Well my oh my oh MY! What a wild and crazy ride this whole trip is! Seems like yesterday when I last entered my New Years Greeting, and, on the other side of the coin, seems like a lifetime! In fact, several lifetimes, to be sure!
Let's see, where to begin? OK! A brief reference to "Trouble in Paradise" (i.e. friction breaks out rampantly between Jessie --my Daughter/"Main Caretaker" and Myself). I really don't want to delve too deeply here, but let's suffice it to say that because of several "uniquenessies" (Sp?) of Jessie's personality and my needs, she melted down culminating in the day about 2 weeks ago when she "dropped me off at the N. Fulton E.R." after I noticed that my feeding tube had "fallen out of my body and was on the ground beneath my feet", and proceeded to leave me there unattended!!! Like I said, I'm really not going to delve into this at this point--perhaps down the road when enough time/distance has elapsed... Anyway, my Fiance, God Bless Diane, immediately came to my rescue and was by my side during the entire 3-4 hour ensuing ordeal!
Then, Rick Abell, one of my truest, dearest friends/ (Really and actually an Angel sent to me at this precise time and place due to what then transpired--that's right, a Real Angel From God! There are No Accidents in this Creation, only the appearance of synergystic coincidental circumstance. By the way, it's almost as rediculous to deny that this whole thing runs like the most perfect Swiss Clock (Army Knives are good, too!) with True Intelligence providing EVERYTHING from guidance and direction to the actual "Doings" that we think we are providing. (To deny this is almost, to my feeble mind, is as rediculous as saying that if there were an explosion inside a moveabe type factory, that the Unexpurgated Volumes, Plays, Poems, Works, etc. of Shakespeare would appear, intact, blasting through the walls, at the other end!!!)
Anyway, back to Rick Abell: He arrived here a week ago, Tuesday, January 16th. On Wednesday, all hell broke loose... I went to the Doctor for a routine visit to check my glucose levels and he told me I had a 101.6 fever! Could be serious, off to my Chemo Doctor.... infused me with Rosefin, an antibiotic and sent me to the N.F.E.R. for an infusion of Vancomycin. (this needs be administered very slowly as slightly too fast and Bango, you've got --no joke here, and any lurking anti-Columbusites out there, do NOT take heart--"Red Man Syndrome"--sort of what it sounds like... you turn beet red and become hot, etc. Hence, the slow- drip/drip/drip --sort of like humming the "Syncopated Clock" Tune to yourself in halftime-- or No, what's that crazy Jeopardy theme "DOO DOO DOO--DOO DOO DOO-- DOO Do Doo Doo Do Do Doo--Oh well, you get the picture, I'm sure! Anyway this takes 90 minutes for the infusion via my Pik Line (the appendage inserted into my right inner elbow area from which I was fed via the hideous TPN (Total Parental Neutrician).... Bottom line, they find out that the Pik line is infected! So, literally every day since, I've gone for these 90 minute to 2 hour infusions of Vancomycin at the North Fulton Regional Hosp Out Patient Clinic. except for Sat and Sun, when I had the pleasure of performing the same at the Northside Hospital Infusion Center as the out patient Clinic at NFRH is closed on the weekends . They they removed the "bad boy" (the infected pik line last Friday and reinserted a new pik line inside my left inner elbow for the same purpose--i.e., receiving these infusions of antibiotics. However, I must've forgotten to mention that all during this I'm taking 5 mg.s / day of Cumudin (a notorious blood thinner due to the Phlebotomy I had when I awoke from surgery on the 29th of November at St. Joes' hospital. They had me on Heparin for this for most of my hospital stay, however, switched me over to cumudin--which I'm told really needs to be most dilligently monitored for the initial period of usage --(AND WHICH WASN'T). and, long story longer, because my blood I & R (a meaure of my blood's thinness and ability to clot, etc. was up to a 7 where as a 3 is normal) when the installed the new pik line-- that's right you guessed it Sparky, I wouldn't/couldn't stop bleeding! After Friday's ensuing infusion of Vancomycin, which now takes 2 hours by the way due to the fact that they couldn't really get it all the way into my "central lines" due to my power port, (remember "Harry Porter" which was installed way back on