Saturday, January 18, 2014

A Room With A View


v is in the hospital.  It was a far more difficult process than I would have believed. If he wasn't already dialed into the medical establishment I'd have just taken him to ER and been done with it.  In the end, that's what had to happen.  We just couldn't wait for the number of days it was going to be before the doctor would see him for his fevers, shortness of breath, and anemia. With the help of the nurse practitioner at the radiation clinic he was taken to the ER and assessed and admitted.

The debate is now about whether his symptoms are there because he's severely anemic, dehydrated, and has a lung infection, or is it simply that the cancer in his lungs has worsened. All of the above appear to be true.  He's on IV fluids. He's being bombarded with antibiotics. He's on oxygen. He's receiving medication for breathing and breathing treatments.  His oncologist has begun iron infusions to stimulate his bone marrow into producing red blood cells. However, now that v is hydrated his anemia appears even more severe (and I'm thinking the indication for infection has decreased--but I'm not a doctor).  This all has to do with concentration and dilution. Maybe too simple.  We grasp at any straws.

The palliative team has already been in to try to nudge us into making the "tough decisions".  We appreciate what they have to say.  But, it was incredibly tough to get someone just to make the decision to assess and then admit him. v and I both know that his cancer is not going to be cured, we understand. However, even a man with a grave disease can get sick apart from that disease.  The old phrase "even paranoids have enemies" has popped into my mind several times over the past weeks.

What we have in abundance is friends who support us, keep our spirits up, remind us that we are not alone. We are amazed at the love we have surrounding us.  We are truly, truly blessed.



In bocca al lupo.  m & v

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