Days 21 & 22

3/2/10  Tuesday

Admit day 21.  Preparation, Commencement, Ward off left, ward off right – the Tai Chi beginnings – coupled with a 15 minute walk in her comfortable new slip-ons starts off the day right.  Donna the nurse gave her a light massage.

Fever and more blood cultures last night but got a 3 hour uninterrupted golden sleep.  Rash is finally improving.  Edema is improved but still 10 lbs worth, especially in legs and feet – the reason for the slip-ons.  Overall, Teri feels the best she has for 10 days and is the most positive.  Terri Lin (sister) has satisfied her cravings for tea/soy sauce eggs.  She has made her room the most beautiful in the hospital replete with small and large tissue paper flowers, many red origami cranes, cards organized by themes (flowers, pictures, animals …), and kids pictures and get well cards. 

Eats chicken noodle ala Sandy and matzo ball soup ala Steve.  Has salmon for dinner.  Takes a shower.  Sings in the shower.

Sandy from our condo stops by.  Loraine from her Gan Bei (bottoms up) Chinese (business) Woman’s Club stops by and presents a Kindle to Teri from the group.  What a day.  Heard about it but haven’t used one. Has Twilight Saga loaded – a romantic vampire novel.  Teri jokes that she has taken the blood of others. 

3/3/10  Wednesday 

“Ward off left, ward off right” as Teri continues her tai chi every morning.  She has increased her walking to 20 minutes 4 times a day.  She is feeling good, upbeat, and eats a piece of sanctioned ‘neutropenic’ chicken for the first time in a week.  Her white counts although still very low appear to be on the rise. 

B goes to CVS clinic. 

Tracy who lives in our building and unbeknownst to us works in the dept. of surgery surprises Teri.

Anita and Henry arrive from California with all kinds of Chinese goodies – galay gok (curry puffs), cha siu bao (baked) … and presents.

Dr. H. gives us the news that despite the good odds (nearly 70%) there is in fact no sibling match.  This is a big blow!  I am numb.  It means that we are now looking for a needle in global DNA haystack around the world, especially in Chinese in Asia. 

Teri responds with equanimity:  “It’s going to be an even greater challenge.  I can’t change the medical aspects.  However, I will fight.  I can focus on what I am doing day to day, my vision of the future, and being positive.”  She is far tougher than I.