The work has begun

Saturday, the 28th of August, in the year of 2010
Hey We are really sick now!


In the past when they told me I was sick, I just went "yeah, yeah, that's what you think" and then went on my way. I was able to do whatever I wanted.



NOW...things are quite different and I do believe that I AM REALLY SICK. Sometimes I wonder if they (UPMC) are conjuring up the ill feeling. Anyway I am going to follow the rules, do everything they say ('cept a bone marrow). Its in Gods hands and I know it is going to be difficult but He is here with us.




Presently,we show up every morning at the transplant center where we get a SPA tx with Lasix. This is so that hopefully the fluid will leave my body. I have been doing this treatment for 11 days. Now they think I have an infection and so now I have two antibiotics via IV which takes about one & one half hours. Then we go home after all that (approx 1-2pm) and do 3 more antibiotic treatments. Steve does them and I must say he does okay, it's going to take him a while to get a rthymn. It is really no big deal. But I am not so sure about all the chemicals going into my body. This is going to go on for at least 4 weeks.

I will give you a little idea how this goes... up at 5am, down stairs for a bagel and eggs (provided by the Inn) by 6:30 then off to the hospital for our treatments. First a blood draw out of my PICK line (permanent IV), then the SPA treatment plus a bolus of lasix, then the antibiotics. One which takes an half hour and the other 2 hours. Now it goes that way if they don't want to add something to it. Like today, they ordered a 4 hour Phosphorus / Sodium IV which doesn't make sense to me because it adds to my ascites. We are going to try to talk the Doc into a Phosphorus pill instead. Otherwise I will be soooooo full of fluid and terribly uncomfortable for the next 4 days. If we are lucky we will be home by 4 or 5pm. We will be exhausted. This going to continue every day for the next 4 weeks "at least."

This, my friends & family is how it goes. Not to worry, besides a sore bottom and back from sitting all day, I bring my computer, Bible Crossword Puzzle Book, and cross stitching. Plus there are a lot people to talk with and get to know, but then they are all sick which gets old. I also pray a lot.

I want to thank you all for taking the time to read my blog, for all your encouraging comments & emails. I want to thank Gail from bible study for the beautiful card full of encouraging verses. Thanks to my sister, Jane for the VERY annoying but thoughtful card. Thanks to Frank for your entertaining phone calls, Chris for her humorous emails and please Debbie take care of yourself. No more accidents, OK. Oh and my Aunt Betty for having the equine dentist to look at Buster & Zoe.

We love you all and miss you all very much.
God Bless you all,
Steph & Steve