We may come home.

It looks like this is going to be a short hospitalization for John. He just got to the hospital on Monday and they are already talking about discharging him today (Thursday).  Either today or tomorrow. 

Dr. Claxton has decided that John will get chemo for four to eight weeks, probably eight, to try to help the Hemolytic Anemia.  And he figured there was no reason John couldn't get the chemo where we live, as well as the blood John will need, so he decided John could be sent home soon.  Then the doctor doing the rotations made the decision yesterday that John could come home today.

I hope it is not too soon, but John is looking so much better than when he came in.  Like a different person.  And he can get the blood and chemo where we live.  Mitzi, Dr. Claxton's nurse, has set it up so that John's blood will be available where we live, twice a week, no matter what, so that if he needs it, it will be there, instead of him having to wait days like before.  So that will be a new and excellent thing.

So anyway, it was Dr. A. that decided John should go home today.  I know that Dr. Claxton wants John to get treated at home, but I am not sure when he wanted him to leave.  But I feel ok about John leaving now.  Oh, there has already been one diagnostic test, and John's Hemolytic Anemia has improved!  After one treatment of Rituxin (chemo).  So I am excited.

But I remember this happening once before, and thinking he was going to be cured by the chemo, so I asked Dr. A. if the chemo would really cure John, and he answered that it hadn't in the past, and that Dr. Claxton thought it probably wouldn't.  So Dr. Claxton will in the future most likely take out John's spleen.  Does anybody know if a spleen is an important thing to keep?  To me this is scary.  I keep hearing opposing opinions on this.  Well you see, maybe it is important to keep one's spleen, but if you are going to die from something else if you leave it in, maybe you have to get it out.  John is requiring four bags of blood every week now, and with each bag of blood, it is becomming harder and harder to find a match, because each bag adds new antibodies, and makes the next bag have to be rarer.  Eventually, they may not be able to find blood for John.  There is a possibility that he got a bag of blood that was not a match for him at one time - somebody made a mistake.  That's what one of the docs said.

At any rate, if it is alright healthwise for John to be at home, I am really excited about being there.  John and I will be able to do things in our own little nest!  It will feel so good to be at home.  John will be able to get the blood and chemo at the local hospital there.  We will have as normal a life as possible.  I am feeling positive. 

Okay, I have to go now and see John at the hospital.  I love you all.  I will get back to you and let you know whether or not we came home or stayed in Hershey.  Krissy :) 

       

 

John got chemo last night

I've been so busy I haven't had time to write. 

We are in Hershey again.  Yes, John is in the hospital.  He was hospitalized promptly after his visit to Dr. Claxton on Monday.  I thought he would not have to go in this time, really I did.  But to be on the safe side, we packed bags before we left on Monday in case we were going to have to stay.  I am glad we did.  

He's a lot sicker than I thought he was.  Oh, I don't mean to sound like he is doing horribly.  They may even send him home in a week they said.  But his Hemolytic Anemia is worse again.  He is requiring four bags of blood a week now instead of two.  Which means the Hemolytic Anemia is really being a problem.  The reason they will probably send him home is they will finish his treatment back home where we live.  And the treatment is?  Chemo.  Poor guy.  He has had so much chemo in his lifetime.  But if it will get him better he has to have it.  He already started his first round yesterday.  Since we got here he has had four units of blood and four hours of chemo.  

He also had a CT scan done and it showed fluid around the heart.  Right now they are just going to watch it.  Because it could be worse they said, and if they removed the fluid at this time, it would just come back.  The fluid build up is caused by complications from the transplant, as well as the constant blood he has been getting.  But if it does happen to get worse in the future, they will have to operate.

Okay, so what else?  I really can't think of what else is going on right now, perhaps because I covered it all, or perhaps my brain is just tired.  

Tonight tired is a good word to describe how I feel.  And shocked.  Because surprised is too mild of a word.  The doctors thought the Hemolytic Anemia wouldn't be making a major comeback, but would be getting better.  And now it is getting worse again.  I didn't think this would happen.  I thought we would be spending more time at home.  I am hoping we get to go home soon.  I hope that's not selfish of me.  Besides wanting John home (but not before he is better), I want to be home too, because I have a lot of things there I wanted to do.  I just want to be home for awhile!

I am dumbfounded, but I am not discouraged.  I am surprised (yes, I really did think he would stay home for awhile!) but I am not despondent.  I am a little disappointed, but, I believe in the Lord's timing, and I believe He will send us home when the time is right, and I will be able to deal with that timing, no matter when it is.  It feels so good to have that kind of faith in place, and to be able to trust. 

So on I go, onto another day.  Praying that John get better and better, trying to be there for him.  Trying to keep his spirits up.  And trying to give the doctors all the information they need to make good decisions regarding his care.  Okay, I'm off, but maybe I'll take a little nap before I go to the hospital, LOL.

Love you all,  Krissy :)

Photo Hunt Participants...

Photo Scavenger Hunt #97

The subject for this week's Scavenger Hunt was "Thanksgiving Theme".  These were great entries!  You  all invited us into your home on this special day and I want to thank you for that!  Here are the very special entries:

Footprints in the Sand

my spot

My Hugs Journal

Promise... Me

From Here to There

Confessions Of An Angel Waitress 

Lost in my own thoughts

Dribble by Chuck Ferris did art and leaves.   

Thanks for playing, Krissy :)

*Edit:  There will be no Photo Scavenger Hunt this week coming up.  I just don't know if I will be in Hershey or not with John.  I just can't handle doing it.  Sorry.  I will return as soon as possible to doing the hunts.  Maybe the following week.  Thanks for being patient, my friends.  Krissy :)