Only Two Days of Chemo Left!

Steve has had a much better day today than yesterday. Phew!

He had a CT scan last night of his head and chest to try and figure out why he has persistent headaches and a fever. His head if normal but he has fluid in his lungs which might be pneumonia. He is receiving antibiotics. Maybe the antibiotics are finally starting to have an effect; his headache is less, less nausea, less fatigue. We are relieved to see him feeling better. 

His blood counts are in a free fall. He needed another transfusion of red blood cells again today. Sometime next week his white cell count will be at ground zero – just where the doctors want it to be. The goal is to kill all the bad white cells, but unfortunately to do that you also have to kill all the good white cells.  By day 14 his good white cell count will be rebounding, without any of the bad cells.

“Thanks for all the kind wishes,” says Steve.  “I’m looking forward to having a slice of pizza tonight.” 

 

Steve is getting a lot of IV fluids so they have to give him a drug to get rid of the excess fluid -- just part of the plan. 

“They filled me up with so many fluids that now they are racing to get rid of them," he says. “I don’t even have time to set up the oxygen in my nose before I have to go pee again. I peed a half-gallon this morning."

Every few days there seems to a different group of interns and residents. Steve especially enjoyed kvetching with the intern covering for the weekend. 

“A young intern showed up in my room this morning and this evening. He was very helpful when he came in this evening and very accommodating. I said what’s your name, Kaufman? He started to laugh. He said 'No Goldstein, but close. You can just shout Kaufman or Goldstein and someone will come running.'" 

The nursing staff is great -- very competent and knowledgeable. They treat lots of AML patients here.  They give us answers to our questions and good advice on dealing with the long treatment and hospitalization. They know when to encourage and when to let him be. We really feel like this is a team effort.

Steve’s brother Andy, Emily and Steve. Steve filling in day five of the seven-day chemo chart.

Steve enjoying a slice of pizza from the Penguin in Brigham Circle. Though he couldn't join us (Mia, Emily, Andy, my nephew Paul and niece Kellie and me) at the pizza place, we brought him back a slice. 

Can't wait until he can go out again! He wanted to sneak out with us -- a good sign.  

Relaxing in his "kingdom."