Aug 17 so I could receive my Chemo infusions? Anyway, this was somehow blocking the placement of this new pik line and hence the additional half hour of fun and games! On Fri night, it's back to the ER due to the non stop of bleeding and a Doctor gives me a "purse string stitch" to keep the tissue together and stop the bleeding. The bleeding stops, however, the "oozing" doesn't... (Hey! I couldn't make all this up if I tried)... anyhoo, they wrap it up so much with pressure bandages, etc. that it appears to be no longer bleeding and i go home. That was the "Lifetime" called "Last Friday"... On Saturday, I go to Northside for the infusion, only when they strip my bandage, there's this frigging pool of blood welled up, etc. Anyway, I get my infusion, have it wrapped up extra tight, and go home .... Sunday , Bloody Sunday, comes and, once again when I arrive at Northside, this time they insist I go to the ER at NFRH again to check my PTT (Clotting factors, etc.) Basically I wait there for 4 hours and watch the entire New England vs. Sad Diego Football championship gave in my ER cubicle and eventually receive one tiny pill of Vitamin K. (helps clotting) By the way, I'm supposed to have my Port removed this coming Thursday, Jan 24th, so I was supposed to stop the cumudin 4 days prior, well ,pardon me, but I stopped it as of Friday night!
All during this and other "normal" episodes, Rick Abell (the most perfectly surnamed person in the Universe) is physically opening doors, belting me into my carseat, helping me with my clothes, food, travel, he's there by my side 24-7! WoW! What a guy... Like I said, There aint no accidents, and he's my angel sent from God for me at this precise time and place performing one non-stop act of Selfless Service after another, etc., etc., etc., (He originally is scheduled to return home on Tues, Jan 22, but when he observes just how hectic my life is and what the hell is breaking loose all around me, he calls Delta and pushes his flight back to return to Colorado on Friday, Jan 25, just so he can make sure I'm okay on Thurs, when I'm to go to the hospital to have my port taken out!
Thank You Brother Rick! And May God Certainly Bless and Keep You, My Dearest Friend!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
The Happiest of New Years To Each & All of Us!
Happy New Year!
I just don’t know where to begin, so we’ll just do if from here and see how it flows.
Spoke to my Doctor, the Surgeon, Dr. Moore today and, after reviewing my x rays said everything looked good and how’d I like to go home tomorrow?!!! I couldn’t really believe my ears, but medication notwithstanding, I believe this actually might occur tomorrow sometime morning / afternoon!
Don’t know if you’ve been able to keep up with what’s turned into my “Odyssey” here, but to recap: came in to St. Joe’s in good spirits and a great frame of mind on 11-29! I expected about a 5-6 hour Surgery where they’d cut out some of my pylorus (part of the stomach) then staple it to what was left of my esophagus, and place it near my upper left chest wall. Thought I’d be in ICU around 5 days and then in the hospital for another 5 days or so and then (get thee behind me Satan) let me get home and get on with my healing and life! (By the way, sincerely, the surgeon told me that he did not see one shred of evidence of any remaining cancerous substance in my body)… YES!!!!!!!!!!
So much for all the best laid plans of Mice and Men; or as Johnny Lennon was fond of saying to his son Sean: “Before you cross the street, better take my hand; Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans”!
About 1 week after being in the hospital (I was at this point transferred out of the ICU and was, where I presently am, in the pulmonary floor) some very scary stuff began happening. Without exaggeration it felt as if my breath capacity was barely enough for 2 thimblesful of Oxygen to fill it. Talk about pure panic. Sorry, but out of just about every single biological function I can possibly scour my memory banks to elicit here, I’d honestly say that Breathing has to be right up there at the very tippy-top of the whole damn list! I’ve been on this planet for about 62 years now and I can tell you that this was absolutely the scariest feeling I’ve ever experienced! I mean just try to imagine for a second just flat out not being able to catch your breath and having this repeatedly go on for hours on end, with no apparent let up in sight!
