HUP-timation

Dear Fods,

Debbie had her 9:45 AM appointment with Dr. Chiu this morning at the Radnor Penn Campus. Our first time there was an easy drive on a beautiful spring day. We both commented on how nice it was there walking throught the parking lot. That was the best of it.

The packing came out fairly easily -- from a bystanders viewpoint -- and then Debbie started to bleed. Dr. Chiou was concerned that her platelets were too low and that she was not clotting properly. The more he suctioned the more she bled. We waited and went through a few boxes of tissues. Then Dr. Chiou put in some dissoluble packing to stop the bleeding. He was concerned that Debbie would not come around.

After 45 minutes, Dr. Chiu decided that we needed to go to Penn for platelets to help Debbie clot and stop bleeding. We called ahead to alert Dr. Porter's office and Maria took care of placing the orders with the Lab. While there was some minor debate about whether Debbie would travel by ambulance or our car, we left and headed for Penn in the car.

Guess what?? Penn's graduation is today! While we made decent time getting to South Street, it took thirty minutes to get up the off ramp, while Debbie is bleeding in the car.

We arrive at Penn and get to the Lab -- but orders have not been placed yet, and the lab has a new computer system today. Labs and Orders entered at 12:15, platelets arrive at 2:30! Still no Lab results. Take the platelets anyway and now need to see Chiu's partner Dr. Welch before we can go home. Platelets are done and we walk across at 3:00 PM.

While in the office with Welch, lab results come in -- WBC 6.8 and platelets 189K -- great counts. Deb did not need the platelets or the 4 hour wait with the Lab girls. (But you could not wait with a better crew!) Heather came to visit and got things moving as she always does. But was a precautionary waste of time.

In Welch's office, they go back into Debbie's nose and take everything out, the blood, the clots and the packing that Dr. Chiu put in and refill Debbie with the dissoluble packing. We then have to take a 10 minute walk around the place and walk up and down some stairs to make sure that Debbie doesn't blow a gasket on the ride home. The packing seems to hold up and we head home.

We make it through the Penn Graduation gauntlet and on the way home. We are cruising until past Mid-County -- and guess what? Major accident and the road is closed -- a turnpike mind you! It takes 1 hour to go what should take 10 minutes. The Chinese we ordered is with the collection agency by now -- but they did reheat it for us when we called and explained the problem.

Debbie seems to be doing much better now -- she had a hot bath and drained the hot water heater! Had some Chinese and is watching Dancing with the Stars.

Hell of a day.

Debbie sends her love to all.

Surgery's FINALLY Over!

Hi Everybody, thank you for all your prayers and well wishes. I had my sinus surgery yesterday, May 14th. Things went well - I checked in for surgery at 6am and was in the OR by 730. The procedure took over two and a half hours, and was a little more complicated than Dr. Chiu had anticipated. I received platelets during the procedure and am now back on antibiotics. My biggest fear was having my nose packed and fortunately my nose isn't packed, all of the packing is high up in my sinuses. I know it won't be pleasant when it's time to take it out, but I can breathe through my nose. The biggest surprise was I had expected to spend the night in the hospital but they let me go home early yesterday afternoon.

By the time I got home I had gotten chills and the rigors were back. My temp spiked to 104. Jessie (the typist) was up from DC and we all panicked that we needed to return right back to HUP. I was determined to get the fever down, which I did after a few hours. I was bleeding quite a bit yesterday from my nose and mouth, which Dr. Chiu said is normal, but I worried I was bleeding too much. The pain isn’t too bad and I’m much better today. If we can make it through the weekend and get the packing out on Monday with no infection, I’m home free. It has been great having Jessie here, she’s doting on me and I’m living like a princess.

So the plan is to heal up and begin chemotherapy again in another four to six weeks. I’m hoping to get some quality time at the beach with the kids and precious grandbabies. So I hope to heal quickly! I can’t thank you enough for all your prayers and support. I know your prayers are helping me get through all of this. So please keep the prayers coming. Love to all of you.

Debbie