February Update
Okay, just barely, since it's 2/27/07. Oh well, who likes people that are up to date on everything, right?
Well, I guess the biggest news to update is on Chris. He was admitted to Loyola University Hospital, Maywood, IL 12/10/06, and received his bone marrow transplant from his brother Ed on 12/18/06. Before receiving Ed's "stuff", Chris received 8 radiation treatments to zap his bone marrow (the Luekemia cells) away. Chris was handling the treatment well, until just before New Years, when he developed bad mouth sores, which made it extremely difficult to eat. He was given morphine before his meals so he could eat. His spirits weren't very good (whose would?), half of what he was eating he was throwing back up. It was very hard to visit him at that time. He had a roommate for about 1/2 of his hospital stay, James Clark, who wasn't exactly the ideal patient. Chris did what the nurses said to do, eat, bathe, exercise, whatever it took to get on on time. The nurses were gave very good care to him. He was released January 2, with a list of 15 medications. I took a week off, but was nervous being his caregiver.
I had to prepare the house for him to come home, have the air ducts cleaned, have the carpets cleaned, take the house plants to work, and farm Norman, Michelle's tortoise to Alex's house, her boyfriend that goes to Bradley in Peoria. I cleaned, put away the knick knacks that just collect dust that is bad for him, and brought him home.
Well, it is now day 70 of 100 days of isolation. Chris is doing well, seeing that he is only allowed to see the Dr Mondays and Thursdays. He can have visitors, but only if they are not sick or have not been around sick people, not many visit.
When Chris first came home he welded and did a little stained glass, but the Dr said he shouldn't be doing that, so he hasn't. Of course lately, he hasn't really felt like it. Chris had experienced "graft versus host" disease (GVH). This is his body fighting with Ed's bone marrow. Even tho Ed was a match, Chris' body still is trying to reject foreign matter. This has come in the form of a skin rash, but that only lasted a couple of days. Twice a week the Dr's office performs tests, blood, liver, kidney functions, and changes doses of medications accordingly.
Starting around Valentine's Day or so, he wasn't eating so well, every Dr visit he was losing weight. 2/22 Dr threatened Chris with a feeding tube if he didn't eat better. He started feeling better, and began to eat better. 2/26 visit he gained 2 pounds! How sad is it when you are thrilled to gain weight!
On other news, I am not in school this semester, didn't feel I should be away more than the 40 hours I try and work every week. (Some caregivers take leave of absence from their jobs).
Valerie & Michelle are both in college and doing very well.
It's great having Chris at home, and not having to go to the hospital every day. I sometimes forget about those weeks. I feel bad that he has to go thru all this, especially since we thought the Leukemia was gone from the Chemo 2 years ago. If there is ANY good from this, he has stopped smoking, even tho he says he still wants to light up every once in a while.
Guess that's all, we'll see if it's months before the next post.
Well, I guess the biggest news to update is on Chris. He was admitted to Loyola University Hospital, Maywood, IL 12/10/06, and received his bone marrow transplant from his brother Ed on 12/18/06. Before receiving Ed's "stuff", Chris received 8 radiation treatments to zap his bone marrow (the Luekemia cells) away. Chris was handling the treatment well, until just before New Years, when he developed bad mouth sores, which made it extremely difficult to eat. He was given morphine before his meals so he could eat. His spirits weren't very good (whose would?), half of what he was eating he was throwing back up. It was very hard to visit him at that time. He had a roommate for about 1/2 of his hospital stay, James Clark, who wasn't exactly the ideal patient. Chris did what the nurses said to do, eat, bathe, exercise, whatever it took to get on on time. The nurses were gave very good care to him. He was released January 2, with a list of 15 medications. I took a week off, but was nervous being his caregiver.
I had to prepare the house for him to come home, have the air ducts cleaned, have the carpets cleaned, take the house plants to work, and farm Norman, Michelle's tortoise to Alex's house, her boyfriend that goes to Bradley in Peoria. I cleaned, put away the knick knacks that just collect dust that is bad for him, and brought him home.
Well, it is now day 70 of 100 days of isolation. Chris is doing well, seeing that he is only allowed to see the Dr Mondays and Thursdays. He can have visitors, but only if they are not sick or have not been around sick people, not many visit.
When Chris first came home he welded and did a little stained glass, but the Dr said he shouldn't be doing that, so he hasn't. Of course lately, he hasn't really felt like it. Chris had experienced "graft versus host" disease (GVH). This is his body fighting with Ed's bone marrow. Even tho Ed was a match, Chris' body still is trying to reject foreign matter. This has come in the form of a skin rash, but that only lasted a couple of days. Twice a week the Dr's office performs tests, blood, liver, kidney functions, and changes doses of medications accordingly.
Starting around Valentine's Day or so, he wasn't eating so well, every Dr visit he was losing weight. 2/22 Dr threatened Chris with a feeding tube if he didn't eat better. He started feeling better, and began to eat better. 2/26 visit he gained 2 pounds! How sad is it when you are thrilled to gain weight!
On other news, I am not in school this semester, didn't feel I should be away more than the 40 hours I try and work every week. (Some caregivers take leave of absence from their jobs).
Valerie & Michelle are both in college and doing very well.
It's great having Chris at home, and not having to go to the hospital every day. I sometimes forget about those weeks. I feel bad that he has to go thru all this, especially since we thought the Leukemia was gone from the Chemo 2 years ago. If there is ANY good from this, he has stopped smoking, even tho he says he still wants to light up every once in a while.
Guess that's all, we'll see if it's months before the next post.
posted by Sara Sherman at 2:17 PM
3 Comments:
I read this today, and I can't remember whether it's the first time I've read it or not. (Obviously I knew everything that was in the post, because I'm on the Dad Wellness E-mail Listserv, but it's good to recap anyway.)
March update - what is he going to do when his 100 days are up? Go to Disneyland? :o)
Sara, I am devastated to read your article. I do have suggestion. Can you take your husband to see Dr. Issam Nemeh M.D. at 26061 Center Ridge Road, Suite C, Westlake OH. with phone 440-892-4300. He is a faith healer. Googler him to see about his miracles. Also he was on Dr. Oz show recently. He is amazing. Hope your husband will get full relief from him. He is really a godly man. God bless you. Love
Krishna
I am very devastated to read your article in tribune. Please see a eminent faith healer doctor by name Dr. Issam Nemeh, M.D. at 26031, Center Ridge Road, Suite C, Westlake, OH. 44145 with telephone number 440-892-2695. He is amazing. Google him. He was on Dr. Oz show. Good luck. God bless you. Love
Krishna
Post a Comment
<< Home