Anyway, they then did a left lung tap and removed around 1 liter of fluid from my left lung! YES! I DID feel relief when it was over! Alas, this relieved feeling lasted for about a day, because in another 2-3 days, they tapped my lung again and this time removed around 1.4 liters of fluid! Then, on Saturday, December 8 or maybe it was the 15th (not sure here) they tapped it again and left a catheter in my back. Whatever Saturday it was, all I know is that within the next 3-4 days they then removed an additional total of 4 (FOUR) liters of fluid from my left lung! Holy crap here Batman, but last time I checked I thought I was listed as “Mammal” and not “Amphibian” or “Ichthyosaurus” or however the hell it is that you want to say “Fish” in Latin! I mean, aside from not trying what I’m about to suggest that you do at home alone, any time soon, (or actually anytime at all) imagine chugging a couple of 2 liter bottles of diet coke or whatever it is that floats your boat ever so merrily downstream and this time instead of chugging it try Breathing through it instead!!! ‘Nuff said! Scary, very, very, scary indeed! In retrospect it was a hell of a lot worse than being told by one of the Techs here that: “Mr. Paul, this is all in your mind, it’s just your anxiety level kicking in!” (Here you go Ms. Tech, I’d rather like to take a stab at “I’m afraid I’ve got no frigging clue as to what I’m talking about” for $20, Alex!)
Anyway, things at this point really do seem to have swung completely around and the situation is just infinitely so much better than it was and I feel and see daily improvement within myself, I’m actually quite grateful for everything—and I do mean EVERYTHING! Yes, even the Tech as I’m sure she was doing the best she could and was simply trying to help calm me down. If there’s one thing my whole 1 month plus stay in this facility has taught me, its that the one—the only—the indispensable ingredient as an absolute prerequisite ingredient for working in the Health Care Profession is simply LOVE!!!!!
In fact, if I may be so bold, forget “Healthcare”, Love is the quintessential ingredient necessary for the successful flow of ANYTHING! It’s the grease and oil in the elixir of Life; it’s the roll in Rock ‘n’… it’s everything there is; everything there was and everything there will ever be! It’s the whole world wide web and ever spinning matrix of Creation itself! It’s what makes the trains run on time; it’s the rebirth in Spring, as well as the icy exhalation of a frosty winter’s sleep! It’s the secret within the wondrous gaze as a child first beholds Heaven’s pure majesty on a star filled night! It’s all this and … imagine for a second… this is but the quick view, thumbnail plans and specs version of the chrysalis within the butterfly within the caterpillar! And again, it’s but the barest of beginnings…
I’m glad for my time in the hospital. I’m grateful for the change in view it’s afforded me to be cognizant of. I’m grateful for a truly wonderful New Year pregnant with the pulsation of infinite possibility and newness of Life. And I’m truly humbled and appreciative, beyond words, for everyone’s prayers, support, and oh yes, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
Happy New Year!
KMLAAY
Victor
I just don’t know where to begin, so we’ll just do if from here and see how it flows.
Spoke to my Doctor, the Surgeon, Dr. Moore today and, after reviewing my x rays said everything looked good and how’d I like to go home tomorrow?!!! I couldn’t really believe my ears, but medication notwithstanding, I believe this actually might occur tomorrow sometime morning / afternoon!
Don’t know if you’ve been able to keep up with what’s turned into my “Odyssey” here, but to recap: came in to St. Joe’s in good spirits and a great frame of mind on 11-29! I expected about a 5-6 hour Surgery where they’d cut out some of my pylorus (part of the stomach) then staple it to what was left of my esophagus, and place it near my upper left chest wall. Thought I’d be in ICU around 5 days and then in the hospital for another 5 days or so and then (get thee behind me Satan) let me get home and get on with my healing and life! (By the way, sincerely, the surgeon told me that he did not see one shred of evidence of any remaining cancerous substance in my body)… YES!!!!!!!!!!
