Author: Greek Fighting Orange

9/19/1957 (2017) Pat is 60! 😲 

by Greek Fighting Orange

Yes it’s true, I’m 60 today! I know you can’t believe it because I can’t either! Of course life doesn’t stop for me….my honey has 3 appointments at the clinic today.  However, Cindy and Clark have a yummy steak dinner planned for all of us! I also get to start my day with yoga and as usual a Starbucks latte. Six months ago, I didn’t know what our future looked like. Today, I am so happy to be celebrating my birthday with my honey! 

Chris is improving, ever so slowly. Cindy and I noticed yesterday that he is getting antsy! This is bitter sweet because he is feeling better but now we have to find things to occupy his time. We talked about going to the driving range, maybe a movie (not his favorite thing), go exploring around Columbus, maybe he could learn to do word search? This is the only time I have been thankful that we aren’t home, I know he would want to try to work! Chris doctor changed one of his medicines last week. We will see today how he is doing. He seems to be doing better to me! I’ll let you know. 

Hugs and more hugs to all! 

9/11/2017 What a weekend!

by Greek Fighting Orange

First, we would like to say thank you for supporting our Greek American Festival. It was a great success. (From what we hear!😊) We received photos and videos of the dancers and family. A few food pictures too! We are looking forward to joining all of you next year!

My sister Cindy and I are starting a team for Toledo’s “Light the Night” walk for Leukemia and Lymphoma! We would like to invite you to join our team for the walk! The night walk is October 22, 2017 at 5:00 pm at The Seagate Convention Center downtown. Of course our team name is Greek Fighting Orange and my sister, Cindy, is the team captain. 

The link to sign up is – http:/:pages.lightthenight.org/noh/Toledo17/ccorey 

-On the first page (right side) you can make a donation to for our team if you would like to. 

-Towards the top of the page you could also click on “Walk with us”. You then want to “Sign in” either on Facebook, Google or Create New Account. 

Now I have to have a disclaimer here…..This is all new to me. I’m learning as I go along. If you have trouble or questions I will try to find the answer for you as best I can. 😜

9/12/2017 Changes!

We had a visit to the clinic today, blood work and doctor appointment. Chris’ blood counts continue to go up. Two things going up that we DON’T want to go up is his potassium and his creatine. The creatine levels can hurt his kidneys. His doctor decided that we need to change some of his medicine. I’m glad we are trying something else because drinking water wasn’t helping much. My honey is tolerating liquids a little better, but food continues to be a bit of a problem. He decided he was just going to drink 4 Ensures a day. Then whatever he can eat will be a bonus. His spirits are improving too. I’m so thankful for that because it has been hard to watch this guy that didn’t ever stop just struggling to eat, drink and move. 

Our fig tree is about to give us, what looks like, some of the best fruit ever! The figs are green and small during the summer then they start to plump up this time of the year, but they are not ready until they turn a reddish brown. I’m looking forward to when my honey is “plumped up” again! 

9/8/2017 OPA! 

by Greek Fighting Orange

I hope you all get to go to the Greek American festival. Our grand babies, our nephews and a lot of the kids at our church will be dancing in their beautiful costumes. The food is amazing, most of it is prepared by our congregation. Oh and the pastries are to die for. They look beautiful and taste so good you will talk about them until you can get more next year! Go to the festival for Chris and I, have a great time, drink a little wine, eat some delicious food and dessert, and cheer for our grand babies and all the kids that are dancing their little hearts out! 😊 We will be down here in Columbus trying to get Chris back to health so we can be with all of you next year at the festival. Love to all!

9/5/2017 Better Day (little better) (Web site is messing up again! Sorry)

by Greek Fighting Orange

Chris is doing a “little” better today and yesterday for that matter. I think it’s a combination of changing one of his meds and just time. It is only day +26, from transplant day, so he really is doing good, but my honey is struggling with the slow progress. His blood counts continue to go up, which is great, we just need his body to catch up! Chris’ doctor and the staff at the clinic are all stressing the importance of food and liquids in his diet. He hears them but he is just having a hard time eating and drinking right now.  The doctor also told him that the lack of liquids could be part of the reason why he is tired. Sure makes since to me.

9/6/2017 Yoga!

I started doing yoga with my niece, Emily, a few days ago. You will never guess who did yoga with us today…..My Honey! He couldn’t do the tougher poses but he was sure trying to do as much as he could. Who would have thought that Chris would be willing and able to practice yoga? Not me for sure!

Chris said the taste of food is starting to come back. I’m hoping he will try to eat more if food starts tasting better. He is still struggling with liquids though. 

Right now we go to the clinic twice a week for blood work and once to see the doctor. Twice a week I get a break from pushing food and liquids because the staff at the clinic get after him pretty good. Lol! Plus they are still tweaking his medicine until they get the right dose for Chris.

We know it is a crazy week for our Greek community because it is festival week. We will miss the craziness, the fun, and ALL of YOU! Chris wanted me to tell his Cochairmen, George and Terry, to hang in there and he misses them! I know he wishes he could be there with you all. ❤️❤️

September 3, 2017 One day to the next

by Greek Fighting Orange

What a difference a day can make! Yesterday was rainy and dreary all day, a little chilly too! Today, it’s a perfect weather day, 70 degrees and sunny! Chris wanted to drive by the Greek American festival here in Columbus this morning, just to check it out. You couldn’t really see much from the car, but I explained where some things were and he got an idea of how big it is. Our daughter, Jan and I, went to pick up food from the festival yesterday. They had some of the same food items that we have at our festival and more. Chris still can’t eat much but he was able to taste a few things. His taste buds are still off and he has to make himself eat. We told our little Zoe that Poully’s taste buds are off and she stuck out her yongue and asked if hers were still there! 😂 

Every Sunday, while my honey has his central venous catheter (CVC) in, I need to change the dressing and the caps. I love doing that and flushing the lines daily as well. I guess I missed my calling, I should have been a nurse, lol! He has three lines that need to be flushed daily and then on Sunday I get to change the dressing and the caps. Sometimes the caps get stuck and they can be very difficult to get off to replace. That happened today, the first two went great, but that last one I just couldn’t get it off. Any nurses out there have any tricks that may help? 

We are missing you all! ❤️