Our Kids

2/12/10  Friday

Rachel and Ben call and tell us they are flying in tonight.  They decided.

The second bone marrow aspiration goes uneventfully and with less discomfort.  Speaking of nurses, the floor nurses and aides have been more interactive, attentive, and patient than any we have previously encountered. They explain the ward routine (no flowers because of infection risk), the need to go to the bathroom at night with assistance only to avoid a fall (risk of internal bleeding), and to notify them about any break down in skin or bleeding in stool – so they can have promptly evaluate it.  She is not to use a knife.  They are the all important eyes, ears, hands of the team.

S. a nurse with 10 years in oncology explains the chemotherapy as I walk in.  It will be started at 2 pm, running continuous for 7 days with a 10 min break daily to change bags and allow for a shower.  She has to drink a lot to flush out her system and prevent toxicity.  As it starts, Teri feels some heaviness in her shoulder.  After checking, they give her 1 mg Ativan but it makes her woozy and I’m worried that it will interfere with her interaction with the kids.  HANDWASHING FOR ALL VISITORS.  MASKS FOR ANYONE WITH A SNIFFLE.

She eats reasonable hospital food for lunch – hand-made pizza and beef with noodles – and has a decent appetite.  Colin and Harriet stop by and tout this floor and the oncology nurses.  Harriet offers to help Teri choose her wig.  How weird is it for two peds GI in adjacent offices to have their respective spouses hit by cancer within months …

I pick up Ben who flew in from S.F.  Ben picks up Rachel & John (her new husband) arriving from Columbus.  Small talk, worried looks, punctuated silence, slow tears.  They bring Dad, who is overwhelmed too, and get food from Fujiyama.  We take over a table in the lounge for dinner.  Teri is tired but happy. 

There is nothing, nothing better for Teri than having her kids around her be it at Christmas or in sickness.