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......