When we had our Snoodle (a dog that is part Schnauzer; part Poodle) named Riley a mobile groomer came periodically to our home. I would put Riley on a leash and the groomer would take him to her self-contained vehicle set up to wash and cut his hair.
When the groomer was finished with Riley she would return him to me smelling fresh and clean. He always had a new, colorful boy-dog bandanna tied around his neck. Girl-dogs got ribbons in their hair.
I'd pay the groomer-lady on our door step. Riley avoided having to stay in a wire cage for the long wait until his turn at a pet grooming shop or until his owner came to pick him up. I didn't have to take him, leave him, and drive back to get him. It was a win-win situation for all three of us.
Because Doug has been bed-ridden for some time he hasn't been able to go to his groomer. Usually he has his hair cut every few weeks to get his hair so it lays just so. In the hospital there was no mobile groomer. No one offered to wash or trim his hair. Besides have you ever had your hair washed in bed?
So today he not only showered and washed his hair. Kevin and I played "barber". The fact that he let us shows he is getting better but still is not well!!
I started first very cautiously. Kevin came in to inspect and took over. After all he has had more experience with men's hair than I have. My role was to work the vacuum cleaner, something I do have experience with. It was a team effort.
Having hair on his head needing to be cut while under going cancer treatment is not something Doug or his family has taken for granted. It was a real pleasure for us to see hair fall on the floor while some remained on his head.
He, however, refused the boy-bandanna for his neck!
~Carole
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
He's Home
Have you ever slept in someone else's bed for 10 days and nights? If so you know how happy Doug was to sleep in his own bed in his own room with no one coming in to wake him up to ask how he feels and to take his "vital" signs to see if he is still alive. Who thought that idea up anyway?
Kevin and I went to the hospital around 8 p.m. to gather up Doug and his personal belongings and to wait until the discharge nurse put together all the paper work. The time between when one knows one is going to be able to go home and when one is actually discharged gives another meaning to the word patient. Doug knew yesterday morning that he was going to be able to go home that day. He was escorted to our car by the hospital staff at 8:45 last night.
Kevin took his dad home to settle in and I went to the pharmacy to get the 2 new prescriptions filled.
All Friday, in preparation for Doug's arrival, I had scrubbed, dusted, vacuumed rugs, bleached sinks, wiped down door knobs with Clorox wipes, disinfected counters, and felt a lot like Bridgette!! By 11:00 p.m. I had distributed his new medications and tucked him in for a night of uninterrupted sleep.
This morning the phone rang. It was a nurse from the home health agency that has been assigned to help. It was a male voice who indicated that he had been asked to come to visit us today to admit Doug into the program and do the initial evaluation. I was thrilled it was a male nurse. There is just something about man-to-man communication that I cannot provide!!!
He arrived in the afternoon as planned, paper work and computer in hand. Would you believe he is both an R.N. and a D.C. as in Registered Nurse and Doctor of Chiropractic medicine? Talk about blessings. He sees patients in his office as a D.C. week days and works part-time for the home health agency as an R.N. He was on-call this weekend and told us he will be Doug's case manager.
He ordered a physical therapy consult from their agency as well which will help Doug get back on his feet. It was music to my ears to hear one of the goals of home health is to provide services in our home that will prevent Doug from having to return to the emergency room or to sleep in someone else's bed at a hospital anytime soon.
~Carole
PS The Christmas tree is now a New Year tree. It sits on the window seat in our bedroom to remind Doug of the reason he needs to do what his Oncologist/Hematologist, his R.N./D.C., P.T.--and wife (Mrs./M.A.)-- tells him to keep him from having to return to the hospital in 2008!!!
Kevin and I went to the hospital around 8 p.m. to gather up Doug and his personal belongings and to wait until the discharge nurse put together all the paper work. The time between when one knows one is going to be able to go home and when one is actually discharged gives another meaning to the word patient. Doug knew yesterday morning that he was going to be able to go home that day. He was escorted to our car by the hospital staff at 8:45 last night.
Kevin took his dad home to settle in and I went to the pharmacy to get the 2 new prescriptions filled.
All Friday, in preparation for Doug's arrival, I had scrubbed, dusted, vacuumed rugs, bleached sinks, wiped down door knobs with Clorox wipes, disinfected counters, and felt a lot like Bridgette!! By 11:00 p.m. I had distributed his new medications and tucked him in for a night of uninterrupted sleep.
This morning the phone rang. It was a nurse from the home health agency that has been assigned to help. It was a male voice who indicated that he had been asked to come to visit us today to admit Doug into the program and do the initial evaluation. I was thrilled it was a male nurse. There is just something about man-to-man communication that I cannot provide!!!
He arrived in the afternoon as planned, paper work and computer in hand. Would you believe he is both an R.N. and a D.C. as in Registered Nurse and Doctor of Chiropractic medicine? Talk about blessings. He sees patients in his office as a D.C. week days and works part-time for the home health agency as an R.N. He was on-call this weekend and told us he will be Doug's case manager.
He ordered a physical therapy consult from their agency as well which will help Doug get back on his feet. It was music to my ears to hear one of the goals of home health is to provide services in our home that will prevent Doug from having to return to the emergency room or to sleep in someone else's bed at a hospital anytime soon.
~Carole
PS The Christmas tree is now a New Year tree. It sits on the window seat in our bedroom to remind Doug of the reason he needs to do what his Oncologist/Hematologist, his R.N./D.C., P.T.--and wife (Mrs./M.A.)-- tells him to keep him from having to return to the hospital in 2008!!!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
O Christmas Tree
December 25 at the hospital.
We’ve had a lot of sympathy (and some empathy) for Doug having to be in the hospital at Christmas time. If you think about it there are worse places that he could have been: in a homeless shelter, in a country at war, in prison, or maybe even in a home where love has been lost.
Yes, Doug was disappointed that he wasn’t well enough to go home. He had plans for what we’d do while the kids were here. Yes, the kids and I were disappointed too but we did our best to make lemonade out of a lemon. Love was not lost!
