Update

The process of the infusion of the Cisplatin at Porter Hospital last Tuesday took from 9 am when we checked in, until 8:30 am Wednesday when we arrived back home. There are many words to describe the next couple of days; lets just say that "horrendous" is one of them. I refuse to go into the gruesome details; just recalling it makes me want to cry.

The good news lately is that I was able to have the insurance company authorize a hospital bed and the Two Cal HN (Earl's food), which were both delivered Saturday, July 30. He has been able to get much better rest than he was getting in the Lazy boy chair. Jonathan and 3 of his buddies carried my rocker loveseat from the family room and put it in the living room, so the bed is in the family room, adjacent to the kitchen. Earl did not want it upstairs--he wanted to be by the "action". I am going to call Walgreens and Aetna again this morning, however, since (after the delivery man left), I discovered they are charging Aetna over $500 ($18.00 apiece) for the very same syringes I bought at Walgreens for $1.99 each. Since it was authorized directly by the insurance, my cost will be about the same, but that is SO RIDICULOUS, I have to let someone know, even if I have to call the Fraud line. I won't spend alot of time on it, but I have to try. The Two Cal is also about double per case what I paid online and $10 more than getting it through Walgreens pharmacy.

I've found that just writing down everything from medicine times to temp readings was getting too confusing, so I made up a spreadsheet blank & keep it on the table. It makes it much easier to find out what time his last pain med or B-M occurred.

After the chemo, when Earl was not throwing up (something must be getting through from the stomach, unless it is all coming from the lining of the esophagus) we talked again about getting the stent put in so he can have a little more normalcy in his life. Earl had wanted to stay around here, but none of the surgeons on our plan in Indiana do that procedure, so I convinced him to go & talk to Warren again. I was able to get an appointment for today, Monday, Aug. 1, at 3:15 pm. I also called Klein's office (oncologist) just to get an OK, since he is already having the chemo. I thought it would be a simple question with a call-back from the nurse after she talked to the Dr. Jennifer (the same nurse who talked to us while the pump with the 5 FU was being put on) called back & said the Dr. said that would have to be discussed at an office visit. We have an appt. today at 10 am with Dr. Munn (Dr. Klein's husband), since Klein's office hours are in the afternoon only. I am praying that starting the chemo did not preclude him from having this procedure. Earl broke down yesterday and said that "this is not a life" and "at this point" he would opt for "quality over quantity." He "just wants to eat". If the vomiting after the chemo would cause a problem with the stent, he said he will not have another treatment.

If I have neglected to respond to any card or e-mail, please forgive me. We thank everyone for your cards, gifts and, most of all your prayers. Please keep praying.