Short Visit – Cranky Patient

Debbie again. This will be short. Thanks to all of you that sent me e-mails and for all the great words of encouragement. I brought them with me the hospital today and read them all to Jill.  She said to thank all of you very much. To those of you that asked to visit, she said not yet. She’s still not very lucid – sort of in and out of consciousness. I think she’d rather wait until she feels more presentable and can actually carry on a conversation before a lot of folks go parading through.

I arrived at the hospital today about 2pm. The first thing I noticed was that Jill looked a whole lot better than she did yesterday. She had a lot more color in her face – I could even see all her freckles. She was also breathing a lot more easily. That was very encouraging. I read all of your posts and e-mails right away.

About an hour before I arrived, Jill received the first chemo infusion. Prior to chemo they usually load the patient up with anti-nausea drugs and benadryl (presumably in case there is an allergic reaction). So between all those drugs, the Xanax and the chemo, she was pretty zonked. She was also very agitated. She kept pulling off her oxygen and wanting to be moved around in the bed. She wanted me to call Dr. Ingber and tell him she was pulling off her oxygen – and she rattled off his phone number. I was pretty sure Dr. Ingber wouldn’t want to be bothered with that, so I told her I’d call Hank and have him call the doc.  That satisfied her and then she told me to leave. That was the end of the visit.

There you have it. I did call Hank. He was also encouraged by Jill’s appearance and breathing. He mentioned that Jill has hated that oxygen since they first gave it to her – but it is helping her breath. I guess several weeks worth of feeling like crap, being pumped full of powerful drugs, and having several minor surgeries is enough to make anyone a little cranky.

So much for short. Anyway, some encouraging things today. There’s still a long road ahead. The drugs are helping – I believe the prayers are helping more. I am continually grateful for all of you! I’m going to bed.

Debbie