Impute -- Word for the Day -- Saturday, May 31, 2008

Impute
DEFINITION: (verb) to credit or give responsibility to; to attribute.

We started our morning early with arriving at UAMS at 8:00 sharp. Our appointment was for 8:00. Chemo Sabe is doing so well on his arrivals. But then, I'm doing all the driving! We were #4 in line this morning. The earlier we get there the sooner we get in. We thought maybe the late arrivals are because they are weak or lose sleep because of their treatments, but we found out shortly after we got into the room it is because of your bag scheduling. We got into our cubicle around 8:35, but Chemo Sabe's bag wasn't hooked up until 10:00. The whole time was spent on the do's and don'ts again, the warnings, the flushing of the three tubes in the port and an injection into the stomach area of blood thinner. Then the hook up. It was the simplest part.

The "bag" looks like a camera bag he has to carry on his shoulder. It has two IV bags in it. The largest has Velcade and it goes through quickly for 24 hours. The next is a chemo that is pale red and it runs for four days. They each have their own battery pack. The bag weighs 8 lb. It feels like carrying a bowling ball. The pale red is very dangerous because if the tube splits or the bag burst, we cannot touch it. It will eat the skin. If such an error happens, we call UAMS immediately.

When we arrived home, after running all over town shopping, We replaced the strap from a laptop bag so he could carry it lower for balance.

The RN made a HUGE mistake today. We asked about restrictions, being in public like shopping, working, etc. She told us we didn't need to worry about the confinement part until his immune system went down. The program is specifically designed for all chemo patients to be outpatients so they can live as normal as life as possible. If he felt like working during the chemo, he could. They will give us fair warning about the immunity. Well, I think you already know what his next question was -- "How about riding my bike?" She said verbatim, "What ever you feel like doing, do it." He told her surely she was kidding. Well, she wasn't.

So after our shopping today, we came home, changed clothes, called our friends in Conway (Rainman and Stretch) and they met us in L.R. to eat. Then we drove on out the highway to the mountains and come on around the back way home.

How in the heck did he ride with the bag, you might be thinking. We put it in the saddle bag and ran the leaders up through his shirt. Worked out just fine. We stopped plenty enough times to ascertain he wasn't getting tired. We should have known better because he is now taking ten steriods tablets each morning with four other pills. He was very active, but pale.

His blood reports look really well, except for the WBC, RBC, hemoglobin and platelets. That's what they are working on. This is where the paleness comes from.

Chemo Sabe has four days of this chemo which should be complete by June 11. After that they wait until his blood count is very low and start to build back up before they do the induction. He stops his steriods on Tuesday, so they are claiming he will fall flat on his face because he will be stopping cold turkey.

We are so knowledgeable now about the process, the medication, the side effects and the good stuff, too. How do we know? We 'impute' to the RN and everyone that is so helpful to us at UAMS. There, I got the Word for the Day in.

Yesterday our appt was at 8:00 and we got in at 10:30 and out at 11:15 to go to another clinic. We got out of there by 1:00. We were worn out from sitting so we both came home for a nap. We watched a move and then went to bed at 7:00.

This man, Chemo Sabe, this love of mine, wants to ride to church tomorrow after we get out of clinic. He has labs, changed dressing and bag change out. Shouldn't take a few minutes, but we have to wait. We plan to get there by 8:00 again, but they can't change the 24 hr bag until it empties, which will be 10:30 Church starts at 10:30. We are only six miles from there, so I think we can make it.

We do have to make a stop at Krispy Creme for take our RN some donuts.

We had a great ride today. Chemo Sabe kept telling me he was okay since he had his acid. I guess I am just waiting for him to dive bomb.

Our friends lifted us up today. Chemo and I did too much talking. He says it's his drugs.

We feel better mentally. We think it is because we have gotten started on some kind of schedule and we know his Stage and we are more abreast of the meds and their purpose. We are though, still having problems with insurance. They approved the transplant at 50/50. We pay a deductible of $1,500 and they pay up to $125,000 for a year. Isn't that generous. Here's the kicker. The chemo pills we got today was $5,000 copay... No, that isn't a typo. It is $5,000.00. IF, the insurance approves it. We haven't heard yet.

I apologize, I should coun't my blessings and not complain. I have actually come to believe you shouldn't worry about how you are going to pay, but how they are going to cure. Since I have started thinking of that with the work of God's hand, I feel lighter. I am no longer carrying that load.

Pray for us should this precious man want to ride again tomorrow. I think he has maybe one more ride left in him, but only in the next couple of days.

We love your calls, you cards and your prayers. Please continue on --- Love Pepper