, when they wheeled him back, he had a smile on his face. Looked a thousand times better than after his first bout with radiation.
I've mentioned "John Rink" before. Probably mentioned that he was "the man that I really love". *smiling*
We had a good talk today. He assured me that although the blood clot wasn't normal., the rest of his problems were expected after total body irradiation. He then went on to basically tell me to "toughen up", and that "this is nothing". "It's not a sprint, Nan....it's a marathon.... you're going to be dealing with much worse than chills and sweats. Dom will get through this just fine".
Yeah....John's a doll.
Headed back tomorrow morning, Thursday, which is "Day -1". Two more bouts of radiation, and then his transplant on Friday. Keep the prayers/good vibes coming.
XOXO
Yesterday morning, when I spoke to Dom, he was feeling great. Good appetite, good spirits. Several hours later, he was miserable.
They pulled the Pic Line out of his arm. He was all swollen. An ultrasound showed a big blood clot. He was exhausted.... sweating, chills, etc.
They spent about an hour on his "good arm" to place a new Pic Line with no luck. He was miserable.
I spent the day in MS yesterday while all of this was going on. The house was standing, the kitties were sassy, all was fine.
Got to Tulane around 9am, to find our patient gone. Checked with his nurse to find that they were putting the new Pic Line in him. He'd had his morning radiation, which didn't go well. Had to stop a couple of times.
When they wheeled him back to the room, he looked horrid. And, he sure wasn't his normal charming self.
While I was there (until about 3:30), the Occupational Therapist visited, as did his Physical Therapist. She was the last broad that he wanted to see, and told her to scram. She persisted and had him out of bed for a short time.
His fingers and bad arm started cramping.... the pain woke him up. I called the nurse, and she got a painkiller for him. It helped. Gave him another shot in the gut for the blood clot, which you can't even see anymore.
Radiation picked him up at about 1:30. While he was gone, I straightened his bed, got him another pillow, tidied up in general.
To my delight, when they wheeled him back, he had a smile on his face. Looked a thousand times better than after his first bout with radiation.
I've mentioned "John Rink" before. Probably mentioned that he was "the man that I really love". *smiling*
We had a good talk today. He assured me that although the blood clot wasn't normal., the rest of his problems were expected after total body irradiation. He then went on to basically tell me to "toughen up", and that "this is nothing". "It's not a sprint, Nan....it's a marathon.... you're going to be dealing with much worse than chills and sweats. Dom will get through this just fine".
Yeah....John's a doll.
Headed back tomorrow morning, Thursday, which is "Day -1". Two more bouts of radiation, and then his transplant on Friday. Keep the prayers/good vibes coming.
XOXO
Monday, July 13, 2009
Our Patient is doing WELL!
Let's see...where to start-
All of his Kepivance treatments last weej went very smoothly. Less than an hour from start to finish. His mouth and tongue felt "chalky" to him on Sat. night. No big deal.
He was admitted on Sunday: Room 6225 Direct Phone Line- (504) 988-5276 (for those of you guys who know our Dom!)
He had Chemo on Sunday PM. A drug called "MELPHA". He didn't get ill. Hurray!
I spent a couple of hours with him, then came home, made gaspacho (this eating out constantly is making me feel a bit tubby.... just call me "Jumbo"), then did 30 lengths in the pool.
This morning, I headed to a local Chevy dealership.... on the way to the hospital yesterday morning, my "Check Engine Soon" light came on. Talk about shitty timing. I was certain that I'd breakdown in a bad neighborhood on Tulane. Alas, my little car made it home.
So- spent over FIVE hours at the dealership. Couldn't even tell you what was wrong.... told 'em to FIX IT. Something about fuel injectors or points, or some other kind of boy-stuff. Anyway, the car is running great.
Because of all of the waiting, I blew off Tulane today.
Dom had 2 radiation treatments today. So far, so good. He kept down breakfast, and is going to attempt a late lunch.
So.... all good things to report today!
All of his Kepivance treatments last weej went very smoothly. Less than an hour from start to finish. His mouth and tongue felt "chalky" to him on Sat. night. No big deal.
He was admitted on Sunday: Room 6225 Direct Phone Line- (504) 988-5276 (for those of you guys who know our Dom!)
He had Chemo on Sunday PM. A drug called "MELPHA". He didn't get ill. Hurray!
I spent a couple of hours with him, then came home, made gaspacho (this eating out constantly is making me feel a bit tubby.... just call me "Jumbo"), then did 30 lengths in the pool.
This morning, I headed to a local Chevy dealership.... on the way to the hospital yesterday morning, my "Check Engine Soon" light came on. Talk about shitty timing. I was certain that I'd breakdown in a bad neighborhood on Tulane. Alas, my little car made it home.
So- spent over FIVE hours at the dealership. Couldn't even tell you what was wrong.... told 'em to FIX IT. Something about fuel injectors or points, or some other kind of boy-stuff. Anyway, the car is running great.
Because of all of the waiting, I blew off Tulane today.
Dom had 2 radiation treatments today. So far, so good. He kept down breakfast, and is going to attempt a late lunch.
So.... all good things to report today!
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