Overdue Update

We are a little slow in updating everyone on Mom’s progress but here is a short report on:
“ Life on Unit 57 ”

For the past three weeks Mom has been living on Unit 57 at the Special Services Wing of the Foothills Hospital. She used to work on this unit so she knows many of the staff. It is a very busy place. Mom has never been very good at sitting still. She was never bored on this floor as a nurse but as a patient she doesn’t have much to do so - she came up with an official sounding title for herself. She is now, the self-appointed “ Line Dance Instructor “ for Unit 57. There isn’t a big demand for line dancing on a floor where everyone is getting chemotherapy and is attached to an IV pole, so Erin and I seem to have been volunteered as her only students.

Mom claims that she has been confined to her room because of a mild case of the sniffles and the staff don’t want to take a chance of it spreading to other patients. We think that is was because she was caught IV pole racing in the hallways. She was seen cutting off an elderly gentleman and running him into a food cart. (No charges were laid because the elderly gentleman turned out to be Dad).

Mom is feeling much better now that some of the side effects of the chemotherapy have decreased. She has been able to come home for a couple hours around suppertime the last few days. She has commented on how nice the yard is looking since the neighbors have cleaned it up. We’ve all been enjoying the great meals that friends have delivered to help us out. (For someone who is sick, Mom seems to have been eating more than her share! ) She usually rests on the couch after dinner. When she starts making comments about how messy Erin’s room is, we have her escorted back to the hospital.

We still don’t know if my Uncle Chris is a good match for a stem cell donation. It takes at least three weeks to analyze the blood for matching. He had his blood test on Oct 16th so it will be a couple more weeks before we know. Mom will likely be in hospital for another week before they do another bone marrow biopsy. If her blood counts look good, she may be able to come home for a few days before the next round of chemo.

Positive messages help!
All of the cards and emails have been greatly appreciated. In the evenings at the hospital when she is tired, Mom has really enjoyed having us read all of the positive notes of support and encouragement to her. She is grateful for the help of everyone who has helped drive us around to all of our activities and ringette games. Erin and I are also very thankful because the people who have taken over the driving seem to go to the wrong rink a lot less often than Dad does!

The gift of life
One of the things that take up a big part of Mom’s day is all of the blood transfusions that she needs. She has had 12 transfusions of blood and platelets in the past week and a half. Many people have asked us what they can do to help. People can help Mom and all of the other patients with blood diseases in the hospital by taking the time to donate blood. Mom is feeling better each day, but it is the blood transfusions that she depends on until her body can start to produce its own blood cells again.

Visitors still limited

Mom’s immune system is weak and while she is on isolation, visitors are still very limited. Her hair was starting to fall out from the chemo so she arranged to have it cut on Sunday. She said that her head felt better, but it was a little cold. Dad generously offered to share his collection of hats but she hasn’t jumped at that offer. It is never a good idea to start looking too much like Dad.

Since she has finished the first round of chemo things have been going quite well, but it seems like a long time. We miss having her at home. We are all trying to remember to take things one day at a time.

Thanks for all of your support

Ali (for Mom, Erin, Grandma and Dad )