Another Day at the HUP
Dear Fods:
This will be another short factual post about Debbie's day. She was scheduled for a CAT scan at 8:00 AM and they brought her contrast in by about 6:00. She called the house before we left for work this morning and had been drinking the contrast by that time. She was gone from her room for about 2 hours for the CAT scan. The results showed an enlarged liver, fluid in the lower lobes of both lungs, fluid around the heart, as well as the abdominal fluids, etc. None of this is good.
Deb's kidney function indicators (BUN and creatin) are on the rise and that is not good either. She was short of breath again today and is on O2 constantly. The cardiologists visited with Deb and said that they did not think that the fluid around the heart would become a problem. The shortness of breath is being associated with her fluid build up both in her body and in her lungs. She remains very weak and tired. Except for some minutes, she has been asleep while I was there all week.
The good news is that Debbie's wbc rose to .6. That is a good thing. There was no movement in the ANC @ 240. But the ANC @ 240 is much better than one @ 0. The doctors are still hopeful that this will blossom and that Debbie will recover -- but we are beginning to run out of time.
Debbie is very sick right now and she is at a critical crossroad. If we were to have a infection that the ANC @ 240 could not handle, we will be in serious trouble. Her major organs have been impacted by this course of treatment and we need some more good news in short order. Alternatively, if we begin to see Debbie's system take off, she could be in much better shape in a week or so.
Understandably, Debbie is exhausted and struggles to get some rest. There is a constant stream of people in and out of the room checking, delivering, reporting, hanging meds, taking blood sugars, blood pressures, temperatures, etc. I am thinking of installing our own padlock from 10:00 - 2:00 every AM and PM to give her a chance to rest. Wouldn't you think that they could get their stuff done in the other 16 hours??
The subject of visitors has come up many times this week and we discussed this with Debbie tonight. Mary Ellen and I asked Debbie if she would be more comfortable seeing visitors now or if the idea of receiving visitors would make her feel obligated to force herself to stay awake to "visit" with the friends nice enough to come all the way to HUP for a visit. She answered the latter. Anyone who has been there has seen Debbie try to force herself to stay awake when someone is talking to her, particularly a friend. While she would love to be with all of you, Debbie needs to rest now. So please, unless cleared by Jester -- we need to hold off on all visitations until Debbie gets stronger.
Debbie sents her love to all.
posted by Joe @ 8:08 PM
12 Comments:
DEBBIE AND JOE-OCEAN CITY AND HADDONFIELD ARE PRAYING FOR THE RISING TO CONTINUE AND FLUIDS TO GO DROP (NOT NECESSARILY FROM THE RECTUM)
TONY & JILL MASCENA
Dear Joe. I am sorry things are the way they are, but my prayers are still coming and I know things will change for the better -- I feel it. I wish I were close enough to you to stand in the doorway of Deb's room and to see her and all of you. Please give her a kiss and hug for me. Joe, are awesome and have such a wonderful family I love you all. Cheryl (Crone)
Talk about " The Good, The Bad , and The Ugly"..wooo Deb, you've got alot going on.. but im focusing on the wbc starting to get strength.. I feel it's there but having a hell of a time breaking through all these other obstacles in it's way!
If i were there i would want to keep all visitors away until the wbc is up higher..why chance someone accidentally bringing in germs along the way? Hope i don't get anyone mad with that comment,but Deb, you need your rest.. your body is in a fight larger than a Tyson vs Holmes fight!( was there such a thing?)
Keep up your hopes Deb.. We all are! Joe,, you have been amazing to keep posting with facts and humor for all of us.. thank you..mdf
Hey Deb...
Gosh I wish we lived closer. Please hang in there. This has to change for the better soon.
Dave, Mere and I read the blog together and all agreed we weren't sure you could take much more but...then again what are we thinking...it is Debbie we are talking about.
I wish there was more that we all could do for you and the family.
I hope the next few days start to bring you some relief.
Love you to pieces. COD Eileen
PS Jessie...loved the candles!
Chizzie and Joe-
Hi honeys.
