Mary's last supper at Huntsman Cancer Hospital

9/16/2010

Rounds today were particularly exciting. The Dr’s suggested that Mary might be released tomorrow. I am shaking with the shock of it. I had told Mary earlier in the week that I was guessing Monday the 20^th. As the week has progressed I thought that might even be optimistic but her white blood cell count jumped to over 1 today and she has been put on a soft food diet this morning. She will probably hit whole food tonight. They are also taking her off all IV drips as of today.

Here is what has been happening since the last update.

· Her Hickman Central line had to be removed because of a yeast infection

· PICC line #1 had to be removed because of a blood clot. The PICC team uses an ultrasound to find the vein in your arm. While the PICC team was busy looking at her veins, Mary piped up “Well, is it a boy or a girl?” We all started laughing and Steve, the only male in the room said, “I am hoping for a boy so I am not so outnumbered. It was a great way to diffuse the tension from the procedure. Mary, you are so so so amazing.

· PICC line #2 Mary became a guinea pig for a new student who was replaced by the instructor after she stabbed Mary 3 times and still could not get it. Mary was able to make it through the procedure w/o me there. Kuddos

· She has Hives – from her white blood cells coming back home to find everything a mess – who would have known that one of the 10 plagues would be considered a good thing.

· She has been on meal-in-a-bag (TPN) for over a week to deal with some intestinal inflammation and even though she can eat now she has no appetite

· She has had her lungs and heart scoped

· She has had MRI’s of back, lungs, intestines, heart, stomach (as well as a few x-rays)

· She had a popsicle stick to her lips – the one treat she did get last weekend and she couldn’t get it in her mouth

· Through it all she has been smiling and is now walking a couple of miles a day around the floor (the hamster wheel is what we have been calling it, since the patient rooms are in a circular pattern around the nurse station, and 12 laps make a mile)

· And the final objective - We finished the last puzzle we had yesterday, great news we even had all the pieces

T has been ruled out as a transplant donor for Mary, so they are following up on 4 live donors and 4 cord donors. We should know in the next couple of weeks if one of them works out.

Grandma and Grandpa Soderquist have been working very hard to get her room ready. They removed all the furniture, of course only after cleaning up the room. They removed the carpet and have put in laminate flooring, a new ceiling fan, and are now working on putting her new bed together. I just cannot thank them enough for all their love and support, as well as the support of all our family and friends.

Love always,

Deb

The 12 Days at Huntsman

The 12 days 6 WEEKS at Huntsman

On the first day at Huntsman, My Dr. gave to me,

A bucket for the barfing for THEE

On the 12^th day at Huntsman, My Dr. gave to me,

12 Days of Starving

11 Students Staring

10 Visitors Staying

9 People Praying

8 Pills a Standing

7 Patients Snoring

6 Call Lights Beeping

5 Days of Hives – OH MY

4 IV’s Going

3 Aids Running

2 Nurses Coming

And a Bucket for the Barfing for THEE

Tiny Bubbles

Tiny bubbles, early in the morn,
In my antibiotics, make me forlorn.
Tiny bubbles, make me cringe all over,
Change my tubing or I'm gonna, run you till your weary and worn.

Here's to the Huntsman Med staff, and the patients next door,
Bottoms up from my meal-in-a-bag, so I don't spew on the floor.

Tiny bubbles, in the line,
Make me unhappy, make we want to whine.
Tiny bubbles, causing many alarms,
With a beeping that is gonna, annoy till the end of time.

Yesterday was a very good day. Mary showed the first signs of her blood recovering on it's own. The Drs are happy and have already started preparing us to go home by getting the home Rx issues resolved. More to come. Mary's wants: go home and eat food. Our thoughts are with the Grundvig family who will be sending their wife/mother/daughter back to her heavenly home shortly. May you have peace and comfort.


Love,
Debbi