Some of our friends felt that if Doug had to be in the hospital during Christmas that he must have a Christmas tree in his room. As I understand it the Christmas tree as part of the season’s celebration was brought over to America by German immigrants. Table top Christmas trees were the first ones Americans used.
The fun began when we realized that the tree could be decorated with all manner of medical items being used in Doug’s treatment. Add to that the fact that the trays from dietary added some charm as well. Some of the gifts below the tree ENSURE he'll be coming home soon. You’d really have to view it up close and personal to get the full benefit!
The night before, Christmas Eve, the kids had made up some holiday gift bags. We gave them to anyone who came into care for Doug Christmas day. We also visited the man who Kevin had noted didn’t have many, if any, visitors. He broke into a smile and said, “You have really lifted my spirits.”
We called the family members who were not able to be with us. Many of our extended family called us. After Christmas dinner Doug and I were given another gift of love that is indescribable. In an act of unselfishness on both of their parts, Laura returned to New York alone because she had to work the day after Christmas. Our son Kevin is staying by to help me with Doug until we are both stabilized again.
We’ve had a lot of sympathy (and some empathy) for Doug having to be in the hospital at Christmas time. If you think about it there are worse places that he could have been: in a homeless shelter, in a country at war, in prison, or maybe even in a home where love has been lost.
Yes, Doug was disappointed that he wasn’t well enough to go home. He had plans for what we’d do while the kids were here. Yes, the kids and I were disappointed too but we did our best to make lemonade out of a lemon. Love was not lost!
Some of our friends felt that if Doug had to be in the hospital during Christmas that he must have a Christmas tree in his room. As I understand it the Christmas tree as part of the season’s celebration was brought over to America by German immigrants. Table top Christmas trees were the first ones Americans used.
The fun began when we realized that the tree could be decorated with all manner of medical items being used in Doug’s treatment. Add to that the fact that the trays from dietary added some charm as well. Some of the gifts below the tree ENSURE he'll be coming home soon. You’d really have to view it up close and personal to get the full benefit!
The night before, Christmas Eve, the kids had made up some holiday gift bags. We gave them to anyone who came into care for Doug Christmas day. We also visited the man who Kevin had noted didn’t have many, if any, visitors. He broke into a smile and said, “You have really lifted my spirits.”
We called the family members who were not able to be with us. Many of our extended family called us. After Christmas dinner Doug and I were given another gift of love that is indescribable. In an act of unselfishness on both of their parts, Laura returned to New York alone because she had to work the day after Christmas. Our son Kevin is staying by to help me with Doug until we are both stabilized again.
Kevin is able to continue working in Texas as his craft is done over the Internet. He is a web programmer/designer working on client contracts while the writers strike for film and television remains halting most all production including his work as a cinematographer.
Doug took steps with the physical therapist yesterday (December 26). It is our first sign that his X-rays (for pneumonia) are getting better and better. I better go vacuum the red carpet.
~Carole
Doug took steps with the physical therapist yesterday (December 26). It is our first sign that his X-rays (for pneumonia) are getting better and better. I better go vacuum the red carpet.
~Carole
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas Morning
December 25
Its Christmas morning and I haven’t called or gone to see Doug yet. I have to tell you that I’m very glad no one has called me from the hospital either. That means I have much to be thankful for this Christmas morning. My husband and best friend of 39 years is alive.
If you happen to have a significant other and are so busy ‘doing’ life you don't have time 'being’ together you don’t want to wait until one of you is in a hospital to realize their importance to you. Tell them every day that you love them. More than that make them know they are your first prioity. As you consider 2008 ask yourself if your work (and the time you spend at it) is more or less important that the ones you love.
On Christmas Eve there were 27 patients-one of which was my husband-on the fourth floor who will be spending Christmas day in this hospital. Our son suggested that he noticed that one man in a room adjacent to his Dad’s room has not had visitors this week except the people on the television which he watches all day long. Our kids want to do something for him today. We’ll take a few things to Doug and the nurses, techs and housekeepers too. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Last year Kevin and Laura suggested that instead of purchasing gifts for them that their relatives give what they would spend on them to a charity of the relative's choice. They would do the same and not mail gifts to us. This year Kristi needed two new tires or funds to assist her in the gift of health at the health club. It has been satisfying for us to see our adult children grow in their sense of what is truly important to them.
I spent one Christmas in the hospital. I told Doug this Christmas it is his turn. We'd both rather have him be home. But the menu for patients and in the cafeteria (I think) looks like a full compliment of a Christmas dinner. I’m thrilled. I don’t have to cook!!!!
That’s another unexpected gift.
~Carole
Its Christmas morning and I haven’t called or gone to see Doug yet. I have to tell you that I’m very glad no one has called me from the hospital either. That means I have much to be thankful for this Christmas morning. My husband and best friend of 39 years is alive.
If you happen to have a significant other and are so busy ‘doing’ life you don't have time 'being’ together you don’t want to wait until one of you is in a hospital to realize their importance to you. Tell them every day that you love them. More than that make them know they are your first prioity. As you consider 2008 ask yourself if your work (and the time you spend at it) is more or less important that the ones you love.
On Christmas Eve there were 27 patients-one of which was my husband-on the fourth floor who will be spending Christmas day in this hospital. Our son suggested that he noticed that one man in a room adjacent to his Dad’s room has not had visitors this week except the people on the television which he watches all day long. Our kids want to do something for him today. We’ll take a few things to Doug and the nurses, techs and housekeepers too. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Last year Kevin and Laura suggested that instead of purchasing gifts for them that their relatives give what they would spend on them to a charity of the relative's choice. They would do the same and not mail gifts to us. This year Kristi needed two new tires or funds to assist her in the gift of health at the health club. It has been satisfying for us to see our adult children grow in their sense of what is truly important to them.
I spent one Christmas in the hospital. I told Doug this Christmas it is his turn. We'd both rather have him be home. But the menu for patients and in the cafeteria (I think) looks like a full compliment of a Christmas dinner. I’m thrilled. I don’t have to cook!!!!
That’s another unexpected gift.