So much for all the best laid plans of Mice and Men; or as Johnny Lennon was fond of saying to his son Sean: “Before you cross the street, better take my hand; Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans”!
About 1 week after being in the hospital (I was at this point transferred out of the ICU and was, where I presently am, in the pulmonary floor) some very scary stuff began happening. Without exaggeration it felt as if my breath capacity was barely enough for 2 thimblesful of Oxygen to fill it. Talk about pure panic. Sorry, but out of just about every single biological function I can possibly scour my memory banks to elicit here, I’d honestly say that Breathing has to be right up there at the very tippy-top of the whole damn list! I’ve been on this planet for about 62 years now and I can tell you that this was absolutely the scariest feeling I’ve ever experienced! I mean just try to imagine for a second just flat out not being able to catch your breath and having this repeatedly go on for hours on end, with no apparent let up in sight!
Anyway, they then did a left lung tap and removed around 1 liter of fluid from my left lung! YES! I DID feel relief when it was over! Alas, this relieved feeling lasted for about a day, because in another 2-3 days, they tapped my lung again and this time removed around 1.4 liters of fluid! Then, on Saturday, December 8 or maybe it was the 15th (not sure here) they tapped it again and left a catheter in my back. Whatever Saturday it was, all I know is that within the next 3-4 days they then removed an additional total of 4 (FOUR) liters of fluid from my left lung! Holy crap here Batman, but last time I checked I thought I was listed as “Mammal” and not “Amphibian” or “Ichthyosaurus” or however the hell it is that you want to say “Fish” in Latin! I mean, aside from not trying what I’m about to suggest that you do at home alone, any time soon, (or actually anytime at all) imagine chugging a couple of 2 liter bottles of diet coke or whatever it is that floats your boat ever so merrily downstream and this time instead of chugging it try Breathing through it instead!!! ‘Nuff said! Scary, very, very, scary indeed! In retrospect it was a hell of a lot worse than being told by one of the Techs here that: “Mr. Paul, this is all in your mind, it’s just your anxiety level kicking in!” (Here you go Ms. Tech, I’d rather like to take a stab at “I’m afraid I’ve got no frigging clue as to what I’m talking about” for $20, Alex!)
Anyway, things at this point really do seem to have swung completely around and the situation is just infinitely so much better than it was and I feel and see daily improvement within myself, I’m actually quite grateful for everything—and I do mean EVERYTHING! Yes, even the Tech as I’m sure she was doing the best she could and was simply trying to help calm me down. If there’s one thing my whole 1 month plus stay in this facility has taught me, its that the one—the only—the indispensable ingredient as an absolute prerequisite ingredient for working in the Health Care Profession is simply LOVE!!!!!
In fact, if I may be so bold, forget “Healthcare”, Love is the quintessential ingredient necessary for the successful flow of ANYTHING! It’s the grease and oil in the elixir of Life; it’s the roll in Rock ‘n’… it’s everything there is; everything there was and everything there will ever be! It’s the whole world wide web and ever spinning matrix of Creation itself! It’s what makes the trains run on time; it’s the rebirth in Spring, as well as the icy exhalation of a frosty winter’s sleep! It’s the secret within the wondrous gaze as a child first beholds Heaven’s pure majesty on a star filled night! It’s all this and … imagine for a second… this is but the quick view, thumbnail plans and specs version of the chrysalis within the butterfly within the caterpillar! And again, it’s but the barest of beginnings…
I’m glad for my time in the hospital. I’m grateful for the change in view it’s afforded me to be cognizant of. I’m grateful for a truly wonderful New Year pregnant with the pulsation of infinite possibility and newness of Life. And I’m truly humbled and appreciative, beyond words, for everyone’s prayers, support, and oh yes, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
Happy New Year!
KMLAAY
Victor
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