Third Week

I MUST apologize to everyone... I have been very busy and as a result, I am behind on my posts. I will be trying to get everyone caught up with the next couple of posts. Sorry!

Upon returning from our California trip, Jody began complaining her calves felt very tight. We have been used to some swelling in her legs due to her blood disease, but she felt this might be different. She also felt she was close to another Transplant because she was getting winded.

She had a CBC (Complete, Blood Chemistry) scheduled for Monday, April 12. This was also my first day of Census training (I accepted a part time position to be a 2010 Census worker and was chosen to be a Crew Leader.) My training was supposed to be 8-5 Monday through Friday and if you missed one day they released you from the job. Jody decide to drive herself to Rocky Mountain Cancer for a routine CBC visit. She mentioned to a nurse that she felt her calves were tight and she felt winded (out of breath). The nurse looked at her legs and after getting the CBC results consulted with Dr. Faragher (her hematologist doctor). Dr Faragher examined her legs and told her to go immediately to the emergency room of the hospital across the street.

After a CAT scan it was determined she had blood clot in both of her legs and one of her lungs. Needless to say they admitted her. The blood clots are a side effect of the chemo drug she is taking. They hooked her up with an IV giving her a Heparin blood thinner drip thinning her blood down and begin dissolving her clots. As Jody's luck would have it by Wednesday April 14 she developed pneumonia, so they had to setup a second port to begin giving her a high dose of antibiotics. For those who know Jody, she does not like needles and this was firing her up. They were testing her blood 2-3 times a day, at one point they were running out of places to get blood from.

The Issue... Now you need to remember I had just started my training and I could not miss a day... Got the picture... On the first day I was calling her getting updates constantly every 15 minute break we were given. Finally, I got to her bedside that night, where we caught up on all that was going on and ate dinner together. For the next 10, yes I said TEN days my routine was getting up at 5 AM, dress, grab coffee and be at the hospital by 7 AM, travel to my training site by 8 AM, back to hospital around 6 PM, eat dinner with her, visit, watch TV, spending time together, drive home arriving around 10 PM, drop into bed and get up the next day and do the same thing. Believe me I had it better than what Jody was going through.

By Wednesday, April 21 she was released to come home. BUT before I go there during our hospital visit we received GREAT news. Our Bone Marrow doctor was able to find a donor, YES a 10 out of 10 donor...

I completed my class room training and began my preparation to train my team of census takers. I was able to bring her home by around noon. She was still struggling from the pneumonia and the clots take at least 6-8 weeks to dissolve. She was put on Coumadin to keep her blood thinned, and several other drugs to maintain her high blood pressure and continue to fight the pneumonia. We counted it up... around 34 pills a day give or take 5, but who's counting once you get that high. Like a trooper she takes her pills and looks forward to the day.

OK, now since I am into the 4th week I will end this posts. Remember after each post there is a place for you to leave a comment. Jody loves to hear from everyone and she does look at my posts. So feel free to write remembering that everyone can see your comments. Several of you have been calling and you can not believe how much it means to her. When I come home the first thing she tells me is who called and how great it is to have all her friends. I know she loves it and I can not thank you enough. I love you all!

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