~Carole
Personal Space
December 23
If you’ve ever been hospitalized or stayed to visit any length of time in a hospital, you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say having a small private room is preferable to one that is shared with another sick person. It’s hard enough to deal with the interruptions of your own medical staff and visitors. Not that sharing isn’t a good thing….
When one is sick having personal space aids in the healing process if only psychologically. This hospital opted for private rooms when it was built.
When Doug was transferred from ER to his room on the 4th floor he told the first nurse who knocked on his door, “Welcome to my closet”. Doug wasn’t complaining, he was making his own observation. He also had a high fever!
He asked me if the room had a bathroom. It did but it was behind him as he lay in bed. His bed faced away from the small window and filled the length of the room. The doors into both the bathroom behind him and into the hallway in front of him barely cleared so the doors could open. He felt his feet were sticking out in the hallway!
There was one very large chair in front of the window Doug couldn't see and one straight chair by a closet for his personal things. There was a small 3-drawer chest with the Gideon Bible and the phone on top located to one side of his bed and a bedside service area needed for personal care and for when the food tray was delivered.
We would learn later that the bed was brand new (and thus longer) and that this particular floor had just been remodeled with new paint on the walls, new flooring and a bathroom as nice as on any cruise ship we’ve been on. The room soon became our home away from home.
When the kids from New York arrived on Friday we couldn’t fit another chair into the room. I sat on the side of the bed; one of us stood, or in the case of the kids sat on one another’s lap. Someone up above fixed the space problem for us--unexpectedly.
On Saturday I went into the bathroom and there was water on the floor. I won’t tell you what my first thoughts were….but when I reached for a wash cloth to take to Doug, the cloth was already wet. The two wash cloths and two towels hanging over the towel bar were soaked with water. I looked on the wall above them and water was cascading behind the water-proof paint which was trying its hardest to hold the water back and not let it break through. This gave me a clue that I needed to alert someone right away.
You’ve never seen people move into action as fast as the staff did to remove Doug from that room. In matters of minutes he was in a wheel chair with IV pole and me following. He was wheeled down the hall and into the largest hospital room we have ever seen. It has three windows, one which Doug can look out of from his bed and I can look out from “my” recliner. Another adjacent window lets streams of sunshine in that as long as the shades are adjusted so the light doesn’t hit any of his IV bags the sunshine really lifts Doug’s spirits.
From Doug's bed, he can’t even see the door into the hallway. There is a jog in the wall that is almost like a sitting room one would have in a home. There are three movable chairs and one two-person couch. It is awesome!
And for the record, Bridgette doesn’t work on 5th floor yet!!!! It’s under remodel and no patients or medical staff is housed there during construction. We’ll never know who left the water running or what plumber didn't tighten something on the 5th floor tight enough. What we do know is that one family has more space in which to spend Christmas in the hospital Christmas Eve and Christmas day. We’ve logged another lesson about the way that God provides in unexpected ways.
~Carole
If you’ve ever been hospitalized or stayed to visit any length of time in a hospital, you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say having a small private room is preferable to one that is shared with another sick person. It’s hard enough to deal with the interruptions of your own medical staff and visitors. Not that sharing isn’t a good thing….
When one is sick having personal space aids in the healing process if only psychologically. This hospital opted for private rooms when it was built.
When Doug was transferred from ER to his room on the 4th floor he told the first nurse who knocked on his door, “Welcome to my closet”. Doug wasn’t complaining, he was making his own observation. He also had a high fever!
He asked me if the room had a bathroom. It did but it was behind him as he lay in bed. His bed faced away from the small window and filled the length of the room. The doors into both the bathroom behind him and into the hallway in front of him barely cleared so the doors could open. He felt his feet were sticking out in the hallway!
There was one very large chair in front of the window Doug couldn't see and one straight chair by a closet for his personal things. There was a small 3-drawer chest with the Gideon Bible and the phone on top located to one side of his bed and a bedside service area needed for personal care and for when the food tray was delivered.
We would learn later that the bed was brand new (and thus longer) and that this particular floor had just been remodeled with new paint on the walls, new flooring and a bathroom as nice as on any cruise ship we’ve been on. The room soon became our home away from home.
When the kids from New York arrived on Friday we couldn’t fit another chair into the room. I sat on the side of the bed; one of us stood, or in the case of the kids sat on one another’s lap. Someone up above fixed the space problem for us--unexpectedly.
On Saturday I went into the bathroom and there was water on the floor. I won’t tell you what my first thoughts were….but when I reached for a wash cloth to take to Doug, the cloth was already wet. The two wash cloths and two towels hanging over the towel bar were soaked with water. I looked on the wall above them and water was cascading behind the water-proof paint which was trying its hardest to hold the water back and not let it break through. This gave me a clue that I needed to alert someone right away.
You’ve never seen people move into action as fast as the staff did to remove Doug from that room. In matters of minutes he was in a wheel chair with IV pole and me following. He was wheeled down the hall and into the largest hospital room we have ever seen. It has three windows, one which Doug can look out of from his bed and I can look out from “my” recliner. Another adjacent window lets streams of sunshine in that as long as the shades are adjusted so the light doesn’t hit any of his IV bags the sunshine really lifts Doug’s spirits.
From Doug's bed, he can’t even see the door into the hallway. There is a jog in the wall that is almost like a sitting room one would have in a home. There are three movable chairs and one two-person couch. It is awesome!
And for the record, Bridgette doesn’t work on 5th floor yet!!!! It’s under remodel and no patients or medical staff is housed there during construction. We’ll never know who left the water running or what plumber didn't tighten something on the 5th floor tight enough. What we do know is that one family has more space in which to spend Christmas in the hospital Christmas Eve and Christmas day. We’ve logged another lesson about the way that God provides in unexpected ways.
~Carole
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Bridgette
(If you haven’t read “the procedure” read that first or this post will not make as much sense.)
Friday morning after they had taken Doug to x-ray for his procedure I was left alone in his room—or thought I was at the time. My reserves were down. The previous night at home alone was one of my most vulnerable times for discouragement. I’m not proud. I was tired. I had tears in my eyes after I kissed Doug good-bye.
