Today Jeff had a biopsy to see whether he is ready for his bone marrow/stem cell transplant. The procedure didn’t cause him too much pain. His hip feels a little bruised tonight. Results could be ready by Friday or Monday. Maybe he’s finished with Vidaza treatments. Maybe not. Dr. Kennedy will consult with Dr. Porter and… we’ll see. If we can’t stand the suspense, we could call Maria the Matchmaker at Penn and ask.
Jeff has always been good at identifying actors we’ve seen before and naming the movies or shows they’ve done. I am no good at this. I only know when an actor looks familiar. We received some good DVDs from the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) along with a packet of information. We watched them the other night. No actors; just real doctors, nurses, patients, caregivers, and social workers. The patients all looked sick (go figure) and, although it was helpful, it was still difficult to watch. A doctor with an impressive, pronounced widow's peak droned on - very informatively, don't get me wrong - about transplant this and recovery that... I was about in tears when Jeff piped up, "I think he was in the Munsters!"
Among the many aspects of transplantation that we were told to consider (on these helpful DVDs) was to have a back-up caregiver in case I couldn’t do the job for some reason. Jeff is excited at the prospect of choosing one or two “significant others.” So, don’t all line up at once! It turns out the job is a pretty big one. We will circulate the DVDs to prepare prospective candidates. Look for those hot titles in your mailbox and you’ll know whether you’re on the A List!
Jeff’s gray hairs don’t appear gray with Vidaza. They’re darker and his hair is a teeny bit unruly. The message here is: He’s Still Got His Hair!
4 comments:
Hmm, I loved the Munsters!! Adams Family is funnier though.
Darker hair, significant others. . . Just PLEASE don't choose anyone named Bambi or Bubbles! There are easier ways to have a mid-life crisis. Take care. We're praying!
Good idea to have lots of support people - my sister continued to work during Ron's illness--she had lots of folks help out by doing all kinds of things. Email her if you need any advice. Sending thoughts and prayers.
The Doctor's you describe in the DVD's and many times in-person are definately not public speakers. They are very smart and use their skills to heal very sick people the best they can. I alway's kept this in mind when listening and dealing with them. It's not about presentation it's about outcomes and these type Doctors are the best. They constantly research and sharing experiences worldwide with each other to produce the best outcome. That being said, all this information can become a blur in/on the mind and difficult to process if not impossible. I'm sure Jeff is receiving top-notch advise and care. Sometimes you must rely on your faith more than you'd like or fell comfortable with, mentally and spiritually. Jeff is not far from our daily thoughts.
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