Yesterday was ‘moving in’ day. It’s getting very, very real. To date it’s been talking about test results and treatment options. That pivoted yesterday with the insertion of the Hickman Tube. The shot on Wednesday (the G in G-CLAM) was a growth hormone, the rest of the alphabet soup is delivered via the Hickman tube. And it started last night at 8:30. And again at 12:30am. Another at 2:30am.
Yesterday evening Kristina and Shannon gave us a virtual
tour of the room. It’s big and has a ensuite
bathroom. It’s the Four Seasons of hospital rooms. Last night Shannon and Kristina were busy decorating
it. But it’s still a hospital room with
IV racks, beeping monitors, etc. It does
have a dandy view of the west end of the Montlake Cut. Pro Tip:
If you transit the cut, draw a line between the finish line for the UW
crew races and about the center of the SYC docks that face the cut. She has a great view of that area. If she knows you are coming, she can see you.
Visitation is allowed, but only 2 at a time and Kristina is
still figuring out the nurses. As she
puts it, ‘getting to know the cool ones’.
There are significant concerns about immune systems, or better put, lack
of them on that floor in general and Kristina in particular. For example, no real flowers are
allowed. Paper ones are.
Her mailing address is:
Kristina Southard Rm 8448
UW Medicine, 8SA Medical Oncology
1959 NE Pacific Street
Box 356188
Seattle, Wa 98195-6188
The first few days of the Chemo regimen
are tough. Then it gets far worse. Her ability to track and stay alert will go
downhill. An old friend of mine called it
‘Chemo Brain’. Chemo kills the fast growing
cells and taste buds are a casualty.
Another old friend of mine commented during our weekly lunches together
it ‘was like munching on cardboard’.
sending as much love and hope as I can.
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