Then she came in. Green scrubs, blue gloves, spray bottle and mop in hand. She excused herself and said she was there to tidy Doug’s room. She stopped, looked me straight in the eye and said, “Honey, you look worried. He’ll be fine. We don’t let any negative thoughts be up on this floor. He’ll be fine! We are all praying ‘fools’ up here”.
I learned her name was Bridgett. She grew up in Germany. I asked her about her faith and how she became a “praying fool”. She told me that in Germany you are either Catholic or Protestant and that she was Protestant but it wasn’t until she came to America that the Baptists really socked it into her. She told me she doesn’t really attend any church regularly because she has to work.
She said, “I don’t work two jobs because I’m pretty.” When she gets done at the hospital she works nights at Baptist Theological Seminary (in Fort Worth). Her house is a mess and she needs money to fix it up. She knows the Lord will provide if she if faithful to Him.
(Note: all this time she is cleaning!)
Bridgette: “Honey, I don’t know all the Scriptures but I know this one. When two are gathered in my name, I’m there with ‘um. Sooooooo I’m here. You’re there. That’s 2 aint it? So God is here. You just claim that because I have. I tell that to my patients all the time.
“I’ve worked here 14 years and 98 percents of my patients go home. Some even come back looking for me showing their numbers and that the cancer is all gone. Then we have a big group hug. Imagine. Me. I’m just a cleaning lady.”
Carole: “No Bridgett, you are not just a cleaning lady. The Lord knew I needed you at this very moment. You have ministered to me in a way He knew I needed you. You could have been cleaning someone else’s room down the hall.”
Bridgette: “Now when I start talking about God I can’t stop. But then I don’t get my work done so I better finish up. But don’t give your negative thoughts over to the devil. That ‘ol ‘dip stick’ is going to get his butt kicked real soon and he’s out to discourage anyone he can. I won’t let him at me. I don’t just ask him to please leave me alone. I don’t say get away from me. I COMMAND him to get the hell out of my presence—excuse my language but that is where he’s headed anyway. I’m just a housekeeper but I’m here to claim healing for all my patients. It sure isn’t the money. I pray for each one on this floor every night. Now I don’t remember all their names but I reason that He does (points to the ceiling) and that’s Who matters. Your man is a good man and God needs Him too. I’ve gotta go. Just call Bridgette if you need me. I’ll be around here all day.”
Just a cleaning lady? Just a housekeeper? Not by God’s standard. Not by mine either!
~Carole
Friday morning after they had taken Doug to x-ray for his procedure I was left alone in his room—or thought I was at the time. My reserves were down. The previous night at home alone was one of my most vulnerable times for discouragement. I’m not proud. I was tired. I had tears in my eyes after I kissed Doug good-bye.
Then she came in. Green scrubs, blue gloves, spray bottle and mop in hand. She excused herself and said she was there to tidy Doug’s room. She stopped, looked me straight in the eye and said, “Honey, you look worried. He’ll be fine. We don’t let any negative thoughts be up on this floor. He’ll be fine! We are all praying ‘fools’ up here”.
I learned her name was Bridgett. She grew up in Germany. I asked her about her faith and how she became a “praying fool”. She told me that in Germany you are either Catholic or Protestant and that she was Protestant but it wasn’t until she came to America that the Baptists really socked it into her. She told me she doesn’t really attend any church regularly because she has to work.
She said, “I don’t work two jobs because I’m pretty.” When she gets done at the hospital she works nights at Baptist Theological Seminary (in Fort Worth). Her house is a mess and she needs money to fix it up. She knows the Lord will provide if she if faithful to Him.
(Note: all this time she is cleaning!)
Bridgette: “Honey, I don’t know all the Scriptures but I know this one. When two are gathered in my name, I’m there with ‘um. Sooooooo I’m here. You’re there. That’s 2 aint it? So God is here. You just claim that because I have. I tell that to my patients all the time.
“I’ve worked here 14 years and 98 percents of my patients go home. Some even come back looking for me showing their numbers and that the cancer is all gone. Then we have a big group hug. Imagine. Me. I’m just a cleaning lady.”
Carole: “No Bridgett, you are not just a cleaning lady. The Lord knew I needed you at this very moment. You have ministered to me in a way He knew I needed you. You could have been cleaning someone else’s room down the hall.”
Bridgette: “Now when I start talking about God I can’t stop. But then I don’t get my work done so I better finish up. But don’t give your negative thoughts over to the devil. That ‘ol ‘dip stick’ is going to get his butt kicked real soon and he’s out to discourage anyone he can. I won’t let him at me. I don’t just ask him to please leave me alone. I don’t say get away from me. I COMMAND him to get the hell out of my presence—excuse my language but that is where he’s headed anyway. I’m just a housekeeper but I’m here to claim healing for all my patients. It sure isn’t the money. I pray for each one on this floor every night. Now I don’t remember all their names but I reason that He does (points to the ceiling) and that’s Who matters. Your man is a good man and God needs Him too. I’ve gotta go. Just call Bridgette if you need me. I’ll be around here all day.”
Just a cleaning lady? Just a housekeeper? Not by God’s standard. Not by mine either!
~Carole
The "Procedure"
I’m late letting you know what Doug has been dealing with but being with Doug at the hospital takes me away from my computer. Here is an update from Friday, December 21:
I arrived at the hospital in time to have prayer and kiss Doug before his “procedure”. Doug was told late the night before (after I had already left for the eveninig) that because he was not responding to the antibiotics, they needed to pass a bronchoscope down into his lungs to take samples to culture.
The camera goes through the nose, down into the esophagus into the lungs. It is done by a lung specialist in X-ray. At least that is how I understood/understand it. Doug feels nothing as his passage ways are numbed and then he is put “under” like when you have a colonoscopy so that day you don’t remember it even happened. (To be frank some of this passes right over my head so you medical people please forgive.) But I have had a colonoscopy so that part is VERY clear to me!!! I was to wait in his room so the surgeon could speak to me after it was over.
