June 8, 2008

Chris and I started the day with a bike ride up to Trumbolt. I swear, we were faster today - at least I didn't feel so sluggish, but the clock does not lie. We will try to beat our time next ride.

Got a call from mom this morning after our bike ride. Dad is sick. Spiked a fever last night and was admitted to the Huntsman 4th floor. U of U's bone marrow transplant floor was full, so they were sent to Huntsman instead. He is getting IV antibiotics and fluids. He was very dehydrated and felt completely horrible. They have drawn cultures - we should know in a couple of days what they show. Otherwise, his CXR looked fine, no pneumonia. CBC looked okay. He is just so sick. Mom is so worried. I hate not being there, not able to do anything from here but wait and worry. They say that 80% will end up in the hospital with an infection at some point after starting chemo. As far as the chemo goes, he finished the first round of his 4-day infusion of Depace on Friday. Dad told me yesterday on the phone (before he started feeling sick) that he had noticed the ridge of his sternum tumor receding. It is amazing that in such a short period of time the tumor is already being affected. The plan was to have his Neulasta shot (growth hormone to stimulate stem cells) today, Sunday. Since he is sick now, they still gave the "go ahead" for the Neulasta and he had it this afternoon. Mom said that it is a bugger of a shot; the side effects are very painful. I guess the bones feel very challenged and the body feels like it is trying to squeeze out any good stuff from the bones that it can. Very painful. It does my heart some good to know that he is there at the hospital and will be given any meds, pain meds or regular meds, through his Port-A-cath and be comfortable, not in pain. Mom was planning to go back to the condo tonight to sleep. She has been up all night, up all day. Bless her heart.