Well we made it through our first night at the condo and the meds and IV meds went ok. I suppose it will get easier after a few days. Rachel had a clinic appointment this morning at 10:00am. They drew blood for labs and they all came back great. They were so good that we do not even have to go back tomorrow! So she will go back Thursday and will probably need platelets by then. I think Friday is the day that they will do the DNA test to see how well engraftment is going, but it may take as long as a week to get the results.
By the time we got home today Rachel was just wiped out. She napped a good part of the afternoon and still was pretty tired. They want us to start keeping a record of what she eats..the more she starts to eat the less TPN she will need. She drank an Ensure this morning, had 3 8oz apple juices and one 8 oz of orange juice. Also about 3 tsp of chili. She kept all of this down Praise the Lord. Stomach issues are still a big part of her discomfort but hopefully eating even a little bit will help her stomach get use to all of this again. She is walking better than she was a few days ago. She is pretty stable with the walker so keep praying...God is hearing our prayers.
Prayer concerns
nausea
engraftment
stomach pain
energy level
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“I’m in the lobby!” Finally I called Jill with the news we all wanted to hear hours earlier. After a cancelled flight and three hours of sleep Friday night, I arrived around 10:30 a.m. to spend a scant couple of days with them. I didn’t know how I was about to be blessed!
ReplyDeleteI have friends who have gifts of mercy and compassion. I have seen it in action. However, I must slow down and ask God to help me. I’m glad he enabled me to see with His eyes. It would be difficult without His help, because Jill and Rachel are such positive people.
Can you imagine what it must be like to be in a small, 12 x 12 room exclusively for the last 25 days? My impression of the 5D wing is of many closed doors—barring infection from the other precious patients. Familiar faces are the doctors, and the nurses and aides who enter for frequent med changes and vital checks. Television, with its Animal Planet or DVD fare, is welcome relief to the monotony, as is the computer with its link to the outside world.
In the morning there’s the battle of the meds to swallow—will they stay or will they go? The shower, the bed linens, then blessed rest. The afternoons dragged for Jill as Rachel rests from the taxing events of the morning, and she looked forward to the new event of walking the hall, with Rachel rapidly pushing her walker in front, and someone following with the IV pole.
Of course there were the changes of scene for Jill—the restroom is just past the unit double doors and the cafeteria is a couple of floors above. She also walked up the block a bit if Rachel was fast asleep. Each time she returned to the unit she routinely washed her hands to protect Rachel from the germs brought in from the outside. It’s no wonder that there is a hunger in her eyes for company, conversation and a taste of home, or that there is love and delight in her eyes when she receives a call from those she loves. It was also no surprise that there were tears of relief and concern when I arrived and tears of sorrow when I left. I was a welcomed relief to the stretch of days with no real big hugs and smiles and family laughter that they are used to each and every day at home.
I witnessed such positive things: Jill’s devotion to Rachel; Rachel’s great attitude; Rachel’s chirpy “good” each time the doctors asked her how she was doing; “not much” or “a little” if she was nauseous; the encouragement and attentiveness of all the staff. Even without energy, Rachel knew she would feel better if she got up and moved, so she did. She laughs even when she doesn’t feel like it. She’s definitely the perfect patient!
By the time I post this, Rachel will be discharged. There will be a new routine, a new set of rules to follow, and new concerns and expectations each day until they can return home in November. I hope I have given you all a better vision of how to pray for these two women of faith. I didn’t see their home in Arkansas, but I know they are burdened for it and the friends that are helping Jim to care for it. I am grateful for the entire body of Christ at a time like this. Where would we be without our Father and our brothers and sisters? Praise you Jesus! We give you all the glory!