It took about an hour from when the nurse took Doug from the room to when he came back. The procedure was to have taken only half of that time as I understood it from the nurse. I was told Doug wouldn't know what had happened most of Friday. I was to watch him to be sure he didn't try to get up alone, etc. etc.
We won’t know the final results of the cultures of the samples they took from his lungs until Monday, Christmas Eve. If the finding is, as they suspect now it will be nothing more serious than pneumonia it will be a wonderful Christmas present. (Pneumonia is serious enough.) Meanwhile they treat him with inhalation therapy and serious antibiotics through his IV. He has been fever-free for the last 48 hours so that is encouraging.
Saturday the pulmonary specialist who stopped on rounds in the afternoon told Doug the Saturday morning x-ray looked better than the original so some response is occurring. Preliminary report is that they found no tumor, no tuberculosis and the cultures will give them a more clear understanding.
I’ve asked if it is contagious and he said that if it were the lab would probably have called by now! It is more common with immune compromised cancer patients.
Doug is on oxygen. I think he’d want me to tell you to not take your lungs or ability to walk and breathe at the same time for granted. I have taken mine forgranted I'm confessing up until now watching my husband’s struggle.
The gifts under your Christmas tree are nothing by comparison to the gift of life. Give thanks right now for your two lungs and your ability to breathe without even thinking about it.
~Carole
I arrived at the hospital in time to have prayer and kiss Doug before his “procedure”. Doug was told late the night before (after I had already left for the eveninig) that because he was not responding to the antibiotics, they needed to pass a bronchoscope down into his lungs to take samples to culture.
The camera goes through the nose, down into the esophagus into the lungs. It is done by a lung specialist in X-ray. At least that is how I understood/understand it. Doug feels nothing as his passage ways are numbed and then he is put “under” like when you have a colonoscopy so that day you don’t remember it even happened. (To be frank some of this passes right over my head so you medical people please forgive.) But I have had a colonoscopy so that part is VERY clear to me!!! I was to wait in his room so the surgeon could speak to me after it was over.
It took about an hour from when the nurse took Doug from the room to when he came back. The procedure was to have taken only half of that time as I understood it from the nurse. I was told Doug wouldn't know what had happened most of Friday. I was to watch him to be sure he didn't try to get up alone, etc. etc.
We won’t know the final results of the cultures of the samples they took from his lungs until Monday, Christmas Eve. If the finding is, as they suspect now it will be nothing more serious than pneumonia it will be a wonderful Christmas present. (Pneumonia is serious enough.) Meanwhile they treat him with inhalation therapy and serious antibiotics through his IV. He has been fever-free for the last 48 hours so that is encouraging.
Saturday the pulmonary specialist who stopped on rounds in the afternoon told Doug the Saturday morning x-ray looked better than the original so some response is occurring. Preliminary report is that they found no tumor, no tuberculosis and the cultures will give them a more clear understanding.
I’ve asked if it is contagious and he said that if it were the lab would probably have called by now! It is more common with immune compromised cancer patients.
Doug is on oxygen. I think he’d want me to tell you to not take your lungs or ability to walk and breathe at the same time for granted. I have taken mine forgranted I'm confessing up until now watching my husband’s struggle.
The gifts under your Christmas tree are nothing by comparison to the gift of life. Give thanks right now for your two lungs and your ability to breathe without even thinking about it.
~Carole
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Pneumonia
We spent most of yesterday (Tuesday) in the emergency room. Doug had been having high fever, chills, and dizziness that the oncologist was treating as a viral infection with an oral antibiotic. Due to its non-effect on the symptoms after a long enough period of time, we were sent for a “work up” at the emergency room.
I read to him for 5-6 hours as the many tests were run. X-rays showed a type of pneumonia that medical personnel had not heard in Doug’s lungs or back, including the E.R. physician. When I asked the E.R. physician about why it can’t be “heard” as congestion he smiles and said, “That is the problem. Not everything in medicine goes by the textbook.” I thought about that as it parallels life. Not everything goes how we think or even plan it should go….
Doug was then admitted to the hospital for treatment they can only do in the hospital. Before I left him that night he was feeling so much better he said, “It feels like a switch was flipped to the on position!” That is what I admire about Doug. He is always thinking positive because my witness was that he was feeling about as bad as he has ever felt since contracting this disease.
We know that with cancer hospitals are equipped to care for these unexpected interruptions better than I am equipped to care for him at home!!! So while I hated to kiss him good night there, I know it is for the best and he’ll be returning soon. Knowing that Christmas is coming and most hospitals want to rid themselves of as many patients as possible, I don’t expect him to be there long. Our kids from New York will be here this weekend.
I am requesting no visitors at this time and appreciate your continued support and prayers.
~Carole
I read to him for 5-6 hours as the many tests were run. X-rays showed a type of pneumonia that medical personnel had not heard in Doug’s lungs or back, including the E.R. physician. When I asked the E.R. physician about why it can’t be “heard” as congestion he smiles and said, “That is the problem. Not everything in medicine goes by the textbook.” I thought about that as it parallels life. Not everything goes how we think or even plan it should go….
Doug was then admitted to the hospital for treatment they can only do in the hospital. Before I left him that night he was feeling so much better he said, “It feels like a switch was flipped to the on position!” That is what I admire about Doug. He is always thinking positive because my witness was that he was feeling about as bad as he has ever felt since contracting this disease.
We know that with cancer hospitals are equipped to care for these unexpected interruptions better than I am equipped to care for him at home!!! So while I hated to kiss him good night there, I know it is for the best and he’ll be returning soon. Knowing that Christmas is coming and most hospitals want to rid themselves of as many patients as possible, I don’t expect him to be there long. Our kids from New York will be here this weekend.
I am requesting no visitors at this time and appreciate your continued support and prayers.
~Carole
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Unexpected
Yesterday, Monday, was Doug’s day to have his blood chemistry evaluated again by Dr. Mandell. One of the blessings we count is that Doug has very prominent veins from which to take blood especially now that he has lost weight. Facing a blood drawing is not a big deal for him.
