Category Archives: music

by | March 19, 2012 · 9:37 pm

“Thunder and Lightning”

Chi Coltrane could have sung about tonight. The Twin Cities set another record high today, the eighth in the past ten days. Late this afternoon a band of thunderstorms whipped through and we received some much-needed rain.

Lucy seems to have made a little progress today. She is still having stomach problems and is gamely drinking Ensure to keep from losing any more weight. Her stomach problems seem worse for a few hours after going to bed. She will have some tests performed tomorrow to see what might be the cause. We know it’s not a mechanical ileus (bowel obstruction). She’s had two so far, and they’re extremely unpleasant.

She has completed day three of her Hexalen treatment. Eleven more days, then she gets a fourteen-day break before the next cycle. Lather, rinse, and repeat.

Tomorrow will also be a bit challenging for me. I have a 2½-hour presentation tomorrow afternoon. Lucy can move around the house OK, but if Minnesota Oncology wants her in for more testing or they need to send her to Fairview for some reason, she’ll need me to drive.

Thank you for your time, and keep Lucy in your thoughts. Enjoy the first day of spring (Northern Hemisphere) or fall (Southern Hemisphere) tomorrow!

 

 

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by | March 18, 2012 · 7:56 pm

“Summer in the City”

The old Lovin’ Spoonful song from the mid-1960’s is very appropriate for the weather we have experienced the past ten days. Temperatures have run 25°F – 35°F above our average of 42°F. Yesterday was the earliest 80°F reading the Twin Cities has had since official records started in 1871 (but only by six days) and we were flirting with 80°F again today.

Our forsythia bush has started to bloom even before the squills, snowdrops and crocuses have poked up. The maple trees are quite messy now that they are shedding their red fuzzy flowers because the leaf buds are opening. We have already had a bluebird in the birdbath, the grass is getting green, and the lilacs have leaves forming. Our gentle March breeze isn’t gentle because we were dealing with 20 – 30 mph wind gusts today.

Lucy is still having stomach issues. She is managing with Ensure, Activia yogurt, and an occasional Immodium. The stomach noises are quieting down gradually but the noise keeps her awake at night. She still has some stomach cramping, but they are lessening.

Her legs are back to normal size and she shows no sign of clot formation. She has tolerated the Pradaxa well. Once her stomach problems abate and she starts walking more, her ankle stiffness will subside. Lucy also started her Hexalen oral chemotherapy yesterday. We’re a bit worried about the Hexalen since stomach problems are a common side effect. It’s only the second day, so it is too early to tell how well she is tolerating it.

Diane called yesterday and helped Lucy’s mood improve. She heard from Steve and Julie this morning.

For my Northern California cousins, stay warm and enjoy your snow. For our Upper Midwest readers, enjoy summer in March, and for all of you, remember Lucy and I are blessed to have you supporting her!

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by | February 28, 2012 · 10:57 pm

“You put your left leg in, you put your left leg out…”

The weather was supposed to be very challenging today. The Twin Cities was under a Winter Storm Warning due to anticipated heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain and high winds. As the morning went on, the storm shifted farther to the north. The Warning was then downgraded to an Advisory. As of this writing, it is raining hard. There is still a chance of freezing rain tonight and a chance of a couple of inches of snow tomorrow. The day had an unexpected turn of events, but it was in our favor.

Lucy’s day had an unexpected turn of events, but in her favor. Marynne from Minnesota Oncology visited with her this morning because Dr. Thurmes was unavailable. Lucy’s leg is improving very slowly. Dr. Nashawaty feels that since Lucy had not had a nosebleed in several days, perhaps the TPA catheter option is available.

Her next visitor was Dr. Dittes, an Infectious Disease specialist. He felt that Lucy may have cellulitis but acknowledged to her that her blood cultures and blood tests show no obvious indication of a bacterial infection. He also told her that her blood clots could be the majority of the fever spikes and redness. He changed the antibiotic she was on to two different IV antibiotics. There is no cause for concern.

Marynne came back a bit later. She was going to see if Interventional Radiology wanted to do the TPA procedure. The best guess was that Lucy would have it done tomorrow morning. They had time today and got to her about 1:30 this afternoon.

The procedure went very quickly. They completed it by 2:45. There was a very large clot in her thigh. The clot in her calf was small enough that they were going to let nature take its course. Her left leg was less clogged than her right leg was a couple of weeks ago. We hope that means she will not need subsequent procedures and her recovery time will be shorter. It will be a couple of days before she will be able to do the Hokey Pokey.

