If you have been waiting for a positive post, you may find it in day +25.  I really believe Jen has turned the corner and is making progress to getting well.

 Everyday I look for signs of change. And I see it every day. Some days forward, some days backwards. Some days it is a big change and others small. I always see something that gives me insight to what I can expect. 

Today started with the words “I want breakfast.”  I haven’t heard that  in weeks. And then, Jen ate every bite. When she was done,  she told me later she wanted to walk. Again that is not something she has said in several days. And not only did she walk, she walked further than she had in a long time.  Then asked for something to eat again!  

She also coughed much less today and was awake more than yesterday. Seems like lately if she was awake, it was only to cough. Today when awake, she coughed little.  It is such a big relief. She also grew her platelet count without a transfusion.  Another big step. 

I also was blessed with a visitor from Ottoville.  My friend Linda Kaverman was in Columbus visiting her son and messaged me asking if I like to have dinner together. I was quick to say yes. How wonderful it was to see a familiar face!  I am so touched she had taken the time to see me. 

I hope in the days to come I can report Jen will be moving to outpatient.  I can tell you I feel closer today than previously. Your prayers have brought the start of healing and maybe soon Jen can be well again. 

We have now been in Columbus for 36 days, in the hospital for 31 days, and post transplant for 24 days. In that time we have seen winter end, baseball season begin, and Easter pass. Each day, we grow closer to leaving but also more anxious to do such.

This morning, Jennifer had a bronchoscopy, which is a proceure to view airways and diagnose lung disease. The doctor took some sample tissue to grow cultures to find what baceria is causing her the cough and pneumonia.  Jen had one of these also in December,  however this time because her blood pressure wasn’t low she was able to have twilight sedation.  If they couldn’t sedate her, I had asked them to wait until she had a bp that they could.  We haven’t heard any results from this procedure. 

During the procedure Jen lost some blood so they had to give her a transfusion.  She also required additional O2 (10 liters) but has since come down to 4 liters. She has slept most of the day. 

I did get Jen for the second day in a row to eat a bit more. She still isn’t eating much but more than she has previous. She is restricted on how much water she can have because her soduim levels fell again yesterday. However the drop wasn’t as severe as last week. 

Jen didn’t ask today about being released.  Not because she doesn’t want out of the hospital but because she knows she has to be here a bit longer than planned. 

Yesterday, the Doctor Walker ordered a chest ct.  She wasn’t satisfied that her chest xrays didn’t show signs of infection because with Jen’s cough, she had a strong suspicion Jen had something going on. The chest ct showed signs of pneumonia.  She was started again on IV antibotics and scheduled breathing treatments. 

This set back, although not what we hoped, seems to be well controlled at this point.  Low grade fevers were able to fix themselves without need for Tylenol.  Jen’s growing white count is most likely the reason her body has been able to fight. Yesterday her wc was 1.2 with ANC under 1000. Today she has pushed her wc over 3 and ANC over 2000. This is the numbers we have been waiting for. We expect they will continue to climb and her cough will go away soon.

Because they thought Jen may be sent home today, housing booked her hotel starting last evening (to give me a chance to stock the fridge and take over her things). So last evening I stayed at the hotel. I slept great too. And for the first time in a month, I made myself breakfast.  

There is nothing better than getting yourself more milk without having to ask someone to get it for you. Or being able to undress in your bedroom or brush you teeth without having to go to a public restroom.

Unfortunately Jennifer hasn’t been able to enjoy this freedom with me. Her O2 dropped last night in her sleep, her cough still holding on and her ANC had a drop to 590. They tell us that when you receive platelets, it can drive down white count and ANC scores. So at this point she is not been able to go to outpatient status.

It’s difficult to work through the waiting game but it is the only choice we have. It makes everything, even the smallest of things like making your own breakfast feel so big. Continued request for prayers as Jen is ready to move forward.  

You know Jen is starting to feel a bit better when she starts asking about getting out of the hospital.  And had she not still had this cough, I think the doctors would have said yes. But also Jen had one set of vitals this morning they didn’t like and she needed platelets.  So today is not the day, but maybe tomorrow. 