It is amazing to us how the phlebotomist can draw the vials of blood from Doug and, thanks to computer and medical science, 15-20 minutes later a preliminary report is in Doug’s physician’s hands so he can advise us and make any adjustments in Doug’s treatment protocol.
In ways I don’t understand the blood chemistry is also sent from our Center at Huguley in Fort Worth to Dallas for additional evaluation. Within 24 hours a much fuller report is electronically sent back for Doug’s doctor and his records. I get a copy, too, and file all his lab reports in our notebook. We are just now learning how to read them to be able to see Doug’s progress!!
The news I want to share with you is that for the first time since probably even before July and his first hospitalization on Monday Doug’s white blood cells, his red blood cells and his hemoglobin are ALL in the normal range. This is huge for us! We want you who have told us you are praying for Doug to please give thanks to God for this important milestone.
After we left the Center we had prayer together in our car. To show you how excited Doug was, on our way home Doug asked his driver—me!—if she would stop at the grocery store. It was so fun to see him walking (albeit slowly) through pushing the cart through the aisles gathering a few things that just sounded tasty to him.
One thing Dr. Mandell wants to do to confront Doug’s weakness is to readjust some of the strength’s of the pain and primary medications. During the visit he had me delete 3 prescriptions from our routine. None were the pain or chemo drugs. But elimination any prescription drug is another huge thing for us! Let me tell you why.
Each doctor in the hospital prescribed what Doug needed to “slam” the myeloma. During his hospitalizations he had three physicians. Upon discharge we had 14 different prescriptions in bottles lined up on our dresser. My job is to distribute the medications to Doug as prescribed. That is why—thanks to a friend and former home health nurse—I have to chart and each time I give him a pill, I mark it on the chart. The BIG news is that as of yesterday we are down from those14 different bottles of pills to just 6 different medications bottles!!!!
Today, Tuesday, we did some of the readjusting that Dr. Mandell suggested to us yesterday. We haven’t had a good day. He told us to try something different tomorrow. Eventually we’ll hit on what a balance is for Doug.
Regardless of the slight set-back today, we are encouraged. We’ve been told by one who has gone before us to get use to the unexpected being the norm. We are not out of the woods but we may be out of the jungle.
I went to bed with a smile on my face last night. ~Carole
It is amazing to us how the phlebotomist can draw the vials of blood from Doug and, thanks to computer and medical science, 15-20 minutes later a preliminary report is in Doug’s physician’s hands so he can advise us and make any adjustments in Doug’s treatment protocol.
In ways I don’t understand the blood chemistry is also sent from our Center at Huguley in Fort Worth to Dallas for additional evaluation. Within 24 hours a much fuller report is electronically sent back for Doug’s doctor and his records. I get a copy, too, and file all his lab reports in our notebook. We are just now learning how to read them to be able to see Doug’s progress!!
The news I want to share with you is that for the first time since probably even before July and his first hospitalization on Monday Doug’s white blood cells, his red blood cells and his hemoglobin are ALL in the normal range. This is huge for us! We want you who have told us you are praying for Doug to please give thanks to God for this important milestone.
After we left the Center we had prayer together in our car. To show you how excited Doug was, on our way home Doug asked his driver—me!—if she would stop at the grocery store. It was so fun to see him walking (albeit slowly) through pushing the cart through the aisles gathering a few things that just sounded tasty to him.
One thing Dr. Mandell wants to do to confront Doug’s weakness is to readjust some of the strength’s of the pain and primary medications. During the visit he had me delete 3 prescriptions from our routine. None were the pain or chemo drugs. But elimination any prescription drug is another huge thing for us! Let me tell you why.
Each doctor in the hospital prescribed what Doug needed to “slam” the myeloma. During his hospitalizations he had three physicians. Upon discharge we had 14 different prescriptions in bottles lined up on our dresser. My job is to distribute the medications to Doug as prescribed. That is why—thanks to a friend and former home health nurse—I have to chart and each time I give him a pill, I mark it on the chart. The BIG news is that as of yesterday we are down from those14 different bottles of pills to just 6 different medications bottles!!!!
Today, Tuesday, we did some of the readjusting that Dr. Mandell suggested to us yesterday. We haven’t had a good day. He told us to try something different tomorrow. Eventually we’ll hit on what a balance is for Doug.
Regardless of the slight set-back today, we are encouraged. We’ve been told by one who has gone before us to get use to the unexpected being the norm. We are not out of the woods but we may be out of the jungle.
I went to bed with a smile on my face last night. ~Carole
The Gift of Song
Music means so much to Doug and me. I’ve had the privilege of singing with the Healing Heart choir under the direction of David Anavatarte, the Chair of the Music Department at Southwestern Adventist University. Healing Heart’s Sponsor is Huguley Hospital, the Adventist hospital here in Burleson, Texas. Dr. John Boyd, one of the other talented music faculty at Southwestern plays keyboard with us in concert and Mystro Anavatarte leads from the grand piano.
Since October I haven’t been able to attend choir practice. On my personal calendar of the choir’s schedule for the year, I remembered that they were going to be singing at the Burleson church last Saturday 10 minutes from our home. Usually Doug and I listen to the Keene church service which is aired over the radio.
Friday night I told Doug that if we got everything done for him that was needed I would like to go for the hour to hear Healing Heart sing. (Think sing with them from my pew!) He encouraged it and I did wake up earlier than usual. I was blessed by the choir’s music during the service and Pastor Larry’s homily.
The choir members left after church to have lunch at the hospital as well as to sing Christmas carols in the halls of the hospital. I returned home to fix our lunch which friends had sent over special for us. What I didn’t know was that the choir would end up outside our home to sing Christmas carols as a surprise for Doug and Carole!
Thanks Healing Heart for playing a role in healing our hearts….
~Carole
Since October I haven’t been able to attend choir practice. On my personal calendar of the choir’s schedule for the year, I remembered that they were going to be singing at the Burleson church last Saturday 10 minutes from our home. Usually Doug and I listen to the Keene church service which is aired over the radio.