Of course having the procedure means she also moved from 8th floor to 3rd floor. The first move was into a two bed room. She moved again about 20 minutes later to a private room.

Her evening is winding down now that there isn’t as much activity. She knows sleeping will be tough tonight because they have to wake her every two hours to do a neurology check. Lucy talked to Diane and Julie on the phone tonight and that helped brighten her day. I found the beaded owl pictured below in the gift shop. It is beaded and stands about 6″ tall.

Here’s hoping Leap Day goes well for her. We wish all of you a good evening and have a Happy Leap Day tomorrow!

beaded owl

Lucy’s newest owl friend

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by | February 15, 2012 · 8:20 pm

“So won’t you smile for the camera…”

Lucy is wiped out today. Getting her driver’s license renewed wasn’t too bad. She did have her picture taken three times. Apparently, they have a new camera that can take an awful picture and make it even more dreadful. I have never seen a bad photo of Lucy so they were really trying hard to end that streak. Tax dollars at work, don’t you know. The post title is a lyric fragment from “Peg” by Steely Dan. I doubt the inspiration for their song came from driver’s license photos.

I doubt either us will sleep well tonight. Keep Lucy in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow.

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by | February 6, 2012 · 10:49 pm

“Going Mobile”

Discharge day! We’re thrilled! The post title is an appropriate song by The Who. Today’s events went like this:

10:45 am: It sounds like the doctors are happier with her heparin blood level. The heparin IV could come out today. Because her Chromogenic Factor X test takes several hours, we will not know if she can go home. If she does stay, she will move to a different room on 8th floor. Fairview is stripping and cleaning the floors and performing maintenance checks on the rooms. “Hurry up and wait” is the theme for today.

2:00 pm: The expectation of a hospital stay is for the patient to focus on recovery. Fairview Southdale has been exceptional in that regard. Certain administrative obligations pop up detracting from recovery, like dealing with the short-term disability people. “Benefits coordination” is an oxymoron in that company. Lucy got passed to three people so far and each of them asked the same questions. They were just as clueless after her surgery nearly two years ago.

3:00 pm: Lucy’s Chromogenic Factor X result was at the midpoint of her therapeutic range. Her Coumadin dose is set and she has her instructions. The IV lines are removed and she is dressed. Everything is loaded and she has her walker. All that remains is waiting for the pharmacy to fill her prescriptions.

5:30 pm: The pharmacy finally asked for her prescription insurance card. She has a new drug plan this year and the old information was still on file, and there always is a delay when painkillers are involved. Lucy is moving with more confidence after the IV tree went away. Her friend Diane called while I was loading the vehicle. Lucy also called her siblings during the wait. The sunset was nice.

6:10 pm: Lucy headed home wondering what sort of mess waits after me having full run of the house for the past eleven days. She didn’t cringe after touring the house, so I think I did all right. I think the chicken strip dinner I picked up for her at Dairy Queen also helped.

Our house is a rambler with a basement. The basement has a rec room, a laundry room, an office, a ¾ bathroom, and a storage area. The bedrooms are on the main level. One of the guest rooms is now an office for her. She doesn’t need to go downstairs until her leg is better. Most of the main level has laminate flooring. She is navigating the walker quite well in the house.

I picked up some of the wet wipe style washcloths hospitals use for cleaning up a patient in bed. I also picked up a couple of the shower caps that have the shampoo in them. Lucy does not have to worry about slipping in the shower.

Lucy’s next blood test is Thursday. Next week she will get a PET scan since it has been about a year since her last one, see Dr. Thurmes about her leg, and see Dr. Boente about her next Alimta treatment. There is a possibility she may need a break from chemo until her leg fully recovers. Even though her medical leave got extended until February 13th, she may need another week added. Her next assessment may not happen until after that date.

We’re happy being home and are grateful and humbled by the outpouring of love and support you have given us through this ordeal. Thank you!
I picked up some of the wet wipe style washcloths hospitals use for cleaning up a patient in bed. I also picked up a couple of the shower caps that have the shampoo in them. Lucy does not have to worry about slipping in the shower.

Lucy’s next blood test is Thursday. Next week she will get a PET scan since it has been about a year since her last one, see Dr. Thurmes about her leg, and see Dr. Boente about her next Alimta treatment. There is a possibility she may need a break from chemo until her leg fully recovers. Even though her leave was extended until February 13th, she may need another week added. Her next assessment may not happen until after that date.

We’re happy to be home and are grateful and humbled by the outpouring of love and support you have given us through this ordeal. Thank you!

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