Thank you for continuing to update us Joe - please give our girl the message that our prayers continue from this end and that we know she is fighting the good fight on her end.
Debbie, my sweet friend, you continue to amaze, inspire and impress us with your strength during this difficult time. Know we are all with you in spirit and sending our love.
K
P.S. where do we cast our vote for the padlock solution?
Deb:
Prayers and love come your way, every day. Just keep resting, seems to be the best way to get you better. But know that we would all be by your side in a minute's notice if you needed us.
Joe, thanks for taking such good care of our girl. Love to you both.
Cathy
Debbie,
Wyatt wanted to let you know that
he and his fourth grade class pray
for you in their daily prayers. He
asks me about you each and every day. We continue to send our love and prayers your way.Mom,Dad and Chuck send you their thoughts and prayers.
Love to you,
Donna from Ocean City
Debbie ,you CAN get through this... you WILL get through this...you are basically very strong and CAN overcome everything they throw at you...rest my dear one ..leave yourself in God's hands for now..He will carry you through this ordeal...you have a country full of people that are all pulling for you ..all of this positive energy will get you better and get you HOME....envision yourself in your beloved spot on Tennis Way,let that vision wash over you and soothe you and heal you ....it CAN AND WILL do this ...your visions..your will, are very powerful medicines...I know it's very hard when you are drugged and in such pain...I totally get this ...KEEP YOUR FAITH ,KEEP YOUR VISION OF GOD AND YOUR LOVELY HOME....YOU WILL BE BACK THERE HEALTHY AND SOUND!!! MUCH LOVE ALWAYS :)Bev
Debbie & Joe,
We are thankful for your faithfulness in posting blogs daily in spite of a hectic schedule. A positive element of your blog is the statement that Deb's wbc count is now up to 0.6. That's a telling gain in spite of Deb's myriad other pains, fluid retention, etc. Let's continue to hope for the best, as so beautifully seen in Jessie's 4 candle imagery blog. We're hoping that the ANC count is adequate to ward off any serious infections. We continue to view the daily blog with positive anticipation as opposed to the many potential negative factors such as major organ damage, etc. "One day at a time" is still the order of the day. You are always in our thoughts & prayers, Love, Mom & Dad.
Debbie:
God bless you with continued strength in all of this.
This is a marathon longer & harder than anyone had to run. You are truly a remarkable "ironwoman." Few families tested are able to endure all this with the devotion shown by the Teklit Family.
Remember there are hundreds of us who support you & wish there is more for us to do.
Rest, my sweet friend, rest. We await any news; but mostly a call for help for anything. Love to all, Lee-Lee
oh boy--- I cannot believe that you are still going through this!!! I pray pray pray that soon this will be clearing and a new journey will begin!! you deserve to get what you wish- and that is to be home!! I am sure this is what everyone is wishing !!!! Hopefully we will be recieving some better news today--- keep the counts coming!!!
Love Always,
allison
Please Note: I enjoy humor and I firmly believe a good laugh now and then is good medicine. If this seems inappropriate please say so and I'll post no more jokes. I am a good friend of Debbie's and my wife and pray hard for her daily. That said:
A lady goes to the bar on a cruise ship and orders a Scotch with two drops of water. As the bartender gives her the drink she says,
"I'm on this cruise to celebrate my 80th birthday and it's today.."
The bartender says, "Well, since it's your birthday, I'll buy you a drink. In fact, this one is on me."
As the woman finishes her drink, the woman to her right says, "I would like to buy you a drink, too."
The old woman says, "Thank you. Bartender, I want a Scotch with two drops of water."
"Coming up," says the bartender.
As she finishes that drink, the man to her left says, "I would like to buy you one, too."
The old woman says, "Thank you. Bartender, I want another Scotch with two drops of water."
"Coming right up," the bartender says.
As he gives her the drink, he says, "Ma'am, I'm dying of curiosity. Why the Scotch with only two drops of water?"
The old woman replies,
"Sonny, when you're my age, you've learned how to hold your liquor. Holding your water, however, is a whole other issue."
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