Today Karma and I made it to the hospital about 11:30 am. Detlef has been moved to the 10th floor which is the Oncology floor, in room 1020. It is a huge room with a great big window to look out of. It also has a large bathroom (with a door), and a shower. After being in ICU, you realize how wonderful it is to have a door that can close when you are going to the bathroom. Oh, the little joys in life that we all take for granted :). After we got there, the nurse covered Detlef's central line, and he got to take a nice hot shower. . . . . big smile's all around. He has a friend who is coming to the hospital this week to cut his hair (it is getting a little long). I told him to have her cut it pretty short, because he should be losing all of his hair in 2-3 weeks. Taking this news in stride (when I first got there), Detlef is excited that he won't have to shave for awhile. . . . . definitely looking on the bright side! Detlef told us that he went for a walk last night (and jogged a little bit too!), for about 15 minutes. Who needs the hospital to supply a treadmill, when you are Super D (Detlef!)?
Detlef's stomach was a little weird today, but nothing he couldn't handle. When I spoke with him tonight by phone, he said that he was feeling much better, and had a great big dinner.
The last of the 4 day chemo regimen was today, which included two additional chemo drugs that he hadn't had before. One of them is a drug called Adriamycin, and it is a bright jello red color. . . . . literally. Sometimes you wonder how a medication that is bright red can be made to go into someone's veins, but it is. The other drug is called Vincristine. Jen and I were wondering if today would be the day that he felt very sick, because the new medications that he had have a reputation of making you feel pretty crappy. I just finished talking with Detlef tonight, and he says that he still feels amazingly well. No problems. (Although, he definitely feels more tired and fatigued than normal. . . . showering makes him feel tired). He has such a positive attitude about how good he is feeling, compared to what he should be feeling. A little tiredness isn't going to get him down at this point!
In the next couple of days, they will be doing a spinal tap, to check for cancer cells, and to give a preventative chemo medication. They will be checking his blood work to check his platelet count (risk of bleeding), his Hct, percentage of red blood cells (to see if he needs a blood transfusion), neutrophil count (risk of infection), and also just any signs or symptoms of infection (fever, etc). There is a chance that he could go home this week, but that wouldn't be decided until Thursday or Friday. He loves being at St Joseph's medical center, and has been amazed at how competent, and nice all of the doctors, nurses, and all the other hospital staff have been. He is considering moving his care closer to home for the next round of chemo, but is feeling so comfortable with the care that he is currently getting. It will be a tough decision to make. All of his chemotherapy treatments will need to be given in a hospital setting, as an inpatient, so being closer to home might be easier for everyone. Dr. Kogel is going to give him some suggestions on which oncologist he should switch his care to.
The current plan is to have Detlef move in with Dietmar and Jennifer. Their home is large enough to have Detlef's furniture and TV set up in their basement, and have a little mini apartment set up for him. Dietmar and Jennifer have been working hard to get everything packed up, and movers set up to move all of the heavy furniture. Chance, Detlef's beautiful black lab, will be excited to have Mia and Sienna to play with, as well as have his "daddy" home to be with. He is such a sweet good dog! He has been sleeping in the room with me while I have been staying with Karma and Juergen, as well as chasing a lot of balls, and stuffed animals. I forget how much of a stress reliever, a happy, energetic, big dog can be, at the end of a long day.
Karma, Juergen, Dietmar and Jennifer are all doing well. Mostly everyone is just tired, because having a loved one in the hospital can wear you out. Karma and Juergen have had some friends and co-workers bring over some food, and that has allowed them to spend all of their free time at the hospital with Detlef. Vicki has been letting the dogs out during the day, and throwing the ball for Chance, so that long days at the hospital were being accomplished without guilt about the dogs being let out and fed.
I know that the family is so appreciative of all of the love and support that has been given by so many people. When I asked Detlef tonight if there was anything that he wanted me to say on the blog, he said that he is feeling so much better than he could have hoped for. He wanted everyone to know that he can tell that many people are sending positive thoughts and love his way, because he can feel it. He wants everyone to keep it up, because he shouldn't be feeling this well, but he is.
Detlef, Karma, Juergen, Dietmar and Jennifer, we all love you so very much, and many thoughts and prayers are coming to all of you! We love you so very much!
Love to all,
Lisa
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