Day 13
This morning, the doctors (they travel in herds from room to room) hinted that John might be able to leave the hospital by the weekend - good news, but scary if you are to be his personal hospital staff. John's numbers improved remarkably:
WBC - 1.25
HCT - 32
ANC - .54
Plts - 66
He was able to sip for the first time in over a week and the doctors started discussing with him what things he might be able to eat before long. They don't expect him to eat solid food until perhaps next week. The better he feels, the more worried I get over how I will take care of him, food, sanitation, transportation, and medication (including IV fluids).
I'm sitting in the family lounge writing this and half-mockingly feeling sorry for myself among family members of several other patients try to carry on the basics of life. There is a washer/dryer available for cleaning clothes, a refrigerator and a shower for those who stay overnight. The wife of one man catches catnaps by the window. Three Japanese children are roaming the room half-watching the Cartoon Network, which is loud enough to rattle the furniture. I caught one saying that the show has some Japanese words, but she can't understand them. Their father arrived recently enough that he still has his hair. I find it interesting how "we" find ways to deal with life with so much awareness of how fragile it can be. I don't believe I've seen a tear from anyone since I arrived.
Courtney's car broke down in the rain in Atlanta this afternoon and I dealt with it by long distance. I'ts raining here right now and I have to watch for a break in the weather to ride my bike back to the house.
As a rule, we are "at work" every morning about 5:30, Pacific time. I ride over to the hospital about mid-morning and then work by computer and the hospital phone until about 6 pm. (Cell phones must be off.) The downside of not being in the office is that "drop in" business can't be done and attending meetings by phone is necessary. The upside is that I have time for projects that are hard to finish with the interruptions that come with an office. It takes discipline though to keep at it and can get tiring. One has to be thankful though for the tolerance of co-workers in helping work around a 3000 mile telecommute.
John had his first visitor of his own today, a girl he has known for a number of years, who is in town for a wedding. It perked him up quite a bit, as you might imagine. He has also spend over two hours on the phone with another girl he knows who is off in France, all of which is why I am here watching cartoons and waiting for the rain to stop.
WBC - 1.25
HCT - 32
ANC - .54
Plts - 66
He was able to sip for the first time in over a week and the doctors started discussing with him what things he might be able to eat before long. They don't expect him to eat solid food until perhaps next week. The better he feels, the more worried I get over how I will take care of him, food, sanitation, transportation, and medication (including IV fluids).
I'm sitting in the family lounge writing this and half-mockingly feeling sorry for myself among family members of several other patients try to carry on the basics of life. There is a washer/dryer available for cleaning clothes, a refrigerator and a shower for those who stay overnight. The wife of one man catches catnaps by the window. Three Japanese children are roaming the room half-watching the Cartoon Network, which is loud enough to rattle the furniture. I caught one saying that the show has some Japanese words, but she can't understand them. Their father arrived recently enough that he still has his hair. I find it interesting how "we" find ways to deal with life with so much awareness of how fragile it can be. I don't believe I've seen a tear from anyone since I arrived.
Courtney's car broke down in the rain in Atlanta this afternoon and I dealt with it by long distance. I'ts raining here right now and I have to watch for a break in the weather to ride my bike back to the house.
As a rule, we are "at work" every morning about 5:30, Pacific time. I ride over to the hospital about mid-morning and then work by computer and the hospital phone until about 6 pm. (Cell phones must be off.) The downside of not being in the office is that "drop in" business can't be done and attending meetings by phone is necessary. The upside is that I have time for projects that are hard to finish with the interruptions that come with an office. It takes discipline though to keep at it and can get tiring. One has to be thankful though for the tolerance of co-workers in helping work around a 3000 mile telecommute.
John had his first visitor of his own today, a girl he has known for a number of years, who is in town for a wedding. It perked him up quite a bit, as you might imagine. He has also spend over two hours on the phone with another girl he knows who is off in France, all of which is why I am here watching cartoons and waiting for the rain to stop.
