Peaceful Day

Dear Fods,

Debbie had a more peaceful day today, thanks to the pain drugs. She has her own pump and has been sleeping most of the day, either in her bed or in her recliner. Because of the fluids, she has been on oxygen for the past 2 days and the slightest exertion has her hyperventilating. She has also been fever free this afternoon which is the first time in a long time. Still no food today and they will start the TPN tonight. Hopefully, the nourishment will help her to turn the corner.

I know everyone would like to visit or call, but Debbie cannot carry a conversation and she needs to sleep. She really is having trouble breathing and the talking only exasperates the problem. Mike and I did discuss some extra visitor coverage with Debbie but she said that she is just not up for it. She is still very uncomfortable with all of the extra water weight, although they did stop the saline today. Hopefully, she can start going on her own and she get some of that extra weight off. She has literally gone from her XL jammies to 3X jammies since Sunday. Actually, the jammnies are too much for her to wrestle with and she is in the hospital gowns.

I met the attending today and he seemed like a nice, caring man. Unfortunately, he was not too encouraging. He said that Debbie's WBC is 19 -- not a good sign and he sees 40 % leukemia in her blood. He was suggesting that the leukemia may have taken over, although we would want a more conclusive test before resigning ourselves to that conclusion and she needs a few days of nourishment. He also said that Debbie's liver enzymes are off the charts, which is to be expected with this chemo. There is now a concern that the TPN could further exasperate the liver problem. They will be monitoring Debbie's liver enzymes and sugar level on a daily basis and react accordingly.

From a purely layman's perspective, I am sceptical of the counts because they are measuring a person who has been starved for the last 9 days. She has not eaten anything since last Sunday and that was some (very little) chicken and rice soup. That has to have an impact on "counts". Also, I have been reflecting that chemo has always hit Debbie harder than a normal person. She goes down further and stays down longer than their medians will allow for. I am hoping that with some nourishment and careful antibiotic management, Debbie will start climbing out of the pit she is in now.

Thanks for all of your blogs and cards. We read them to her every day -- even though she sleeps through most of them. She can read them again when she gets home and it will all be new again.

Debbie sends her love to all.