Busy Week

Each day since my last post we have patiently been waiting for my bone marrow to start producing neutrophils, which are critical to fighting germs of all kinds.  Back to that at the end of this post.  In the meantime, I have changed rooms two more times, getting a good view of three floors and four rooms since I have arrived here, all the floors are within the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.

Early last Friday (July 22) morning, I was with my nurse and fainted. What transpired immediately afterward was nothing short of amazing and not for the feint of heart.  A tag team of bustling nurses orchestrated ever so calmly by the Doctor on the floor mobilized into action to stabilize me and take cultures, etc. When the X-Ray machine appeared I was happy to see a familiar face who is an Illini basketball fan and I was able to utter: "Dee for three!" - he gave me the thumbs up and he knew I was OK.  Once stabilized, I moved floors to an ICU room. By the end of the day all tests, cultures, etc. were negative and Alana, Stephen and I enjoyed a lovely shabbat with the glow of the lights against the window.

My new room had a lazy boy that was wide enough for Stephen and I to fit in, and had a little couch. This was a great improvement over pulling two rather uncomfortable chairs together. The unexpected bonus was that my room faced the Greek Orthodox Church and on Saturday there was a wedding! This provided the three of us with hours of entertainment and anticipation of seeing the bride and groom emerge from the church into wedded bliss! OK, to be honest, Alana and I just wanted to see the bride in her gown and the attendants' outfits as well. At the very end of the day it was only Stephen who actually viewed the bride and groom!

I continued to improve so much on Sunday morning that by lunch time I was ready to venture my first food item outside of the hospital: Raconelli"s Calzone; it was so delicious! I have since learned, however, that starting small is a much better strategy than letting my chemo-makeover taste buds dictate how much I should consume.

Unfortunately, after lunch I spiked a fever and by Monday afternoon noticed a lump in the back of my left calf, after a few hours it became large and angry, and then all of a sudden one appeared on the back of my right calf, then the back of each thigh. I felt as though I was transforming into a New Superhero in the line-up of Marvel Comic Characters!  Of course, Tuesday morning brought the dermatology biopsy brigade, a change in antibiotics/anti-fungals and a new room on a new floor. Each day my bumps have improved, unfortunately, I have not noticed any lingering Superhero Character traits as of yet!

Pending results from a bone marrow yesterday will let us know where we stand as far as whether a second Induction Chemotherapy will be needed or not. It was a busy week, looking forward to the adventures next week will bring!