Chaotic September 2012

Hello, everyone.

I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted.  We've had a September that just went by in a blur and we are still recovering.

I did start the new Clinical Trial in late August and it seemed to be going well.  We went to the Berkshires for Labor Day week and enjoyed a wonderful concert at Tanglewood (The Great American Songbook) and an interesting visit to the Crane Paper Museum.  They make all the paper used for our currency and other money around the world.  The Secret Service guards the facility and keeps the process a secret to try to foil counterfeiters. We also went to a new play "Satchmo at the Waldorf", a one-man show about the life of Louis Armstrong.  Really good!  Steve also got in some fishing and we both relaxed.

I started to have some symptoms of dizziness, lightheaded, etc. while we were there, but I have spells like that all the time, so didn't give it much thought.  Two days after we got home, on Monday, September 10, Steve went into the hospital to have his knee replaced.  While he was still in the hospital, my doctor called and said, according to my latest lab reports, my red cell count was very low.  I needed to go into Boston Medical Center for a blood transfusion.The drug trial was put on hold.  My brother Frank and his wife Martha spent the day with me at BMC (I got a ride there from a friend, Suki Meredith) while I had the transfusion.  They pushed me around the hospital campus in a wheelchair.

Steve was discharged the next day.  Since I was not driving (worried about dizzy spells....) another friend, Kay Sorensen, drove me to Needham to pick up Steve.  Our neighbor Bill Holbrook helped us get him into the house and settled in.  The next week was sort of uneventful.  We had someone come and spend the night every night the first week Steve was home, just in case. Thank you to my sister Suzie, friends Janet, Wally and Cheryl, Alan, Carrie and Matt. Sarah spent a lot of spare time during the day with us.

I thought I'd be able to do the daily work around the house without any problem, but I hadn't counted on how immobile Steve would be.  He needed help with PT, showering, etc.  I was going downhill and exhausted over the next week.  By September 21, I couldn't even walk ten feet without having to rest and catch my breath.  I had some other symptoms, too, and Saturday morning Pat Barylick drove me into BMC where they admitted me for two nights.  I had three blood transfusions and went home feeling much better.  However, it was clear that I couldn't hold down the fort while Steve was recuperating and that I needed to rest.

We are SO fortunate that our friend Lisa Oberly stepped up to the plate and we were able to hire her as our "home care aide".  She comes in the morning, makes sure we get all of our meds, makes breakfast, helps Steve with his PT and shower and just makes me rest. She comes back later for lunch, runs the laundry and dishwasher, makes supper, runs errands and is the BEST.  We would be "in the soup" if she wasn't able to come help us out.

I went back on the clinical trial on October 2, and so far, so good.  Still not driving, but I think if all goes well and I don't have any more dizziness, then I can start to do some driving and get back to normal after next week.  We've had lots of neighbors and friends volunteer to drive us to doctor's appointments and that has been invaluable. Steve should be mobile in about 3 more weeks if all goes well. His range of motion and flexibility improve every day and he is diligent about his PT.

The highlight of the month was Jackson's baptism on September 30. We were able to get to church and be there for his big moment.  He was the best baby and we had a wonderful family day. We also celebrated Charlotte's 5th birthday with a special cake and pinata after church.

So with the help of marvelous siblings, children, in-laws, friends and neighbors, and lots of prayers and good wishes, we are doing better every day.  Thank you all!  Keep up the prayers and thoughts.