Day -5: Saturday-Dr van Rhee gone, Liz goes to clinic

Liz

Deb

Deb shows Liz how to interpret the labs

Today our condo neighbor Liz went to clinic with us. She learned her way around and that helps us by giving Deb a near-by sub for Vern in case of sickness or emergency. Thanks Liz!

We sat in the cluster today for the first time with classmate Val from Virginia. He was glad to meet us and learn about our Natural Killer Cell progress. He is very knowledgable about his condition and various treatment protocols.

Val reported that he has not had as good medical care in Virginia, where there is an air of superiority about the medical system there. He has been interviewing local oncologists to work with him and to coordinate with the UAMS staff to care for him. He has his fifth interview soon and is not happy with what he has seen. His own GP doctor of twenty years basically told him he will not even do lab work for him when at home. Val also was disappointed by the care from the famous Johns-Hopkins Institution.

Val was amazed to hear of how caring Deb's own Georgia medical staff has helped her. For which we are so grateful!

Deb got her designated chemo and when the labs came back, she needed a unit of blood.  Still,we got out by noon! Deb was woozy by now and barely able to walk unassisted due to the pre-meds she got to help her receive the blood gracefully. So, a light lunch and then home for a long nap.

As we left the clinic, we checked in with van Rhee's assistant-APN Kristen. She told us that Dr. van Rhee had gone back to Holland to care for his 83 year old mother who had fallen. He probably will not be back in time for Deb's day zero infusion, but Kristen assured us that Dr van Rhee's A Team would be on duty and caring for her.

Asked if that upset her, Deb replied that "God is still in control."

Amen!

Blessings!