Dad's treatment has been a success.  We found out this afternoon that he is released to go home.  We are packing up our belongings and getting ready so we can leave in the morning.  He has to make another visit to the Dr here at Barnes in May but they said all of his counts are normal as anyone.

Fin  :)

Dad was complaining this morning that he had a hard time sleeping last night.  He said the food was so good he ate too much and was miserable through the night.

I made breakfast this morning, scrambled eggs with sauteed onions, mushrooms, and deer sausage with cheese on top.  I also made toast with onion and chive cream cheese.  He topped all of that off with a cup of fresh brewed coffee and a banana.

He at a small amount this time and said he doesn't want to have his belly hurting when we see the clinic Dr.  :)

We are getting ready to leave for his appointments.  Until then....

Dad has his clinic visit tomorrow at 1 PM.

Tonight since he has been feeling so well I made Johnsonville Brat burgers with boiled cabbage, sauteed mushrooms and onions, pickles and tomatoes.  Dad pigged out and it was great to see him eat and enjoy what he was eating for a change.  He even helped me clean up the dishes.

He is starting to get healthier quicker and I am very happy to see it.  I can't wait to see what the doctor says tomorrow.

Until then....

Dad is out of the hospital again.  We are at the Hope Lodge where I cooked some Johnsonville Brat patties for supper.  Dad enjoyed the meal and said he is feeling a lot better than he did on Monday.  His next Dr visit is on Tuesday.  No more fever!!  Positive thinking....  :)

Dad seems to be doing a lot better than he was on Tuesday.  He was able to walk around the 7th floor hall.  He hasn't been running a fever and the doctor said his cultures came back normal.

They are working on exercising him more and getting his nutrition levels back to normal.

Dad has been telling everyone that comes in that he will not leave the hospital again until he is either feeling good or dead.

Until next time.......

Dad is back in the hospital.

After we got to the Hope Lodge Monday he started running a low grade fever, 99.4°.  I went and picked up some Tylenol and by the time he went to sleep the fever broke.  By 6:00 AM he had 100.4° temp and took some more Tylenol.  By 6:30 AM it was up to 101.5° and we knew he needed to go see the Dr.

His clinic appointment was already scheduled for 9:00 AM with labs at 8:15 AM. So we got to the hospital at about 7:45 AM.  We both skipped breakfast with the thinking we could get the appointments over with and go get some food.  Unfortunately that was a bad plan because they decided to re-admit Dad which meant no going to get food.  We went to the Outpatient clinic to wait for a room and get Dad started on antibiotics, about 9:30 AM.  I left for a little while at noon to get some breakfast/lunch and then came back to sit with Dad.

Dad was finally promised a room at about 6:15 PM but the room wasn't ready so we had to wait for a couple more hours due to cleaning and shift change.  By 8:45 PM he was being wheeled to his room.  Dad asked me if I could bring his flip flops from the Hope Lodge, I left and went and picked them up and by the time I got back Dad was resting comfortably.

It was a very excruciatingly long tormenting day.

Currently;
I am sitting here with him today and he looks so much better.  Dad said he feels worse than he has since he came in here but I don't see it.  I think he feels like crap but is much better than he was.

Just keep him in your prayers and I will continue my vigil.

More to come later.......

Dad is out of the hospital and getting settled into the Hope Lodge.  His first outpatient appointment is tomorrow morning.  He said his feet are bothering him but I think he is happy to be out of the hospital.

I apologize for not posting more.  I have been rather busy in thought and visiting with Dad.  He by the way is doing really well.  If it weren't for the swelling in his legs he would be out of the hospital by now.

They were planning on releasing him today but the doctor decided to keep him another day and I believe it is due to the swelling.

I am pretty sure Dad will move to the Hope Lodge on Monday February 11, 2013 where he will begin his out patient visits.  I pray this is a stress free time for Dad and myself.

In light of that news, we are entering the final phase of his treatment and couldn't be more happy with Dad's progress.  His white count is normal and his platelets are on the rise.  He doesn't need anymore blood transfusions either.  He is on the mend.  :)

Until my next post......

Well Dad wanted his hair cut this morning so I have some before, during and after photo's.

                    Before the face lift haircut.

                    Colonel Sanders

                     He's actually smiling.

                     He is smiling on the inside.

                     Who does the above picture remind you of?  :)

                     I personally think he looks younger.

I spent most of the day with Dad and he slept a lot.  

I was getting ready to go to the lodge and Dad said he needed to use the bathroom.  He stood up and said he felt really dizzy.  He started to walk towards the bathroom and started to fall backwards.  Luckily I was standing behind him and braced him so he didn’t fall to the floor.  He has not been drinking as much as he should and was dehydrated.  The nurse put him on fluids to hydrate him some. 

Dad ordered food at about 6:30 PM.  He will probably go to sleep by the time the food gets there, he was pretty drowsy when I was walking out the door at 6:45 PM.

Dad is getting some needed rest right now.  I will try to get some with him awake.

Until then......

I went and spent a few hours with Dad today.  I took him a new bag of almonds and some hunting magazines, (note to self - “Dad does not like hunting magazines anymore”).   I guess it was the thought that counts.

Dad was feeling pretty nauseated and just wanted to be left alone today, by the hospital staff, but that was merely wishful thinking.  He is dreading the next week or so as they predict he will slip into a very lethargic miserable nauseated state of being and on top of that having an extremely low immune system. 

I will continue to go visit with him as long as I feel healthy enough to be around him safely.  If I cannot be in the room with him I might just camp in the family lounge area where the nurse can find me if need be.

Sure wish I had an IPAD….  *laugh*  Oh well….

I will post more later.

Dad is settled in to his room at Barnes.  He started chemo on Saturday and they finished it up on Sunday.  Monday was a day of rest prior to the transfusion or re-entry of the stems cells they collected during pheresis.

Jason has been here since Monday and we have spent a lot of time with Dad.  Jason left around 4:30 PM today making the long drive home.  I know Dad has enjoyed Jason's company.

They performed the transfusion at 1 PM today and the entire process took about an hour maybe a little less.

What's to come....
The medical staff said the Dad may become very lethargic by Sunday / Monday time frame and will probably be that way for a few days.  His immune system will be low and very susceptible to illness and infections during that time.  They said he will more than likely not even want any visitors since he will be feeling so crappy.  They also mentioned this is not always the case but to be prepared for the possibility.

That is all I have for now, will enter more later.......

Well the time has come for Dad to complete his treatment.  He has to be at the hospital by 3:00 PM on Saturday, January 19th.  He will spend the next three weeks inpatient and two weeks outpatient for a total of five weeks.  I plan on being there if not all, at least most of the time he is there.

More updates later......