Two Nice Stories

I'm home today until 3:00 pm--daughter-in-law Ann Harrison is with Jim today until then. This morning I went to mass at Missionhurst--Shirley and Frank Marvin had arranged a healing mass in Jim's honor and I was surrounded by the most wonderful group of friends that anyone could ever ask for (our "extended family", AKA "The Group"). It was as if I were an infant and was being lifted up and held close by all these caring, loving people! God truly works and dwells within us. Cheryl Keane was there and gave me such hope (which I will convey to Jim) when she told me of her fight against stage 4 Hodgkins Disease more than 20 years ago. She, too, was treated at NIH and related how they would "take her to the brink and bring her back up again" during her chemotherapy. We need to have that same faith.
When I got home there was a message from Jim on our answering machine. And he said, "I had a wonderful night last night--I had an apparition and it was you in your youth. And then I woke up at midnight and saw it was Erin in the room! What an angel she was!" Well, Erin, I guess it's true what you always hear--that you look just like your mother. Thanks all and love, Barbara

Not much change

Another day of fatigue and discouragement. Neutrophils still at 10 and fevers continue--Jim knows he has to be free of fever for 24 hrs. and neutrophil count at 500 before they let him go home. On a higher note--he was moved to a private room tonight so is hoping for a good night's sleep. Sally came to visit this evening and Erin tells me she is going tonight. And he had a lovely visit from a hospital chaplain, Ellen, who was just wonderful and helped to lift his spirits! Barbara

Sleepwalking????

Certainly a better day than yesterday. As you know from comments his neutrophils were at 10. We're both still wearing masks. His temp did rise again to 104.2 this afternoon and since he's been on IV antibiotics for 4 days they are asking for an Infectious Disease consult. He reported to me that he slept very well last night, but when I asked the nurses they said he had had a very high temp in the night, sweated profusely when the fever broke, then found him walking in the hall in his underwear. I guess that night nurse really did give him something to knock him out!!!! My sister Pat visited with us the entire afternoon and into the evening and Linda McCullagh stopped by for a visit. Both gave him a real lift. Barbara

Nadir

Last night Jim received two units of blood which raised his hemoglobin, but prevented him from sleeping most of the night. So today he was extremely exhausted but couldn't sleep. He became very anxious when he heard that his neutrophils had hit zero so I had to ask his nurse to call the doctor and ask for an order of Ativan (an anti-anxiety medication). His tempeature never went above 101.5 today, so that was an improvement. He called me a short while ago when I got home and said the night nurse was going to give him something that will "knock him out" and Jim sounded happy for the first time today. Lets hope he gets that much needed night's sleep! Barbara

A Little Better Today

Still in hospital--temp only went to 103 degrees today. Getting great care, including IV antibiotics. Neutrophils at 110 and falling (expected), so he's wearing a mask and continues to get the daily Neupogen shot which increases neutrophil production. Hemoglobin at 8.4 so he will probably get a transfusion tomorrow. Spirits are good. Many "power naps". "We'll get through this", he says as he drifts off to sleep. God, how I love this man! Barbara

Back in the Hospital

Well it was nice while it lasted but Jim's temperature went up last night and again this morning so I brought him in to NIH. While we were there his temp shot up to above 104 degrees so they are giving him IV antibiotics and keeping him there for a while. Please continue to pray for him. Barbara

A Lift Before Prednisone Downer

Jim had a great day yesterday, even wanted to go out to lunch. We called Shirley and Frank Marvin and they were free and met us at the local Afgan restaurant. Had a great time. Since his neutrophils were still high, we seized the moment!
Today he went in to NIH for blood work with daughter-in-law Sally and then had an eye exam in the pm (lost his prescription glasses). By the time he got home he was exhausted--a combination of being off the Prednisone (last dose was Wednesday night) and the effects of the Chemo. His temperature remains normal (Hurray!) and he's been sleeping for at least 4 hours. I'm about to wake him up for dinner. Thanks to all for all the meals, rides, prayers and support. Barbara