Day -8 : Weds-Dr van Rhee + news

Crocheting in the waiting room

The busy day started with 7:30 am labs on the 4th floor, then up to the 8th floor for APN and doctor visits. Deb's line in her left arm has been acting up and required much attention over the past two weeks. That, among other items were looked at today. Kristen, the APN spent a lot of time looking Deb over and detailing the coming days, confirming meds, and future schedules.

When Dr van Rhee came in, he and his Taiwan shadow doctor spent a lot of time with Deb. Deb finally asked the big question: "Dr van Rhee, are you going to let me proceed with the Killer Cell program?" He said with a twinkle in his Dutch eyes and a big smile, 'Yes!'

The 8th floor was slammed today. They saw over seventy myeloma patients today!

Deb's medical records

Over the last months Deb has grappled a lot with the opportunity before her. At one time she was seriously questioning whether or not to participate. As we have learned more we have come to really appreciate being qualified for this very limited medical test and actually participating in it.

The exam by Dr van Rhee showed no physical sign of the large cancerous mass on her breastbone! PTL! In order to absolutely establish a baseline of Deb's exact condition prior to and after the Killer Cell Infusion, Dr van Rhee ordered a host of tests and procedures to nail down the before and after. Our schedule for the next week or so suddenly filled up. In fact, after Dr van Rhee, we rushed home to get the cleaning service started on the condo. Then we hurried back to the hospital to get a line put into Deb's neck.

While in the waiting area while waiting for Deb's line, I met a new classmate couple, Mr and Mrs Foster, from Perry, Ga. Mr Foster was a B-52 D tail gunner for a career. He works with JSTARS simulator training now.  For Vern's relatives, no, he is not related! He's from up North. (Maternal family name = Foster)

Shelley and Bonnie

Then I was approached by two women who knew me from the blog. Shelley and Bonnie had previously met Deb and recognized me. About that time, Deb came back to the waiting room accompanied by the nurse who assisted in the line procedure...whose husband is a myeloma patient also. They had lived near Dallas, Texas, when he came down with myeloma. With a young family and myeloma, they packed up and moved to Little Rock. She got a job at UAMS and now he gets treatment in  the same hospital where she works. He has a similar high-risk case and she was extremely interested in the Natural Killer Cell program that Deb is enrolled in.

There was just enough time for us to grab the car and head over to the myeloma clinic to get the troublesome PIC line removed. At that point Deb had two connections in her neck, two in her left arm, and one port in her chest. Deb..a very 'connected' lady!

Soon we were in the clinic where the line was removed.

By now, we were exhausted, so we headed home for some homemade spaghetti we cooked last night. When we opened the door to the condo, there was an overwhelming smell of the cleaners used this afternoon, so Deb stayed outside while I got doors and windows opened to air out the condo.
Supper, cleanup, rest. A very long and hard day!

Tomorrow we start 07:30 am clinic times so Dr van Rhee's assistant can lay eyes on Deb often.

Deb commented today: 'this may or not work, but if it doesn't work, it won't be because everyone didn't try!'

Amen to that! Everyone has bent over backwards to serve us. Hat's off to UAMS!

Blessings all!