Friday night I told Doug that if we got everything done for him that was needed I would like to go for the hour to hear Healing Heart sing. (Think sing with them from my pew!) He encouraged it and I did wake up earlier than usual. I was blessed by the choir’s music during the service and Pastor Larry’s homily.
The choir members left after church to have lunch at the hospital as well as to sing Christmas carols in the halls of the hospital. I returned home to fix our lunch which friends had sent over special for us. What I didn’t know was that the choir would end up outside our home to sing Christmas carols as a surprise for Doug and Carole!
Thanks Healing Heart for playing a role in healing our hearts….
~Carole
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Kilchers Konnecting
Doug and I want to use this blog to thank all of you for the outpouring of love we have received since his illness has been made public. Your cards, telephone messages, gifts of hope and peace, food, plants, balloons, music, e-mails and prayers play a role in Doug’s healing process.
A friend once painted a word picture that has stayed with me. She called to ask me if I’d be part of a prayer quilt for a particular individual. Now it is our turn to feel a quilt of your prayers wrapped around us. Each square in the quilt has your name—or in some cases, the name of your church or your Bible Study group—on it. We wish it were possible to thank you all personally. Through this blog we hope to keep you updated and let you know how much we appreciate you and what God is doing for us.
The "C" Word Hits Home
As most of you know Doug has been diagnosed and is being treated for multiple myeloma, a cancer that involves the body’s blood-forming systems. Cancerous plasma cells (myeloma cells) build up in the bone marrow and in his case also impede the blood producing/filtering of his renal system. We have learned that the multiplication or overgrowth of malignant cells in the bone marrow can weaken the bones, especially in the back and ribs, and cause pain and bone fractures. We praise the Lord that he has no bone fractures. His presenting problem has been excruciating, immobilizing pain, weakness and total lack of energy.
To be honest with you we had never heard of this type of cancer before his diagnosis. With every week that has passed since his diagnosis was confirmed on October 18, we continue to learn more about the disease and hear from more people who have the disease willing to share their story with us.
History—His Story
This summer Doug had not been feeling well. He had talked with me about the pain he was having in his ribs and back but he thought he had pulled a muscle and that with time it would heal and go away. He has an amazing ability to push himself so carried on his work as if nothing was wrong—until he got home at night and then collapsed into bed with no energy to spare.
Early in July he was in charge of overseeing the details of the training weekend for the new Executive Committee of the Texas Conference. Eventually he could no longer hide that something was seriously wrong. He was absent from meetings he was to be hosting!
His leadership team advised him to go to the emergency room (ER) near our home rather than to the local hospital in the town where the retreat was being held just in case he would need to be admitted. We were driven home late that night by our Ministerial Secretary. The next day Doug was hospitalized with what was thought to be renal failure due to dehydration. After being re-hydrated intravenously he was sent home with instruction to drink lots of fluids.
He returned to his normal, busy schedule. By October signs of his pain were increasing. He still pushed himself and kept a smile on his face but I knew something was drastically wrong. He was loosing weight and muscle. I felt I was loosing him.
I went to his office and told him and his boss I was taking him home—to the ER at Harris Methodist Medical Center in Fort Worth. Within just a few hours the ER doctors gave a preliminary diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma.
Earlier that same day 29 pages of lab reports of Doug’s history were obtained from Doug’s primary physician and faxed to Dr. Neal Nedley, an Internist in Oklahoma. While Doug was still in the ER, and without having any contacts with the doctors at Harris hospital’s ER, Dr. Nedley told Doug that if Doug was his patient he’d want to rule out multiple myeloma or some form of lukemia. The myeloma would explain his renal failure.
Doug was admitted for further testing. On October 18, my mother's 92nd birthday, it was confirmed that Doug had multiple myeloma in an advanced stage. We began the treatment to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.
On November 7 Doug returned to Harris Hospital for a 7 day stay for pain management. He was unable to get out of bed at home on his own due to excruciating pain. As of last week we are grateful to the Master Physician and medical science as his pain is now under control.
Treatment Protocol
The treatment protocol for Doug is what people in the medical field who know about this type of cancer call “state of the art”. It involves heavy does of Dexamethasone, a steroid that works in combination with the drug Thalidomide. Both are taken orally. Doug has only had one series of 4 IV chemo injections of two other drugs and, at least for now, will not need an IV port. His hair has thinned but he still has hair!!!!
After the treatment protocol was described to us we did seek another opinion from an oncologist. Registered nurses on our oncology floor recommended this particular doctor as being the one they would use were they to contract cancer. She practices independent of the others on Doug’s case. The doctor visited with us before Doug was discharged from the hospital in November and agreed that the treatment he is receiving is what she, too, would use were Doug her patient. She just recommended a blood thinner to avoid clotting, a serious side effect of Thalidomide. That medication was added by our doctor and joined the numerous other medications to ward off side effects.
I also am fortunate to be able to contact my roommate from boarding academy, Dr. Geni Bennetts, an oncologist/hematologist, now retired, but one who keeps up with the literature in her field and attends medical meetings. She has been most helpful to confirm or clarify when I’ve need reassurance.
The good news is that all of Doug’s medications are taken orally and so far his digestive track has tolerated it well. He receives injections at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders as needed. I have become his drug warden and home health nurse!
We go to The Center every Monday for lab and monitoring of his blood and urine chemistry. We see Dr. Mandell, his hematologist/oncologist, every other week. His nephrologist (kidney doctor) is seen less frequently but is kept informed by Dr. Mandell.
Current Status
Doug never has complained. He is easy to care for. We are both so grateful for the reduction in his pain. What he lacks now is energy. He is very weak. We understand that the steroids sap him of energy leaving him with little desire to do anything but lie down and be in silence. His appetite has improved and we are enjoying more meals together. Now my goal is to fatten him up while keeping myself slim!
His immune system is compromised and we have limited visitors because of that fact. My prayer is that I will not become ill so that I can continue to care for him. Infection is something we have to be very careful of—especially this time of the year with colds and flu.
