From Fever Free to Fire!

Just when you think you have nothing truly exciting to blog about, something exciting occurs.  I experienced my first 24 hours without a fever in 10 days today and have made some progress in getting my other vascular system issues under control. 

My week of chemotherapy was not too bad in comparison to the week that followed -- basically a week of constant, daily fevers, shakes, GI bleeds, diarrhea, etc.  I started to get some control of things last Saturday, and last night was my first one fever free. The GI bleed also seems to be under control.  Now, I am swollen like a 9 month pregnant female!  Amazing one's belly can still swell up!  I need to really keep my legs up above my heart to limit swelling.  I must say though that through all of this my care from both doctors and nurses has been outstanding. 

Stephen and the boys clipped all my hair off last Saturday.  I had felt like a cat with fur balls for several days as my hair was falling out.  Saul delighted in giving me a Mohawk and then taking it off section by section slowly - it was great "family fun!"  I now wear a beautiful Patagonia pink cap that Lynn picked out for me at Champaign Surplus.  I also just received in the mail a hand knitted cap from a friend in Germany who is a breast cancer survivor. 

Stephen has been back and forth, really doing so, so much. Alana comes each day and we usually have time to snuggle in my bed and watch an episode of "Fawlty Towers," a John Cleese production from the 70's which is wildly hysterical and always makes us giggle.

Anyway, last night Stephen wanted to see if my TV got ESPN, for he wanted us to watch the Women’s World Cup soccer match between USA and France today.  The TV had not been turned on since my arrival.  When he turned the TV on, something popped and a great cloud of smoke was released!  The TV then sparked and flames came out the back!  The room quickly filled with electrical smoke.  Stephen called the front desk, yelling out “Fire!”  The staff ran down, evacuated me and my IV pole from the room and then a parade of other people began.  A very tall gentleman and former firefighter from the front desk came down, unplugged the TV and checked the wall behind it for burns.  Maintenance came, security came, and the clinical maintenance man who says he takes care of all electrical components arrived to verify the situation.  In the meantime, Stephen, a nurse, and two techs emptied the room and moved me down the hall to a new room –7913!  So, my telephone number has now also changed.

A lot more exciting things happened this week:  (1) a visit from my cousin Wendy and her husband Matt; (2) a visit from our colleagues Mary Ann and Brenda, who were here in St. Louis at a Botany conference; (3) a visit from Jenny and her friend Beau; (4) a gift of a beautiful handmade quilt from Stephen’s Aunt Doreen who lives in Arundel, Quebec; and (5) Saul’s participation in a Wash U soccer camp, where he was asked to join the All Star team and even scored a goal!  At home, the boys and grandma continuously enjoy the various foods and groceries brought to them by members of our ever generous community and we want to thank all of you for helping us during this time.