Author: Greek Fighting Orange

Chris has a appointment next week with the transplant doctor. This will be just a consultation. Basically the doctor will give us a bunch of information for us to sleep on. I’m sure he will know everything about Chris’ case. All I really know is we will be back in the hospital for 4-6 weeks when the transplant is scheduled. I will keep you posted.

Chris’ fevers are doing better. He is eating good. Spirits are good too! The doctors and nurses say he is the best patient! That doesn’t surprise me! I had told Chris when I was laid up with my ankle that nobody wants to take care of a grumpy, difficult patient. Of course at the time I was talking about myself! He must have remembered that. 😊

We are about 8 weeks into this crazy journey. There have been bumps, twists, and turns, and this is just the beginning really. I don’t know where we will be in a day, a week or in the months to come. I do know that no one knows but God. Chris and I know that we are steering the sailboat but God is the wind. Sometimes we need him to steer too!

 

 

Chris is still not feeling good. He had a fever this morning but Tylenol seems to be keeping it under control. Doctor says it’s time to start the next step and move towards a “stem cell transplant”. Technically that is what it is called versus a “bone marrow transplant”.  WBC is 8.68, hemoglobin 6.8 (He needed a unit of blood.), platelets are at 37 and neutrophils are up to 2410.

Chris has been his usual self.

Nurse: Can I see your bracelet Mr. T? Chris raises his arm then puts it back down. Nurse: No I need to scan it! Chris: Oh, you just asked to see it!

He won’t put in his hearing aids! Nurse: Mr. T have you had any blurry vision or headaches today? Chris: Yes! Me: HON, HAVE YOU HAD ANY BLURRY VISION OR HEADACHES TODAY? Chris: Oh No!

Me: Hon are you going to take a shower when we get back to the room? Chris:  I’m  waiting for the doctor to come in with the test results. If it’s good news, I’ll shower. If not, then I’ll wipe down with wipes and be sad! Me and Jan:🤔😂

Chris had a dream the other night. Several infectious disease doctors were in his room talking to him about test results. They said everything came back negative except one test showed traces of dandelion greens, so you won’t be able to eat them anymore! When he woke, the thought of this almost made him cry! He told me later that during his dream all he could think was that he loves gardening and he can’t do that, he won’t be able to golf this year and now he can’t eat dandelions! I laughed but he was really sad at the thought of that. I told him that at least they didn’t say you can’t go to the casino!

Goodnight all! Hug the ones you love, you never know what life will bring!

 

Hello Family and Friends that are like Family!

Chris is still getting fevers! Not just little fevers but Big Fat Greek Fevers, 102 – 104! His doc wanted a bone marrow biopsy done today because all the other tests for infections have come back negative. She was also concerned that the hemoglobin count and the platelet count are not going up at the same pace as the white blood cells and the neutrophils. Preliminary results should be available tomorrow late afternoon.

You probably know that you don’t really “rest” at the hospital. Dietary comes in and out of your room twice for each meal. Usually 2-3 doctors come in to chat about your health and just to chat. Your nurse and the “patient care assistant ” or PCA come in to check your vitals and give you meds or whatever else you may need, every hour or two! It’s not as bad at night and the RNs and PCAs try not to bother you but they have to do their jobs too. Can you imagine EIGHT plus weeks of this? I know everyone is doing their job and I’m very thankful for all of these folks, but my poor honey!

So Chris is still  getting fevers! His WBC is at a good “go home” number of 5.8! As well as his neutrophils at 660! Just the fevers are holding him back. Well he did need a unit of blood today too, but I’m just saying those fevers need to go!  Our friend Jimmy said Chris needs to think about ice cubes, polar bears, igloos, ice cream or anything cold to bring his fevers down! 😄

I’ve written, previously, about our challenges with finding food Chris likes and/or will eat. Yesterday for lunch we walked down to the cafeteria. Chris wanted pasta with meat sauce, which isn’t unusual. But what he chose to drink with it was. He wanted…….orange juice!!! I said hon are you sure you want orange juice with pasta? He was sure!😳

Jan and 3 of our grand babies came down today. All of us went outside to enjoy this beautiful day. Yesterday Chris’ good friend Andy came to see him. I think these visits remind Chris why he is fighting so hard. He doesn’t like our grand babies seeing him when he isn’t so good, so he has to push himself just a little bit more when they are here. Whatever it Takes!

Have a good night! XO

 

I remembered the slogan for Leukemia today, “No one fights alone”! All of you and many others have been fighting with us this whole time! Fighting with your prayers! Fighting with your words of encouragement! Fighting with all the love and support you have shown us! Thank you!

Tonight I am praying for all of you! I’m praying for our cousin who lost her Mom! I’m praying for our cousin that was diagnosed with Merkel Cell Carcinoma! I’m praying for an Uncle that is fighting cancer too! I’m praying for your health or strength to get through your life challenges! I think I have a lot to pray for and a lot to be thankful for!

Chris WBC is 5.32 today, a little lower than yesterday, but you’ll have that. His neutrophils are up to 370! Once his neutrophils get to 500 and we get his fever under control plus get him off of antibiotics in his IV, he will be able to head home for a bit. 🙏

Chris tells the nurses and doctors to call him Mr. T, he then says he is the white Mr.  T. (He thinks this is really funny!) After the last couple days I think his new name should be Mr. Pin Cushion! After removing his PICC line they wanted to have 2 IVs. The IV in his left arm hasn’t been working from the beginning. He has been poked by the best nurses and they cannot find a good vein! They even brought in a ultrasound machine to help them find a good vein! So at least 10 attempts later he still has only ONE working IV, hence the name Mr. Pin Cushion! Chris remembered that his Dad would hate to have to have blood drawn because they couldn’t find a good vein on him either? I didn’t have the heart to remind Chris that his Dad was 99 years old! 😊