We just read together a chapter on Patience—“Faith in the Timing of God” in Gavin Anthony’s book, The Refiner’s Fire. After I got done reading the chapter to Doug he commented, “I resonate with him on that”. I asked for additional clarification for what Doug meant. He responded, “I feel it is not my place to question or to tell God when to heal me. I need to be patient and let God do His work in me—in His own time. He knows what is best for me. I feel safe in His hands.”
Updates will follow here from time-to-time and will not be this long! ~Carole
A friend once painted a word picture that has stayed with me. She called to ask me if I’d be part of a prayer quilt for a particular individual. Now it is our turn to feel a quilt of your prayers wrapped around us. Each square in the quilt has your name—or in some cases, the name of your church or your Bible Study group—on it. We wish it were possible to thank you all personally. Through this blog we hope to keep you updated and let you know how much we appreciate you and what God is doing for us.
The "C" Word Hits Home
As most of you know Doug has been diagnosed and is being treated for multiple myeloma, a cancer that involves the body’s blood-forming systems. Cancerous plasma cells (myeloma cells) build up in the bone marrow and in his case also impede the blood producing/filtering of his renal system. We have learned that the multiplication or overgrowth of malignant cells in the bone marrow can weaken the bones, especially in the back and ribs, and cause pain and bone fractures. We praise the Lord that he has no bone fractures. His presenting problem has been excruciating, immobilizing pain, weakness and total lack of energy.
To be honest with you we had never heard of this type of cancer before his diagnosis. With every week that has passed since his diagnosis was confirmed on October 18, we continue to learn more about the disease and hear from more people who have the disease willing to share their story with us.
History—His Story
This summer Doug had not been feeling well. He had talked with me about the pain he was having in his ribs and back but he thought he had pulled a muscle and that with time it would heal and go away. He has an amazing ability to push himself so carried on his work as if nothing was wrong—until he got home at night and then collapsed into bed with no energy to spare.
Early in July he was in charge of overseeing the details of the training weekend for the new Executive Committee of the Texas Conference. Eventually he could no longer hide that something was seriously wrong. He was absent from meetings he was to be hosting!
His leadership team advised him to go to the emergency room (ER) near our home rather than to the local hospital in the town where the retreat was being held just in case he would need to be admitted. We were driven home late that night by our Ministerial Secretary. The next day Doug was hospitalized with what was thought to be renal failure due to dehydration. After being re-hydrated intravenously he was sent home with instruction to drink lots of fluids.
He returned to his normal, busy schedule. By October signs of his pain were increasing. He still pushed himself and kept a smile on his face but I knew something was drastically wrong. He was loosing weight and muscle. I felt I was loosing him.
I went to his office and told him and his boss I was taking him home—to the ER at Harris Methodist Medical Center in Fort Worth. Within just a few hours the ER doctors gave a preliminary diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma.
Earlier that same day 29 pages of lab reports of Doug’s history were obtained from Doug’s primary physician and faxed to Dr. Neal Nedley, an Internist in Oklahoma. While Doug was still in the ER, and without having any contacts with the doctors at Harris hospital’s ER, Dr. Nedley told Doug that if Doug was his patient he’d want to rule out multiple myeloma or some form of lukemia. The myeloma would explain his renal failure.
Doug was admitted for further testing. On October 18, my mother's 92nd birthday, it was confirmed that Doug had multiple myeloma in an advanced stage. We began the treatment to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.
On November 7 Doug returned to Harris Hospital for a 7 day stay for pain management. He was unable to get out of bed at home on his own due to excruciating pain. As of last week we are grateful to the Master Physician and medical science as his pain is now under control.
Treatment Protocol
The treatment protocol for Doug is what people in the medical field who know about this type of cancer call “state of the art”. It involves heavy does of Dexamethasone, a steroid that works in combination with the drug Thalidomide. Both are taken orally. Doug has only had one series of 4 IV chemo injections of two other drugs and, at least for now, will not need an IV port. His hair has thinned but he still has hair!!!!
After the treatment protocol was described to us we did seek another opinion from an oncologist. Registered nurses on our oncology floor recommended this particular doctor as being the one they would use were they to contract cancer. She practices independent of the others on Doug’s case. The doctor visited with us before Doug was discharged from the hospital in November and agreed that the treatment he is receiving is what she, too, would use were Doug her patient. She just recommended a blood thinner to avoid clotting, a serious side effect of Thalidomide. That medication was added by our doctor and joined the numerous other medications to ward off side effects.
I also am fortunate to be able to contact my roommate from boarding academy, Dr. Geni Bennetts, an oncologist/hematologist, now retired, but one who keeps up with the literature in her field and attends medical meetings. She has been most helpful to confirm or clarify when I’ve need reassurance.
The good news is that all of Doug’s medications are taken orally and so far his digestive track has tolerated it well. He receives injections at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders as needed. I have become his drug warden and home health nurse!
We go to The Center every Monday for lab and monitoring of his blood and urine chemistry. We see Dr. Mandell, his hematologist/oncologist, every other week. His nephrologist (kidney doctor) is seen less frequently but is kept informed by Dr. Mandell.
Current Status
Doug never has complained. He is easy to care for. We are both so grateful for the reduction in his pain. What he lacks now is energy. He is very weak. We understand that the steroids sap him of energy leaving him with little desire to do anything but lie down and be in silence. His appetite has improved and we are enjoying more meals together. Now my goal is to fatten him up while keeping myself slim!
His immune system is compromised and we have limited visitors because of that fact. My prayer is that I will not become ill so that I can continue to care for him. Infection is something we have to be very careful of—especially this time of the year with colds and flu.
We just read together a chapter on Patience—“Faith in the Timing of God” in Gavin Anthony’s book, The Refiner’s Fire. After I got done reading the chapter to Doug he commented, “I resonate with him on that”. I asked for additional clarification for what Doug meant. He responded, “I feel it is not my place to question or to tell God when to heal me. I need to be patient and let God do His work in me—in His own time. He knows what is best for me. I feel safe in His hands.”
Updates will follow here from time-to-time and will not be this long! ~Carole
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