I did get some things taken to the hotel late this afternoon for when she is able to leave. I also went to the grocery and got enough to get us through a couple days. I was happy housing got things arranged as I am not sure how I handle that all on the day Jen is released as I may not to leave her for more than an hour at a time at this point.  

I did ask to have our space upgraded to a one bed suite as I am concerned Jen’s sensitivity to smells to not have a separate space to retreat to. But at $20 extra a day, I’m not sure beyond a couple weeks I can keep doing it. Hopefully by then Jen can handle the smells and we can go into a standard room. I am however excited to cook a meal with my stove top and little toaster oven Randy brought down for me. Oh and the trio crock pot Jess lent me. Real non-hospital food on the horizon. 

Jen did seem stronger today but her voice is still weak and is still sleeping a ton. I am so looking forward to her feeling stronger so I can take her to sit at a park or maybe spend an hour or two doing some art. It  will come eventually I know, but I’m looking foward to having my partner in crime back, even if it is just for short little spurts. 

I expect tomorrow or Wednesday will be the day unless something changes.  If it were up to Jen, she would be already laying in a regular bed snoozing.  

Jessica and Matt came down to Columbus today  (Randy got here yesterday) to celebrate Easter together. Jennifer spent about 30 minutes in the family area with everyone before getting tired and needing to go back to her room. She was a little nervous about today as she has so little energy to take part in much. The rest of the time we spent taking turns sitting with her in her room. 

We also did a little time today getting educated in how to flush her lines (we had this training before so it was a review ) and how to change her dressing on her central line. The process makes me still a little nervous but I have a couple days yet to completely understand.  

Unfortunately Randy, Matt, and Jessica had to leave by five to pick up the dogs and prepare for the work week ahead. Being apart is really the most difficult part of this time so we try to enjoy every moment we have together.

Jennifer is still dealing with the cough and is feeling pretty fatigued. She sleeps nearly 15-18 hours each day but is often interrupted by nurses, PCAs, doctors,  and staff. It will be nice to finally get out of here for some consistent sleep.

The doctors are telling us maybe Tuesday or Wednesday we can move to our new home away from home, Staybridge Hotel on Olentangy.  Although not ideal, it is better than living at the hospital.  I expect by tomorrow I will know if Tuesday will be the day or not.

I hope everyone had a good Easter. The first thing I’m cooking myself when we get out of here us some devil eggs. I miss those

Oh how 24 hours makes a difference.  Although Jennifer is still uncertain there are improvements, me, the docs, and nurses can see them.  

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As we approach Easter weekend, we know we will be spending the Holy Day here in the hospital.  We had hoped for a possibility of being out by Sunday but knew it would need a perfect recovery.  It has not been as we hoped. 

There is good news and I think best to start with that. I don’t want to under emphasize how important it is. When you have a bone marrow transplant,  the key to it working is having the marrow engraft. You know this is happening when the counts start to rebuild itself. Jen’s white count has grown from .1 at the beginning of the week, to .81 today. But even more important, the ANC or neutrafills (part of the white cells) has grown over 500. In order for Jen to be released and to fight off infections, this is important.  So engraftment is beginning to take place.

Also Jen’s soduim that had dipped dangerously low are almost back to normal. However this dip has caused Jen some delirleum.  Of all the things we have to deal with this hospital stay, for me this has been the hardest.  Over the last several days, there has been some improvement but Jen continues to hallucinate, especially when at the edge of falling asleep and is iratible. Today she does seem more cognitive, which gives me hope her brain will restore itself in time.

Also Jen’s cough has been a problem for much too long. Today they think her lungs sound crackly so chest xray has been ordered. If there is fluid there, they will start lasix to pull that fluid off and hopefully get her lungs 100%. We are still waiting on that chest xray result. 

Jen also will get a transfusion of red platelets  (hemoglobin ) today. With her being short of breath,  I’m hoping this helps that improve also. 

We also are trying to get the nausea under control and Jen eating again. She hasn’t eaten much in a good two weeks and she needs the protein in her.  

Doctor is hopeful to have her strong enough to move to outpatient by mid next week. She has some work to get there bUT with her engraftment starting to occur, we are hopeful.