Microburst
Definition - noun:
|
|
a violent short-lived
localized downdraft that creates extreme wind shears at low altitudes and is
usually associated with thunderstorms
ARE YOU READY????? Here we go!!!
Didn't post yesterday. I was too tired and funky feeling.... So, as was he. I believe much of his was being anxious to get out of the funk and mask stage. We haven't been very patient... We need to pray about that.. We are both stretched beyond, but we know there are others with more troubles with this disease. I spoke with more of them today...
I have gone to bed each night for the last two weeks and find my eyes leaking on my pillow case. Tears of sadness for Bill Goodness' family. Seems like years ago I met Kim in ICU and not two weeks since she lost her husband. Then, my tears are also for Poppy. I turned over to him Sunday night and said, "I want you here for Christmas." He said the same. Then I leave for the spare room so he won't hear me sniffing.
I was hoping he could read between the lines that he needed to help me take care of him. ONWARD!!! Enough mushy stuff.
We had a weight lifted when we came home yesterday and found that big (ass) tree that had fallen, was cut up and stacked. Tommy and Easton came by and worked on it. In the rain. He is our jewel in some of our darkness moments and he doesn't even realize it.
I fixed two pumpkin pies yesterday to possibly entice Poppy's appetite, but he only ate a 1/3 piece. He didn't intake much liquid either. I just don't even mention it anymore.... He knows the rules.
I'll quit rambling because I know you're anxiously awaiting the labs... Here's the bad news:
Potassium, magnesium and phosphorus is still low. Instead of doing the IV today we are going back to pills. We already had the mag and pot... The drug store had to search the city for phosphorus beginning at noon. Finally at 4:00 they called and had found 100 packets.. I only needed a few for the next couple of days so now I have 30. I drove up there with my jammies on and was sure hoping I wouldn't have to go in... I went to the drive through.. Whew
Had the two antibiotics in IV today, but was advised we didn't have to bring the cefepime home for tonight's infuser. Oh, what a weight lifted. I could kick back and not worry about timing. BUT, at 4:11 I get a call from Infusion... We should have brought home cefepime.
Yesterday he changed his appointment times to 3:00 p.m. thinking he would only be doing labs. BUT, the two antibiotics he gets in the morning have to be at the same time each day... Back to 8:30 a.m. every morning and bringing one home for 6:30 p.m. He's NOT happy... He's going to work tomorrow and this just delays it... He's blaming them.... I finally gave him "my look" and told him it was basically his fault for changing his times to 3:00 p.m. He should be glad they are checking things after he leaves (checking it four hours after we left!)... ONWARD!!! Don't get me started about work being more important than health...
Sooooo, I've made you wait long enough. I'll give you stats from yesterday. WBC - 1.4 (boo), platelets - 21, hemoglobin - 8.3, CRP (crap) - 93.50
We had RN Cathy yesterday and today. Keep in mind the girls we have had the last two weeks ONLY work on POST transplant patients. His regular nurses are maintenance that he was seeing every week for years. After many conversations with Cathy and her telling us we sure looked familiar, we finally discovered she was a major part of Poppy's first transplant in 2008. She worked in the transplant center that was then called 7C in the old, old part of UAMS. We had a lot more memories to share about that year and she remembered them all.....
We waited about 45 minutes for labs today. It usually takes an hour. When she got his two antibiotics started she began looking at her computer. Her eyes were kinda bugged out. Then she says, "Oh My Lord!" Poppy's and my heart just fell. I'm thinking infection has gone up. This response last time from a nurse ended us up in ICU in July. I had a microburst! She kept standing there just glaring at the computer like she was in shock. Then she says.... "WBC - 6.3!"
I looked at her and felt like getting up to slap her. I told her she must have logged into the wrong patient. So I got up and went to the computer myself and looked at the patient account number and his name. Then I looked down at the stats myself ---- WBC 6.3 (yesterday 1.4), platelets 21 (yesterday 21), hemoglobin 8.1 (yesterday 8.3), crap 54.20 (yesterday 93.50). He is NOT neutrapenic!!!! But, he did get blood today. Which isn't bad.
I have to be honest, this was like hearing the word Remission... I had to sit down, my legs were so weak. I thought she was going to do the same. Poppy was already sitting....in the recliner getting the drips. After the shock passed through us, I looked over at him and tears were streaming down his face. Well, actually flooding down his cheeks. I went to him and realized I really couldn't hug him because I was afraid he might get sick again. Then, being me, I was afraid if I hugged him I would break down. Of course, we can't have that. Can't show my weaknesses.... So, I told him I'd go look for Kleenex. Wasn't that romantic of me?
Cathy had shared with us earlier that the alcohol chemo was very harsh... We knew that... Then she says that's why it's in a glass container... that's how massive it is. She also discussed that he is one tough man to take on all the chemo he has had the last month. I was pretty frank when I mentioned I didn't think any new patients could handle anything that tough. I haven't seen anyone but him get it in Infusion. She looked at me and said, "There's no way a new patient could handle it!"
The little nurse that gave him the alcohol chemo and two others two weeks ago came over to see him when she saw me with the Kleenex... She touched his leg and said, "Boy, those better be tears of joy!" He cried more. If you haven't been in this place, where he is right now, you just can't imagine how overwhelming it can be. We are blessed! God is good.... ALL the time.
As the day progressed, I spoke with Ms. Brown from Atlanta. The one that told me last week she was 'fighting a battle' and I explained my journey theory. Then, I spoke with a younger girl named Rhonda. Her story and journey is far more in depth than ours. I told her we were in Day 10.. I asked her what was her day. She told me she was in Day 88.
Rhonda had a stem cell transplant 88 days ago. She had to have a donor. After her transplant she has to do labs EVERY day for 100 days! Here we are being impatient about two weeks....with another week to go.... Shame on us!!!
She and her husband were talking about the dinner they had last evening. Baked roaster!!!! Not a hen...... He fixed it like a turkey, but the first 20 minutes it was with the breast down. He explained the roaster have their privates taken out at a young age and then boasted up on enhancers to make them plump. Our nurse, Cathy yelled out this question,
''DO ROASTERS HAVE NUTS?"
It's been a good weekend and a great Day 10+
Good Night and Love -- Pepper
|
No comments:
Post a Comment